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Reasons for recommendation as a candidate Special Area of Conservation

This area is being considered as a candidate Special Area of Conservation (SAC) because it contains habitat types and/or species, which are rare or threatened within a European context. The SSSI citation describes the special interests for which the site was notified in the British context. [NB Not for marine interests below mean low water mark]. The interests for which the site was selected as SSSI may differ from the interests selected in a European context.

The habitats and/or species for which this area has been proposed as a candidate SAC are listed below. The reasons for their selection are listed, together with a brief description of the habitats and species as they typically occur across the UK. This area contains the interests described although it may not contain all the typical features.

The area supports the following interest(s).

European interest(s):

1. Atlantic salt meadows.†

• for which this is considered to be one of the best areas in the United Kingdom.

† Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco-Puccinellietalia): This habitat encompasses saltmarsh vegetation containing perennial flowering plants that are regularly inundated by the sea. The species found in these saltmarshes vary according to duration and frequency of flooding with seawater, geographical location and grazing intensity, but may include salt-tolerant species such as common saltmarsh grass Puccinellia maritima, sea aster Aster tripolium and sea arrowgrass Triglochin maritima.

2. Estuaries.†

• for which this is considered to be one of the best areas in the United Kingdom.

† Estuaries: These are semi-enclosed bodies of water which have a free connection with the open sea and within which the seawater is measurably diluted by freshwater from the surrounding land. They are large features which often contain a complex range of habitats that reflect the variations in tidal influence and substrate type.

3. Cordgrass swards.†

• for which this is one of only 2 outstanding localities in the United Kingdom.
• for which the area contains more than 40% of the United Kingdom resource.

† Spartina swards (Spartinion): Cordgrasses Spartina spp. grow in saltmarshes around the coast and can occur at the lower reaches of saltmarshes or higher up the marsh. The native species, small cordgrass S. maritima and the introduced species, smooth cordgrass S. alterniflora, are very rare in the UK and only saltmarshes containing these species are proposed for conservation. Common cordgrass S. anglica is widespread and is not considered to be of great conservation importance in the UK.

Source: English Nature, January 2000

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Page last updated 4/6/04