Colne Estuary

Colne Estuary
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Area of Search Essex
Grid reference TM075155
Interest Biological
Geological
Area 2915.2 hectares
Notification 1989
Location map Magic Map

Colne Estuary is a 2915 hectare biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest near Brightlingsea in Essex. It is also a Nature Conservation Review site, a National Nature Reserve,[1][2] a Ramsar wetland site of international importance,[3] a Special Protection Area[4] a Special Area of Conservation,[5] and a Geological Conservation Review site.[6] Three areas in the site are managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust, Colne Point, Fingringhoe Wick and Howlands Marsh.[1]

The site has varied habitats, such as saltmarsh, mud flats, shingle spits and former gravel pits. It is of international importance for wintering brent geese and black-tailed godwits, and of national importance for six other bird species, including little terns. It also has important assemblages of invertebrates and plants, such as golden samphire and shrubby seablite. A peat seam in St Osyph Marsh has been dated to 4280 BP, and this marsh is important for saltmarsh morphology.[1]

There are important geological exposures for Pleistocene studies at East Mersea; investigation is at an early stage, but they show warm climate deposits from one or more post-Anglian interglacials.[1]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Colne Estuary citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  2. ↑ "Map of Colne Estuary". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  3. ↑ "Colne Estuary (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 2)" (PDF). Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  4. ↑ "Colne Estuary". Natural England. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  5. ↑ "Essex Estuaries". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  6. ↑ "OTHER DESIGNATED SITES IN THE SEA 3 AREA" (PDF). Department of Trade and Industry. 2002. p. 27. Retrieved 7 December 2015.

Coordinates: 51°48′36″N 0°58′44″E / 51.810°N 0.979°E / 51.810; 0.979

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, December 12, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.