Colne Estuary
Site of Special Scientific Interest
LocationEssex
Grid referenceTM075155
InterestBiological
Geological
Area2915.2 hectares
Notification1989
Location mapMagic Map
Designations
Official nameColne Estuary
Designated28 July 1994
Reference no.665[1]

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,[2][3] a Ramsar wetland site of international importance,[4] a Special Protection Area,[5] a Special Area of Conservation,[6] and a Geological Conservation Review site.[7] Three areas in the site are managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust, Colne Point, Fingringhoe Wick and Howlands Marsh.[2]

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.[2]

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.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Colne Estuary". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Colne Estuary citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  3. ↑ "Map of Colne Estuary". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  4. ↑ "Colne Estuary (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 2)" (PDF). Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  5. ↑ "Special Protection Area under the EC Birds Directive: Colne Estuary (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 2)" (PDF). Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  6. ↑ "Essex Estuaries". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  7. ↑ "OTHER DESIGNATED SITES IN THE SEA 3 AREA" (PDF). Department of Trade and Industry. 2002. p. 27. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
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