Benfleet and Southend Marshes
Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Area of Search | Essex |
---|---|
Grid reference | TQ854847 |
Interest | Biological |
Area | 2099.7 hectares |
Notification | 1987 |
Location map | Magic Map |
Benfleet and Southend Marshes are a 2077.7 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on Southend-on-Sea foreshore in Essex.[1][2] A slightly larger area of 2284 hectares is the Benfleet and Southend Marshes Ramsar site[3] and Special Protection Area.[4][5] An area of 257.5 hectares in the western part of the SSSI is the Leigh National Nature Reserve (NNR),[6][4] and this was listed in A Nature Conservation Review as a site of national importance.[1] The SSSI and NNR include the eastern half of Two Tree Island, which is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust.[6][7] A large part of the site, 1083.9 hectares, is the Southend on Sea Foreshore Local Nature Reserve.[8][9]
The site has salt marshes, mudflats, scrub and grassland. The marshes and mudflats have internationally important numbers of wildfowl and waders, including the dark-bellied brent goose, grey plover, redshank and knot. Some areas are very important for scarce invertebrates, such as white-letter hairstreak and marbled white butterflies.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 "Benfleet and Southend Marshes citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
- ↑ "Map of Benfleet and Southend Marshes". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
- ↑ "Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands: Benfleet and Southend Marshes" (PDF). Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
- 1 2 "Magic map". Natural England. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
- ↑ "Benfleet and Southend Marshes" (PDF). Special Protection Areas under the EC Birds Directive. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
- 1 2 "Essex's National Nature Reserves". Natural England.
- ↑ "Two Tree Island". Essex Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
- ↑ "Southend on Sea Foreshore". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. 27 February 2013. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
- ↑ "Map of Southend on Sea Foreshore". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 19 November 2015.