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COASTAL SALTMARSH
LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN

Links to associated SAPs

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Birds on saltmarshCurrent Status

Coastal saltmarshes comprise the upper, vegetated portions of intertidal mudflats. Saltmarshes are usually restricted to comparatively sheltered locations in estuaries, saline lagoons, behind barrier islands, at the heads of sea lochs and on beach plains. The development of saltmarsh is dependent on the presence of mudflats. Saltmarsh vegetation consists of a limited number of salt tolerant plants adapted to regular immersion by the tides. At the lowest level pioneer plants can withstand up to 600 immersions per year where the upper saltmarsh can only tolerate a few tides per year. Saltmarsh communities are affected by many factors such as climatic differences from west to east, sediment types, decreasing salinities and land management. For example, on traditionally grazed sites, saltmarsh vegetation is shorter and dominated by grasses. Saltmarshes on the west coast tend to differ in species and community composition from those on the east coast. Saltmarshes are a very important habitat for plant species and a resource for wading birds and wildfowl. Acting as high tide refuges for waterfowl, breeding sites for terns, gulls, waders and passerines (skylark and meadow pippit) in autumn and winter. In winter, large flocks of swans, geese and ducks rely on saltmarshes. They provide an exhilarating and evocative landscape and seascape.

The most recent saltmarsh surveys (1989) estimate the total extent of saltmarsh at 45,000 ha. England has approximately 32,000 ha, Scotland 6,747 ha, Wales 6,089 ha and Northern Ireland 215 ha. This resource is mainly found in the major estuaries of north-west England and Wales. It is estimated that at the mean high water mark, 24% of the English coastline, 11% of the Welsh coastline and 3% of the Scottish coastline consists of saltmarsh. In Wirral, the majority of coastal saltmarsh is found in the Dee Estuary between Parkgate and Heswall. Small areas occur at West Kirby and at New Ferry on the Mersey. The saltmarsh between Parkgate and Heswall is still accreting the oldest parts being over 50 years old. None of the Wirral saltmarshes are grazed. Some loss of pioneer saltmarsh occurs at West Kirby and Hoylake due to beach cleaning by WBC.
Extent of saltmarsh
Gayton/Heswall - unknown
West Kirby - unknown
New Ferry - unknown
Land ownership: between Parkgate and Heswall the saltmarsh on the Dee is mostly owned by RSPB and Wirral Borough Council. The West Kirby saltmarsh is also owned by Wirral Borough Council. The pioneer saltmarsh at New Ferry is owned by the Crown Estate Commissioners.

In Great Britain approximately 80% of the area of saltmarsh has been notified as SSSI. Atlantic salt meadows is listed as a habitat type on Annex 1 of the EC Habitats Directive. The UK Government has proposed ten Special Areas of Conservation (SACS) for their saltmarsh features. Also 27 major saltmarsh sites are included in Special protection Areas (SPAs) under the EC Birds Directive and in Ramsar sites. These include the Dee and Mersey estuaries. 100% of saltmarsh in Wirral has been notified as SSSI. All of the saltmarsh is incorporated within the two estuarine SPA/Ramsar sites.

Saltmarsh colonisation on the Dee EstuaryThreats

How are we helping to conserve Coastal Saltmarsh in the Cheshire region?

Objectives, Targets and Actions

OBJECTIVES

LOCAL TARGETS

1. The overall objective is to maintain, in favourable condition, the current extent of saltmarsh in Wirral. Further, to allow natural succession of saltmarsh to continue with the minimum of human interference.
2.
Maintain the quality of the existing resource in terms of community and species diversity. Where necessary, restore the nature conservation interest through appropriate management.

1. Monitoring of the extent and quality of the saltmarsh to be carried out every five years

ACTIONS REQUIRED

  • Develop a policy for Spartina anglica on an estuary-wide basis by 2005.
  • Develop agreed policies and management schemes for Wirral's beaches by end of 2003.
  • Prepare and implement management plans for saltmarshes to implement these targets by end of 2003.
  • Prepare information to enable current and future areas of saltmarsh and NVC communities to be digitised by end of 2003
  • Monitoring of the extent and quality of the saltmarsh needs to be carried out every five years.
  • Encourage a research project to look at the Dee sediment budget.

Dunlin Shelduck

Progress so far

1997- 2006 Action Completed
  • NVC of Mersey saltmarshes carried out by end of 2001

How to find out more about Coastal Saltmarsh

This plan is part of the Wirral Biodiversity Action Plan which can be viewed at www.wirral.gov.uk/ed/biodiversity/home.htm
UK BAP for Coastal Saltmarsh - www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=33

Contact details

LBAP Chair Colin Wells, RSPB Burton Point Farm,
Station Road, Burton,
Wirral CH64 5SB.
0151 336 7681
National Lead Partners

Environment Agency

National Contact Duncan Huggett , Environment Agency

References & Glossary

HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 1: Meeting the Rio Challenge, London.
HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 2:Action Plans, London.
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