Benfleet and Southend Marshes

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. 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.
  2. "Map of Benfleet and Southend Marshes". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  3. "Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands: Benfleet and Southend Marshes" (PDF). Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  4. 1 2 "Magic map". Natural England. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  5. "Benfleet and Southend Marshes" (PDF). Special Protection Areas under the EC Birds Directive. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Essex's National Nature Reserves". Natural England.
  7. "Two Tree Island". Essex Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  8. "Southend on Sea Foreshore". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. 27 February 2013. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  9. "Map of Southend on Sea Foreshore". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
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