Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA)Screening

Collective Intelligence Sustainable Solutions

www.essex.gov.uk/flooding

Flood StrategyAppendix C

This screening report is an assessment of whether or not the contents of the Essex County Council (ECC) Local Flood Risk Management Strategy requires a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) in accordance with Article 6(3) and (4) of the EU Habitats Directive and with Regulation 63 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. A HRA is required when it is deemed that likely adverse significant effects may occur on protected Habitats (European) Sites as a result of the implementation of a plan/project.

The purpose of this report

The Flood and Water Management Act states that Essex County Council has to put in place a local flood risk management strategy.

This strategy sets out the County Council’s aims and actions to reduce the impact of local flooding to the residents of Essex. ‘Local’ flooding in Essex means the risk of water from manmade drainage

systems, small watercourses and rainfall off the land. The Strategy ensures that residents are informed about flood risk, that they understand why flooding is a problem for us all and what is being done to manage it.

The Essex County Council Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (October 2018)

To provide a clear explanation of everyone’s responsibilities.

To make sure people understand their risk of flooding and think about how we communicate this.

To explain how we assess flood risk in Essex and then prioritise the work we do.

To clearly set out our work so that communities and businesses can make decisions about how they manage flood risk too.

To ensure that planning decisions properly consider flooding and the future impact any development may have.

To state how we share information and work with other authorities.

To ensure that emergency plans and responses to flood incidents are effective and that communities are prepared for flooding.

To encourage innovative new thinking, considering community needs, while working with the existing natural and built environment.

To highlight where further detailed information and legislation regarding flooding can be found.

The Strategy includes nine objectives:

2

In order to ensure that the above objectives are met, the Strategy includes 7 measures that have been implemented by the authority:

1. Investigating floods2. Mapping local routes for water3. Looking after our watercourses4. Planning for future floods5. Influencing new development and drainage6. Building flood defences7. What more can you do? (such as facilitating volunteering events)

3

Legislative backgroundHabitats Regulations Assessment (HRA)Under the provisions of the EU Habitats Directive and translated into English law by the Habitats Regulations (The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017), a competent authority must carry out an assessment of whether a plan or project will significantly affect the integrity of any European Site, in terms of impacting the site’s conservation objectives.

HRA is the screening assessment of the impacts of a land use proposal against the conservation objectives of European sites. Specifically, it is to ascertain whether or not a proposal (either alone or in combination with other proposals) would potentially damage the internationally designated features of that site. European sites are also now known as Habitats sites (NPPF 2018).

This HRA Screening Report has been undertaken in order to support the Essex County Council Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (June 2018) in accordance with The Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

The Local Flood Risk Management Strategy may influence frameworks for future development, or become used ancillary to those plans and programmes that do set such a framework, and as such it has been determined that the principle of the Strategy should be screened for the necessary application of the Habitats Regulations.

This report represents HRA screening in regard to the content and influence of the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.

4

Habitat Regulations Assessment of Development PlansThis section forms a plan level Habitats RegulationsAssessment (HRA) as required by Regulation 63 ofThe Conservation of Habitats and Species(Amendment) Regulations 2017.

Under the provisions of the EU Habitats Directiveand translated into English law by the HabitatsRegulations (The Conservation of Habitats andSpecies Regulations 2017), a competent authoritymust carry out an assessment of whether a plan orproject will significantly affect the integrity of any European Site, in terms of impacting the site’s conservation objectives.

HRA is the screening assessment of the impacts of aland use proposal against the conservation objectives of Habitats (European) sites. Specifically, it is to ascertain whether or not a proposal (either alone or in combination with other proposals) wouldpotentially damage the internationally designated features of that site. European sites are also known as Natura 2000 sites.

This HRA Screening Report has been undertaken in order to support the Essex County Council Local

Flood Risk Management Strategy in accordance withThe Flood and Water Management Act 2010. The area covered by the Plan is shown in Appendix 1.

To demonstrate how the Plan is compatible with EUobligations, this includes the need to undertake aHRA screening.

This section of this Report aims to:

• Identify the Habitats sites within 20km of Essex.

• Summarise the reasons for designation and Conservation Objectives for each site to be considered in this assessment.

• Screen the Essex County Council Local Flood Risk Management Strategy for its potential to impact upon a Habitats site.

• Assess the potential for in combination effects from other projects and plans in the area.

• Identify if there are any outstanding issues that need further investigation.

HRA Screening

5

Special Protection Areas (SPAs)

SPAs are areas which have been identified as being of international importance for the breeding, feeding, wintering or the migration of rare and vulnerable species of birds found within EU countries. Example: Abberton Reservoir SPA is one of the most important reservoirs in the country for overwintering waterfowl. Legislation: EU Birds Directive.

Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)

SACs are areas designated to protect habitat types that are in danger of disappearance, have a small natural range, or are highly characteristic of the region; and to protect species that are endangered, vulnerable, rare, or endemic. Example: Essex Estuaries SAC has Atlantic salt meadows, mudflats and sandflats. Legislation: EU Habitats Directive.

Ramsar Sites (Wetlands of International Importance)

Ramsar Sites are designated to protect the biological and physical features of wetlands, especially for waterfowl Habitats. For example, Colne Estuary (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 2) Ramsar site is important due to the extent and diversity of saltmarsh and the site supports 12 species of nationally scare plants and at least 38 Red Data Book invertebrate species. Ramsar sites often overlap with SACs and SPAs and UK planning policy determines that they should be accorded the same importance when developments are proposed. Legislation: Ramsar Convention (1971) – Wetlands of International Importance.

Habitats (European) SitesHabitats (European) Sites are the centrepiece of EU wide Natura 2000 network of nature protection areas. The aim of the network is to assure the long-term survival of Europe’s most valuable and threatened species and habitats.

The sites are designated under the European Union (EU) Birds Directive (Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the Conservation of Wild Birds) and the EU Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora).

The Birds Directive requires the establishment of Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for birds. The Habitats Directive similarly requires Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) to be designated for other species, and for habitats. Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar sites) are also part of the Natura 2000 network. This is because all SPAs and SACs are comprised of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and all Ramsar sites in England are SSSIs. Together, SPAs, SACs and Ramsar Sites make up the Habitats Sites network in England.

6

Habitats Sites to be considered in this assessmentThere are 45 Habitats sites which lie within 20 km of Essex county.

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Table 1: Habitats Sites within 20km of Essex to be considered in this assessment

SPA SAC Ramsar

Stour and Orwell Estuaries Essex Estuaries Stour and Orwell Estuaries

Hamford Water Hamford Water Hamford Water

Crouch and Roach Estuaries Devils Dyke Crouch and Roach Estuaries

Abberton Reservoir Epping Forest Abberton Reservoir

Colne Estuary Eversden and Wimpole Woods Colne Estuary

Blackwater Estuary Wormley-Hoddesdonpark Woods Blackwater Estuary

Dengie Peters Pit Dengie

Foulness North Downs Woodlands Foulness

Benfleet & Southend Marshes Queensdown Warren Benfleet & Southend Marshes

Thames Estuary & Marshes Margate and Long Sands Thames Estuary & Marshes

Deben Estuary Staverton Park & The Thicks Deben Estuary

Alde-Ore Estuary Alde-Ore Estuary

Orfordness- Shingle Street Orfordness- Shingle Street

Medway Estuary & Marshes Medway Estuary & Marshes

The Swale The Swale

Tankerton Slopes and Swalecliffe Tankerton Slopes and Swalcliffe

Lee Valley Lee Valley

Conservation Objectives Information on the Conservation Objectives for each of the above Habitats sites has been taken from www.magic.gov.uk (2018).

Appendix 2 indicates the reason why each Habitats site is important and has been designated; the relevant SSSI compartments; and the Conservation Objectives and Designation Features for each site. This information has been obtained from the JNCC and Natural England websites.

The Zones of Influence of the above 45 Habitats Sites (27 SSSIs), as recently revised by Natural England to consider potential impacts on statutory sites, are shown on MAGIC website www.magic.gov.uk as SSSI Impact Risk Zones. After consideration of these Zones of Influence, it was concluded that the 29 of the above 45 Habitats Sites as listed in Table 4 below should now be assessed for likely significant effect from this Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.

Table 2: Habitats Sites with Zones of Influence in the Plan area

SPA SAC Ramsar

Stour and Orwell Estuaries Essex Estuaries Stour and Orwell Estuaries

Hamford Water Hamford Water Hamford Water

Crouch and Roach Estuaries Epping Forest Crouch and Roach Estuaries

Abberton Reservoir Eversden and Wimpole Woods Abberton Reservoir

Colne Estuary Essex Estuaries Colne Estuary

Blackwater Estuary Blackwater Estuary

Dengie Dengie

Foulness Foulness

Benfleet & Southend Marshes Benfleet & Southend Marshes

Outer Thames Outer Thames

Deben Estuary Deben Estuary

Lee Valley Lee Valley

Any projects within the Zones of Influence of any of the Habitats sites listed in Table 4, will trigger further assessment at project level.

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Table 3: Stages of the Habitats Regulations Assessment screening process

SPA SAC Ramsar

Stage 1 HRA Screening(Regulation 63)

• Describe the policies or projects. • Identify potential effects to a Habitats

Site. • Assess if any effects on a Habitats Site,

either alone or in combination, with other plans or projects are likely to be significant.

• Where significant effects are unlikely, prepare a ‘finding of no significant effect’ report and plan can be adopted.

• Where significant effects are judged likely, either alone or in combination or there is a lack of information to prove otherwise, go to Stage 2.

People over Wind CJEU ruling (April 2018) means that it is not possible to consider mitigation measures when screening for impacts.

Stage 2 Appropriate Assessment(Regulation 63)

• Consider if impacts are likely to affect any qualifying features; those policies and /or projects that are likely to result in adverse effects on the integrity of any Habitats Sites should be assessed.

• Consider mitigation measures if necessary and re-screen plan.

• If no adverse effect on site integrity either alone or in combination, the plan can be adopted.

• If it is not possible to ascertain no adverse effect on site integrity, go to Stage 3.

Holohan CJEU ruling (November 2018) now imposes more detailed requirements on the competent authority at Appropriate Assessment stage.

Stage 3 Assessment of alternative solutions (Regulation 64)

• Identify whether alternative solutions exist that would achieve the objectives of the plan and have no or a lesser effect on the integrity of a Habitats Site(s).

• If effects remain after alternative solutions been considered, consider whether the policies and/or projects should proceed with modification or the policies (and projects) be removed from the plan.

• If there are alternative solutions to the plan, it cannot be adopted without modification.

• If no financially, legally or technically viable alternatives exist, go to Stage 4.

Stage 4 IROPI(Regulation 64)

• Consider if the risk and harm to the Habitats Site is over-ridden by Imperative Reasons of Over-riding Public Interest (IROPI).

• Identify and prepare delivery of compensatory measures to protect the overall coherence of the Natura 2000 network and notify Government.

• If there are IROPI and compensatory measures, the plan can be adopted.

• If there are no IROPI, the plan cannot be adopted.

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Potential impacts of the Essex Local Flood Risk Management Strategy on Habitats SitesThere is a wide range of potential impacts from development which can be summarised as :

• Land take by developments;

• Impact on protected species found within but which travel outside the protected sites may be relevant where development could result in effects on qualifying interest species within the Habitats site, for example through the loss of feeding grounds for an identified species.

• Increased disturbance, for example from recreational use resulting from new housing development and / or improved access due to transport infrastructure projects;

• Changes in water availability, or water quality as a result of development and increased demands for water treatment, and changes in groundwater regimes due to increased impermeable areas;

• Changes in atmospheric pollution levels due to increased traffic, waste management facilities etc. Pollution discharges from developments such as industrial Developments, quarries and waste management facilities.

Each policy in the Essex Local Flood Risk Management Strategy will therefore be assessed against the above criteria in the table below.

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Table 4: Assessment of potential impacts

Nature of potential impact

How the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (alone or in combination with other plans and project) could affect a Habitats site?

Why these effects are/not considered to be significant?

Land take by development

Essex county contains land within the boundaries of the Habitats sites within scope of this HRA.

The Strategy does not allocate any land for development purposes or include any content that would lead or contribute to any land take for any Habitats sites.

Impact on protected species outside the protected sites

Essex county contains land for functional use by designated features of the Habitats sites.

The Strategy does not allocate any land for development purposes or include any content that would lead or contribute to any likely impacts on protected species outside the Habitats sites.

Disturbance HRA / AA work undertaken at the Local Plan level indicates that there could be a potential pathway for development in the Plan area to impact on the SPA/SAC/Ramsar sites within the scope of the HRA as Essex lies within the Zones of Influence.

The Strategy does not allocate any land for development purposes or include any content that would lead or contribute to any disturbance.

Water quantity and quality

Previous HRA / AA work undertaken on the Local Flood Risk Management Strategies indicates that there could be potential pathways for projects to impact on the SPA/SAC/Ramsar sites within scope of the HRA as the County lies within the Zones of Influence.

The Strategy does not allocate any land for development purposes or include any content that would lead or contribute to any deterioration of water quality.

Changes in air & noise pollution levels

It is considered that there is no pathway for development to result in pollution impacts.

The Strategy does not allocate any land for development purposes or include any content that would lead or contribute to any deterioration of air quality.

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Category A : No negative effect

Policies or projects that will not be likely to have any negative effect on a Habitats site.

Category B : No Likely Significant Effect

Policies or projects that could have an effect but would not be likely to have a likely significant effect on a Habitats site alone or in combination. This conclusion could only be reached if the effects, even in combination and taking the precautionary principle into account, are considered trivial.

Category C : Likely Significant Effect

Policies or projects which are predicted to have a likely significant effect on a Habitats Site either on its own or in combination with other plans and projects and require revision or further assessment (Appropriate Assessment).

Results of HRA Screening of Local Flood Risk Management Strategy PoliciesEach of the Measures in the Essex Local Flood Risk Management Strategy has been screened to identify whether they would have any impact on a Habitats Site.

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Table 5: Summary of findings

Policy Will Policy have Likely Significant Effect on a Habitats Site?

Recommendations

Measure 1: Investigating floodingLegislation gives Essex County Council a duty to investigate floods. In Essex, not only do we investigate what happened in a local flood, butwho should be involved and what they will do. We are also helping flooded residents to access grants to protect their property. Unfortunately asolution to every case isn’t always possible or affordable, but we will work towards this wherever we can.Our flood investigation engineer will aim to contact flooded residents as soon as possible following a flood. Investigations can take a few months to complete while we gather data and speak to all those involved.

No, Category A No specific recommendations

Measure 2: Mapping local routes for waterAnother of our duties is to keep a record of structures or features that form part of local drainage systems. These can be things such as pipes, bridges or raised banks, which occur on local routes for water. These can have a big impact on local flooding.We record both old or new features and keep details about their ownership and condition. The record must be available for the public to view. For Essex it can be accessed through the online map at www.essex.gov.uk/flooding. There are already 10,000 records on our database, these numbers have been built up through our flood planning work, but we are also asking for communities to help us gather more. We run a project called ‘Where Does Water Go?’ with Parish Councils and Flood Action Groups. In this project we provide volunteers with the tools for surveying and recording their local drainage. In the process we can assist sharing information about maintenance and responsibility to help make sure local routes for water are clear. We also provide a digital map of the drainage for future reference

No, Category A No specific recommendations

Measure 3: Looking after our watercoursesSmall streams and ditches have an important job in draining water across our land. We know these channels as ‘ordinary watercourses’. Unfortunately a lot of open channels have now been built over, filled in or piped. If you are planning on starting any work affecting or changing an ordinary watercourse, you may require permission from us before you start the work. We will check that your plans are necessary and won’t increase flood risk. We want to keep our ordinary watercourses open, clean and free of obstacles so that when water levels do increase, they are in the best possible working order.For more information on this please go to: www.essex.gov.uk/flooding. If any work has been carried out without our permission, the Council can start a legal process to get things put back how they were.

No, Category A No specific recommendations

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Table 5: Summary of Findings

Policy Will Policy have Likely Significant Effect on a Habitats Site?

Recommendations

Measure 4: Planning for future floodsThinking about how we manage a flood that might happen in the future requires some technical help. We have to create computer generated mock-ups of all possible scenarios. Our computer models will include accurate levels from the lay of the land, they map the buildings the soil types and the drainage locations, all to create the best representation of reality. A simulation then acts out very heavy rainfall for different lengths of time onto each location, giving us a look at the worst-case scenario. We use flood models where there is potential for most people to be affected by flooding. Finding out where most people are affected issomething an initial study called a Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) does. We have to carry the PFRA assessment out every six years. In locations where more than 500 properties could be at risk, we then will carry out a Surface WaterManagement Plan.

No, Category A No specific recommendations

Measure 5: Influencing new development and DrainageNew developments can increase the risk of surface water flooding; as a result we are consulted by Local Planning Authorities to comment on planning applications that are defined as major. We also provide surface water drainage specific advice to the District and Boroughs when they are writing their local plans.In responding to planning applications, we want to ensure that the increased risk of surface water flooding is lessened by promoting sustainable drainage (SuDs) within the development. As well as ensuring that proposal meets the requirements within national and local standards.Sustainable Drainage such as those features set out in the drawing aim to reflect natural drainage. Further information on the design of SuDs features can be found in our SuDs Design Guide at: www.essex.gov.uk/flooding

No, Category A No specific recommendations

Measure 6: Building flood defencesWhere our plans and investigations have identified communities to be at risk of flooding, we will consider whether building new flood defences provides a value for money solution. That is, whether the cost of the flood damage avoided equals more than the cost of building the defence. Solutions can range from small things such as flood walls, ditches or bunds. Whereas other schemes require larger attenuation ponds, pipes and flow control devices such as ‘hydro-brakes’. Every year we have to consider potential schemes with our partners and a decision is made whether to implement any plans. The total amount of money available from Essex County Council to invest in these schemes is reviewed on a five year cycle.

No, Category A No specific recommendations

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Table 5: Summary of Findings

Policy Will Policy have Likely Significant Effect on a Habitats Site?

Recommendations

Measure 7: What more can you do?Community Flood Improvement FundWe hear from many communities that feel a solution to their flooding problem could be a simple and low-cost one. This grant has been enabling communities to put plans or schemes into action, and reduce flood risk to properties or businesses within their local area. Projects to protect homes are given a priority, but if you have an idea then talk to your local or parish council about supporting your application. We will consider applications from the following groups:• Town and parish councils• Community groups• District, Borough and City Councils• Landowners and farmers• Charities and voluntary organisations• Conservation bodies• Other Flood Risk Management Authorities in Essex

Property Level Resilience GrantWith our Property Level Resilience (PLR) Grant you can get up to £5000 to protect your property against flooding. Since 2014, our PLR Grants have been made available to Essex residents who have experienced flood water entering their property. Successful applicants have had practical resilience measures installed, such as self-closing air bricks, reinforced flood doors, non-return valves, pumps and flood barriers. We have made sure the process is as simple as possible for those in need of our help and the scheme has received national praise for its success.

Volunteer with usCommunity ditch maintenanceOne way we try and reduce local flood risk is through volunteer ditch clearance events. For the last couple of years, Essex County Council has teamed up with local residents and volunteers to assist landowners maintain streams and ditches in their area. These events are not only a great way to meet our residents, but also enable us to educate them about flood risk and help build community resilience whilst directly protecting properties from flooding

No, Category A No specific recommendations

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Table 7: Other plans or projects considered for in combination effects

Policy Potential for in combination effects

Essex Local Transport Plan None

Minerals and Waste Development Plan for Essex None

Suffolk Local Transport Plan None

Cambridgeshire Local Transport Plan None

Hertfordshire Local Transport Plan None

When considering the combined effects of plans or projects, the combined effect on the ecological functioning of the site interest feature must be considered carefully, as the effect can often be greater than the sum of each individual element. This effect is often referred to as a synergistic effect.

Cumulative effects can result from individually insignificant but collectively significant actions taking place over a period of time or concentrated in a location. Cumulative effects are particularly

important in ecological impact assessments as many ecological features are already exposed to background levels of threat or pressure and may be close to critical thresholds where further impact could cause irreversible decline. Effects can also make habitats and species more vulnerable or sensitive to change.

In the context of this HRA, the relevant other plans & projects for consideration are listed in Table 7 below in-combination with the ECC Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.

There are five Plans that have been carried out by Essex CC or other organisations that are considered relevant to an in –combination assessment for a potential adverse effect on the integrity of Habitats sites being assessed. However as there are no locations for projects within the Essex LFRMS, it is not possible to identify any projects or particular impacts eg air quality, which should be considered in an in-combination assessment of impacts on any Habitats Site within scope.

The Essex LFRMS does not allocate any sites for projects so it does not require any mitigation measures on its own or for any in combination impacts at this stage. The likely impacts of individual projects will need further assessment at the project level.

Other Plans & Programmes: In-Combination Effects

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ConclusionHabitats Regulations Assessment (HRA)Subject to Natural England’s review, this HRA screening report indicates that the Essex Local Flood Risk Management Strategy is not predicted to have likely significant effects on any Habitats site, either alone or in combination with other plans and projects.

The requirement for the Plan to undertake further assessment under the Habitats Regulations 2017 is therefore screened out.

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Appendix 1The Essex LFRMS area and Habitats sites within 20km

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esig

natio

n in

clud

e pa

rt o

f the

Pla

n ar

ea. I

nfor

mat

ion

abou

t eac

h si

te’s

are

a, th

e si

te d

escr

iptio

ns, q

ualif

ying

feat

ures

and

pr

essu

res

and

thre

ats

are

draw

n fr

om N

atur

al E

ngla

nd’s

Site

Impr

ovem

ent P

lans

(SIP

s) a

nd th

e St

anda

rd D

ata

Form

s or

Ram

sar I

nfor

mat

ion

Shee

ts

avai

labl

e fr

om th

e JN

CC w

ebsi

te. S

ite c

onse

rvat

ion

obje

ctiv

es a

re d

raw

n fr

om N

atur

al E

ngla

nd’s

web

site

and

are

onl

y av

aila

ble

for S

ACs

and

SPA

s.

Char

acte

ristic

s of

Hab

itats

site

s w

ithin

sco

pe o

f thi

s as

sess

men

t

19

Sit

e N

ame

Area

(ha)

Qua

lifyi

ng F

eatu

res

Cons

erva

tion

obj

ecti

ves

(onl

y av

aila

ble

for S

ACs

& S

PAs)

The

area

qua

lifies

und

er A

rtic

le 4

.2 o

f the

Dir

ecti

ve (7

9/40

9/EE

C) b

y re

gula

rly

supp

orti

ng a

t lea

st 2

0,0

00

wat

erfo

wl

incl

udin

g:•

Corm

oran

t Pha

lacr

ocor

ax c

arbo

•Pi

ntai

l Ana

s ac

uta

•Ri

nged

Plo

ver C

hara

driu

s hi

atic

ula

•G

rey

Plov

er P

luvi

alis

squ

atar

ola

•D

unlin

Cal

idris

alp

ina

alpi

ne•

Bla

ck-t

aile

d G

odw

it Li

mos

a lim

osa

isla

ndic

a•

Reds

hank

Trin

ga te

tanu

s•

She

lduc

k Ta

dorn

a ta

dorn

a•

Gre

at C

rest

ed G

rebe

Pod

icep

s cr

ista

tus

•Cu

rlew

Num

eniu

s ar

quat

a•

Dar

k-be

llied

Bre

nt G

oose

Bra

nta

bern

icla

ber

nicl

a•

Wig

eon

Anas

Pen

elop

e•

Gol

dene

ye B

ucep

hala

cla

ngul

a•

Oys

terc

atch

er H

aem

atop

us o

stra

legu

s•

Lapw

ing

Vane

llus

vane

llus

•Kn

ot C

alid

ris c

anut

us•

Turn

ston

e Ar

enar

ia in

terp

res

•Th

e po

pula

tion

s of

the

qual

ifyi

ng fe

atur

es;

•Th

e di

stri

buti

on o

f the

qua

lifyi

ng fe

atur

es w

ithi

n th

e si

te.

Sto

ur a

nd O

rwel

l Es

tuar

ies

Ram

sar s

ite

EU C

ode:

UK1

1067

3676

.92

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

2Co

ntai

ns s

even

nat

iona

lly s

carc

e pl

ants

:•

Sti

ff s

altm

arsh

-gra

ss P

ucci

nelli

a ru

pest

ris•

Sm

all c

ord-

gras

s Sp

artin

a m

ariti

me

•Pe

renn

ial g

lass

wor

t Sar

coco

rnia

per

enni

s•

Lax-

flow

ered

sea

lave

nder

Lim

oniu

m h

umile

•Ee

lgra

sses

Zos

tera

ang

ustif

olia

, Z. m

arin

a an

d Z.

nol

tei.

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

5

Ass

embl

ages

of i

nter

nati

onal

impo

rtan

ce; s

peci

es w

ith

peak

co

unts

in w

inte

r; 6

3,0

17 w

ater

fow

l.

Non

e av

aila

ble

20

Sit

e N

ame

Area

(ha)

Qua

lifyi

ng F

eatu

res

Cons

erva

tion

obj

ecti

ves

(onl

y av

aila

ble

for S

ACs

& S

PAs)

Ass

embl

ages

of i

nter

nati

onal

impo

rtan

ce; s

peci

es w

ith

peak

co

unts

in w

inte

r; 6

3,0

17 w

ater

fow

l.

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

6

Spec

ies/

pop

ulat

ions

occ

urri

ng a

t lev

els

of in

tern

atio

nal

impo

rtan

ce:

Spec

ies

wit

h pe

ak c

ount

s in

spr

ing/

autu

mn;

•Co

mm

on re

dsha

nk ,

Trin

ga to

tanu

s to

tanu

s

Spec

ies

wit

h pe

ak c

ount

s in

win

ter:

•D

ark-

belli

ed b

rent

goo

se, B

rant

a be

rnic

la b

erni

cla

•N

orth

ern

pint

ail ,

Ana

s ac

uta

•G

rey

plov

er ,

Pluv

ialis

squ

atar

ola

•Re

d kn

ot ,

Calid

ris c

anut

us is

land

ica

•D

unlin

, Ca

lidris

alp

ina

alpi

na•

Bla

ck-t

aile

d go

dwit

, Lim

osa

limos

a is

land

ica

•Co

mm

on re

dsha

nk ,

Trin

ga to

tanu

s te

tanu

s

The

Deb

en E

stua

ryTh

e D

eben

Est

uary

lies

wit

hin

Suff

olk

Coas

tal D

istr

ict a

t the

sou

ther

n bo

rder

of S

uffo

lk. T

he e

stua

ries

incl

ude

exte

nsiv

e m

ud-fl

ats,

low

clif

fs, s

altm

arsh

and

sm

all a

reas

of

veg

etat

ed s

hing

le o

n th

e lo

wer

reac

hes.

The

mud

-flat

s ho

ld E

nter

omor

pha,

Zos

tera

and

Sal

icor

nia

spp.

In s

umm

er, t

he s

ite s

uppo

rts

impo

rtan

t num

bers

of b

reed

ing

Avo

cet w

hile

in w

inte

r the

y ho

ld m

ajor

con

cent

rati

ons

of w

ater

bird

s, e

spec

ially

gee

se, d

ucks

and

wad

ers.

The

gee

se a

lso

feed

, and

wad

ers

roos

t, in

sur

roun

ding

are

as o

f ag

ricu

ltura

l lan

d ou

tsid

e th

e SP

A.

Deb

en E

stua

ry, S

PA

EU C

ode:

UK9

009

261

978.

93Q

ualif

ying

Fea

ture

s p

oten

tially

aff

ecte

d:

•A

046a

Dar

k-be

llied

bre

nt g

oose

Bra

nta

bern

icla

ber

nicl

a (N

on-b

reed

ing)

;•

A13

2 P

ied

avoc

et ,

Recu

rviro

stra

avo

sett

a (b

reed

ing)

Wit

h re

gard

to th

e in

divi

dual

spe

cies

and

/or a

ssem

blag

e of

sp

ecie

s fo

r whi

ch th

e si

te h

as b

een

clas

sifie

d (“

the

Qua

lifyi

ng

Feat

ures

list

ed b

elow

);•

Avo

id th

e de

teri

orat

ion

of th

e ha

bita

ts o

f the

Qua

lifyi

ng

Feat

ures

, and

the

sign

ifica

nt d

istu

rban

ce o

f the

qua

lifyi

ng

feat

ures

, ens

urin

g th

e in

tegr

ity

of th

e si

te is

mai

ntai

ned

and

the

site

mak

es a

full

cont

ribu

tion

to a

chie

ving

the

aim

s of

Th

e B

irds

Dir

ecti

ve.

21

Sit

e N

ame

Area

(ha)

Qua

lifyi

ng F

eatu

res

Cons

erva

tion

obj

ecti

ves

(onl

y av

aila

ble

for S

ACs

& S

PAs)

Subj

ect t

o na

tura

l cha

nge,

to m

aint

ain

or re

stor

e:•

The

exte

nt a

nd d

istr

ibut

ion

of th

e ha

bita

ts o

f the

qua

lifyi

ng

feat

ures

;•

The

stru

ctur

e an

d fu

ncti

on o

f the

hab

itats

of t

he q

ualif

ying

fe

atur

es;

•Th

e su

ppor

ting

pro

cess

es o

n w

hich

the

habi

tats

of t

he

qual

ifyi

ng fe

atur

es re

ly;

•Th

e po

pula

tion

s of

the

qual

ifyi

ng fe

atur

es;

•Th

e di

stri

buti

on o

f the

qua

lifyi

ng fe

atur

es w

ithi

n th

e si

te.

Deb

en E

stua

ry R

amsa

r site

EU C

ode:

UK1

1017

978.

93Q

ualif

ying

Spe

cies

/pop

ulat

ions

(as

iden

tifie

d at

des

igna

tion

)

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

2Su

ppor

ts a

pop

ulat

ion

of th

e m

ollu

sc V

erti

go a

ngus

tior

(Hab

itats

Dir

ecti

ve A

nnex

II (S

1014

); B

ritis

h Re

d D

ata

Boo

k En

dang

ered

). M

artle

sham

Cre

ek is

one

of o

nly

abou

t fou

rtee

n si

tes

in B

rita

in w

here

this

spe

cies

sur

vive

s.

Spec

ies

wit

h pe

ak c

ount

s in

win

ter:

Dar

k-be

llied

bre

nt g

oose

, Bra

nta

bern

icla

ber

nicl

a, 1

953

indi

vidu

als,

repr

esen

ting

an

aver

age

of 1

.9%

of t

he G

B

popu

lati

on (5

yea

r pea

k m

ean

1998

/9-2

002

/3)

Spec

ies

curr

entl

y oc

curr

ing

at le

vels

of n

atio

nal i

mpo

rtan

ce:

Spec

ies

wit

h pe

ak c

ount

s in

spr

ing/

autu

mn:

Non

e av

aila

ble

22

Sit

e N

ame

Area

(ha)

Qua

lifyi

ng F

eatu

res

Cons

erva

tion

obj

ecti

ves

(onl

y av

aila

ble

for S

ACs

& S

PAs)

Bla

ck-t

aile

d go

dwit

, Lim

osa

limos

a is

land

ica,

Icel

and/

W

Euro

pe 3

07 in

divi

dual

s, re

pres

enti

ng a

n av

erag

e of

1.9

%

of th

e G

B p

opul

atio

n (5

yea

r pea

k m

ean

1998

/9-2

002

/3)

Com

mon

gre

ensh

ank,

Trin

ga n

ebul

aria

, Eur

ope/

W A

fric

a 22

indi

vidu

als,

repr

esen

ting

an

aver

age

of 3

.6%

of t

he G

B

popu

lati

on (5

yea

r pea

k m

ean

1998

/9- 2

002

/3)

Spec

ies

wit

h pe

ak c

ount

s in

win

ter:

Bea

n go

ose

, Ans

er fa

balis

faba

lis, N

W E

urop

e - W

inte

ring

5

indi

vidu

als,

repr

esen

ting

an

aver

age

of 1

.2%

of t

he G

B

popu

lati

on (S

ourc

e pe

riod

not

col

late

d)

Com

mon

she

lduc

k , T

ador

na ta

dorn

a, N

W E

urop

e 83

2 in

divi

dual

s, re

pres

enti

ng a

n av

erag

e of

1%

of t

he G

B

popu

lati

on (5

yea

r pea

k m

ean

1998

/9-

2002

/3) P

ied

avoc

et ,

i,Eur

ope/

Nor

thw

est A

fric

a 16

7 in

divi

dual

s, re

pres

enti

ng a

n av

erag

e of

4.9

% o

f the

GB

po

pula

tion

(5 y

ear p

eak

mea

n 19

98/9

-

2002

/3) S

pott

ed re

dsha

nk ,

Trin

ga e

ryth

ropu

s, E

urop

e/W

A

fric

a 3

indi

vidu

als,

repr

esen

ting

an

aver

age

of 2

.2%

of

the

GB

pop

ulat

ion

(5 y

ear p

eak

mea

n 19

98/9

- 20

02/3

) Co

mm

on re

dsha

nk ,

Trin

ga to

tanu

s to

tanu

s, 2

124

indi

vidu

als,

re

pres

enti

ng a

n av

erag

e of

1.8

% o

f the

GB

pop

ulat

ion

(5 y

ear

peak

mea

n 19

98/9

- 20

02/3

)

Spec

ies

Info

rmat

ion

Nat

iona

lly im

port

ant s

peci

es o

ccur

ring

on

the

site

:In

vert

ebra

tes:

Ver

tigo

ang

ustio

r (N

atio

nally

Sca

rce)

& V

erti

go

pusi

lla (N

atio

nally

Sca

rce)

23

Sit

e N

ame

Area

(ha)

Qua

lifyi

ng F

eatu

res

Cons

erva

tion

obj

ecti

ves

(onl

y av

aila

ble

for S

ACs

& S

PAs)

Ben

fleet

and

Sou

then

d M

arsh

esB

enfle

et a

nd S

outh

end

Mar

shes

is a

n es

tuar

ine

area

on

the

Esse

x si

de o

f the

Tha

mes

Est

uary

. The

site

is c

ompr

ised

of a

n ex

tens

ive

seri

es o

f sal

tmar

shes

, mud

flats

, and

gr

assl

and

whi

ch s

uppo

rt a

div

erse

flor

a an

d fa

una,

incl

udin

g in

tern

atio

nally

impo

rtan

t num

bers

of w

inte

ring

wat

erfo

wl.

Ben

fleet

and

Sou

then

d M

arsh

es, S

PA

UK9

009

171

2283

.94

•A

046a

Bra

nta

bern

icla

ber

nicl

a; D

ark-

belli

ed B

rent

goo

se

(Non

-bre

edin

g)•

A13

7 Ch

arad

rius

hiat

icul

a; R

inge

d pl

over

(Non

-bre

edin

g)•

A14

1 Pl

uvia

lis s

quat

arol

a; G

rey

plov

er (N

on-b

reed

ing)

•A

143

Calid

ris c

anut

us; R

ed k

not (

Non

-bre

edin

g)•

A14

9 Ca

lidris

alp

ina

alpi

na; D

unlin

(Non

-bre

edin

g)•

Wat

erbi

rd a

ssem

blag

e

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

can

be fo

und

via

Nat

ural

Eng

land

’s

Supp

lem

enta

ry A

dvic

e.

Ensu

re th

at th

e in

tegr

ity

of th

e si

te is

mai

ntai

ned

or re

stor

ed a

s ap

prop

riat

e, a

nd e

nsur

e th

at th

e si

te c

ontr

ibut

es to

ach

ievi

ng

the

aim

s of

the

Wild

Bir

ds D

irec

tive

, by

mai

ntai

ning

or r

esto

ring

:

•Th

e ex

tent

and

dis

trib

utio

n of

the

habi

tats

of t

he q

ualif

ying

fe

atur

es;

•Th

e st

ruct

ure

and

func

tion

of t

he h

abita

ts o

f the

qua

lifyi

ng

feat

ures

;•

The

supp

orti

ng p

roce

sses

on

whi

ch th

e ha

bita

ts o

f the

qu

alif

ying

feat

ures

rely

The

popu

lati

on o

f eac

h of

the

qual

ifyi

ng fe

atur

es, a

nd•

The

dist

ribu

tion

of t

he q

ualif

ying

feat

ures

wit

hin

the

site

.

Ben

fleet

and

Sou

then

d M

arsh

es R

amsa

r site

UK1

100

6

2251

.31

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

5

Ass

embl

ages

of i

nter

nati

onal

impo

rtan

ce; s

peci

es w

ith

peak

cou

nts

in w

inte

r; 3

2867

wat

erfo

wl (

5 ye

ar p

eak

mea

n 19

98/9

9-20

02/2

003

).

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

6

Spec

ies/

popu

lati

ons

occu

rrin

g at

leve

ls o

f int

erna

tion

al

impo

rtan

ce:

Spec

ies

wit

h pe

ak c

ount

s in

spr

ing/

autu

mn:

•B

rant

a be

rnic

la b

erni

cla;

Dar

k-be

llied

bre

nt g

oose

Spec

ies

wit

h pe

ak c

ount

s in

win

ter:

•Ch

arad

rius

hiat

icul

a; R

inge

d pl

over

•

Pluv

ialis

squ

atar

ola;

Gre

y pl

over

Spec

ies/

popu

lati

ons

iden

tifie

d su

bseq

uent

to d

esig

nati

on

for p

ossi

ble

futu

re c

onsi

dera

tion

und

er c

rite

rion

6.

Spec

ies

wit

h pe

ak c

ount

s in

win

ter:

•Ca

lidris

alp

ina

alpi

na; D

unlin

Non

e av

aila

ble

24

Sit

e N

ame

Area

(ha)

Qua

lifyi

ng F

eatu

res

Cons

erva

tion

obj

ecti

ves

(onl

y av

aila

ble

for S

ACs

&

SPAs

)

Bla

ckw

ater

Est

uary

(Mid

-Ess

ex C

oast

Pha

se 4

) Th

e B

lack

wat

er E

stua

ry is

the

larg

est e

stua

ry in

Ess

ex n

orth

of t

he T

ham

es a

nd, i

s on

e of

the

larg

est e

stua

rine

com

plex

es in

Eas

t Ang

lia. I

ts m

udfla

ts, f

ring

ed b

y sa

ltm

arsh

on

the

uppe

r sho

res,

sup

port

inte

rnat

iona

lly a

nd n

atio

nally

impo

rtan

t num

bers

of o

verw

inte

ring

wat

erfo

wl.

Shi

ngle

and

she

ll ba

nks

and

offs

hore

isla

nds

are

also

a fe

atur

e of

the

tida

l flat

s. T

he s

urro

undi

ng te

rres

tria

l hab

itats

; the

sea

wal

l, an

cien

t gra

zing

mar

sh a

nd it

s as

soci

ated

flee

t and

ditc

h sy

stem

s, p

lus

sem

i-im

prov

ed

gras

slan

d ar

e al

so o

f hig

h co

nser

vati

on in

tere

st. T

his

rich

mos

aic

of h

abita

ts s

uppo

rts

an o

utst

andi

ng a

ssem

blag

e of

nat

iona

lly s

carc

e pl

ants

and

a n

atio

nally

impo

rtan

t as

sem

blag

e of

rare

inve

rteb

rate

s. T

here

are

16

Bri

tish

Red

Dat

a B

ook

spec

ies

and

94 n

otab

le a

nd lo

cal s

peci

es.

Bla

ckw

ater

Est

uary

, SPA

(Mid

-Ess

ex C

oast

Pha

se 4

)

UK9

009

245

4395

.15

•A

046a

Bra

nta

bern

icla

ber

nicl

a; D

ark-

belli

ed b

rent

goo

se

(Non

-bre

edin

g)•

A0

59 A

ythy

a fe

rina;

Com

mon

poc

hard

(Bre

edin

g)•

A0

82 C

ircus

cya

neus

; Hen

har

rier

(Non

-bre

edin

g)•

A13

7 Ch

arad

rius

hiat

icul

a; R

inge

d pl

over

(Bre

edin

g)•

A14

1 Pl

uvia

lis s

quat

arol

a; G

rey

plov

er (N

on-b

reed

ing)

•A

149

Calid

ris a

lpin

a al

pina

; Dun

lin (N

on-b

reed

ing)

•A

156

Lim

osa

limos

a is

land

ica;

Bla

ck-t

aile

d go

dwit

(Non

-br

eedi

ng)

•A

195

Ster

na a

lbifr

ons;

Lit

tle te

rn (B

reed

ing)

•W

ater

bird

ass

embl

age

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

can

be fo

und

via

Nat

ural

Eng

land

’s

Supp

lem

enta

ry A

dvic

e.

Ensu

re th

at th

e in

tegr

ity

of th

e si

te is

mai

ntai

ned

or re

stor

ed a

s ap

prop

riat

e, a

nd e

nsur

e th

at th

e si

te

cont

ribu

tes

to a

chie

ving

the

aim

s of

the

Wild

Bir

ds

Dir

ecti

ve, b

y m

aint

aini

ng o

r res

tori

ng:

•Th

e ex

tent

and

dis

trib

utio

n of

the

habi

tats

of t

he

qual

ifyi

ng fe

atur

es;

•Th

e st

ruct

ure

and

func

tion

of t

he h

abita

ts o

f the

qu

alif

ying

feat

ures

;•

The

supp

orti

ng p

roce

sses

on

whi

ch th

e ha

bita

ts o

f th

e qu

alif

ying

feat

ures

rely

;•

The

popu

lati

on o

f eac

h of

the

qual

ifyi

ng fe

atur

es,

and

•Th

e di

stri

buti

on o

f the

qua

lifyi

ng fe

atur

es w

ithi

n th

e si

te.

Bla

ckw

ater

Est

uary

Ram

sar s

ite(M

id-E

ssex

Coa

st P

hase

4)

UK1

1007

4395

.15

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

1Q

ualifi

es b

y vi

rtue

of t

he e

xten

t and

div

ersi

ty o

f sal

tmar

sh

habi

tat p

rese

nt. T

his

site

, and

the

four

oth

ers

in th

e M

id-E

ssex

Co

ast c

ompl

ex, i

nclu

des

a to

tal o

f 3,2

37 h

a th

at re

pres

ent 7

0%

of

the

salt

mar

sh h

abita

t in

Esse

x an

d 7%

of t

he to

tal a

rea

of

salt

mar

sh in

Bri

tain

.

Non

e av

aila

ble.

25

Sit

e N

ame

Area

(ha)

Qua

lifyi

ng F

eatu

res

Cons

erva

tion

obj

ecti

ves

(onl

y av

aila

ble

for S

ACs

& S

PAs)

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

2Th

e in

vert

ebra

te fa

una

is w

ell r

epre

sent

ed a

nd in

clud

es a

t le

ast 1

6 B

ritis

h Re

d D

ata

Boo

k sp

ecie

s. In

des

cend

ing

orde

r of

rari

ty th

ese

are:

End

ange

red:

a w

ater

bee

tle P

arac

ymus

ae

neus

; Vul

nera

ble:

a d

amse

lfly

Lest

es d

ryas

, the

flie

s Ae

des

flave

scen

s, E

riopt

era

bivi

ttat

a, H

ybom

itra

expo

llica

ta a

nd th

e sp

ider

s H

elio

phan

us a

urat

us a

nd T

richo

pter

na c

ito; R

are:

the

beet

les

Bar

is s

colo

pace

a, P

hilo

nthu

s pu

nctu

s, G

rapt

odyt

es

bilin

eatu

s an

d M

alac

hius

vul

nera

tus,

the

flies

Cam

psic

emus

m

agiu

s an

d M

yopi

tes

exim

ia, t

he m

oths

Idae

a oc

hrat

a an

d M

alac

osom

a ca

stre

nsis

and

the

spid

er E

uoph

rys.

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

3

This

site

sup

port

s a

full

and

repr

esen

tati

ve s

eque

nces

of

salt

mar

sh p

lant

com

mun

itie

s co

veri

ng th

e ra

nge

of v

aria

tion

in

Bri

tain

.

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

5

Ass

embl

ages

of i

nter

nati

onal

impo

rtan

ce; s

peci

es w

ith

peak

cou

nts

in w

inte

r; 1

050

61 w

ater

fow

l (5

year

pea

k m

ean

1998

/99-

2002

/20

03)

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

6

Spec

ies/

popu

lati

ons

occu

rrin

g at

leve

ls o

f int

erna

tion

al

impo

rtan

ce:

26

Sit

e N

ame

Area

(ha)

Qua

lifyi

ng F

eatu

res

Cons

erva

tion

obj

ecti

ves

(onl

y av

aila

ble

for S

ACs

& S

PAs)

Spec

ies

wit

h pe

ak c

ount

s in

win

ter:

•

Pluv

ialis

squ

atar

ola;

Gre

y pl

over

•

Calid

ris a

lpin

a al

pina

; Dun

lin

•Li

mos

a lim

osa

isla

ndic

a; B

lack

-tai

led

godw

it

Spec

ies/

popu

lati

ons

iden

tifie

d su

bseq

uent

to d

esig

nati

on

for p

ossi

ble

futu

re c

onsi

dera

tion

und

er c

rite

rion

6.

Spec

ies

wit

h pe

ak c

ount

s in

win

ter:

•Ta

dorn

a ta

dorn

a; C

omm

on s

held

uck

•Pl

uvia

lis a

pric

aria

apr

icar

ia; E

urop

ean

gold

en p

love

r•

Trin

ga to

tanu

s te

tanu

s; C

omm

on re

dsha

nk

Crou

ch &

Roa

ch E

stua

ries

(Mid

-Ess

ex C

oast

Pha

se 3

)Th

e Ri

vers

Cro

uch

and

Roac

h ar

e si

tuat

ed in

Sou

th E

ssex

. The

Riv

er C

rouc

h oc

cupi

es a

sha

llow

val

ley

betw

een

two

ridg

es o

f Lon

don

Clay

, whi

lst t

he R

iver

Roa

ch is

set

pr

edom

inan

tly

betw

een

area

s of

bri

ck e

arth

and

loam

s w

ith

patc

hes

of s

and

and

grav

el. T

he in

tert

idal

zon

e al

ong

the

Rive

rs C

rouc

h an

d Ro

ach

is ‘s

quee

zed’

bet

wee

n th

e se

a w

alls

of b

oth

bank

s an

d th

e ri

ver c

hann

el. T

his

leav

es a

rela

tive

ly n

arro

w s

trip

of t

idal

mud

unl

ike

othe

r est

uari

es in

the

coun

ty, w

hich

, non

ethe

less

, is

used

by

sign

ifica

nt

num

bers

of b

irds

. One

spe

cies

is p

rese

nt in

inte

rnat

iona

lly im

port

ant n

umbe

rs, a

nd th

ree

othe

r spe

cies

of w

ader

and

wild

fow

l occ

ur in

nat

iona

lly im

port

ant n

umbe

rs.

Add

itio

nal i

nter

est i

s pr

ovid

ed b

y th

e aq

uati

c an

d te

rres

tria

l inv

erte

brat

es a

nd b

y an

out

stan

ding

ass

embl

age

of n

atio

nally

sca

rce

plan

ts

Crou

ch &

Roa

ch E

stua

ries

, SPA

(M

id-E

ssex

Coa

st P

hase

3)

UK9

009

244

1735

.58

Qua

lifyi

ng F

eatu

res

pote

ntia

lly a

ffec

ted:

•A

046a

Bra

nta

bern

icla

ber

nicl

a; D

ark-

belli

ed b

rent

goo

se

(Non

-bre

edin

g);

•W

ater

bird

ass

embl

age.

Ensu

re th

at th

e in

tegr

ity

of th

e si

te is

mai

ntai

ned

or re

stor

ed a

s ap

prop

riat

e, a

nd e

nsur

e th

at th

e si

te c

ontr

ibut

es to

ach

ievi

ng

the

aim

s of

the

Wild

Bir

ds D

irec

tive

, by

mai

ntai

ning

or r

esto

ring

:

•Th

e ex

tent

and

dis

trib

utio

n of

the

habi

tats

of t

he q

ualif

ying

fe

atur

es;

•Th

e st

ruct

ure

and

func

tion

of t

he h

abita

ts o

f the

qua

lifyi

ng

feat

ures

;•

The

supp

orti

ng p

roce

sses

on

whi

ch th

e ha

bita

ts o

f the

qu

alif

ying

feat

ures

rely

;•

The

popu

lati

on o

f eac

h of

the

qual

ifyi

ng fe

atur

es, a

nd•

The

dist

ribu

tion

of t

he q

ualif

ying

feat

ures

wit

hin

the

site

.

27

Sit

e N

ame

Area

(ha)

Qua

lifyi

ng F

eatu

res

Cons

erva

tion

obj

ecti

ves

(onl

y av

aila

ble

for S

ACs

& S

PAs)

Crou

ch &

Roa

ch E

stua

ries

Ra

msa

r site

(Mid

-Ess

ex C

oast

Pha

se 3

)

UK1

1058

1735

.58

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

2Su

ppor

ts a

n ap

prec

iabl

e as

sem

blag

e of

rare

, vul

nera

ble

or e

ndan

gere

d sp

ecie

s or

sub

spec

ies

of p

lant

and

ani

mal

in

clud

ing

13 n

atio

nally

sca

rce

plan

t spe

cies

: sle

nder

har

e’s

ear B

uple

urum

tenu

issi

mum

, div

ided

sed

ge C

arex

div

isa,

se

a ba

rley

Hor

deum

mar

inum

, gol

den-

sam

phir

e In

ula

crith

moi

des,

lax

flow

ered

sea

-lave

nder

Lim

oniu

m h

umile

, cu

rved

har

d-gr

ass

Para

phol

is in

curv

a, B

orre

r’s

salt

mar

sh

gras

s Pu

ccin

ellia

fasc

icul

ata,

sti

ff s

altm

arsh

gra

ss P

ucci

nelli

a ru

pest

ris, s

pira

l tas

selw

eed

Rupp

ia c

irrho

sa, o

ne-fl

ower

ed

glas

swor

t Sal

icor

nia

pusi

lla, s

mal

l cor

d-gr

ass

Spar

tina

mar

itim

a, s

hrub

by s

eabl

ite S

uaed

a ve

ra a

nd s

ea c

love

r Tr

ifoliu

m s

quam

osum

. Sev

eral

impo

rtan

t inv

erte

brat

e sp

ecie

s ar

e al

so p

rese

nt o

n th

e si

te, i

nclu

ding

sca

rce

emer

ald

dam

selfl

y Le

stes

dry

as, t

he s

hore

fly P

aryd

ropt

era

disc

omyz

ina,

the

rare

sol

dier

fly

Stra

tiom

ys s

ingu

lario

r, th

e la

rge

hors

efly

Hyb

omitr

a ex

polli

cata

, the

bee

tles

Gra

ptod

ytes

bi

linea

tus

and

Mal

achi

us v

ulne

ratu

s, th

e gr

ound

lack

ey m

oth

Mal

acos

oma

cast

rens

is a

nd E

ucos

oma

cato

pran

a.

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

5

Ass

embl

ages

of i

nter

nati

onal

impo

rtan

ce; s

peci

es w

ith

peak

cou

nts

in w

inte

r; 1

6970

wat

erfo

wl (

5 ye

ar p

eak

mea

n 19

98/9

9-20

02/2

003

)

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

6

Spec

ies/

popu

lati

ons

occu

rrin

g at

leve

ls o

f int

erna

tion

al

impo

rtan

ce:

Spec

ies

wit

h pe

ak c

ount

s in

win

ter:

•B

rant

a be

rnic

la b

erni

cla;

Dar

k-be

llied

bre

nt g

oose

Non

e av

aila

ble

28

Sit

e N

ame

Area

(ha)

Qua

lifyi

ng F

eatu

res

Cons

erva

tion

obj

ecti

ves

(onl

y av

aila

ble

for S

ACs

& S

PAs)

Den

gie

Den

gie

is a

larg

e an

d re

mot

e ar

ea o

f tid

al m

udfla

t and

sal

tmar

sh a

t the

eas

tern

end

of t

he D

engi

e pe

nins

ula,

bet

wee

n th

e B

lack

wat

er a

nd C

rouc

h Es

tuar

ies.

The

sa

ltm

arsh

is th

e la

rges

t con

tinu

ous

exam

ple

of it

s ty

pe in

Ess

ex. F

ores

hore

, sal

tmar

sh a

nd b

each

es s

uppo

rt a

n ou

tsta

ndin

g as

sem

blag

e of

rare

coa

stal

flor

a. It

hos

ts

inte

rnat

iona

lly a

nd n

atio

nally

impo

rtan

t win

teri

ng p

opul

atio

ns o

f wild

fow

l and

wad

ers,

and

in s

umm

er s

uppo

rts

a ra

nge

of b

reed

ing

coas

tal b

irds

incl

udin

g ra

riti

es. T

he

form

atio

n of

coc

kles

hell

spit

s an

d be

ache

s is

of g

eom

orph

olog

ical

inte

rest

Den

gie,

SPA

(Mid

-Ess

ex C

oast

Pha

se 1

)

UK9

009

242

3127

.23

•B

rant

a be

rnic

la b

erni

cla;

Dar

k-be

llied

bre

nt g

oose

(Non

-br

eedi

ng)

•Pl

uvia

lis s

quat

arol

a; G

rey

plov

er (N

on-b

reed

ing)

•Ci

rcus

cya

neus

Hen

har

rier

(Non

-bre

edin

g)•

Calid

ris c

anut

us; K

not (

Non

-bre

edin

g)•

Wat

erbi

rd a

ssem

blag

e (N

on-b

reed

ing)

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

can

be fo

und

via

Nat

ural

Eng

land

’s

Supp

lem

enta

ry A

dvic

e.

The

obje

ctiv

es a

re to

ens

ure

that

, sub

ject

to n

atur

al c

hang

e, th

e in

tegr

ity

of th

e si

te is

mai

ntai

ned

or re

stor

ed a

s ap

prop

riat

e,

and

that

the

site

con

trib

utes

to a

chie

ving

the

aim

s of

the

Wild

B

irds

Dir

ecti

ve, b

y m

aint

aini

ng o

r res

tori

ng:

•th

e ex

tent

and

dis

trib

utio

n of

the

habi

tats

of t

he q

ualif

ying

fe

atur

es;

•th

e st

ruct

ure

and

func

tion

of t

he h

abita

ts o

f the

qua

lifyi

ng

feat

ures

;•

the

supp

orti

ng p

roce

sses

on

whi

ch th

e ha

bita

ts o

f the

qu

alif

ying

feat

ures

rely

;•

the

popu

lati

ons

of q

ualif

ying

feat

ures

;•

the

dist

ribu

tion

of q

ualif

ying

feat

ures

wit

hin

the

site

.

Den

gie

Ram

sar S

ite(M

id-E

ssex

Coa

st P

hase

1)

UK9

009

242

3127

.23

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

1Q

ualifi

es b

y vi

rtue

of t

he e

xten

t and

div

ersi

ty o

f sal

tmar

sh

habi

tat p

rese

nt. D

engi

e, a

nd th

e fo

ur o

ther

site

s in

the

Mid

-Es

sex

Coas

t Ram

sar s

ite c

ompl

ex, i

nclu

des

a to

tal o

f 3,2

37

ha, t

hat r

epre

sent

70

% o

f the

sal

tmar

sh h

abita

t in

Esse

x an

d 7%

of t

he to

tal a

rea

of s

altm

arsh

in B

rita

in.

Non

e av

aila

ble

29

Sit

e N

ame

Area

(ha)

Qua

lifyi

ng F

eatu

res

Cons

erva

tion

obj

ecti

ves

(onl

y av

aila

ble

for S

ACs

& S

PAs)

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

2D

engi

e su

ppor

ts a

num

ber o

f rar

e pl

ant a

nd a

nim

al s

peci

es.

The

Den

gie

has

11 s

peci

es o

f nat

iona

lly s

carc

e pl

ants

: sea

ka

le C

ram

be m

ariti

ma,

sea

bar

ley

Hor

deum

mar

inum

, gol

den

sam

phir

e In

ula

crith

moi

des,

lax

flow

ered

sea

lave

nder

Li

mon

ium

hum

ile, t

he g

lass

wor

ts S

arco

corn

ia p

eren

nis

and

Salic

orni

a pu

silla

, sm

all c

ord-

gras

s Sp

artin

a m

ariti

ma,

sh

rubb

y se

a-bl

ite S

uaed

a ve

ra, a

nd th

e ee

lgra

sses

Zos

tera

an

gust

ifolia

, Z. m

arin

a an

d Z.

nol

tei.

The

inve

rteb

rate

faun

a in

clud

es th

e fo

llow

ing

Red

Dat

a B

ook

spec

ies:

a w

eevi

l Bar

is

scol

opac

ea, a

hor

sefly

Aty

lotu

s la

tistr

iatu

s an

d a

jum

ping

sp

ider

Euo

phry

s br

owni

ngi.

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

3Th

is s

ite s

uppo

rts

a fu

ll an

d re

pres

enta

tive

seq

uenc

es o

f sa

ltm

arsh

pla

nt c

omm

unit

ies

cove

ring

the

rang

e of

var

iati

on

in B

rita

in.

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

5

Ass

embl

ages

of i

nter

nati

onal

impo

rtan

ce; s

peci

es w

ith

peak

cou

nts

in w

inte

r; 4

3828

wat

erfo

wl (

5 ye

ar p

eak

mea

n 19

98/9

9-20

02/2

003

)

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

6

Spec

ies/

popu

lati

ons

occu

rrin

g at

leve

ls o

f int

erna

tion

al

impo

rtan

ce:

Spec

ies

wit

h pe

ak c

ount

s in

win

ter:

•Tr

inga

tota

nus

teta

nus;

Com

mon

reds

hank

Spec

ies/

popu

lati

ons

iden

tifie

d su

bseq

uent

to d

esig

nati

on

for p

ossi

ble

futu

re c

onsi

dera

tion

und

er c

rite

rion

6.

30

Sit

e N

ame

Area

(ha)

Qua

lifyi

ng F

eatu

res

Cons

erva

tion

obj

ecti

ves

(onl

y av

aila

ble

for S

ACs

& S

PAs)

Spec

ies

wit

h pe

ak c

ount

s in

win

ter:

•B

rant

a be

rnic

la b

erni

cla;

Dar

k-be

llied

bre

nt g

oose

•

Hae

mat

opus

ost

rale

gus

ostr

aleg

us; E

uras

ian

oyst

erca

tche

r •

Pluv

ialis

squ

atar

ola;

Gre

y pl

over

•

Lim

osa

lapp

onic

a la

ppon

ica;

Bar

-tai

led

godw

it •

Calid

ris c

anut

us; R

ed k

not

Esse

x Es

tuar

ies

The

Mid

-Ess

ex C

oast

com

pris

es a

n ex

tens

ive

com

plex

of e

stua

ries

and

inte

rtid

al s

and

and

silt

flats

, inc

ludi

ng s

ever

al is

land

s, s

hing

le a

nd s

hell

beac

hes

and

exte

nsiv

e ar

eas

of s

altm

arsh

. The

pro

pose

d SP

A fo

llow

s th

e bo

unda

ries

of fi

ve S

SSIs

: the

Col

ne E

stua

ry, t

he B

lack

wat

er E

stua

ry, D

engi

e, th

e Ri

ver C

rouc

h M

arsh

es a

nd F

ouln

ess.

Esse

x Es

tuar

ies,

SA

C

UK0

013

690

4610

9.95

•H

1110

San

dban

ks w

hich

are

slig

htly

cov

ered

by

sea

wat

er

all t

he ti

me;

Sub

tida

l san

dban

ks•

H11

30 E

stua

ries

•H

1140

Mud

flats

and

san

dflat

s no

t cov

ered

by

seaw

ater

at

low

tide

; Int

erti

dal m

udfla

ts a

nd s

andfl

ats.

•H

1310

Sal

icor

nia

and

othe

r ann

uals

col

oniz

ing

mud

and

sa

nd; G

lass

wor

t and

oth

er a

nnua

ls c

olon

isin

g m

ud a

nd

sand

•H

1320

Spa

rtin

a sw

ards

(Spa

rtin

ion

mar

itim

ae);

Cor

d-gr

ass

swar

ds•

H13

30 A

tlant

ic s

alt m

eado

ws

(Gla

uco-

Pucc

inel

lieta

lia

mar

itim

ae)

•H

1420

Med

iterr

anea

n an

d th

erm

o-A

tlant

ic h

alop

hilo

us

scru

bs (S

arco

corn

etea

frut

icos

i)

Ensu

re th

at th

e in

tegr

ity

of th

e si

te is

mai

ntai

ned

or re

stor

ed a

s ap

prop

riat

e, a

nd e

nsur

e th

at th

e si

te c

ontr

ibut

es to

ach

ievi

ng

the

Favo

urab

le C

onse

rvat

ion

Sta

tus

of it

s Q

ualif

ying

Fea

ture

s, b

y m

aint

aini

ng o

r res

tori

ng:

•Th

e ex

tent

and

dis

trib

utio

n of

qua

lifyi

ng n

atur

al h

abita

ts;

•Th

e st

ruct

ure

and

func

tion

(inc

ludi

ng ty

pica

l spe

cies

) of

qual

ifyi

ng n

atur

al h

abita

ts, a

nd•

The

supp

orti

ng p

roce

sses

on

whi

ch q

ualif

ying

nat

ural

ha

bita

ts re

ly.

31

Sit

e N

ame

Area

(ha)

Qua

lifyi

ng F

eatu

res

Cons

erva

tion

obj

ecti

ves

(onl

y av

aila

ble

for S

ACs

& S

PAs)

Foul

ness

Foul

ness

is p

art o

f an

open

coa

st e

stua

rine

sys

tem

com

pris

ing

graz

ing

mar

sh, s

altm

arsh

, int

erti

dal m

udfla

ts a

nd s

andfl

ats

whi

ch s

uppo

rt n

atio

nally

rare

and

nat

iona

lly

scar

ce p

lant

s, a

nd n

atio

nally

and

inte

rnat

iona

lly im

port

ant p

opul

atio

ns o

f bre

edin

g, m

igra

tory

and

win

teri

ng w

ater

fow

l

Foul

ness

, SPA

(Mid

-Ess

ex C

oast

Pha

se 5

)

UK9

009

246

1096

8.9

•A

046a

Bra

nta

bern

icla

ber

nicl

a; D

ark-

belli

ed b

rent

goo

se

(Non

-bre

edin

g)•

A0

82 C

ircus

cya

neus

; Hen

har

rier

(Non

-bre

edin

g)•

A13

0 H

aem

atop

us o

stra

legu

s; E

uras

ian

oyst

erca

tche

r (N

on-b

reed

ing)

•A

132

Recu

rviro

stra

avo

sett

a; P

ied

avoc

et (B

reed

ing)

•A

137

Char

adriu

s hi

atic

ula;

Rin

ged

plov

er (B

reed

ing)

•A

141

Pluv

ialis

squ

atar

ola;

Gre

y pl

over

(Non

-bre

edin

g)•

A14

3 Ca

lidris

can

utus

; Red

kno

t (N

on-b

reed

ing)

•A

157

Lim

osa

lapp

onic

a; B

ar-t

aile

d go

dwit

(Non

-bre

edin

g)•

A16

2 Tr

inga

tota

nus;

Com

mon

reds

hank

(Non

-bre

edin

g)•

A19

1 St

erna

san

dvic

ensi

s; S

andw

ich

tern

(Bre

edin

g)•

A193

Ste

rna

hiru

ndo;

Com

mon

tern

(Bre

edin

g)•

A19

5 St

erna

alb

ifron

s; L

ittle

tern

(Bre

edin

g)•

Wat

erbi

rd a

ssem

blag

e

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

can

be fo

und

via

Nat

ural

Eng

land

’s

Supp

lem

enta

ry A

dvic

e.

Ensu

re th

at th

e in

tegr

ity

of th

e si

te is

mai

ntai

ned

or re

stor

ed a

s ap

prop

riat

e, a

nd e

nsur

e th

at th

e si

te c

ontr

ibut

es to

ach

ievi

ng

the

aim

s of

the

Wild

Bir

ds D

irec

tive

, by

mai

ntai

ning

or r

esto

ring

:

•Th

e ex

tent

and

dis

trib

utio

n of

the

habi

tats

of t

he q

ualif

ying

fe

atur

es;

•Th

e st

ruct

ure

and

func

tion

of t

he h

abita

ts o

f the

qua

lifyi

ng

feat

ures

;•

The

supp

orti

ng p

roce

sses

on

whi

ch th

e ha

bita

ts o

f the

qu

alif

ying

feat

ures

rely

;•

The

popu

lati

on o

f eac

h of

the

qual

ifyi

ng fe

atur

es, a

nd•

The

dist

ribu

tion

of t

he q

ualif

ying

feat

ures

wit

hin

the

site

.

Foul

ness

Ram

sar s

ite(M

id E

ssex

Coa

st P

hase

5)

UK1

1026

1096

8.9

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

2

The

site

sup

port

s a

num

ber o

f nat

iona

lly-r

are

and

nati

onal

ly-s

carc

e pl

ant s

peci

es, a

nd B

ritis

h Re

d D

ata

Boo

k in

vert

ebra

tes.

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

3

The

site

con

tain

s ex

tens

ive

salt

mar

sh h

abita

t, w

ith

area

s su

ppor

ting

full

and

repr

esen

tati

ve s

eque

nces

of s

altm

arsh

pl

ant c

omm

unit

ies

cove

ring

the

rang

e of

var

iati

on in

Bri

tain

.

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

5

Ass

embl

ages

of i

nter

nati

onal

impo

rtan

ce; s

peci

es w

ith

peak

cou

nts

in w

inte

r; 8

2148

wat

erfo

wl (

5 ye

ar p

eak

mea

n 19

98/9

9-20

02/2

003

)

Non

e av

aila

ble

32

Sit

e N

ame

Area

(ha)

Qua

lifyi

ng F

eatu

res

Cons

erva

tion

obj

ecti

ves

(onl

y av

aila

ble

for S

ACs

& S

PAs)

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

6

Spec

ies/

popu

lati

ons

occu

rrin

g at

leve

ls o

f int

erna

tion

al

impo

rtan

ce:

Spec

ies

wit

h pe

ak c

ount

s in

spr

ing/

autu

mn:

•

Bra

nta

bern

icla

ber

nicl

a; D

ark-

belli

ed b

rent

goo

se•

Pluv

ialis

squ

atar

ola;

Gre

y pl

over

•

Calid

ris c

anut

us; R

ed k

not

Spec

ies

wit

h pe

ak c

ount

s in

win

ter:

•

Lim

osa

lapp

onic

a la

ppon

ica;

Bar

-tai

led

godw

it

Out

er T

ham

es E

stua

ryTh

e O

uter

Tha

mes

Est

uary

SPA

is lo

cate

d on

the

east

coa

st o

f Eng

land

bet

wee

n th

e co

unti

es o

f Nor

folk

(on

the

nort

h si

de) a

nd K

ent (

on th

e so

uth

side

) and

ext

ends

into

th

e N

orth

Sea

. The

site

com

pris

es a

reas

of s

hallo

w a

nd d

eepe

r wat

er, h

igh

tida

l cur

rent

str

eam

s an

d a

rang

e of

mob

ile m

ud, s

and,

silt

and

gra

vely

sed

imen

ts e

xten

ding

in

to th

e m

arin

e en

viro

nmen

t, in

corp

orat

ing

area

s of

san

d ba

nks

ofte

n ex

pose

d at

low

tide

. Int

erti

dal m

ud a

nd s

and

flats

are

foun

d fu

rthe

r tow

ards

the

coas

t and

wit

hin

cree

ks a

nd in

lets

inla

nd d

own

the

Bly

th e

stua

ry a

nd th

e Cr

ouch

and

Roa

ch e

stua

ries

. The

div

ersi

ty o

f mar

ine

habi

tats

and

ass

ocia

ted

spec

ies

is re

flect

ed in

exi

stin

g st

atut

ory

prot

ecte

d ar

ea d

esig

nati

ons,

som

e of

whi

ch o

verla

p or

abo

ut th

e SP

A.

Out

er T

ham

es E

stua

ry, S

PA

UK9

0203

09

3924

51.6

6•

A0

01

Gav

ia s

tella

ta; R

ed-t

hroa

ted

dive

r (N

on-b

reed

ing)

•A

193

Ster

na h

irund

o; C

omm

on te

rn (B

reed

ing)

•A

195

Ster

nula

alb

ifron

s; L

ittle

tern

(Bre

edin

g)

Ensu

re th

at th

e in

tegr

ity

of th

e si

te is

mai

ntai

ned

or re

stor

ed a

s ap

prop

riat

e, a

nd e

nsur

e th

at th

e si

te c

ontr

ibut

es to

ach

ievi

ng

the

aim

s of

the

Wild

Bir

ds D

irec

tive

, by

mai

ntai

ning

or r

esto

ring

:

•Th

e ex

tent

and

dis

trib

utio

n of

the

habi

tats

of t

he q

ualif

ying

fe

atur

es;

•Th

e st

ruct

ure

and

func

tion

of t

he h

abita

ts o

f the

qua

lifyi

ng

feat

ures

;•

The

supp

orti

ng p

roce

sses

on

whi

ch th

e ha

bita

ts o

f the

qu

alif

ying

feat

ures

rely

;•

The

popu

lati

on o

f eac

h of

the

qual

ifyi

ng fe

atur

es, a

nd•

The

dist

ribu

tion

of t

he q

ualif

ying

feat

ures

wit

hin

the

site

.

33

Sit

e N

ame

Area

(ha)

Qua

lifyi

ng F

eatu

res

Cons

erva

tion

obj

ecti

ves

(onl

y av

aila

ble

for S

ACs

& S

PAs)

Tham

es E

stua

ry &

Mar

shes

A

com

plex

of b

rack

ish,

floo

dpla

in g

razi

ng m

arsh

ditc

hes,

sal

ine

lago

ons

and

inte

rtid

al s

altm

arsh

and

mud

flat.

The

se h

abita

ts to

geth

er s

uppo

rt in

tern

atio

nally

impo

rtan

t nu

mbe

rs o

f win

teri

ng w

ater

fow

l. Th

e sa

ltm

arsh

and

gra

zing

mar

sh a

re o

f int

erna

tion

al im

port

ance

for t

heir

div

erse

ass

embl

ages

of w

etla

nd p

lant

s an

d in

vert

ebra

tes.

Tham

es E

stua

ry &

M

arsh

es S

PA

UK9

012

021

4838

.94

•A

082

Circ

us c

yane

us; H

en h

arri

er (N

on-b

reed

ing)

•

A13

2 Re

curv

irost

ra a

vose

tta;

Pie

d av

ocet

(Non

-bre

edin

g)

•A

137

Char

adriu

s hi

atic

ula;

Rin

ged

plov

er (N

on-b

reed

ing)

•

A14

1 Pl

uvia

lis s

quat

arol

a; G

rey

plov

er (N

on-b

reed

ing)

•

A14

3 Ca

lidris

can

utus

; Red

kno

t (N

on-b

reed

ing)

•

A14

9 Ca

lidris

alp

ina

alpi

na; D

unlin

(Non

-bre

edin

g)

•A

156

Lim

osa

limos

a is

land

ica;

Bla

ck-t

aile

d go

dwit

(Non

-br

eedi

ng)

•A

162

Trin

ga to

tanu

s; C

omm

on re

dsha

nk (N

on-b

reed

ing)

•

Wat

erbi

rd a

ssem

blag

e

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

can

be fo

und

via

Nat

ural

Eng

land

’s

Supp

lem

enta

ry A

dvic

e.

Ensu

re th

at th

e in

tegr

ity

of th

e si

te is

mai

ntai

ned

or re

stor

ed a

s ap

prop

riat

e, a

nd e

nsur

e th

at th

e si

te c

ontr

ibut

es to

ach

ievi

ng

the

aim

s of

the

Wild

Bir

ds D

irec

tive

, by

mai

ntai

ning

or r

esto

ring

:

•Th

e ex

tent

and

dis

trib

utio

n of

the

habi

tats

of t

he q

ualif

ying

fe

atur

es;

•Th

e st

ruct

ure

and

func

tion

of t

he h

abita

ts o

f the

qua

lifyi

ng

feat

ures

;•

The

supp

orti

ng p

roce

sses

on

whi

ch th

e ha

bita

ts o

f the

qu

alif

ying

feat

ures

rely

;•

The

popu

lati

on o

f eac

h of

the

qual

ifyi

ng fe

atur

es, a

nd•

The

dist

ribu

tion

of t

he q

ualif

ying

feat

ures

wit

hin

the

site

.

Tham

es E

stua

ry &

M

arsh

es R

amsa

r site

UK1

1069

558

8.5

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

2Th

e si

te s

uppo

rts

one

enda

nger

ed p

lant

spe

cies

and

at l

east

14

nat

iona

lly s

carc

e pl

ants

of w

etla

nd h

abita

ts. T

he s

ite a

lso

supp

orts

mor

e th

an 2

0 B

ritis

h Re

d D

ata

Boo

k in

vert

ebra

tes

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

5A

ssem

blag

es o

f int

erna

tion

al im

port

ance

; spe

cies

wit

h pe

ak c

ount

s in

win

ter;

451

18 w

ater

fow

l (5

year

pea

k m

ean

1998

/99-

2002

/20

03)

Non

e av

aila

ble

34

Sit

e N

ame

Area

(ha)

Qua

lifyi

ng F

eatu

res

Cons

erva

tion

obj

ecti

ves

(onl

y av

aila

ble

for S

ACs

& S

PAs)

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

6Q

ualif

ying

Spe

cies

/pop

ulat

ions

(as

iden

tifie

d at

des

igna

tion

):Sp

ecie

s w

ith

peak

cou

nts

in s

prin

g/au

tum

n:

•Ch

arad

rius

hiat

icul

a; R

inge

d pl

over

•

Lim

osa

limos

a is

land

ica;

Bla

ck-t

aile

d go

dwit

Spec

ies

wit

h pe

ak c

ount

s in

win

ter:

•

Pluv

ialis

squ

atar

ola;

Gre

y pl

over

(Non

-bre

edin

g)•

Calid

ris c

anut

us; R

ed k

not (

Non

-bre

edin

g)•

Calid

ris a

lpin

a al

pina

; Dun

lin (N

on-b

reed

ing)

•Tr

inga

tota

nus

teta

nus;

Com

mon

reds

hank

Ham

ford

Wat

er

Ham

ford

Wat

er is

a la

rge,

sha

llow

est

uari

ne b

asin

com

pris

ing

tida

l cre

eks

and

isla

nds,

inte

rtid

al m

ud a

nd s

and

flats

, and

sal

tmar

sh s

uppo

rtin

g ra

re p

lant

s an

d in

tern

atio

nally

impo

rtan

t spe

cies

/pop

ulat

ions

of m

igra

tory

wat

erfo

wl.

Ham

ford

Wat

er, S

AC

UK0

0303

77

2187

.21

•S

4035

Fis

her’

s es

tuar

ine

mot

h G

orty

na b

orel

ii lu

nata

Ensu

re th

at th

e in

tegr

ity

of th

e si

te is

mai

ntai

ned

or re

stor

ed a

s ap

prop

riat

e, a

nd e

nsur

e th

at th

e si

te c

ontr

ibut

es to

ach

ievi

ng

the

Favo

urab

le C

onse

rvat

ion

Sta

tus

of it

s Q

ualif

ying

Fea

ture

s, b

y m

aint

aini

ng o

r res

tori

ng:

•Th

e ex

tent

and

dis

trib

utio

n of

the

habi

tats

of q

ualif

ying

sp

ecie

s;•

The

stru

ctur

e an

d fu

ncti

on o

f the

hab

itats

of q

ualif

ying

sp

ecie

s;•

The

supp

orti

ng p

roce

sses

on

whi

ch th

e ha

bita

ts o

f qu

alif

ying

spe

cies

rely

;•

The

popu

lati

ons

of q

ualif

ying

spe

cies

, and

•Th

e di

stri

buti

on o

f qua

lifyi

ng s

peci

es w

ithi

n th

e si

te.

35

Sit

e N

ame

Area

(ha)

Qua

lifyi

ng F

eatu

res

Cons

erva

tion

obj

ecti

ves

(onl

y av

aila

ble

for S

ACs

& S

PAs)

Ham

ford

Wat

er, S

PA21

78.2

1•

A04

6a B

rant

a be

rnic

la b

erni

cla;

Dar

k-be

llied

bre

nt g

oose

(N

on-b

reed

ing)

•

A04

8 T

ador

na ta

dorn

a; C

omm

on s

held

uck

(Non

-br

eedi

ng)

•A

052

Ana

s cr

ecca

; Eur

asia

n te

al (N

on-b

reed

ing)

•

A13

2 Re

curv

irost

ra a

vose

tta;

Pie

d av

ocet

(Non

-bre

edin

g)

•A

137

Char

adriu

s hi

atic

ula;

Rin

ged

plov

er (N

on-b

reed

ing)

•

A14

1 Pl

uvia

lis s

quat

arol

a; G

rey

plov

er (N

on-b

reed

ing)

•

A15

6 Li

mos

a lim

osa

isla

ndic

a; B

lack

-tai

led

godw

it (N

on-

bree

ding

) •

A16

2 Tr

inga

tota

nus;

Com

mon

reds

hank

(Non

-bre

edin

g)

•A

195

Ster

nula

alb

ifron

s; L

ittle

tern

(Bre

edin

g)

Ensu

re th

at th

e in

tegr

ity

of th

e si

te is

mai

ntai

ned

or re

stor

ed a

s ap

prop

riat

e, a

nd e

nsur

e th

at th

e si

te c

ontr

ibut

es to

ach

ievi

ng

the

aim

s of

the

Wild

Bir

ds D

irec

tive

, by

mai

ntai

ning

or r

esto

ring

:

•Th

e ex

tent

and

dis

trib

utio

n of

the

habi

tats

of t

he q

ualif

ying

fe

atur

es;

•Th

e st

ruct

ure

and

func

tion

of t

he h

abita

ts o

f the

qua

lifyi

ng

feat

ures

;•

The

supp

orti

ng p

roce

sses

on

whi

ch th

e ha

bita

ts o

f the

qu

alif

ying

feat

ures

rely

;•

The

popu

lati

on o

f eac

h of

the

qual

ifyi

ng fe

atur

es, a

nd•

The

dist

ribu

tion

of t

he q

ualif

ying

feat

ures

wit

hin

the

site

.

Ham

ford

Wat

er

Ram

sar s

ite

UK1

1028

2178

.21

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

6Q

ualif

ying

Spe

cies

/pop

ulat

ions

(as

iden

tifie

d at

des

igna

tion

):Sp

ecie

s w

ith

peak

cou

nts

in s

prin

g/au

tum

n:

•Ch

arad

rius

hiat

icul

a; R

inge

d pl

over

•

Trin

ga to

tanu

s te

tanu

s; C

omm

on re

dsha

nk

Spec

ies

wit

h pe

ak c

ount

s in

win

ter:

•B

rant

a be

rnic

la b

erni

cla;

Dar

k-be

llied

bre

nt g

oose

•Li

mos

a lim

osa

isla

ndic

a; B

lack

-tai

led

godw

it

Spec

ies/

popu

lati

ons

iden

tifie

d su

bseq

uent

to d

esig

nati

on

for p

ossi

ble

futu

re c

onsi

dera

tion

und

er c

rite

rion

6.

Spec

ies

wit

h pe

ak c

ount

s in

win

ter:

•Pl

uvia

lis s

quat

arol

a; G

rey

plov

er (N

on-b

reed

ing)

Non

e av

aila

ble

36

Sit

e N

ame

Area

(ha)

Qua

lifyi

ng F

eatu

res

Cons

erva

tion

obj

ecti

ves

(onl

y av

aila

ble

for S

ACs

& S

PAs)

Abbe

rton

Res

ervo

irA

bber

ton

Rese

rvoi

r is

a la

rge

stor

age

rese

rvoi

r bui

lt in

a lo

ng s

hallo

w v

alle

y. It

is th

e la

rges

t fre

shw

ater

bod

y in

Ess

ex a

nd is

one

of t

he m

ost i

mpo

rtan

t res

ervo

irs

in B

rita

in

for w

ildfo

wl.

It is

less

than

8 k

m fr

om th

e co

ast a

nd it

s pr

imar

y ro

le is

as

a ro

ost f

or th

e lo

cal e

stua

rine

wild

fow

l pop

ulat

ion.

Abb

erto

n Re

serv

oir,

SPA

UK9

009

141

718.

31•

A0

05

Podi

ceps

cris

tatu

s; G

reat

cre

sted

gre

be (N

on-

bree

ding

) •

A0

17 P

hala

croc

orax

car

bo; G

reat

cor

mor

ant (

Bre

edin

g)

•A

036

Cygn

us o

lor;

Mut

e sw

an (N

on-b

reed

ing)

•

A0

50 A

nas

pene

lope

; Eur

asia

n w

igeo

n (N

on-b

reed

ing)

•

A0

51 A

nas

stre

pera

; Gad

wal

l (N

on-b

reed

ing)

•

A0

52 A

nas

crec

ca; E

uras

ian

teal

(Non

-bre

edin

g)

•A

056

Ana

s cl

ypea

ta; N

orth

ern

shov

eler

(Non

-bre

edin

g)

•A

059

Ayt

hya

ferin

a; C

omm

on p

ocha

rd (N

on-b

reed

ing)

•

A0

61 A

ythy

a fu

ligul

a; T

ufte

d du

ck (N

on-b

reed

ing)

•

A0

67 B

ucep

hala

cla

ngul

a; C

omm

on g

olde

neye

(Non

-br

eedi

ng)

• A

125

Fulic

a at

ra; C

omm

on c

oot (

Non

-bre

edin

g)

•W

ater

bird

ass

embl

age

Ensu

re th

at th

e in

tegr

ity

of th

e si

te is

mai

ntai

ned

or re

stor

ed a

s ap

prop

riat

e, a

nd e

nsur

e th

at th

e si

te c

ontr

ibut

es to

ach

ievi

ng

the

aim

s of

the

Wild

Bir

ds D

irec

tive

, by

mai

ntai

ning

or r

esto

ring

: •

The

exte

nt a

nd d

istr

ibut

ion

of th

e ha

bita

ts o

f the

qua

lifyi

ng

feat

ures

; •

The

stru

ctur

e an

d fu

ncti

on o

f the

hab

itats

of t

he q

ualif

ying

fe

atur

es;

•Th

e su

ppor

ting

pro

cess

es o

n w

hich

the

habi

tats

of t

he

qual

ifyi

ng fe

atur

es re

ly;

•Th

e po

pula

tion

of e

ach

of th

e qu

alif

ying

feat

ures

, and

•

The

dist

ribu

tion

of t

he q

ualif

ying

feat

ures

wit

hin

the

site

.

Abb

erto

n Re

serv

oir

Ram

sar

UK1

100

1

718.

31Ra

msa

r cri

teri

on 5

Ass

embl

ages

of i

nter

nati

onal

impo

rtan

ce; s

peci

es w

ith

peak

cou

nts

in w

inte

r; 2

3787

wat

erfo

wl (

5 ye

ar p

eak

mea

n 19

98/9

9-20

02/2

003

)

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

6Q

ualif

ying

Spe

cies

/pop

ulat

ions

(as

iden

tifie

d at

des

igna

tion

):Sp

ecie

s w

ith

peak

cou

nts

in s

prin

g/au

tum

n:

•G

adw

all ,

Ana

s st

repe

ra s

trep

era

•N

orth

ern

shov

eler

, An

as c

lype

ata

Non

e av

aila

ble

37

Sit

e N

ame

Area

(ha)

Qua

lifyi

ng F

eatu

res

Cons

erva

tion

obj

ecti

ves

(onl

y av

aila

ble

for S

ACs

& S

PAs)

Spec

ies

wit

h pe

ak c

ount

s in

win

ter:

•Eu

rasi

an w

igeo

n , A

nas

Pene

lope

Spec

ies/

popu

lati

ons

iden

tifie

d su

bseq

uent

to d

esig

nati

on

for p

ossi

ble

futu

re c

onsi

dera

tion

und

er c

rite

rion

6.

Spec

ies

wit

h pe

ak c

ount

s in

win

ter:

•M

ute

swan

, Cy

gnus

olo

r,•

Com

mon

poc

hard

, Ay

thya

ferin

a

Coln

e Es

tuar

yCo

lne

Estu

ary

is a

com

para

tive

ly s

hort

and

bra

nchi

ng e

stua

ry, w

ith

five

tida

l arm

s w

hich

flow

into

the

mai

n ri

ver c

hann

el. T

he e

stua

ry h

as a

nar

row

inte

rtid

al z

one

pred

omin

antl

y co

mpo

sed

of fl

ats

of fi

ne s

ilt w

ith

mud

flat c

omm

unit

ies

typi

cal o

f sou

th-e

aste

rn e

stua

ries

. The

est

uary

is o

f int

erna

tion

al im

port

ance

for w

inte

ring

Bre

nt

Gee

se a

nd B

lack

-tai

led

God

wit

and

of n

atio

nal i

mpo

rtan

ce fo

r bre

edin

g Li

ttle

Ter

ns a

nd fi

ve o

ther

spe

cies

of w

inte

ring

wad

ers

and

wild

fow

l. Th

e va

riet

y of

hab

itats

whi

ch

incl

ude

mud

flat,

sal

tmar

sh, g

razi

ng m

arsh

, san

d an

d sh

ingl

e sp

its,

dis

used

gra

vel p

its

and

reed

beds

, sup

port

out

stan

ding

ass

embl

ages

of i

nver

tebr

ates

and

pla

nts.

Coln

e Es

tuar

y, S

PA

UK9

009

243

270

1.43

•A

046a

Bra

nta

bern

icla

ber

nicl

a; D

ark-

belli

ed b

rent

goo

se

(Non

-bre

edin

g)

•A

059

Ayt

hya

ferin

a; C

omm

on p

ocha

rd (B

reed

ing)

•

A0

82 C

ircus

cya

neus

; Hen

har

rier

(Non

-bre

edin

g)

•A

137

Char

adriu

s hi

atic

ula;

Rin

ged

plov

er (B

reed

ing)

•

A16

2 Tr

inga

tota

nus;

Com

mon

reds

hank

(Non

-bre

edin

g)

•A

195

Ster

na a

lbifr

ons;

Lit

tle te

rn (B

reed

ing)

•

Wat

erbi

rd a

ssem

blag

e

Ensu

re th

at th

e in

tegr

ity

of th

e si

te is

mai

ntai

ned

or re

stor

ed a

s ap

prop

riat

e, a

nd e

nsur

e th

at th

e si

te c

ontr

ibut

es to

ach

ievi

ng

the

aim

s of

the

Wild

Bir

ds D

irec

tive

, by

mai

ntai

ning

or r

esto

ring

:

•Th

e ex

tent

and

dis

trib

utio

n of

the

habi

tats

of t

he q

ualif

ying

fe

atur

es;

•Th

e st

ruct

ure

and

func

tion

of t

he h

abita

ts o

f the

qua

lifyi

ng

feat

ures

;•

The

supp

orti

ng p

roce

sses

on

whi

ch th

e ha

bita

ts o

f the

qu

alif

ying

feat

ures

rely

;•

The

popu

lati

on o

f eac

h of

the

qual

ifyi

ng fe

atur

es, a

nd•

The

dist

ribu

tion

of t

he q

ualif

ying

feat

ures

wit

hin

the

site

.

38

Sit

e N

ame

Area

(ha)

Qua

lifyi

ng F

eatu

res

Cons

erva

tion

obj

ecti

ves

(onl

y av

aila

ble

for S

ACs

& S

PAs)

Coln

e Es

tuar

y Ra

msa

r Site

UK1

1015

270

1.43

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

1Th

e si

te is

impo

rtan

t due

to th

e ex

tent

and

div

ersi

ty o

f sa

ltm

arsh

pre

sent

. Thi

s si

te, a

nd th

e fo

ur o

ther

site

s in

the

Mid

-Ess

ex C

oast

com

plex

, inc

lude

s a

tota

l of 3

,237

ha,

that

re

pres

ent 7

0%

of t

he s

altm

arsh

hab

itat i

n Es

sex

and

7% o

f th

e to

tal s

altm

arsh

in B

rita

in.

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

2Th

e si

te s

uppo

rts

12 s

peci

es o

f nat

iona

lly s

carc

e pl

ants

and

at

leas

t 38

Bri

tish

Red

Dat

a B

ook

inve

rteb

rate

spe

cies

.

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

3Th

is s

ite s

uppo

rts

a fu

ll an

d re

pres

enta

tive

seq

uenc

es o

f sa

ltm

arsh

pla

nt c

omm

unit

ies

cove

ring

the

rang

e of

var

iati

on

in B

rita

in.

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

5A

ssem

blag

es o

f int

erna

tion

al im

port

ance

; spe

cies

wit

h pe

ak c

ount

s in

win

ter;

320

41 w

ater

fow

l (5

year

pea

k m

ean

1998

/99-

2002

/20

03)

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

6Q

ualif

ying

Spe

cies

/pop

ulat

ions

(as

iden

tifie

d at

des

igna

tion

):Sp

ecie

s w

ith

peak

cou

nts

in w

inte

r:•

Dar

k-be

llied

bre

nt g

oose

, Bra

nta

bern

icla

ber

nicl

a,•

Com

mon

reds

hank

, Tr

inga

tota

nus

tota

nus,

Spec

ies/

popu

lati

ons

iden

tifie

d su

bseq

uent

to d

esig

nati

on

for p

ossi

ble

futu

re c

onsi

dera

tion

und

er c

rite

rion

6.

Spec

ies

wit

h pe

ak c

ount

s in

win

ter:

•B

lack

-tai

led

godw

it , L

imos

a lim

osa

isla

ndic

a

Non

e av

aila

ble

39

Sit

e N

ame

Area

(ha)

Qua

lifyi

ng F

eatu

res

Cons

erva

tion

obj

ecti

ves

(onl

y av

aila

ble

for S

ACs

& S

PAs)

Eppi

ng F

ores

t Ep

ping

For

est i

s a

larg

e an

cien

t woo

d-pa

stur

e w

ith

habi

tats

of h

igh

natu

re c

onse

rvat

ion

valu

e in

clud

ing

anci

ent s

emi-n

atur

al w

oodl

and,

old

gra

ssla

nd p

lain

s, w

et a

nd d

ry

heat

hlan

d an

d sc

atte

red

wet

land

. The

sem

i-nat

ural

woo

dlan

d is

par

ticu

larl

y ex

tens

ive

but t

he F

ores

t pla

ins

are

also

a m

ajor

feat

ure

and

cont

ain

a va

riet

y of

uni

mpr

oved

ac

id g

rass

land

s.

The

sem

i-nat

ural

woo

dlan

ds o

f Epp

ing

Fore

st in

clud

e im

port

ant b

eech

Fag

us s

ylva

tica

fore

sts

on a

cid

soils

, whi

ch a

re im

port

ant f

or a

rang

e of

rare

epi

phyt

ic s

peci

es,

incl

udin

g th

e m

oss

Zygo

don

fors

teri.

The

long

his

tory

of p

olla

rdin

g, a

nd re

sulta

nt la

rge

num

ber o

f vet

eran

tree

s, e

nsur

es th

at th

e si

te is

als

o ri

ch in

fung

i and

in

vert

ebra

tes

asso

ciat

ed w

ith

deca

ying

tim

ber.

Rec

ords

of s

tag

beet

le L

ucan

us c

ervu

s ar

e w

ides

prea

d an

d fr

eque

nt.

Are

as o

f aci

dic

gras

slan

d tr

ansi

tion

al w

ith

heat

hlan

d ar

e ge

nera

lly d

omin

ated

by

a m

ixtu

re o

f fine

-leav

ed g

rass

es. I

n m

arsh

ier a

reas

, pur

ple

moo

r-gr

ass

Mol

inia

cae

rule

a fr

eque

ntly

bec

omes

dom

inan

t. B

road

-leav

ed h

erbs

typi

cal o

f aci

dic

gras

slan

d an

d he

athl

and

are

freq

uent

, inc

ludi

ng h

eath

er C

allu

na v

ulga

ris. T

he s

ite a

lso

cont

ains

an

exam

ple

of w

et d

war

f-sh

rub

heat

h w

ith

both

hea

ther

and

cro

ss-le

aved

hea

th E

rica

tetr

alix

.

Eppi

ng F

ores

t, S

AC

UK0

012

720

1630

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4010

. Nor

ther

n A

tlant

ic w

et h

eath

s w

ith

Eric

a te

tral

ix;

Wet

hea

thla

nd w

ith

cros

s-le

aved

hea

th•

H40

30. E

urop

ean

dry

heat

hs•

H91

20. A

tlant

ic a

cido

philo

us b

eech

fore

sts

wit

h Ile

x an

d so

met

imes

als

o Ta

xus

in th

e sh

rubl

ayer

(Que

rcio

n ro

bori-

petr

aeae

or I

lici-F

agen

ion)

; Bee

ch fo

rest

s on

aci

d so

ils•

S10

83. L

ucan

us c

ervu

s; S

tag

beet

le

Ensu

re th

at th

e in

tegr

ity

of th

e si

te is

mai

ntai

ned

or re

stor

ed a

s ap

prop

riat

e, a

nd e

nsur

e th

at th

e si

te c

ontr

ibut

es to

ach

ievi

ng

the

Favo

urab

le C

onse

rvat

ion

Sta

tus

of it

s Q

ualif

ying

Fea

ture

s, b

y m

aint

aini

ng o

r res

tori

ng:

•Th

e ex

tent

and

dis

trib

utio

n of

qua

lifyi

ng n

atur

al h

abita

ts

and

habi

tats

of q

ualif

ying

spe

cies

;•

The

stru

ctur

e an

d fu

ncti

on (i

nclu

ding

typi

cal s

peci

es) o

f qu

alif

ying

nat

ural

hab

itats

;•

The

stru

ctur

e an

d fu

ncti

on o

f the

hab

itats

of q

ualif

ying

sp

ecie

s;•

The

supp

orti

ng p

roce

sses

on

whi

ch q

ualif

ying

nat

ural

ha

bita

ts a

nd th

e ha

bita

ts o

f qua

lifyi

ng s

peci

es re

ly;

•Th

e po

pula

tion

s of

qua

lifyi

ng s

peci

es, a

nd•

The

dist

ribu

tion

of q

ualif

ying

spe

cies

wit

hin

the

site

.

40

Sit

e N

ame

Area

(ha)

Qua

lifyi

ng F

eatu

res

Cons

erva

tion

obj

ecti

ves

(onl

y av

aila

ble

for S

ACs

& S

PAs)

Ever

sden

and

Wim

pole

Woo

dsTh

e si

te c

ompr

ises

a m

ixtu

re o

f anc

ient

cop

pice

woo

dlan

d (E

vers

den

Woo

d) a

nd h

igh

fore

st w

oods

like

ly to

be

of m

ore

rece

nt o

rigi

n (W

impo

le W

oods

). A

col

ony

of

barb

aste

lle b

ats

Bar

bast

ella

bar

bast

ellu

s is

ass

ocia

ted

wit

h th

e tr

ees

in W

impo

le W

oods

. The

se tr

ees

are

used

as

a su

mm

er m

ater

nity

roos

t whe

re th

e fe

mal

e ba

ts g

athe

r to

giv

e bi

rth

and

rear

thei

r you

ng. M

ost o

f the

roos

t site

s ar

e w

ithi

n tr

ee c

revi

ces.

The

bat

s al

so u

se th

e si

te a

s a

fora

ging

are

a. S

ome

of th

e w

oodl

and

is a

lso

used

as

a fli

ght p

ath

whe

n ba

ts fo

rage

out

side

the

site

.

Ever

sden

and

Wim

pole

W

oods

, SA

C

UK0

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66.2

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08.

Bar

bast

ella

bar

bast

ellu

s; B

arba

stel

le b

atEn

sure

that

the

inte

grit

y of

the

site

is m

aint

aine

d or

rest

ored

as

appr

opri

ate,

and

ens

ure

that

the

site

con

trib

utes

to a

chie

ving

th

e Fa

vour

able

Con

serv

atio

n S

tatu

s of

its

Qua

lifyi

ng F

eatu

res,

by

mai

ntai

ning

or r

esto

ring

:

•Th

e ex

tent

and

dis

trib

utio

n of

the

habi

tats

of q

ualif

ying

sp

ecie

s;•

The

stru

ctur

e an

d fu

ncti

on o

f the

hab

itats

of q

ualif

ying

sp

ecie

s;•

The

supp

orti

ng p

roce

sses

on

whi

ch th

e ha

bita

ts o

f qu

alif

ying

spe

cies

rely

;•

The

popu

lati

ons

of q

ualif

ying

spe

cies

, and

•Th

e di

stri

buti

on o

f qua

lifyi

ng s

peci

es w

ithi

n th

e si

te.

Lee

Valle

yTh

e Le

e Va

lley

com

pris

es a

ser

ies

of e

mba

nked

wat

er s

uppl

y re

serv

oirs

, sew

age

trea

tmen

t lag

oons

and

form

er g

rave

l pit

s al

ong

appr

oxim

atel

y 24

km

of t

he v

alle

y. T

hese

w

ater

bod

ies

supp

ort i

nter

nati

onal

ly im

port

ant n

umbe

rs o

f win

teri

ng g

adw

all a

nd s

hove

ler a

nd n

atio

nally

impo

rtan

t num

bers

of s

ever

al o

ther

bir

d sp

ecie

s. T

he s

ite a

lso

cont

ains

a ra

nge

of w

etla

nd a

nd v

alle

y bo

ttom

hab

itats

, bot

h m

an-m

ade

and

sem

i-nat

ural

, whi

ch s

uppo

rt a

div

erse

rang

e of

wet

land

faun

a an

d flo

ra.

Lee

Valle

y, S

PA

UK9

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111

447.

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otau

rus

stel

laris

; Gre

at b

itte

rn (N

on-b

reed

ing)

•

A0

51 A

nas

stre

pera

; Gad

wal

l (N

on-b

reed

ing)

•

A0

56 A

nas

clyp

eata

; Nor

ther

n sh

ovel

er (N

on-b

reed

ing)

Ensu

re th

at th

e in

tegr

ity

of th

e si

te is

mai

ntai

ned

or re

stor

ed a

s ap

prop

riat

e, a

nd e

nsur

e th

at th

e si

te c

ontr

ibut

es to

ach

ievi

ng

the

aim

s of

the

Wild

Bir

ds D

irec

tive

, by

mai

ntai

ning

or r

esto

ring

:

•Th

e ex

tent

and

dis

trib

utio

n of

the

habi

tats

of t

he q

ualif

ying

fe

atur

es;

•Th

e st

ruct

ure

and

func

tion

of t

he h

abita

ts o

f the

qua

lifyi

ng

feat

ures

;

41

Sit

e N

ame

Area

(ha)

Qua

lifyi

ng F

eatu

res

Cons

erva

tion

obj

ecti

ves

(onl

y av

aila

ble

for S

ACs

& S

PAs)

•Th

e su

ppor

ting

pro

cess

es o

n w

hich

the

habi

tats

of t

he

qual

ifyi

ng fe

atur

es re

ly;

•Th

e po

pula

tion

of e

ach

of th

e qu

alif

ying

feat

ures

, and

•Th

e di

stri

buti

on o

f the

qua

lifyi

ng fe

atur

es w

ithi

n th

e si

te.

Lee

Valle

y Ra

msa

r Site

UK1

1034

447.

87Ra

msa

r Cri

teri

on 2

The

site

sup

port

s th

e na

tion

ally

sca

rce

plan

t spe

cies

who

rled

w

ater

- m

ilfoi

l Myr

ioph

yllu

m v

ertic

illat

um a

nd th

e ra

re o

r vu

lner

able

inve

rteb

rate

Mic

rone

cta

min

utis

sim

a (a

wat

er-

boat

man

).

Ram

sar c

rite

rion

Q

ualif

ying

Spe

cies

/pop

ulat

ions

(as

iden

tifie

d at

des

igna

tion

):Sp

ecie

s w

ith

peak

cou

nts

in s

prin

g/au

tum

n:•

Nor

ther

n sh

ovel

er ,

Anas

cly

peat

a

Spec

ies

wit

h pe

ak c

ount

s in

win

ter:

•G

adw

all ,

Ana

s st

repe

ra s

trep

era

Non

e av

aila

ble

42

43

This document is issued by: Flood and Water management Team Place ServicesEssex County Council

Contact us: floods@essex.gov.uk www.essex.gov.uk/flooding0345 743 0430

Flood and Water management TeamEssex County CouncilCounty HallChelmsfordEssex CM1 1QH

Essex_CC facebook.com/essexcountycouncil

The information contained in this document can be translated,and/or made available in alternative formats, on request.

Published October 2018.