Minsmere–Walberswick Heaths and Marshes

Minsmere–Walberswick Heaths and Marshes are a Special Area of Conservation and Site of Special Scientific Interest in the English county of Suffolk.[1] The site is located on the North Sea coast between Southwold and Sizewell, extending over an area of coastline around 7 miles (11 km) in length. The site is also designated as a Special Protection Area,[2] part of the Minsmere–Walberswick European Marine Site and contains areas designated as Ramsar sites and Natura 2000 sites.[3] It lies within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty[4] and is made up of a "complex mosaic" of marshes, reed beds, shingle banks and lowland heath habitats.[2]

Minsmere–Walberswick Heaths and Marshes
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Dingle Marshes, part of the Minsmere–Walberswick Heaths and Marshes SSSI
Minsmere–Walberswick Heaths and Marshes within Suffolk
Area of SearchSuffolk
Grid referenceTM469681
Coordinates52.256°N 1.617°E / 52.256; 1.617
InterestBiological
Area2,325.89 hectares (23 km2; 9.0 sq mi)
Notification1993
Natural England website

The SSSI covers an area of 2,325.89 hectares (8.98 sq mi; 23.26 km2).[5] It is a composite site and was formed by the almagamation of the Minsmere Level, Walberswick and Brick Kiln Walks SSSI units. It extends from Hen Reedbeds and Southwold Common north of the River Blyth, through Walberswick and Dunwich to Westleton, Minsmere and Eastbridge to the north of Sizewell nuclear power stations.[6] The area includes the Suffolk Coast National Nature Reserve sites at Hen Reedbeds, Walberswick and Dingle Marshes, the National Trust property at Dunwich Heath and the Minsmere RSPB reserve. It is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I,[7] and covers two nature reserves managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Dingle Marshes[8] and Hen Reedbeds.[9]

Special Area of Conservation

The Special Area of Conservation is 1,265.52 hectares (4.89 sq mi; 12.66 km2) in area and extends from south of the River Blyth at Walberswick to Westleton and Minsmere to the south where it includes the Minsmere RSPB reserve and marshes alongside the Minsmere River.[10] This area includes a range of habitats, including lowland heath and shingle beach vegetation.[1]

References
  1. Minsmere to Walberswick Heaths and Marshes, Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 2013-03-08.
  2. Minsmere–Walberswick, Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 2013-03-08.
  3. European site conservation objectives for Minsmere to Walberswick heaths and marshes Special Area of Conservation, Natural England. Retrieved 2013-03-08.
  4. About us, Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB. Retrieved 2014-03-08.
  5. Minsmere–Walberswick Heaths and Marshes, SSSI citation, Natural England. Retrieved 2014-03-08.
  6. Magic map, Minsmere–Walberswick Heaths and Marshes SSSI, Magic. Retrieved 2014-03-08.
  7. Ratcliffe, Derek, ed. (1977). A Nature Conservation Review. 2. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. pp. 210–211. ISBN 0521 21403 3.
  8. "Dingle Marshes". Suffolk Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  9. "Hen Reedbeds". Suffolk Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 6 September 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  10. Magic map, Minsmere to Walberswick Heaths and Marshes SAC, Magic. Retrieved 2014-03-08.

See also
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