South Thames Estuary and Marshes facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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| Area of Search | Kent |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 5,289.0 hectares (13,069 acres) |
| Notification | 1991 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
The South Thames Estuary and Marshes is a huge natural area in Kent, covering about 5,289 hectares (that's over 13,000 acres!). It stretches along the coast between Gravesend and the mouth of the River Medway. This special place is important for many reasons.
It's known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its amazing wildlife. It's also part of a bigger area called the Thames Estuary and Marshes. This larger area is recognized internationally as a Ramsar site, which means it's a very important wetland. It's also a Special Protection Area under a European Union rule that helps protect wild birds.
Contents
What Makes This Place Special?
This area is a mix of different natural places, called habitats. Each habitat provides a home for different plants and animals.
Amazing Habitats
You can find many types of landscapes here. There are wide, flat mudflats that appear at low tide. There are also saltmarshes, which are grassy areas flooded by the sea. You'll see stretches of shingle, which are beaches made of small, smooth stones.
Further inland, there are grazing marshes where animals might feed. You can also find freshwater lagoons, which are calm ponds of fresh water. Even some patches of deciduous woodland (forests where trees lose their leaves in autumn) are part of this diverse site.
A Home for Thousands of Birds
This area is super important for birds, especially in winter.
Migratory Birds
Every winter, over 20,000 migratory waterfowl (birds that fly long distances) come here. They use this site as a safe place to rest and find food. Some of these birds are here in internationally important numbers. This means a huge part of their global population relies on this one spot!
These include birds like the greater white-fronted goose and the shelduck. You might also spot gadwall, teal, and the northern pintail. Other visitors are the shoveler, grey plover, curlew, and black-tailed godwit.
Breeding Birds
Many birds also choose to breed here, making their nests and raising their young. These include the garganey and the elegant avocet. The northern pintail also breeds here, along with the bearded reedling.
You might even see birds of prey like the hen harrier and the short-eared owl. Other breeding birds include the ruff, the common tern, and the European golden plover.
Plants of the Marshes
The plants here are just as special as the birds. Many unique plants thrive in these salty and wet conditions.
Rare Plants
Along the dykes (small walls or banks) and in drier parts of the site, you can find nationally scarce plants. This means they are rare across the country.
The saltmarsh areas are covered by special plants that can handle salty water. These include different types of salt grasses and glassworts. You'll also see the beautiful sea aster and sea lavender. Another common plant is sea purslane. Two other nationally scarce plants found here are golden samphire and Puccinellia fasciculata.
Tiny Creatures, Big Impact
The smaller animals, called invertebrates, are also a vital part of this ecosystem.
Diverse Invertebrates
The South Thames Estuary and Marshes is home to a wide variety of invertebrates. This includes nationally rare beetles, flies, and true bugs. These tiny creatures play a big role in the health of the marsh.
One special insect found here is the scarce emerald damselfly. You can also find eight different types of water beetles. One of the most impressive is the great silver water beetle, which is quite large for a beetle!
