Thanet Coast facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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| Area of Search | Kent |
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| Interest | Biological Geological |
| Area | 816.9 hectares (2,019 acres) |
| Notification | 1990 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
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Designations
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| Official name: Thanet Coast & Sandwich Bay | |
| Designated: | 28 July 1994 |
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| Reference #: | 664 |
The Thanet Coast is a special natural area in Kent, England. It stretches along the coastline between the towns of Whitstable and Ramsgate. This area is about 817 hectares (or 2,019 acres) in size. It's important for both its amazing wildlife (biological) and its unique rocks and landforms (geological).
Because it's so special, the Thanet Coast has several important titles:
- It's a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's protected by law because of its rare plants, animals, or geology.
- It's a Geological Conservation Review site, which means its rocks and landforms are very important for studying Earth's history.
- It's part of two Special Area of Conservations (SACs). These are areas protected for their important habitats and species across Europe.
- It's also part of a Ramsar Site, which is a wetland of international importance, especially for water birds.
- And it's a Special Protection Area (SPA), which protects wild birds and their habitats.
- Some parts of the Thanet Coast are even a Local Nature Reserve, meaning they are protected and managed for nature and for people to enjoy.
Contents
What Makes Thanet Coast Special?
The Thanet Coast is a mix of different natural places. You can find:
- Cliffs and Foreshore: The cliffs here can be unstable, meaning they change over time. The foreshore is the part of the beach that is covered and uncovered by the tide.
- Saltmarsh: This is a coastal wetland that is flooded by saltwater. Special plants grow here that can handle salty conditions.
- Lagoons: These are shallow bodies of water, often separated from the sea by a sandbar or reef.
- Woodland and Grassland: You'll also find areas with trees and open grassy fields.
This variety of habitats makes the Thanet Coast a home for many different creatures.
Amazing Wildlife
The Thanet Coast is a very important place for birds, especially in winter. Thousands of birds travel here from colder places to find food and shelter. It's known for having "internationally important numbers" of these wintering birds, meaning a lot of them!
You can also find some very rare insects here. There are three types of invertebrates (animals without backbones, like insects and worms) that are "nationally rare," meaning they are hard to find anywhere else in the country.
Ancient Earth History
The Thanet Coast is also a fantastic place to learn about Earth's past. It's an important "Palaeocene site." The Palaeocene was a time period about 66 to 56 million years ago, right after the dinosaurs disappeared!
It's also a "paleobotanical locality." This means scientists can find ancient plant fossils here. These fossils help us understand what plants were like millions of years ago and what the environment was like back then.
Protecting the Thanet Coast
The organization called Natural England helps manage and protect the Thanet Coast. They divide the large Site of Special Scientific Interest into smaller "units" to make it easier to look after. This helps make sure that the special plants, animals, and geological features of the Thanet Coast are preserved for the future.
