Oystercatcher (Credit Carl Watts
The North Norfolk coastline has some of Europe's finest saltmarsh, including that found at Blakeney Marsh.
Oystercatchers feed on the cockles and mussels buried within the mud here.
Blakeney Marsh is located on the landward side of Blakeney Harbour and is exposed at low tide.
The saltmarsh consists of sheltered muddy areas occasionally inundated by seawater at the top of the shore, with salt-tolerant plants such as samphire, as well as muddier scarcely vegetated areas more regularly covered by seawater. Maritime grassland, on the upper marsh, is colonised primarily by glasswort and cord grass whereas the lower marsh is dominated by sea aster.
Saltmarsh and mudflats are particularly important for breeding birds, including little, common and Sandwich terns, ringed plovers and oystercatchers which feed on the cockles and mussels buried within the mud.
This recommended Marine Conservation Zone is ON HOLD at the moment as it was recommended as a Reference Area.
This site was put forward as a Reference Area (a highly protected site). Defra are now reviewing the designation of these sites. The Wildlife Trusts will be contributing to this review and it our view that there are probably more appropriate sites for designation within region.
Contains UKHO Law of the Sea data. Crown copyright and database right and contains Ordnance Survey Data Crown copyright and database 2012
Other nearby MCZs
Downloads
| Filename | File size |
|---|---|
| Blakeney Marsh.pdf | 185.07 KB |