Mucking Flats and Marshes
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TQ692773 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 18.37 | 2015-09-03 |
| TQ695774 | — | Favourable | 112.46 | 2015-09-03 |
| TQ698797 | — | Favourable | 87.85 | 2015-09-03 |
| TQ704809 | — | Favourable | 94.03 | 2016-03-03 |
Climate exposure
This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.
Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Landscape processes: Coastal
Birds & fish recorded
Birds
| Species | Season |
|---|---|
| avocet | Passage |
| avocet | Roosting |
| avocet | Wintering |
| black-tailed godwit | Passage |
| black-tailed godwit | Roosting |
| black-tailed godwit | Wintering |
| curlew | Passage |
| curlew | Roosting |
| curlew sandpiper | Passage |
| curlew sandpiper | Roosting |
| dunlin | Passage |
| dunlin | Roosting |
| dunlin | Wintering |
| grey plover | Passage |
| grey plover | Roosting |
| grey plover | Wintering |
| redshank | Passage |
| redshank | Roosting |
| redshank | Wintering |
| ringed plover | Passage |
| ringed plover | Roosting |
| ringed plover | Wintering |
| shelduck | Passage |
| shelduck | Roosting |
| shelduck | Wintering |
Description
Description Mucking Flats and Marshes comprise an extensive stretch of Thames mud flats and saltmarsh, together with sea wall grassland. Wintering wildfowl and waders reach both nationally and internationally important numbers on the mud flats, roosting and feeding on adjacent saltmarsh and disused silt lagoons. The mud flats form the largest intertidal feeding area for wintering wildfowl and waders west of Canvey Island on the north bank of the Thames. Ringed plover occur in internationally important numbers, with nationally important populations of shelduck, grey plover, dunlin, black-tailed godwit and redshank. Other species occur in good numbers, with avocet regularly present, sometimes in nationally important numbers. The mud flats and saltmarsh are also an important staging post for passage migrants, with significant numbers of waders such as curlew sandpiper and an important late summer flock of yellow legged herring gulls. The saltmarshes provide important high tide roosts, as do the disused silt lagoons at Coalhouse Fort. The value of the site is enhanced by its proximity to Cliffs and Cooling Marshes SSSI and Higham Marshes SSSI across the Thames in Kent, with which there is an interchange of roosting and feeding birds. Between the sea wall and mean high water line lie areas of high level saltmarsh of a type uncommon in Essex. The vegetation is dominated by sea couch Elytrigia atherica and sea purslane Atriplex portulacoides, with sea aster Aster tripolium, common sea lavender Limonium vulgare and common saltmarsh grass Puccinellia maritima. Fragments of lower saltmarsh include glasswort Salicornia spp., common cordgrass Spartina anglica and lesser sea spurrey Spergularia marina, together with the nationally scarce golden samphire Inula crithmoides. The saltmarshes are truncated to their landward edge by sea walls, which in places are vegetated with a sward dominated by sea couch Elytrigia atherica. The saltmarsh has a high invertebrate interest, which includes the rare spider Praestigia duffeyi, as well as many notable and local species.
Species mentioned
Show the 17 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| shelduck | Tadorna tadorna | EN (NonBreeding), EN (Breeding) | bird-duck | anatidae |
| dunlin | Calidris alpina | EN (NonBreeding) | bird-wader | scolopacidae |
| curlew sandpiper | Calidris ferruginea | None | bird-wader | scolopacidae |
| black-tailed godwit | Limosa limosa | LC (NonBreeding) | bird-wader | scolopacidae |
| curlew | Numenius arquata | EN (Breeding) | bird-wader | scolopacidae |
| grey plover | Pluvialis squatarola | VU (NonBreeding) | bird-wader | charadriidae |
| avocet | Recurvirostra avosetta | LC (NonBreeding), LC (Breeding) | bird-wader | recurvirostridae |
| redshank | Tringa totanus | EN (NonBreeding) | bird-wader | scolopacidae |
| sea couch | Elytrigia atherica | Not listed in GB list | grass | poaceae |
| saltmarsh grass | Puccinellia maritima | LC | grass | poaceae |
| common cord grass | Spartina anglica | LC | grass | poaceae |
| sea aster | Aster tripolium | Not listed in GB list | herb | asteraceae |
| golden samphire | Inula crithmoides | Not listed in GB list | herb | asteraceae |
| common sea lavender | Limonium vulgare | NT | herb | plumbaginaceae |
| sea spurrey | Spergularia marina | LC | herb | carophyllaceae |
| sea purslane | Atriplex portulacoides | LC | shrub dwarf | chenopodiaceae |
| Duffey's bell-head spider | Praestigia duffeyi | EN | spider | linyphiidae |
Plant communities
SM1 — Salt marsh
Zostera communities
Show 15 indicator speciesZostera angustifolia, Zostera marina, Zostera noltei, Spartina anglica, Porphyra umbilicalis, Chondria dasyphylla, Polysiphonia nigra, Chara aspera, Chaetomorpha linum, Chaetomorpha tortuosa, Cladophora battersii, Cladophora retroflexa, Ulva intestinalis, Ulva lactuca, Fucus spiralis
SM3 — Salt marsh
Eleocharis parvula salt-marsh community
Show 1 indicator speciesEleocharis parvula
SM4 — Salt marsh
Spartina maritima salt-marsh community
Show 6 indicator speciesSuaeda maritima, Salicornia europaea, Salicornia perennis, Puccinellia maritima, Spartina anglica, Spartina maritima
SM5 — Salt marsh
Spartina alterniflora salt-marsh community
Show 3 indicator speciesPuccinellia maritima, Spartina alterniflora, Spartina anglica
SM6 — Salt marsh
Spartina anglica salt-marsh community
Show 14 indicator speciesAtriplex portulacoides, Suaeda maritima, Aster tripolium, Cochlearia anglica, Spergularia media, Atriplex hastata, Salicornia europaea, Plantago maritima, Limonium vulgare, Puccinellia maritima, Spartina anglica, Catenella caespitosa, Fucus vesiculosus, Fucus vesiculosus ecad volubilis
SM7 — Salt marsh
Arthrocnemum perenne stands
Show 9 indicator speciesAtriplex portulacoides, Suaeda maritima, Aster tripolium, Spergularia media, Salicornia europaea, Salicornia perennis, Limonium vulgare, Puccinellia maritima, Bostrychia scorpioides
SM8 — Salt marsh
Annual Salicornia salt-marsh community
Show 6 indicator speciesAtriplex portulacoides, Suaeda maritima, Aster tripolium, Salicornia europaea, Puccinellia maritima, Spartina anglica
SM9 — Salt marsh
Suaeda maritima salt-marsh community
Show 6 indicator speciesAtriplex portulacoides, Suaeda maritima, Aster tripolium, Salicornia europaea, Puccinellia maritima, Spartina anglica
SM10 — Salt marsh
Transitional low-marsh vegetation with Puccinellia maritima annual Salicornia species and Suaeda maritima
Show 10 indicator speciesAtriplex portulacoides, Suaeda maritima, Aster tripolium, Spergularia media, Salicornia europaea, Triglochin maritimum, Armeria maritima, Limonium vulgare, Puccinellia maritima, Spartina anglica
SM11 — Salt marsh
Aster tripolium var. discoideus salt-marsh community
Show 12 indicator speciesAtriplex portulacoides, Suaeda maritima, Aster tripolium, Spergularia media, Salicornia europaea, Salicornia perennis, Plantago maritima, Puccinellia maritima, Spartina anglica, Bostrychia scorpioides, Fucus vesiculosus, Pelvetia canaliculata
SM12 — Salt marsh
Rayed Aster Tripolium on slat marshes
Show 13 indicator speciesSchoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bufonius, Suaeda maritima, Aster tripolium, Spergularia marina, Spergularia media, Atriplex hastata, Salicornia europaea, Triglochin maritimum, Plantago maritima, Puccinellia distans, Puccinellia maritima, Spartina anglica
SM13 — Salt marsh
Puccinellia maritima salt-marsh community
Show 23 indicator speciesAtriplex portulacoides, Juncus gerardii, Suaeda maritima, Aster tripolium, Cochlearia anglica, Cochlearia officinalis, Spergularia media, Atriplex hastata, Salicornia europaea, Salicornia perennis, Triglochin maritimum, Plantago maritima, Armeria maritima, Limonium humile, Limonium vulgare, Glaux maritima, Agrostis stolonifera, Festuca rubra, Puccinellia maritima, Spartina anglica, Spartina maritima, Bostrychia scorpioides, Fucus cottonii
SM14 — Salt marsh
Halimione portulacoides salt-marsh community
Show 16 indicator speciesAtriplex portulacoides, Juncus maritimus, Suaeda maritima, Artemisia maritima, Aster tripolium, Inula crithmoides, Spergularia media, Salicornia europaea, Salicornia perennis, Triglochin maritimum, Plantago maritima, Armeria maritima, Limonium vulgare, Elytrigia atherica, Puccinellia maritima, Spartina anglica
SM15 — Salt marsh
Juncus maritimus-Triglochin maritima salt-marsh community
Show 24 indicator speciesAtriplex portulacoides, Carex extensa, Juncus gerardii, Juncus maritimus, Suaeda maritima, Oenanthe lachenalii, Artemisia maritima, Cochlearia anglica, Cochlearia officinalis, Spergularia media, Atriplex hastata, Salicornia europaea, Triglochin maritimum, Plantago maritima, Armeria maritima, Limonium humile, Limonium vulgare, Glaux maritima, Agrostis stolonifera, Festuca rubra, Phragmites australis, Puccinellia maritima, Spartina anglica, Fucus cottonii
SM16 — Salt marsh
Festuca rubra salt-marsh community
Show 30 indicator speciesAtriplex portulacoides, Carex distans, Carex flacca, Juncus gerardii, Hypnum cupressiforme, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Cochlearia anglica, Cerastium fontanum, Sagina procumbens, Spergularia media, Atriplex hastata, Salicornia europaea, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium repens, Triglochin maritimum, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago maritima, Armeria maritima, Limonium vulgare, Glaux maritima, Ranunculus acris, Potentilla anserina, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Puccinellia maritima
SM17 — Salt marsh
Artemisia maritima salt-marsh community
Show 24 indicator speciesAtriplex portulacoides, Juncus gerardii, Juncus maritimus, Suaeda maritima, Suaeda vera, Artemisia maritima, Cochlearia anglica, Cochlearia officinalis, Spergularia media, Atriplex hastata, Salicornia europaea, Triglochin maritimum, Plantago coronopus, Plantago maritima, Armeria maritima, Limonium vulgare, Glaux maritima, Agrostis stolonifera, Elytrigia atherica, Elytrigia repens, Festuca rubra, Hordeum marinum, Parapholis strigosa, Puccinellia maritima
SM18 — Salt marsh
Juncus maritimus salt-marsh community
Show 32 indicator speciesCarex distans, Carex extensa, Carex otrubae, Juncus gerardii, Juncus maritimus, Amblystegium serpens, Kindbergia praelonga, Oenanthe lachenalii, Cirsium arvense, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Sonchus arvensis, Cochlearia officinalis, Silene flos-cuculi, Atriplex hastata, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Triglochin maritimum, Plantago maritima, Armeria maritima, Rumex crispus, Glaux maritima, Samolus valerandi, Ranunculus acris, Potentilla anserina, Galium palustre, Agrostis stolonifera, Elytrigia repens, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Poa pratensis, Schedonorus arundinaceus
SM19 — Saline lagoon, Salt marsh
Blysmus rufus salt-marsh community
Show 26 indicator speciesBlysmus rufus, Carex extensa, Carex lepidocarpa, Carex nigra, Eleocharis quinqueflora, Eleocharis uniglumis, Juncus articulatus, Juncus gerardii, Amblystegium serpens, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Drepanocladus polygamus, Leptodictyum riparium, Oenanthe lachenalii, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Cochlearia anglica, Trifolium repens, Triglochin maritimum, Triglochin palustre, Plantago maritima, Armeria maritima, Glaux maritima, Potentilla anserina, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus geniculatus, Festuca rubra, Puccinellia maritima
SM20 — Saline lagoon, Salt marsh
Eleocharis uniglumis salt-marsh community
Show 25 indicator speciesBolboschoenus maritimus, Carex distans, Carex extensa, Carex nigra, Eleocharis quinqueflora, Eleocharis uniglumis, Juncus articulatus, Juncus gerardii, Leptodictyum riparium, Oenanthe lachenalii, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Atriplex hastata, Trifolium repens, Triglochin maritimum, Triglochin palustre, Plantago maritima, Armeria maritima, Glaux maritima, Samolus valerandi, Potentilla anserina, Galium palustre, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus geniculatus, Festuca rubra
SM21 — Salt marsh
Suaeda vera-Limonium binervosum salt-marsh community
Show 21 indicator speciesAtriplex portulacoides, Frankenia laevis, Suaeda maritima, Suaeda vera, Artemisia maritima, Cochlearia anglica, Cochlearia danica, Cochlearia officinalis, Sagina maritima, Spergularia marina, Spergularia media, Salicornia europaea, Plantago maritima, Armeria maritima, Limonium bellidifolium, Limonium binervosum, Limonium vulgare, Glaux maritima, Elytrigia atherica, Festuca rubra, Puccinellia maritima
SM22 — Salt marsh
Halimione portulacoides-Frankenia laevis salt-marsh community
Show 14 indicator speciesAtriplex portulacoides, Frankenia laevis, Suaeda maritima, Spergularia media, Salicornia europaea, Salicornia perennis, Plantago coronopus, Plantago maritima, Armeria maritima, Limonium vulgare, Elytrigia juncea, Festuca rubra, Parapholis strigosa, Puccinellia maritima
SM23 — Salt marsh
Spergularia marina-Puccinellia distans salt-marsh community
Show 18 indicator speciesAtriplex portulacoides, Juncus bufonius, Suaeda maritima, Spergularia marina, Spergularia media, Atriplex hastata, Salicornia europaea, Triglochin maritimum, Plantago maritima, Polygonum aviculare, Glaux maritima, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus geniculatus, Elytrigia atherica, Festuca rubra, Parapholis strigosa, Puccinellia distans, Puccinellia maritima
SM24 — Salt marsh
Elymus pycnanthus salt-marsh community
Show 24 indicator speciesAtriplex portulacoides, Juncus gerardii, Juncus maritimus, Hypnum cupressiforme, Suaeda vera, Artemisia maritima, Aster tripolium, Sonchus arvensis, Atriplex hastata, Atriplex littoralis, Beta vulgaris sp maritima, Plantago maritima, Armeria maritima, Limonium vulgare, Glaux maritima, Potentilla anserina, Galium aparine, Agrostis stolonifera, Ammophila arenaria, Elytrigia atherica, Festuca rubra, Parapholis strigosa, Phragmites australis, Puccinellia maritima
SM25 — Salt marsh
Suaeda vera drift-line community
Show 20 indicator speciesAtriplex portulacoides, Suaeda maritima, Suaeda vera, Artemisia maritima, Cochlearia anglica, Cochlearia danica, Cochlearia officinalis, Spergularia media, Atriplex littoralis, Salicornia europaea, Salicornia perennis, Triglochin maritimum, Plantago maritima, Limonium vulgare, Glaux maritima, Elytrigia atherica, Festuca rubra, Puccinellia maritima, Bostrychia scorpioides, Pelvetia canaliculata
SM26 — Salt marsh
Inula crithmoides stands
Show 14 indicator speciesAtriplex portulacoides, Suaeda maritima, Inula crithmoides, Spergularia media, Salicornia europaea, Salicornia perennis, Plantago maritima, Armeria maritima, Limonium vulgare, Elytrigia atherica, Festuca rubra, Puccinellia maritima, Spartina anglica, Bostrychia scorpioides
SM28 — Salt marsh
Elymus repens salt-marsh community
Show 51 indicator speciesBolboschoenus maritimus, Carex otrubae, Eleocharis uniglumis, Juncus gerardii, Kindbergia praelonga, Odontites verna, Anthriscus sylvestris, Apium graveolens, Heracleum sphondylium, Oenanthe crocata, Oenanthe lachenalii, Torilis japonica, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Sonchus arvensis, Tripleurospermum maritimum, Cochlearia anglica, Cochlearia officinalis, Silene uniflora, Stellaria media agg., Atriplex hastata, Atriplex littoralis, Calystegia sepium, Lotus corniculatus, Medicago lupulina, Melilotus altissima, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Triglochin maritimum, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago maritima, Rumex conglomeratus, Rumex crispus, Glaux maritima, Potentilla anserina, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus geniculatus, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Elytrigia repens, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Poa pratensis, Puccinellia maritima, Schedonorus arundinaceus