Southannan Sands
Also within
Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Sandflats | Favourable | — | 2019-03-21 |
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.
Geology & landscape
Landscape processes: Coastal
Description
Southannan Sands Southannan Sands comprises a coastal section, subdivided into three discrete areas, which together support one of the best examples of intertidal sandflats habitat within the coastal cell covering the entire Clyde coastline. The sandflats extend for over 4km along the coast, and are subdivided by Hunterston industrial developments. The marine construction yard and the coal terminal conveyor extend beyond the Mean Low Water Springs and subdivide the sandflats into three discrete areas: Hunterston Sands, Southannan Sands and Fairlie Sands. The sandflats are mainly composed of fine to medium sheltered sands, with a small area of mud/silt at Fairlie Sands. Extensive areas of the nationally scarce dwarf eelgrass Zostera noltii are a biologically and structurally important component of the intertidal sediment flats at this site.