| Colne Estuary | |
| Aos: | Essex |
| Interest: | Biological Geological |
| Area: | 2915.2 hectares |
| Notifydate: | 1989 |
| Map: | Magic Map |
Colne Estuary is a 2915 hectare biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest near Brightlingsea in Essex. It is also a Nature Conservation Review site, a National Nature Reserve,[1] [2] a Ramsar wetland site of international importance,[3] a Special Protection Area,[4] a Special Area of Conservation,[5] and a Geological Conservation Review site.[6] Three areas in the site are managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust, Colne Point, Fingringhoe Wick and Howlands Marsh.[1]
The site has varied habitats, such as saltmarsh, mud flats, shingle spits and former gravel pits. It is of international importance for wintering brent geese and black-tailed godwits, and of national importance for six other bird species, including little terns. It also has important assemblages of invertebrates and plants, such as golden samphire and shrubby seablite. A peat seam in St Osyph Marsh has been dated to 4280 BP, and this marsh is important for saltmarsh morphology.[1]
There are important geological exposures for Pleistocene studies at East Mersea; investigation is at an early stage, but they show warm climate deposits from one or more post-Anglian interglacials.[1]