Waterfowl sites in Essex given greater protection
Dark-bellied brent geese.
Two important sites for waterfowl in Essex have been given the strongest possible environmental protection, Defra has announced.
Allfleet’s Marsh and Brandy Hole, which are part of the Crouch and Roach estuaries, are now Special Protection Areas (SPA) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). They were also designated Ramsar wetland of international importance.
Both sites provide suitable habitat for internationally important wintering water birds, including dark-bellied brent geese, lapwing, shoveler and golden plover, among many waterfowl species.
Image by Ian Kirk, Broadstone, Dorset/Commons Wikimedia/CC BY 2.0
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