Hamford Water
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 | |
| Location | Essex |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | TM 235255 |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 2,185.8 hectares (5,401 acres) |
| Notification | 1986 |
| Location map |  |
| Designations | |
|---|---|
| Official name | Hamford Water |
| Designated | 8 June 1993 |
| Reference no. | 607[1] |
Hamford Water is a 2,185.8-hectare (5,401-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest between Walton-on-the-Naze and Harwich in Essex.[2][3] The site is a tidal inlet which has marsh grasslands, creeks, mud and sand flats, salt marshes, islands and beaches. It is described by Natural England as "of international importance for breeding little terns and wintering dark-bellied brent geese, wildfowl and waders, and of national importance for many other bird species." Rare plants include hog's fennel and slender hare's-ear. The main invertebrates are worms and thin-shelled molluscs.[2] The largest island, Horsey Island, can be reached on foot at low tide across The Wade from Kirby-le-Soken.
It is also a Ramsar site,[4] a Special Protection Area,[5] a Nature Conservation Review site, and most of it is a National Nature Reserve.[6] Two small areas, Skippers Island and John Weston Nature Reserve, are managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust.[7][8]
Most of Bramble Island (now part of the mainland) is used by Exchem for explosives testing.[9]
The area was used as the basis for Arthur Ransome's novel Secret Water.[10]
See also
References
- ^ "Hamford Water". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ a b "Hamford Water citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
- ^ "Map of Hamford Water". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
- ^ "Designated and Proposed Ramsar sites in the UK and Overseas Territories & Crown Dependencies". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
- ^ "Hamford Water". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
- ^ "Essex's National Nature Reserves". Natural England. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
- ^ "Skipper's Island". Essex Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
- ^ "John Weston Nature Reserve". Essex Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
- ^ Edge Walking No. 9, Tom Bolton
- ^ Hardyment, Christina (1984). Arthur Ransome and Captain Flint's trunk. London: Jonathan Cape. p. 186. ISBN 0224029894.
51°53′N 1°14′E / 51.88°N 1.24°E / 51.88; 1.24