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Habitats

The UK has a rich assemblage of terrestrial and marine habitats created by its diversity of climate, geology, topography, and land use.

Essex is characterised by its extensive coastline, one of the longest of all the counties in England. The diverse range of important habitats in the county range from the mudflats on the coast and estuaries to the invertebrate-rich brownfield sites of the Thames Gateway and the oxlip woodlands of the northwest.

Following a 2007 review, fifteen habitats have been identified for inclusion in the Essex Biodiversity Action Plan:

  • ANCIENT WOODLAND
  • SaltmarshARABLE FIELD MARGINS
  • BROWNFIELD SITES (added 2007)
  • COASTAL GRAZING MARSH
  • HEDGEROWS
  • LOWLAND HEATHLAND
  • OLD ORCHARDS
  • REEDBEDS
  • SALINE LAGOONS
  • SALTMARSH (added 2007)
  • SEAGRASS BEDS
  • SPECIES-RICH GRASSLAND (added 2007)
  • URBAN HABITATS
  • WOODLAND PASTURE (added 2007)
  • VETERAN TREES (added 2007)

The action plans are currently being updated to a new format, details on the existing habitat action plans (excluding those added in 2007) can be found here link

For more biodiversity information see: