Guidelines for the Selection of Biological Heritage Sites

Contents

6. Section 1: Habitat Guidelines

6.9 COASTAL HABITATS

Application (all coastal habitat guidelines)

These guidelines apply both to intertidal areas, and also to other semi-natural habitats which are the creation of coastal processes or are otherwise directly affected by the sea. Habitats are defined in NCC (1990).

It should be noted that large parts of the intertidal area and all of the major estuaries in Lancashire are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

Justification (all coastal habitat guidelines)

Lancashires coast is its single most important wildlife habitat. All significant areas of undeveloped coastal habitat are regarded as being of nature conservation significance, since they either form part of a continuous coastal complex, or else are fragments of habitats which are now rare (like sand dune systems and coastal grasslands) following 19th and 20th century resort development and coastal defence works.

Co1 Area of saltmarsh greater than 0.5 hectare.

Co2 Maritime hard or soft cliffs.

Co3 Sand-dune systems and areas of dune grassland greater than 0.5 hectare.

Co4 Areas of species-rich coastal grassland and associated scrub greater than 0.5 hectare.

Co5 Shingle beaches greater than 0.5 hectare.

Co6 Mudflats greater than 0.5 hectare and greater than 20metres wide.