29th July 2010 Wildlife
The Cuckmere Estuary is rich in wildlife with habitats including vegetated shingle, saltmarsh, saline lagoons, alluvial meadows, the ditches that dissect them and the meanders. The area is recognised as being of national importance for its wildlife and is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its biology and geology.
Vegetated Shingle and Saltmarsh
Sea Kale
The shingle at the mouth of the Cuckmere, particularly that on the east side, has been colonised by highly specialised plants including sea kale, yellow-horned poppy, curled dock and stonecrops. Towards the back of the beach where the shingle is more stable, a low cropped turf of mixed grasses and grassland species has formed, giving rise to scrub.
Sea Aster
Bare mud at the water’s edge has been colonised by glassworts, whilst higher up the banks, saltmarsh dominates, comprising mixed communities of sea purslane and sea aster with some rock samphire, annual seablite and sea lavender. On higher ground is a turf of sea couch grass, common cord grass and greater sea spurrey.
Alluvial Meadows
Shelduck
The meadows on either side of the river have been largely improved for pasture, and as a result they are relatively species poor. However, they are important for overwintering birds, especially teal, wigeon and snipe. The site is also important for breeding birds including shelduck, oystercatcher and ringed plover.
Lagoons, Ditches and Ponds
- Little Grebe
The drainage ditches and ponds are generally freshwater, becoming increasingly brackish nearer the sea. These water bodies support a range of different species, adapted to the varying conditions and salinities. Some of the brackish ditches are particularly notable for water beetles, and the lagoon cockle has been recorded in the meanders, now cut off from the main flow of the river, although their populations appear to be declining. The saline lagoons at the back of the beach support similar invertebrate species to the brackish ditches and provide important feeding areas for birds like the little egret and redshank.
There are a number of badger setts around the estuary near the chalk escarpment, and footprints, pathways and latrines indicate that badgers do use the floodplain. Small populations of adders, slow worms and common lizards have also been recorded on the floodplain.