Coastal and estuarine
The coastal expanse of Lancashire's strategy area spans from Silverdale to Birkdale Sands. This large expanse of coastline has several contributing main estuaries of the Ribble, Wyre, Lune, Keer, Kent and Leven with a myriad of smaller channels and outlets that feed into the coastline[i]. There are extensive areas of river, coastal and estuary SSSIs which predominantly are in favourable condition.
Sand dunes are multiple systems that are vulnerable to increased disturbance and invasive plant species, as well as weather and sea conditions[ii]. Over the past 150 years, more than 80% of the sand dunes in Lancashire have been lost[iii]. 90% of Lancashire's remaining sand dunes are in Fylde. The presence of three large golf courses on Lancashire's dune land has saved extensive areas of semi-natural vegetation, including the largest remaining areas of dune heath, from built development.[iv] However, without sensitive management of routine golf course operations such as drainage, irrigation, tree-planting, mowing, fertilising and re-seeding then their biodiversity value is at risk.
Coastal squeeze of inter-tidal habitats is an increasing pressure on biodiversity in Lancashire.
Table 6: Pressures and opportunities for recovery (coastal and estuarine habitats)
Pressures | Example habitats affected | Broad species assemblages affected (including example species[1]) | Example opportunities identified |
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Brackish reedbeds Coastal grasslands Coastal floodplain grazing marsh Coastal hinterland (functionally linked farmland) Coastal saltmarsh Coastal sand dunes Coastal vegetated shingle Coastal woodlands Estuaries Lowland rivers and watercourses Maritime cliffs Mudflats Non-saline lagoons Saline lagoons Inter-tidal and sub-tidal cobbleand boulder skears Open mosaic on previously developed coastal land
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Estuaries 14 shortlisted species including - Birds:
Fish:
Dune slacks (including dune slacks/sand dune systems and coastal ditches and canals) 10 shortlisted species including - Invertebrates:
Amphibians:
Plants:
Sand dunes (including beach and sand dunes associated with woodland, lowland heath and shingle) 32 shortlisted species including - Reptiles:
Invertebrates:
Plants:
Saltmarsh (including transitional brackish marsh and floodplain grazing marsh 19 shortlisted species including - Birds:
Invertebrates:
Plants:
Coastal rocky / maritime cliffs 4 shortlisted species including - Plants:
Coastal grasslands 9 shortlisted species including - Invertebrates:
Plants:
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Restore saltmarsh through rewetting interventions, changes to grazing management and managed realignment. Managed realignment, for tidal exchange. Juvenile fish and spawning habitat restoration in the middle and upper estuaries of the Lancashire and Amounderness Plain, Morecambe Coastand Lune Estuary, and Morecambe Bay Limestones. Promotion of a step change to agricultural management practices. Wetland and flood storage habitat creation in West Lancashire, Morecambe Coastand Lune Estuary and Lancashireand Amounderness Plain to improve the current water management regime. Alleviate recreational impacts through public engagement for example, through raising awareness and Community wildlife projects and improvements to Suitable Alternative Natural Green Spaces
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Table 7: Coastal and estuarine priorities, potential measures, and associated benefits
Priorities | Measures | Shortlist species benefited [2] | Benefits |
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C1. Coastal habitats connected with wider ecosystems particularly transitional habitats. |
C1.1 - Create and restore coastal habitats (such as sand dunes, dune slacks and saltmarshes) to reverse fragmentation. |
Birds:
Reptiles:
Fish:
Invertebrates:
Plants:
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National objectives and targets: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16 Wider benefits:
Other linked LNRS Priorities: AW1, AW2, AW3, AW4, C2, C3, G3, P1, P2, P3
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C1.2 - Remove or create pathways through barriers such as small weirs, road culverts and other riverbed modifications, to improve connectivity for species dispersal by focussing on barriers within main rivers at, or close to the tidal limit. |
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C1.3 - Create and enhance habitat corridors to support species migration including connectivity between coastal and freshwater ecosystems e.g., salt marsh, estuaries, intertidal pools, floodplain grazing marsh. |
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C2. Naturally functioning coastal systems with dynamic processes forming embryonic and transitional habitats. |
C2.1 - Restore natural processes in coastal waters, estuaries, dune slacks, sand dunes and salt marsh habitats for example by:
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Amphibians:
Fish (coastal waters and estuaries are a key habitat for juvenile and larvae phase fish):
Reptiles: Sand lizard |
National objectives and targets: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14 Wider benefits:
Other linked LNRS Priorities: AW1, AW2, AW3, AW4, C1, C3, P1, P2, P3, U1, U4 |
C2.2 - Restore, create and actively manage dune slacks for example through scrape creation, management of frontal woodlands and scrub control. |
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C2.3 - Allow natural formation of embryonic habitats such as embryonic dunes, salt marshes (including strand line and pioneer vegetation) and dune slacks. |
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C2.4 – Manage and enhance sand dune habitats for example through sand patching and vegetation management to maintain a structurally varied habitat. |
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C3. Expanded, enhanced and preserved coastal and estuarine habitat important to Lancashire. |
C3.1 - Create undisturbed coastal high tide roost sites for waders and coastal lagoons and islands for nesting sites. Birds:
Reptiles:
Invertebrates:
Fish (particularly riffle habitats):
Plants:
National objectives and targets: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16 Wider benefits:
Other linked LNRS Priorities: AW1, AW2, AW3, AW4, C1 C2, G1, G2, G3, P2, P3, U1, U4 |
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C3.2 - Creation of estuarine, and lower river (between tidal limit and 1-2 miles upstream) riffle habitats to support key fish species for example by:
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C3.3 - Creation and restoration of naturally functioning saltmarsh habitat. |
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C3.4 - Creation of coastal habitats, including brackish reedbeds, coastal grasslands and wetlands within their former extent for example by reconnecting low-lying reclaimed and frequently flooded agricultural land to coastal and transitional habitats. |
[1] For the full list of the 534 species that have been identified as the most threatened or locally significant to prioritise for recovery action see the Evidence and Technical Information document – Appendix Ten
[2] For the full list of the 534 species that have been identified as the most threatened or locally significant to prioritise for recovery action see the Evidence and Technical Information document – Appendix Ten
[i] Coastand Estuaries Thematic Habitat Group Final report, August 2024.
[ii] Adopted Fylde Local Plan to 2032, incorporating Partial Review
[iii] Lancashire Wildlife Trust, 2023. Fylde Sand Dunes Project
[iv] Lancashire Biodiversity Action Plan 2001.