Glannau Môn: Cors heli / Anglesey Coast: Saltmarsh

General site character

• Tidal rivers, Estuaries, Mud flats, Sand flats, Lagoons (including saltwork basins) (80%)
  
• Salt marshes, Salt pastures, Salt steppes (15%)
  
• Shingle, Sea cliffs, Islets (5%)
  

Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site

• 1310 Salicornia and other annuals colonizing mud and sand

  This is part of a complex of saltmarsh and dune habitats lying either side of the dune systems at Newborough Warren, north Wales. It is therefore important in terms of the structural integrity of the site, which has been selected primarily for a range of sand dune Annex I types. The most significant stands of Salicornia spp. saltmarsh occur on Malltraeth Sands in the Cefni estuary.

• 1330 Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco-Puccinellietalia maritimae)

  This site, which includes both the Braint and Cefni estuaries, forms a complex of saltmarsh and dune habitats lying either side of the dune systems at Newborough Warren. Atlantic salt meadows form the bulk of the saltmarsh vegetation, but much of it is far from typical. In the Braint estuary the vegetation is characterised by unusually large amounts of greater sea-spurrey Spergularia media, whilst in the Cefni estuary the more typical Atlantic salt meadow is subordinate to saltmarsh dominated by sea rush Juncus maritimus. In fact, this is one of the largest stands of Juncus maritimus saltmarsh in Britain, and has affinities with 1410 Mediterranean salt meadows (Juncetalia maritimi), an Annex I vegetation type that is not now considered to occur in the UK.

Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site

• 1130 Estuaries
• 1140 Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide

Annex II species that are a primary reason for selection of this site

• Not Applicable

Annex II species present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection

• Not Applicable