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Special Areas of Conservation

Hamford Water

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country England
Unitary Authority Essex
Centroid* TM217276
Latitude 51.9025
Longitude 1.2236
SAC EU Code UK0030377
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 50.34
* This is the approximate central point of the SAC. In the case of large, linear or composite sites, this may not represent the location where a feature occurs within the SAC.
Location of Hamford Water SAC

General site character

  • Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (7%)
  • Grassland and scrub habitats (general) (85%)
  • Woodland habitats (general) (8%)

Download the Standard Data Form for this site (PDF <100kb)

Note When undertaking an appropriate assessment of impacts at a site, all features of European importance (both primary and non-primary) need to be considered.

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

  • Not Applicable

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

  • Not Applicable

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

  • 4035 Fisher's estuarine moth Gortyna borelii lunata

    Fisher’s estuarine moth Gortyna borelii lunata has a localised population distribution in the UK, due to its specific habitat requirements and is only found in two areas, the north Essex coast and the north Kent Coast. Hamford Water supports the majority of the Essex population and is the most important UK site for this species, supporting approximately 70% of the population. Hamford Water is a large, shallow estuarine basin comprising tidal creeks, islands, intertidal mud, sand flats and saltmarshes. Above the saltmarsh there is unimproved and improved grassland (including grazing marsh), scrub, woodland, hedges, ditches, ponds and reedbeds. The site encompasses those areas where the moth's food plant hog's fennel (Peucedanum officinale) grows and where there is an abundance of the grasses required by the species for egg laying.

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

  • Not Applicable

Many designated sites are on private land: the listing of a site in these pages does not imply any right of public access.