Today we are looking at saltmarsh Saltmarshes are coastal wetlands that are periodically flooded & drained by the tides from the sea. They are populated by many different species of plants & animals uniquely adapted to living there #saltmarsh #wetlands #habitatweek

Saltmarsh can appear plain, but look more closely & it's not so much what you see on the surface (although plants like samphire/glasswort & sea purslane are fascinating in how they have adapted to the harsh environment) but what lies beneath in the mud that's really important

Saltmarsh & the intertidal mud contains an incredibly rich food source of invertebrates for our birds such as curlew, oystercatcher & godwits. They use their long beaks to probe into the mud & retrieve any creatures they find #intertidalmud #dinnertime #wadingbirds

When the tide comes back in & covers up the mud, wading birds such as this lapwing need somewhere like the saltmarsh to roost (rest) out of the rising water #hightideroost #resting #saltmarsh #lapwing #wadingbirds

In addition to being a home for thousands of birds, the role that #saltmarsh plays in defending our coasts from erosion is becoming increasingly recognised. Saltmarsh also stores more carbon per hectare than many other habitats which could help address climate change

We have some wonderful saltmarshes around the Solent including Lymington & Keyhaven, East Head, Chichester Harbour, Bunny Meadows near Warsash & Yarmouth, Newtown & Bembridge on the Isle of Wight Where is your favourite? #saltmarsh #solenthabitats #habitatweek #thesolent