Shared description
Leigh National Nature Reserve and Two Tree Island
Leigh NNR encompasses Leigh Sands (an intertidal area) as far south as a channel called Ray Gut, and also included the eastern half of Two Tree Island. The island is the only part of the reserve that is accessible.
The flats have a dense, vigorous growth of eel grass species which, together with their invertebrate populations, support large numbers of dark-bellied Brent geese and waders such as grey plovers and knots.
The saltmarshes are noted for their plant-life, in particular the five species of glasswort that grow there. The lower marshes are home to sea aster, small cord-grass, common cord-grass and glasswort species, while the upper marshes are dominated by sea purslane.
Two Tree Island typifies the history of many Essex coastal sites. It was reclaimed from the sea in the 18th century when a sea-wall was built around saltmarsh, and was used for rough grazing until 1910 when a sewage farm was built on its eastern tip. In 1936 Southend Borough Council acquired the whole island and used it as a rubbish tip until the 1970s.
The flats have a dense, vigorous growth of eel grass species which, together with their invertebrate populations, support large numbers of dark-bellied Brent geese and waders such as grey plovers and knots.
The saltmarshes are noted for their plant-life, in particular the five species of glasswort that grow there. The lower marshes are home to sea aster, small cord-grass, common cord-grass and glasswort species, while the upper marshes are dominated by sea purslane.
Two Tree Island typifies the history of many Essex coastal sites. It was reclaimed from the sea in the 18th century when a sea-wall was built around saltmarsh, and was used for rough grazing until 1910 when a sewage farm was built on its eastern tip. In 1936 Southend Borough Council acquired the whole island and used it as a rubbish tip until the 1970s.
by N Chadwick
Created: Thu, 26 Apr 2012, Updated: Fri, 27 Apr 2012
13 images use this description: (all images taken in 2012)
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