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Britain, consequently all vegetated shingle should be regarded as possibly having international significance. The shingle at the land fall remains mostly un-vegetated. Where shingle vegetation is present it is concentrated to the southerly end of the survey area parallel to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) site. This area is large in its extent though naturally species-poor.
Maritime Cliffs and Slopes are a UK and Suffolk BAP Priority habitat. Much of the cliff edge at the landfall is already eroding and consequently contains little to no vegetation. Vegetated areas are concentrated to the southern end of the survey area towards the MOD site. Much of the vegetated areas only include common, ruderal species. The cliff face running parallel to the MoD site is more diverse as a result of a shallower incline on the slope and the high level of rabbit-grazing. Due to the very sandy soils these areas are prone to erosion when disturbed.
Saltmarsh is also a UK and Suffolk BAP priority habitat. It is limited to narrow strips on the east and west bank of the River Deben.
4.3.7 Watercourses and ponds
The most significant watercourse crossed by the cable is the River Deben. It is a large tidal river with narrow strips of saltmarsh along its banks, so in effect it qualifies under the UK BAP Priority Habitats for Rivers and Coastal Saltmarsh.
Smaller rivers and streams crossed by the route do not meet BAP criteria, though the best examples are perhaps of local interest. These include the more semi-natural watercourses supporting certain wetland vegetation types or adjacent areas of marshy grassland, or those with wooded banks. They are eutrophic. The Queens Fleet (Target Note 286c) supports abundant aquatic vegetation and is of some value in the local contex.
Many of the ditches crossed are small and support very ordinary examples of wetland vegetation and no aquatics. A large wet ditch occurs immediately to the west of the River Deben (Target Note 246) which supports abundant aquatic vegetation and are of some value in the local contex.
Ponds are a UK BAP Priority Habitat. However the ponds of the route are of little botanical interest.