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LIVE 24-SEVEN


Green Shore Crab – This species can survive in lower salt environments, they spent much time out of water so thrive in Saltmarshes.


Danish Scurvy-grass – Now present along the edge of many of our inland roads.


Strawberry Clover – The flower is whitish but when it finishes flowering, the seed head resembles a strawberry.


Within a saltmarsh there is zonation with different species present at differing shore heights directly related to their exposure to saltwater. At the lowest levels species such as Glassworts proliferate. These are interesting, extremely salt tolerant plants. They are sometimes eaten as Marsh Samphire and historically the ashes of burnt glasswort were used as Soda Ash in glass making (hence the name). Also at lower levels are other succulent species such as Sea Aster, Sea Plantain and “Spartina” cord grasses.


Higher up in the middle reaches of the salt-marsh the lower species may still be present but they gradually fade out and are joined, and oftentimes overtaken, by Common Sea-Lavender, Parsley Water-dropwort, Sea Spurrey (both Greater and Lesser) and Sea Milkwort amongst others.


The upper saltmarsh where only spring tides and storms reach is more grassland and can contain much Red Fescue and Saltmarsh Rush interspersed with variety of quite scarce, localised species including Strawberry Clover, Sea Clover, Sea Wormwood and Marsh-mallow.


The sea wall in places provides an additional, much modified saltmarsh habitat where species such as Slender Thistle, Sea Beet and Sea Radish can be found.


The best time to visit our saltmarshes is in spring or summer when many of the plants are in bloom as the Saltmarsh contains a number of very attractive species such as Sea Milkwort, Sea Lavender and Sea


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Glasswort species – On the lower edge of the Saltmarsh, we have four species in Gwent.


Aster. A good rule of thumb when trying to identify a saltmarsh plant that may be unfamiliar is to see what more familiar terrestrial plant it looks like and put “Sea” in front of it. Often, you’ll not be far wrong!


The saltmarsh is not all about plants either, the mud teems with life, with many snails, worms, shrimps and crabs finding a home there. These in turn provide valuable food sources for fish when the tide is in, and waders and ducks when the tide is out. The upper reaches of the saltmarsh can also provide a valuable roosting site for waders when the tide is in and it’s very important not to disturb these birds at this time as much vital energy can be lost as they fly around trying to find another suitable site.


Saltmarshes are fascinating and contain much wildlife you won’t find anywhere else, so get out there and enjoy this under- appreciated habitat!


If this article piques your interest in finding out more about your local wildlife, visit www.gwentwildlife.org/whats-on for a range of fun and informative walks, talks and courses this summer.


LIVE24-SEVEN.COM


GWENT WI LDL I F E TRUST SALTMARSH


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