Marine and Coastal Habitats

The marine environment is made up of a patchwork of habitats; areas that are characterised by a combination of physical and biological features. Each habitat contains a different community of species and provides us with a variety of services. Though the environment has been categorised into habitats, they do not exist in isolation. Energy and species flow between them, meaning a change in one habitat will also result in the change of another. The most ecologically diverse and important habitats are protected by laws that come with designations such as Special Areas of Conservation.

SANDY SHORES

Not only do sandy beaches provide beautiful places to visit and wonderful places to play, they also hide a surprising amount of life within their sediments.

MUD FLATS

There’s much more to mudflats than the smelly, gloopy mud that meets the eyes and nose!

SAND DUNES

A world dictated by the movement of wind and sand