The Swale. 17/07/85; England; 6,515 ha; 51°22'N 000°50'E. Special Protection Area EC Directive; Nature Reserve, SSSI, Environmentally Sensitive Area, Local Nature Reserve. An extensive complex of mudflats, saltmarsh and freshwater grazing marsh, an estuarine channel, and areas of shingle, shell and sand beaches and mussel beds. The saltmarshes and mudflats support a high species diversity of plants and invertebrates, including several nationally rare species. The area is of national importance for various breeding, passage and wintering ducks and waders, and regularly supports internationally important numbers of numerous species of wintering waterbirds. Ramsar site no. 299. Most recent RIS information: 2007.

England