2009 University of Brighton Intertidal Lee-on-the-Solent to Itchen Estuary, Medina Estuary, North Solent, Thanet Coast and Thorness Bay Sediment Survey Condition Assessment

Littoral sediments are found across the intertidal zone and range from boulders, through gravel and sand, to silt and clay (mud). The type of sediment is critical to structuring biological community composition. Sand shores usually support a range of oligochaetes, polychaetes and crustaceans, and muddy shores also favour bivalves. The invertebrate communities present in littoral sediments can support large populations of predatory birds. Littoral sediment environments are extremely dynamic and can change markedly over time. The aim of this project was to undertake a field survey of the intertidal sediments of the SSSIs located at Lee-on-the-Solent to Itchen Estuary and North Solent (Hampshire), Medina Estuary and Thorness Bay (Isle of Wight), and Thanet Coast (Kent), in order to enable a condition assessment of the littoral sediment feature. The survey determined: the extent of the sediment feature; the biological communities present, the sediment character, and the distribution of the biotopes, at each site.