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Sand & Mud Flats

shifting sandsThe estuarine sand and mud hides a fantastic array of plants and animals that are usually overlooked.

Under the rippled sand lies a whole world of life, from small animals such as crabs and worms to the larger shellfish like the razor shell, through to the tiny Baltic telling - a bi-valve shellfish. All of these animals are just above the bottom of the food chain and they live on the primary producers such as plants and organic detritus.

The millions of birds and fish that use the Solway, either on migration or as residents, in turn, eat these animals.

The estuary is governed by the daily ebb and flow of the tide and all of the plants and animals respond to this in a multitude of ways from the spectacular flights of wintering wading birds to the sight of porpoises chasing shoals of fish.

The sand and mud flats are the engine room from which all other life around the estuary is dependent.

The flats are all covered under national, European and global nature conservation designations.

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