Aquatic Environments 01/03

Monitoring of the BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

– With respect to the size and location of the

Zostera spp. beds, the Enteromorpha spp.

mats, the Mussel beds and the seaward

boundary of the Spartina sp zone.

Aquatic Environments 01/03

Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

Contents

Contents ...... 2 1. Introduction and Aims...... 1 2. Survey methodology ...... 1 3. Results for Lindisfarne...... 2 4. Results for Budle Bay...... 4 5. Discussion ...... 12 6. Bibliography ...... 13 Appendix 1...... 14 A. Lindisfarne Bay...... 14 B. Budle Bay...... 48

2 Aquatic Environments 02/03

1. Introduction and Aims.

Previous work on the intertidal sediment biotopes and life-forms of Lindisfarne and Budle Bay have been carried out by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee’s Marine Nature Conservation Review teams (Connor, 1989; Holt, 1994; and Brazier et al 1998) and specific monitoring of the Enteromorpha spp. mats on both Fenham Flats and Budle Bay has also been undertaken by the Environment Agency on an annual basis since 1995 (Peaty, 1996, 1998, 2002, Swaile, 2000). The largest Zostera noltii bed on the east coast of England is located in the southwest corner of Lindisfarne Bay on Fenham Flats and there is concern that the seasonal over-growth by Enteromorpha spp. may cause a decline in this species. The Zostera spp. is an important food source for passage and over-wintering wildfowl and the over- wintering flock of Light-bellied Brent Geese in particular.

This study of 5 specific life-forms provides a follow up to a survey carried out by the Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Studies in 1999 (Allen et al., 1999). This previous survey analysed and mapped both the sediment infaunal communities and the epi- faunal and floral communities of Lindisfarne and Budle Bay, assigning biotope codings to the identified features, in line with the Marine biotope classification for Britain and Ireland (Connor (Ed.), 1997).

This 2002 Aquatic Environments survey aimed to map to an accuracy of +/- 5m the position and extent of the gross life-form features listed below.

 Zostera spp. beds  Enteromorpha spp. mats  Mytilus edulis (mussel) beds  The position of the seaward boundary of the Spartina anglica zone.

The results of the Aquatic Environments survey are presented in this report as life- form maps overlaid on the Ordnance Survey ‘landline’ tiles for the area, the latter supplied by English Nature and reproduced here under their licence No. …...

2. Survey methodology

A3 field base-maps for Lindisfarne and Budle Bay were prepared prior to the survey. These were laminated and carried in the field with waterproof pens, so that geo- referenced notes and information could be recorded on maps in situ during the survey should it be required.

Two surveyors working in the field as a pair, carried out the mapping of the group of life-forms noted above, each surveyor carried a Garmin etrex GPS receiver, a base- map and recording forms. The life-form was identified when encountered on the sand/mudflats and the boundary was then walked, whilst the surveyor took photographs, made contemporaneous notes and entered waypoints in the GPS, as Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats features of interest were encountered. Life-form beds were recorded where the percentage cover was deemed to be greater than 5% of the relevant species. The surveyors generally walked opposite boundaries of each life-form bed, in order to cover the ground quickly and efficiently. Safety was maintained during this exercise, as each carried a mobile phone and a regular call-in procedure was followed where beds were so wide that audio or visual contact was not clear.

The Garmin etrex GPS stores the entered waypoints in a pre-determined format (Grid References or Latitude and Longitude) and also stores the track walked in a similar format. Both these data sets can be downloaded from the GPS receivers and uploaded into the mapinfo GIS programme. This allowed the boundaries of the life-forms to be immediately viewed in relation to the Landline map data and subsequently digitised as polygons, producing accurate maps of the life-form bed locations.

The photographs taken during the survey were geo-referenced with a recorded waypoint and the description, along with the contemporaneous notes were entered into Mapinfo Browser tables.

The resulting maps and photographs have been printed out and are presented in the results section of this report and a CD that includes the Mapinfo tables has also been produced as an output.

3. Results for Lindisfarne.

Maps 1-3. present the life-form bed locations, their boundaries, photograph locations and target note waypoint positions in Lindisfarne Bay. The main features of interest and the limitations of the data are described below and photographs taken during the survey are presented in appendix 1.

3.1 Zostera noltii: Z. noltii is only found in relatively pure stands on the sandier / firmer areas of Lindisfarne Bay, these being on west Holy Island Sands and east Fenham Flats inside the Old Law promontory. The vast majority of the Zostera noltii is present as a large bed lying along the western side of the bay, occupying an area that runs out from the bottom of the Spartina anglica zone across the mudflats west to east for 800-1000m and north to south from ‘The Cages’ to ‘Cathangings Letch’, a distance of some 5 kilometres. This bed is generally overgrown by Enteromorpha spp., to varying degrees and the two genera together form a blanket almost completely covering the sediment. The exception to this is the uppershore edge of this bed, from the Spartina anglica out for 50- 80m eastwards, where the Zostera noltii is commonly present as a low density, but pure stand before the Enteromorpha spp. appears lower down the shore. Another mixed bed of Zostera spp. and Enteromorpha spp. lies at the north side of the bay on the eastern side of Holy Island Sands in the vicinity of the ‘line of posts’.

A bed of Zostera noltii was recorded to the north of St Cuthbert’s Island near Lindisfarne village, which had not been previously recorded in 1999

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

3.2 Zostera marina var. angustifolia: Z. marina occurs sporadically amongst the Z. noltii, specifically where there are areas of standing water on the sand flats. Areas where it occurs with some regularity are around the southern end of the bay in the vicinity of ‘Stinking Goat’ and around the creeks that enter the bay from the west (see photograph L46 taken at waypoint 147, adjacent to the Spartina anglica burial experiment area). One area where there is a larger bed of Zostera marina and Enteromorpha spp. without the Z. noltii, is found on the shore where ‘Black Low’ Creek spreads across the soft muddy-sand to the north of Granary Point on the east side of the bay.

The polygons of mixed Zostera spp. shown on maps 1-3 are generally dominated by Zostera noltii and Enteromorpha spp. and Zostera marina is only present sporadically where conditions allow as noted above and usually with Enteromorpha spp..

3.3 Enteromorpha spp.: Enteromorpha spp., being generally annual in its growth habit on the Lindisfarne sand flats, grows over the Zostera spp. throughout the spring and summer months, particularly where there is an increased mud component to the substratum. This is most notable on Fenham Flats and eastern Holy Island sands, where in places by September the Enteromorpha spp had formed a ‘blanket’ above the Zostera spp. sward. These ‘blankets’ begin to roll up in the autumn, as can be seen in photograph L39 (waypoint 139), though if the weather remains calm, they can persist until October (S. Peaty pers. comm.).

Occasional beds of pure Enteromorpha spp. also occur in the bay, the most notable of these being at Granary Point below the Zostera noltii and on Holy Island Sands in several patches on the uppershore on both the east and west sides of the sand flats.

3.4 Mytilus edulis (mussels): Mussel beds were recorded at numerous locations in Lindisfarne Bay. They occur at varying densities, from diffuse (<5% cover) to dense (>20% cover). The main bed within the bay is located on the east side, inside the Old Law promontory where the mussel density reaches 100% cover in places. This bed is considered by the author to be of local nature conservation interest for the occurrence of the large intertidal pools that occur within the mussel bed that are largely undisturbed by man or nature (see photograph L10, waypoint 169). This feature has allowed considerable growth of crustose coralline algae around many of the mussels, which has resulted in hollow balls of these algae developing, even after the mussel has died. This has resulted in a unique hollow nodular growth form of crustose coralline red algae, (see photograph L12, waypoint 170), a feature not previously seen by the author.

Several new beds of mussels were recorded in the bay during this survey that were not previously recorded by the 1999 survey. This may be an indication that the mussel beds are increasing in number and size in the bay, or it may be that several beds were overlooked in 1999. This phenomenon could be easily checked with a localised monitoring programme, should it be considered that the mussels pose a threat to the Zostera spp. beds.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

3.5 Spartina anglica: The Spartina anglica boundary was found to be broadly in agreement with the 1999 survey. Die back, reported by the National Nature Reserve staff, particularly in the south of the bay may account for the slight differences in the recorded locations of the boundary during this survey.

4. Results for Budle Bay.

Maps 4, 5 and 6 present the life-form bed locations, their boundaries, photograph locations and target note waypoint positions in Budle Bay. The main features of interest and the limitations of the data are described below.

4.1 Zostera noltii: Z. noltii was only found on the western side of the bay, in a single large bed. At the top of the bed there was a narrow strip where Zostera noltii was present as a relatively pure stand and then the overgrowing Enteromorpha spp. became abundant with distance eastwards across the bed. This was a repeat of the pattern recorded in Lindisfarne Bay although the strip tended to be much narrower than in Lindisfarne Bay (approximately 20m wide). No Zostera noltii was recorded north of the Ross Low stream during the 2002 survey.

4.2 Zostera marina var. angustifolia: Z. marina was recorded at the south side of the mixed Zostera spp. and Enteromorpha spp. bed where the substrate was muddier and wetter and the small surface channels drained into the Chesterhill Slakes area of the bay. The Zostera marina abundance tended to be relatively low, at approximately 5-10% cover overall and was generally overgrown by Enteromorpha spp..

4.3 Enteromorpha spp.: Enteromorpha spp. were present amongst the mixed Zostera noltii and Zostera marina but also occurred as a single genus bed at the south side of the Bay to the north of Waren Burn, where it formed a substantial mat over the surface of the mudflat.

On the north side of the bay above the ‘Ross Low’ stream channel, no Zostera spp. were recorded, but there was a large bed of Enteromorpha spp. which covered much of this area spanning the variation in substratum type, from the muddy sand in the west to the ‘cleaner’ sand in the east.

Enteromorpha spp. were not recorded as life-form beds south of the Waren Burn. However Chaetomorpha linum, a filamentous green alga of similar appearance was recorded between waypoint 61 and 62. Chaetomorpha linum is illustrated in photographs.

4.4 Mytilus edulis (mussels): In the western half of the bay mussel beds previously unrecorded were recorded as thin diffuse strips along the northern bank of the Ross Low stream channel, where frequently they were covered by Enteromorpha spp. growth. Lower down-shore where the two main channels become quite close, in the southeastern corner of the bay, a large previously recorded mussel bed spanned the promontory between the two channels as well as the bed of the channel of the Waren Burn and continued along its southern

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

bank to its eastern extremity near waypoint 28. Several other low-density mussel beds were recorded during this survey, which were not recorded previously. The largest of these being between waypoints 45 and 46 with a smaller ‘embryonic’ bed recorded at waypoint 60.

4.5 Spartina anglica: Spartina anglica was generally present as a thin zone at the edge of the bay, running from Drakes Hole in the southwest corner to just beyond Links End in the northeast. Breaks in the presence of this lower saltmarsh zone species, around the perimeter of the bay, were either small and due to the presence of another lower saltmarsh species such as Salicornia sp. (waypoint 6-7), or due to a man-made obstruction such as a seawall (waypoint 12-37). Spartina anglica was only recorded along the southern edge of the bay in one area adjacent to the road between waypoints 57 and 58.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

Snook

Jack Mathison's Bank Mean Low Water

2m Mean Low Water Beal 2m South Point Mean High Water Low BM 2m Posts

CCLW 3.33m Posts Rock 3m

HOLY ISLAND CP 3m Sand Lindisfarne Causeway

BM 1.96m 2m

2m Key:

Bride's Hole NORHAM AND ISLANDSHIRES ED ISLANDSHIRES AND NORHAM

Posts Rock Zostera marina Refuge

Posts dominant. (>5%).

Sheldrake Pool

Holy Island NORTHUMBRIA EURO CONST Lindisfarne National Sand Nature Reserve Holy Island Sands Zostera noltii dominant. (>5%).

Sand HOLY ISLAND CP ISLAND HOLY Broad Stones Holy Island

Holy Island Sands

Scar Jockey

Mean Low Water Boulders Mixed Zostera spp. and Enteromorpha spp. both South Low BERWICK-UPON-TWEED CO CONST Plough Rock >5%).

Holy Island Lindisfarne National Shingle

CCLW Nature Reserve

MHW Mean Low Water Sand Enteromorpha spp.

Castle Point dominant. (>5%).

Black Low Mud Hole Mouth

Euro Const &

Co Const Bdy The Harbour Ridge End Dolphin Stones

Und Mytilus edulis beds. MLW Shingle Sand Sandeel Beds

Mud KYLOE CP (>5% cover overall). South Low

Sand BERWICK-UPON-TWEED DISTRICT BERWICK-UPON-TWEED

Euro Const & Co Const Bdy Long Batt Black Law Und MHW Mud CCLW Sand Diffuse Mytilus edulis bed Sand Law Scap Sand Burrows Hole Hen Pool MLW (<5% cover overall). Sand Mill Burn Shingle

Euro Const & Co Const Bdy

Shingle

Mud Sand ED & Ward Bdy

Mean Low Water Navigation Beacons Mean High Water Mud Oyster Scap Sand Disturbed ground due to

Guile Coastal Slope

Sand Point Sand Spartina burial experiment. Mud Sand

Rock Sand

Sand MLW Shingle

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY NORTHUMBERLAND Dunes Coastal Slope Parton Stiel The Hainings Madge's Shingle Coastal Slope Seaward edge of the Sand Batts ISLANDSHIRE WARD NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY BERWICK-UPON-TWEED DISTRICT Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve Old Law Spartina sp. zone. Madge's Batts North Sea Fenham Flats Ross Bank Sands Skate Road Sand

ED & MLW Ward Bdy Sand CCLW KYLOE CP NORTHUMBRIA EURO CONST BERWICK-UPON-TWEED CO CONST MIDDLETON CP BAMBURGH ED LOWICK WARD MLW Sand

Coastal Slopes

Mean Low Water No Spartina sp. zone Old Law Salt Marsh Burn present. Foulwork

Dunes

Sand NORHAM AND ISLANDSHIRES ED ISLANDSHIRES AND NORHAM Mud

Fenham Flats

Mud MLW MLW Coastal Slope

MLW MHW

Ross Point Sand Sand

MHW Tealhole Mud Sand Point Wide Open

Mud

Shingle Mud Mud Mud Mean Low Water Mud

Coastal Slope KYLOE CP KYLOE Jack's Waste Salt Marsh

Sand Dunes

Stinking Goat 0 0.5 1.0 Coastal Slope

Mean Low Water

Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve Skate Road Kilometres Map 1. Lifeform map showing presence of Ross Back Sands

Cockly Knowes Mud

Track Mean High Zostera spp., Enteromorpha spp. and Mytilus Dunes Sand

Sand

Water

edulis beds, as well as the seaward Pond

Piers Wood boundary of the Spartina sp. in Lindisfarne Bay. Salt Marsh Ross Links Dunes

Long Bog

Dunes

Pond Drain

Dunes

Dunes Skate Road Skate Ross Links Pond Path

Dunes Pond Path

MLW

Sand

Ponds Ponds Dunes LOWICK WARD LOWICK

Ponds Sands Back Ross

This map is based upon the OS map by English Nature with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Licence Number: GD272299 Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

Snook

Jack Mathison's Bank Mean Low Water

2m Mean Low Water Beal 2m South Point Mean High Water Low BM 2m Posts

CCLW 3.33m Posts Rock 3m

HOLY ISLAND CP 3m Sand Lindisfarne Causeway

BM 1.96m 2m

2m Key:

RR Bride's Hole NORHAM AND ISLANDSHIRES ED ISLANDSHIRES AND NORHAM

Posts Rock Zostera marina Refuge RRPosts dominant. (>5%). RR RR Sheldrake Pool

RR Holy Island RR NORTHUMBRIA EURO CONST Lindisfarne National RRSand RR Nature Reserve Holy Island Sands Zostera noltii RR RR dominant. (>5%).

Sand RR HOLY ISLAND CP ISLAND HOLY Broad Stones RR Holy Island Holy Island Sands RR RR Scar Jockey RR Mean Low Water RR Boulders Mixed Zostera spp. and RR RR Enteromorpha spp. both South Low RR

RR BERWICK-UPON-TWEED CO CONST RR RR Plough Rock RR RR RR >5%). Holy Island Lindisfarne National Shingle

CCLW Nature Reserve

RR RR MHW RR Mean Low Water RR Sand RR RR RR RR Enteromorpha spp. Castle Point dominant. (>5%).

Black Low Mud Hole Mouth

Euro Const & RR Co Const Bdy RR The Harbour RR Ridge End Dolphin Stones RR Und Mytilus edulis beds. MLW Shingle Sand Sandeel Beds

Mud RR KYLOE CP (>5% cover overall). RR South Low

Sand BERWICK-UPON-TWEED DISTRICT BERWICK-UPON-TWEED

RR Euro Const & Co Const Bdy RR RR Long Batt Black Law RR RR Und RR MHW Mud CCLW Sand Diffuse Mytilus edulis bed RR Sand RR Law Scap Sand Burrows Hole Hen Pool MLW (<5% cover overall). Sand Mill Burn Shingle

Euro Const & Co Const Bdy RR RR RR Shingle ED & Ward Bdy RR RRMud Sand RR Mean Low Water Navigation Beacons Mean High Water RRMud Oyster Scap Sand RR RR Disturbed ground due to RR Guile Coastal Slope Sand Point Sand Spartina burial experiment. Mud Sand

Rock Sand

Sand MLW Shingle

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY NORTHUMBERLAND Dunes Coastal Slope Parton Stiel The Hainings Madge's Shingle Coastal Slope Seaward edge of the Sand Batts ISLANDSHIRE WARD NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY BERWICK-UPON-TWEED DISTRICT RR Old Law Spartina sp. zone. RR Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve Madge's Batts North Sea RR Ross Bank Sands Skate Road RR Fenham Flats RR Sand

ED & MLW Ward Bdy Sand RR RR CCLW RR RR KYLOE CP NORTHUMBRIA EURO CONST BERWICK-UPON-TWEED CO CONST RR MIDDLETON CP BAMBURGH EDRRRR LOWICK WARD MLW RR RR RR RR Sand

Coastal Slopes

RR Mean Low Water No Spartina sp. zone RR Old Law Salt Marsh Burn present. Foulwork

Dunes

Sand NORHAM AND ISLANDSHIRES ED ISLANDSHIRES AND NORHAM Mud RR Fenham Flats RR Mud RR MLW RR Geo-referenced location of MLW Coastal Slope MLW photographs. RR MHW Sand RR Ross Point RR RR Sand RR MHW Tealhole Mud Sand Point Wide Open

Mud

Shingle Mud RMean LowR Water Mud RR Mud RR Mud

Coastal Slope KYLOE CP KYLOE RR Jack's Waste RR Salt Marsh RR Sand RR RR Dunes Stinking Goat RR 0 0.5 1.0 RR Coastal Slope

Mean Low Water

Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve Skate Road Kilometres RRRR Ross Back Sands Cockly Knowes RR Mud

Map 2. Lifeform map showing the location RRRR Track Mean High RRRR Dunes RR Sand

Sand of geo-referenced photographs taken in Water RR Pond

Piers Wood Lindisfarne Bay. Salt Marsh Ross Links Dunes

RR Long Bog

Dunes

Pond Drain

Dunes

Dunes Skate Road Skate Ross Links Pond Path

Dunes Pond Path

MLW

Sand

Ponds Ponds Dunes LOWICK WARD LOWICK

Ponds Sands Back Ross

This map based upon from the OS map by English Nature with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Licence Number: GD272299 Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

Snook

Jack Mathison's Bank Mean Low Water

ISLANDSHIRE WARD ISLANDSHIRE WARD ISLANDSHIRE Snook Point Dunes Shingle Track Holy Island Mean High Water Primrose Bank Dunes Holy Island The Snook Dunes Shell Road Holy Island Mean High Water BM 3.39m 3m Lindisfarne Dunes The Snook Coastal Slope BM 5.91m Holy Island Boulders Crag Sand Lindisfarne Causeway End 2m Coastal Slope $$ Rock 2m Mean Low Water Beal 2m South Point Mean High Water Low $$$$ $$ BM $$$$ $$ $$$$ $$ 2m $$ Posts $$ $$ $$ 3.33m Posts $$ $$ $$ CCLW $$ $$ Rock 3m $$ $$ HOLY ISLAND CP $$ 3m $$ Sand $$ Lindisfarne Causeway $$ $$ $$ BM 1.96m $$ $$ $$2m $$ $$ 2m $$ $$ $$ Key: $$$ $$ $$$$$$ Bride's Hole $$$ ED ISLANDSHIRES AND NORHAM $$ $$ $$ Posts $$$ $$ $$ $$ $$ Rock Zostera marina $$$$$ $$$ $$Refuge $$ $$$$ $$ $$ Posts$$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$ $$$$ dominant. (>5%). $$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$ $$$ $$ Sheldrake Pool $$ Holy Island $$ NORTHUMBRIA EURO CONST $$$$$ Lindisfarne National Sand $$$ $$$$ $$ $$ $$ Nature Reserve $$ $$ $$ $$ Zostera noltii Holy$ Island$ Sands $$ $$ dominant. (>5%). $$ $$ $$ Sand $$ $$ $$ $$ $CP ISLAND HOLY $ $$$$ $$ $$ $$ Broad Stones $$$ $$$$ $$ Holy Island $$$$ $$ $$$$ Holy Island Sands$$ $$$$ $$ $$ $$ Scar Jockey $$ $$ Mean Low Water $$ $$ $$ Boulders Mixed Zostera spp. and $$ $$ Enteromorpha spp. both South Low $$

BERWICK-UPON-TWEED CO CONST $$ $$ $$$$ $$ Plough Rock $$ $$$$$$ $$ >5%). $$ Holy Island $$ Lindisfarne National $$$$ Shingle $$ CCLW $$ $$$$ Nature Reserve $$ $$ MHW $$ $$ Mean Low Water $$ $$ Sand $$ $$ $$ Enteromorpha spp. $$ Castle $$ Point dominant. (>5%). $$$$$$$$ $$ $$ Black Low $$ Mud $$ $$ $$ Hole Mouth $$ $$ Euro Const & $$ $$ Co Const Bdy $$ The Harbour $$ Ridge End Dolphin Stones $$ Und $$ $$ Mytilus edulis beds. $$ MLW $$ Shingle $$ $$ Sand Sandeel Beds Mud $$ $$ KYLOE CP (>5% cover overall). $$ South Low $$$$ Sand $$$$ $$DISTRICT BERWICK-UPON-TWEED $$ Euro Const & Co Const Bdy Long Batt Black Law Und $$ MHW $$ Mud $$ CCLW Sand Diffuse Mytilus edulis bed Sand Law Scap Sand Burrows Hole Hen Pool MLW (<5% cover overall). Sand $$ Mill Burn $$ $$ Shingle $$ Euro Const & Co Const Bdy $$ $$ $$ $$$$ $$ Shingle $$ ED & Ward Bdy $$Mud $$ Sand $$ Mean Low Water $$ $$ Navigation $$ $$ Mean High Water $$ $$ $$ Beacons $$ Mud $$ $$ Sand $$ $$ Oyster Scap $$ $$ $$ $$$$ $$ Disturbed ground due to $$ $$ Guile Coastal Slope Sand $$ Point $$ Sand Spartina burial experiment. $$ Mud Sand

Rock Sand

Sand MLW Shingle

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY NORTHUMBERLAND Dunes $$ Coastal Slope $$ Parton Stiel The Hainings Madge's Shingle $$ $$ Coastal Slope Seaward edge of the $$ $$ $$ Sand $$ Batts $$ $$ISLANDSHIRE WARD NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY BERWICK-UPON-TWEED DISTRICT $$ Old Law Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve Spartina sp. zone. Madge's Batts North Sea $$ Ross Bank Sands Skate Road $$ $$$ $$ Fenham Flats $$ $$$ $$ $$Sand ED & $$ MLW $$ Ward Bdy $$ Sand $$ $$$$ $$ CCLW $$ $$ $$ KYLOE CP NORTHUMBRIA EURO CONST BERWICK-UPON-TWEED CO CONST MIDDLETON CP BAMBURGH ED $$ LOWICK WARD $$ MLW $$ Sand $$ Coastal Slopes $$ $$ $$ $$ Mean Low Water No Spartina sp. zone $$ Old Law Salt Marsh Burn present. Foulwork $$ $$ Dunes Sand $$ED ISLANDSHIRES AND NORHAM $$ $$ $$ Mud $$ $$ $$$$ $$ $$$$ Fenham Flats $$ $$ $$ $$ Mud $$ $$ $$ MLW $$ Geo-referenced target notes. $$ Coastal Slope $$ $$ MLW $$ MLW $$ $$ $$ MHW $$ Ross Point Sand Sand MHW Tealhole Mud Sand $$ $$ Wide Open $$Point $$ $$$ Mud $$ $$Shingle $$ Mud $$ Mean Low Water $$ Mud $$ $$Mud Mud $$$$ $$ Coastal Slope KYLOE CP KYLOE $$ $$ $$ Jack's Waste $$$ $$$$ $$Salt Marsh $$ $$ Sand $$ $$$$ $$ $$ Dunes $$ $$$$$ $$ Stinking Goat $$$$ 0 0.5 1.0 $$ $$$$$ $$$$ Coastal Slope $$$$ $$ $$ $$$$$$$$ $$$$ Mean Low Water $$ $$ Skate Road $$$ Lindisfarne National Nature$ Reserve$$$ $$ Kilometres $$$$ $$$$$$ Ross Back Sands $$ $$ Cockly Knowes Map 3. Lifeform map showing the location $$ $$$$ Mud $$ $$ Track Mean High $$ $$ $$ Dunes $$ $$ $$Sand $$$$ $$ Sand of geo-referenced target notes recorded $$$$$$ $$$$ $$ Water $$ $$ Pond $$ Piers Wood $$ Dunes $$ Salt Marsh Ross Links in Lindisfarne Bay. $$$$ $$ $$ Long Bog $$ Dunes

Pond Drain

Dunes

Dunes Skate Road Skate Ross Links Pond Path

Dunes Pond Path

MLW

Sand

Ponds Ponds Dunes LOWICK WARD LOWICK

Ponds Sands Back Ross This map is based upon the OS map by English Nature with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Licence Number: GD272299

Aquatic Environments 02/03

Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats MIDDLETON CP MIDDLETON

Kirkley Wood Sand

Kirkley Bottoms MLW Sand Kirkley Bottoms

Ross Low

Budle Bay Ward Bdy Lindisfarne National Lindisfarne Def Rock Black Rock Sand

MHW Coastal Sand Rock Sand Slope

Lifesaving Box Budle BayBudle Dunes NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY BERWICK-UPON-TWEED DISTRICT MIDDLETON CP BAMBURGH ED LOWICK WARD NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY BERWICK-UPON-TWEED DISTRICT MIDDLETON CP BAMBURGH ED LOWICK WARD NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY LOWICK WARD BERWICK-UPON-TWEED DISTRICT BAMBURGH ED BudleNORTHUMBERLAND Water COUNTY SandBERWICK-UPON-TWEED DISTRICT BAMBURGH ED BAMBURGH WARD Links End Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve Budle Point SandRock Sand Kirkley Bottoms Kirkley Bottoms BERWICK-UPON-TWEED CO CONST NORTHUMBRIA EURO COST BERWICK-UPON-TWEED CO CONST NORTHUMBRIA EURO CONST BERWICK-UPON-TWEED CO CONST Sand Budle Bay

Links End

Ross Low Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve

Sand

Budle Bay Sand

Mud Key:

Kittling Hill MIDDLETON CP MIDDLETON

Budle Water Sand

Ross Low Zostera marina Mud dominant. (>5%). Mud Bamburgh Castle Golf Course

Budle Bay Ross Low

Budle Bay ZosteraBAMBURGH CP noltii

Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve dominant. (>5%). Newtown Hill Mud

Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve

Warren Burn

NORTHUMBRIA EURO CONSTEURO NORTHUMBRIA Mixed Zostera spp. and Chesterhill Slakes Kiln Point Enteromorpha spp. both

Mud EASINGTON CP EASINGTON Chesterhill Slakes Cockle Ridge >5%). Mud

Cockle Ridge Enteromorpha spp. Mud

The Bight Map 4. Lifeform map showing the dominant. (>5%). Mud

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY BERWICK-UPON-TWEED DISTRICT BAMBURGH ED BAMBURGH WARD NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY BERWICK-UPON-TWEED DISTRICT BAMBURGH ED BAMBURGH WARD BAMBURGH CP presence of Zostera spp., Lonsdales Hill

NORTHUMBRIA EURO CONST BERWICK-UPON-TWEED CO CONST EASINGTON CP BAMBURGH WARD NORTHUMBRIA EURO CONST BERWICK-UPON-TWEED CO CONST EASINGTON CP BAMBURGH WARD NORTHUMBRIA EURO CONST BERWICK-UPON-TWEED CO CONST BAMBURGH WARD NORTHUMBRIA EURO CONST BERWICK-UPON-TWEED CO CONST Enteromorpha spp. and Mytilus Budle Bay Mytilus edulis beds. Mud Chesterhill Slakes

Mud (>5% cover overall). BAMBURGH ED BAMBURGH WARD Mud NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY BERWICK-UPON-TWEED DISTRICT BAMBURGH CP Lindisfarne National edulis beds, as well as the seaward Nature Reserve

Waren Burn EASINGTON CP EASINGTON Budle Bay

boundary of the Spartina sp. zone Chesterhill Slakes Sand

Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve in Budle Bay. Seaward edge of the

BAMBURGH CP Spartina sp. zone.

Mud

Sand 0 0.5 1.0 Waren Burn No Spartina sp. zone present.

Kilometres Drakes Hole Mud Sea Lands

Sea Lands

Waren Mill

Chesterhill Dean

Caravan Park

Mill Lead

East Hill

Widehoe Haugh This map is based upon the OS map by English Nature with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Licence Number: GD272299

Aquatic Environments 02/03

Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats MIDDLETON CP MIDDLETON

Kirkley Wood Sand

Kirkley Bottoms MLW Sand Kirkley Bottoms

Ross Low

Budle Bay Ward Bdy Lindisfarne National Lindisfarne Def Rock Black Rock Sand

Key: MHW Coastal Sand Rock Sand Slope Lifesaving Box Budle BayBudle Zostera marina Dunes NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY BERWICK-UPON-TWEED DISTRICT MIDDLETON CP BAMBURGH ED LOWICK WARD NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY BERWICK-UPON-TWEED DISTRICT MIDDLETON CP BAMBURGH ED LOWICK WARD NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY LOWICK WARD BERWICK-UPON-TWEED DISTRICT BAMBURGH ED BudleNORTHUMBERLAND Water COUNTY SandBERWICK-UPON-TWEED DISTRICT BAMBURGH ED BAMBURGH WARD Links End Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve Budle Point dominant. (>5%). SandRock Sand Kirkley Bottoms Kirkley Bottoms BERWICK-UPON-TWEED CO CONST NORTHUMBRIA EURO COST BERWICK-UPON-TWEED CO CONST NORTHUMBRIA EURO CONST BERWICK-UPON-TWEED CO CONST Sand Budle Bay

Links End

Ross Low Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve Sand Zostera noltii Sand Budle Bay dominant. (>5%).

Mud

Kittling Hill MIDDLETON CP MIDDLETON

Budle Water Sand

Ross Low

Mud Mixed Zostera spp. and

Mud Enteromorpha spp. both Bamburgh Castle Golf Course

Budle Bay >5%). Ross Low

Budle Bay

BAMBURGH CP Enteromorpha spp. Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve Newtown Hill Mud dominant. (>5%).

Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve

Warren Burn NORTHUMBRIA EURO CONSTEURO NORTHUMBRIA Chesterhill Slakes Mytilus edulis beds. Kiln Point Mud RR EASINGTON CP EASINGTON RR Chesterhill Slakes (>5% cover overall). Cockle Ridge

Mud

Cockle Ridge

RR Mud The Bight Seaward edge of the Spartina sp. zone. Mud

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY BERWICK-UPON-TWEED DISTRICT BAMBURGH ED BAMBURGH WARD NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY BERWICK-UPON-TWEED DISTRICT BAMBURGH ED BAMBURGH WARD BAMBURGH CP Lonsdales Hill

Map 5. Lifeform map showing Mud Chesterhill Slakes

Mud BAMBURGH ED BAMBURGH WARD Mud NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY BERWICK-UPON-TWEEDNo Spartina DISTRICT sp. zone BAMBURGH CP Lindisfarne National

the location of geo- referenced Nature Reserve Waren Burn EASINGTON CP EASINGTON Budle Bay present.

Chesterhill Slakes photographs taken in Budle Bay. Sand Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve

BAMBURGH CP Geo-referenced target RR notes

Mud

Sand 0 0.5 1.0 Waren Burn RR

Kilometres Drakes Hole Mud Sea Lands

Sea Lands

Waren Mill

Chesterhill Dean

Caravan Park

Mill Lead

East Hill Widehoe Haugh This map is based upon the OS map by English Nature with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Licence Number: GD272299

Aquatic Environments 02/03

Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats MIDDLETON CP MIDDLETON

Kirkley Wood Sand

Kirkley Bottoms MLW Sand Kirkley Bottoms

Ross Low

Budle Bay Ward Bdy Lindisfarne National Lindisfarne Def Rock Sand $$ $$ Black Rock Key: MHW Coastal Sand Rock Sand Slope Lifesaving Box Budle BayBudle Zostera marina Dunes NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY BERWICK-UPON-TWEED DISTRICT MIDDLETON CP BAMBURGH ED LOWICK WARD NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY BERWICK-UPON-TWEED DISTRICT MIDDLETON CP BAMBURGH ED LOWICK WARD NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY LOWICK WARD BERWICK-UPON-TWEED DISTRICT BAMBURGH ED BudleNORTHUMBERLAND Water COUNTY SandBERWICK-UPON-TWEED DISTRICT BAMBURGH ED BAMBURGH WARD Links End Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve Budle Point dominant. (>5%). SandRock Sand Kirkley Bottoms Kirkley Bottoms BERWICK-UPON-TWEED CO CONST NORTHUMBRIA EURO COST BERWICK-UPON-TWEED CO CONST NORTHUMBRIA EURO CONST BERWICK-UPON-TWEED CO CONST Sand $$ Budle Bay $$ Links End $$Ross Low $$ $$ Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve $$$$ $$ Sand $$ Zostera noltii Sand Budle Bay $$$$ dominant. (>5%). Mud $$ Kittling Hill $$ CP MIDDLETON $$ $$ Budle Water $$ Sand $$$$ $$ $$ Ross Low $$ Mud $$ $$ Mixed Zostera spp. and $$ Mud $$ Bamburgh Castle Golf Course $$ $$ $$ $$ Enteromorpha spp. both $$ $$ $$ $$ >5%). Budle Bay $$ Ross Low $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ Budle Bay

$$ BAMBURGH CP $$ $$ $$$$ $$ $$ Enteromorpha spp. Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve $$ Newtown Hill $$ Mud $$ $$ dominant. (>5%). $$ $$ $$ Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve $$ $$ $$ Warren Burn $$ CONSTEURO NORTHUMBRIA Chesterhill Slakes $$ Mytilus edulis beds. $$ $$ Kiln Point

Mud EASINGTON CP EASINGTON Chesterhill Slakes (>5% cover overall). Cockle Ridge $$ $$ $$ Mud $$

Cockle Ridge $$ $$

Mud $$ The Bight Seaward edge of the Spartina sp. zone. Mud

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY BERWICK-UPON-TWEED DISTRICT BAMBURGH ED BAMBURGH WARD NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY BERWICK-UPON-TWEED DISTRICT BAMBURGH ED BAMBURGH WARD BAMBURGH CP $$ Lonsdales Hill

NORTHUMBRIA EURO CONST BERWICK-UPON-TWEED CO CONST EASINGTON CP BAMBURGH WARD NORTHUMBRIA EURO CONST BERWICK-UPON-TWEED CO CONST EASINGTON CP BAMBURGH WARD NORTHUMBRIA EURO CONST BERWICK-UPON-TWEED CO CONST BAMBURGH WARD NORTHUMBRIA EURO CONST BERWICK-UPON-TWEED CO CONST $$ Budle Bay Map 6. Lifeform map showing Mud Chesterhill Slakes

Mud BAMBURGH ED BAMBURGH WARD Mud NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY BERWICK-UPON-TWEEDNo Spartina DISTRICT sp. zone BAMBURGH CP Lindisfarne National the location of geo- referenced $$Nature Reserve Waren Burn EASINGTON CP EASINGTON $$ $$ $$ Budle Bay present. $$ $$Chesterhill Slakes target notes recorded in Budle $$ Sand Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve Bay. $$

BAMBURGH CP Geo-referenced target $$ $$ notes

Mud Sand $$ Waren Burn $$ 0 0.5 1.0 $$ $$$$ $$

Kilometres Drakes Hole Mud Sea Lands $$ Sea Lands

Waren Mill

Chesterhill Dean

Caravan Park

Mill Lead

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

5. Discussion

The 2002 survey has accurately mapped the position and boundary locations of 5 life- form categories within the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve. These boundaries could form the basis for a monitoring programme in the future if required.

The survey methodology, which was to some extent on trial during this project, has proved to be robust and accurate. However the limitations of this methodology will be exposed where life-form areas lie adjacent to one another, sharing a common boundary and the combination of the accuracy of the GPS receiver unit (+/- 5m) and the inherent surveyor error (i.e. where the surveyor perceives the boundary to actually be), are combined. For example the boundary between the ‘Zostera noltii bed’ and the ‘mixed Zostera spp. and Enteromorpha spp.’ bed should be considered to be approximate, as this will change slightly depending on both the time of year and the surveying personnel.

The most robust boundaries will be those life-form beds that are separated from others by bare sand or mud and therefore the surveyor has no decisions to make whilst walking the boundary.

Detailed comparisons with the previous 1999 survey are not possible for the Zostera spp. and Enteromorpha spp. life-form beds, as the surveys were under taken at different times of the year and therefore at different stages of the species growth cycles. Also the 1999 survey adopted a relatively complicated procedure for the assessment of the Zostera spp. life-form density. This survey simply set the life-form abundance requirement at 5% cover or more for the plant and algal species (an abundance scale value of Common or Frequent respectively).

The location and size of mussel beds however, can be more directly compared with the 1999 survey and as stated in the results section, differences were recorded. New Mytilus edulis beds were located in the vicinity of waypoints 115, 120, 121, 140, 193, and 209 in Lindisfarne Bay; whilst in Budle Bay this also occurred in the vicinity of waypoints 17, 20-21, 23, 45-46 and 60. This observation may indicate that Mytilus edulis is on the increase on the Northumberland coast as has been recorded in other areas of the United Kingdom. (Aquatic Environments was recently involved in a study of extensive mussel beds in the Burry Inlet (The Gower Peninsula, Wales), for the Countryside Council for Wales, where there had previously been no mussel beds at all). It is unlikely that the differences between the results of these surveys is due to human error, as the beds themselves are relatively obvious on the expanses of sand and mud in both bays. Though Enteromorpha spp. growth can obscure small beds where they co-exist.

Generally the mussel beds are separated from the Zostera spp. beds by areas of bare mud and sand and so a slight increase in their overall abundance may not be a significant cause for concern at the present time. However, continued growth in number and size of the mussel beds may eventually threaten the beds of Zostera spp., therefore becoming a management issue on the reserve.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

A simple monitoring programme covering the size, density and location of the mussel beds in Lindisfarne and Budle Bays may well be deemed necessary at this point in time, in order to ascertain baseline information and to observe the current population dynamics of the mussels.

6. Bibliography

Allen, J., Cutts, N., Elliot, M., Hemingway, K. & Proctor, N. 1999. Survey of the littoral sediments at Lindisfarne NNR & Budle Bay on the Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast. Report to English Nature by the Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Studies, University of Hull. Report No. ZO1010-F-99.

Brazier, P., Davies, J., Holt, R., & Murray, E. 1998. Marine Nature Conservation Review Sector 5 (Connor, D. series ed.) Southeast Scotland and northeast England: area summaries. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Perterborough. (Coasts and seas of the United Kingdom, MNCR series).

Connor, D.W. 1989. Marine biological survey of Berwick to Beadnell including the Farne Islands. Nature Conservancy Council, CSD Report No. 902. (Marine Nature Conservation Committee Report, No. MNCR/SR/001.)

Connor, D.W., Brazier, D.P., Hill, T.O.& Northern, K.O. 1997. Marine Nature Conservation Review: marine biotope classification for Britain and Ireland. Volume 1. Littoral biotopes. Version 97.06. JNCC Report, No. 229.

Holt, R, H.F. 1994. Marine biological survey of Eyemouth (Berwickshire) to Alnmouth (Northumbrland). JNCC Report, No. 157. Marine Nature Conservation Review Report, No. MNCR/OR/24.)

Peaty, s and Lillie, B; A report on the Lindisfarne Area NNR Enrichment Investigation 1994-1995. EA report MC/96/01

Peaty, S and Lillie, B; Investigation into Enrichment at Lindisfarne NNR 1997. EA report MC/98/01

Swaile, G; EA Submission for Polluted Water (Eutrophic) status under the 'Nitrates' Directive Ref. code NE004LI, EA report 2000

Peaty, S, 2002. In prep (draft). Appropriate assessment for Lindisfarne SPA under the 'Habitats' Regulations. EA report available 2003.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

Appendix 1. Photographs taken during the survey and geo-referenced with waypoints. A. Lindisfarne Bay.

L1, Spartina sp. edge on Fenham Flats, viewed to the northwest.

L2, C/u of Zostera noltii and Spartina sp. (viewed northeastwards)

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L3, C/u of Zostera noltii bed on Fenham Flats.

L4, Zostera noltii and Zostera marina at wp4.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L5, C/u of sward at wp5 (note the Enteromorpha spp. rolls).

L6, View across diffuse Mytilus edulis bed to the northeast.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L7, Edge of dense Mytilus edulis bed (50x50m)(viewed north-eastwards).

L8, Large Mytilus edulis bed viewed northwards.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L9, Oyster farm tressels at the edge of the channel (viewed northwards).

L10, View across Mytilus edulis bed to the north.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L11, C/u of 'Mytilus edulis pools' containing interesting coralline crustose algal growths.

L12, C/u of coralline crustose algal nodules.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L13, Southern edge of the northern arm of the Mytilus edulis bed.

L14, View eastwards from the northern edge of the Mytilus edulis bed, towards the mouth of Lindisfarne Bay.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L15, Enteromorpha spp. on a shingle bed, viewed northwards.

L16, View southwestwards along the inner edge of the Mytilus edulis bed.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L17, Start of the Zostera noltii bed, a 50m wide bed below the Spartina sp. - viewed eastwards.

L18, Start of the Spartina sp. and view southwestwards across the Zostera noltii bed.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L19, Fucus spiralis sward around the edge of the Spartina sp. zone, with Zostera noltii growth up to the edge (viewed south-westwards).

L20, Audouinella sp. and sand balls amongst the Fucus spiralis.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L21, Zostera noltii 50%, Enteromorpha spp. 70%.

L22, Mats of Enteromorpha spp. above the Zostera noltii.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L23, Enteromorpha spp. present as mats above the Zostera noltii.

L24, Zostera noltii 30%, Enteromorpha spp. 60%.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L25, Below the Zostera noltii bed - a muddy fine sand Arenicola marina community with some Zostera marina plants.

L26, Extensive Mytilus edulis bed viewed northeastwards.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L27, Extensive Mytilus edulis bed viewed northwards.

L28, c/u of the Mussels and their encrusting barnacle fauna.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L29, Mid-point of a diffuse mussel bed (50x50m) viewed northwards

L30, Mid-point of a large mussel bed (200m wide) (Bearing 335 degrees).

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L31, View westwards across the mussel-bed.

L32, Seaward edge of the Zostera noltii viewed to the northeast toward Lindisfarne.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L33, Small mussel bed with Fucus vesiculosus plants.

L34, Zostera marina 50% Enteromorpha spp. 20%.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L35, Berm created by live and dead mussel shells at the eastern edge of the mussel bed, adjacent to the main drainage channel.

L36, View southeasterly along the mussel bed.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L37, View north from the mussel bed to the Dolphin stone.

L38, Zostera noltii 20%, Enteromorpha spp. 70%.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L39, Enteromorpha spp. mats rolling up, (view north).

L40, Diffuse mussel bed viewed northwestwards.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L41, View northwards across the Zostera spp. and Enteromorpha spp.

L42, View eastwards across the Zostera spp. and Enteromorpha spp.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L43, Zostera noltii 40%, Enteromorpha spp. 70%.

L44, Tracks left by the Argocat, with no loss of Zostera noltii.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L45, Spartina sp. burial experiment viewed southerly from WP 40.

L46, Zostera marina in a saltmarsh creek.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L47, Southern end of a Zostera noltii bed, viewed towards the causeway.

L48, Northern end of Zostera noltii bed, viewed eastwards.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L49, Northern end of Zostera noltii bed, viewed northwards.

L50, Spartina sp. fringe viewed south eastwards toward Lindisfarne.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L51, Very sparse Zostera noltii in pools on the muddy sand.

L52, Band of Enteromorpha spp. below Salicornia sp. (Viewed south-eastwards)

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L53, Zostera noltii mound on the sand.

L54, Zostera noltii patches amongst Spartina sp. islets.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L55, View west across a dense Zostera noltii bed.

L56, Plan view of the Zostera noltii.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L57, View west towards Beal along the lower edge of the Zostera noltii bed.

L58, View southwest across the previously unmapped mussel bed.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L59, View northwestwards across the Zostera noltii and Zostera marina bed.

L60, View northeastwards along the mussel bed.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L61, View southwestwards from the north-eastern tip of the mussel bed. Note bait diggers trenching for King ragworm.

L62, Western edge of an Enteromorpha spp. / Z. noltii, / Z. marina bed. The Zostera spp. component increasing towards the lowershore.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L63, View to the Southeast and St Cuthbert's Island.

L64, View of the western edge of the mussel bed to the south.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L65, View of the eastern edge of the mussel bed to the south-southeast.

L66, View northwestwards along the inner edge of the mussel bed at the foot of the boulder /cobble beach.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

L67, View southeastwards of the Zostera noltii bed adjacent to St Cuthbert’s Island.

L68, View northwestwards of the Zostera noltii bed.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

B. Budle Bay.

B1, Large mussel bed viewed eastwards.

B2, Mussel bed viewed northwards.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

B3, Embryonic mussel bed covered in Enteromorpha spp.

B4, Chaetomorpha linum.

Aquatic Environments 02/03 Monitoring of BNNC Sands and Mud Flats

B5, Chaetomorpha linum.

Aquatic Environments 02/03