Exe Estuary

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Designations
Official nameExe Estuary
Designated11 March 1992
Reference no.542[1]
Exeter Canal
and Exminster Marshes.

The Exe estuary is an estuary on the south coast of Devon, England.

The estuary starts just to the south (grid reference SX9589) of the city of Exeter, and extends south for approximately eight miles to meet the English Channel (SX9980). The estuary is a ria and so is larger than would be the case given the size of the River Exe, the main river feeding into the estuary.

On the east shore (from north to south) is the town of

Exmouth. Opposite Exmouth on the west shore is the village of Dawlish Warren with its sand spit extending across the mouth of the estuary. Above this there are fewer settlements on the west shore, with just the villages of Starcross and Cockwood
, both adjoining the lower portion of the estuary.

The River Clyst also feeds into the estuary, just below Topsham.

The River Kenn feeds into the estuary near Kenton.

The soil is

alluvial, derived from Devonian, Carboniferous and Permian
rocks.

Conservation status

The estuary is a

SSSI.[2][3] It is also a Ramsar site.[4][5]

The Exe Estuary is a site of international importance for

Bowling Green Marsh and Exminster Marshes
.

Over 10,000 wildfowl and 20,000 waders winter on the estuary. These include

ringed plover (Charadius hiaticula), black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), and pied avocet
(Recurvirostra avosetta).

The Exminster Marshes, a series of fields drained by dykes and ditches, carry several plants rare in Devon including parsley, water dropwort (Oenanthe lachenalii), flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus) and frogbit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae). Dragonflies are also supported, such as the ruddy darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) and hairy dragonfly (Brachytron pratense).

The marshes are bounded by the Exeter Canal. Both are fringed by beds of common reed

Old World warblers
.

Burrowing invertebrates are found in the sandbanks and mudflats. These include

Eurasian oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus). The estuary is the only British location for the polychaete
worm Ophelia bicornia.

Access and recreation

The Exe Valley Way Footpath runs south from Starcross, Northwards through the whole of the Exe estuary, and further north to the heights of Exmoor, ending at the source of the River Exe - Exe Head. The route covers almost 50 miles.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Exe Estuary". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. ^ "European Site Conservation Objectives for Exe Estuary SPA". Natural England. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Exe Estuary SPA: site information (draft)". gov.uk. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Exe Estuary Ramsar: site information (draft)". gov.uk. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  5. ^ "Marine conservation advice for Special Protection Area: Exe Estuary (UK9010081)". gov.uk. Retrieved 27 February 2016.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Exe_Estuary&oldid=1215107618"