Lion Creek and Lower Raypits

Lion Creek and Lower Raypits is a 65.2-hectare (161-acre) nature reserve east of Canewdon in Essex. It is part of the Crouch and Roach Estuaries Site of Special Scientific Interest,[1][2] and is owned and managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust.[3]

Lion Creek and Lower Raypits
Map
TypeNature reserve
LocationCanewdon, Essex
OS gridTQ 923 948
Area65.2 hectares
Managed byEssex Wildlife Trust

The former creek has been cut off from the Crouch Estuary by a seawall, and it has salt marsh plants such as golden samphire and sea-spurrey. There is a bird hide from which many species of sea birds can be seen. Lower Raypits can be accessed from Lion Creek by the seawall path. It has a variety of pasture, salt marsh and intertidal habitats, with nationally scarce plants such as beaked tasselweed, sea barley, grass vetchling and curved hard-grass. Invertebrates include Roesel's bush-cricket.[3]

There is access from the road between Canewdon and Wallasea Island.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Crouch and Roach estuaries citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
  2. ^ "Map of The Cliff, Burnham-on-Crouch". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "Lion Creek and Lower Raypits". Essex Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 4 November 2016.

51°37′08″N 0°46′34″E / 51.619°N 0.776°E / 51.619; 0.776