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The Greatham Site
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Figure 1 (PDF) shows the position of the Huntsman Tioxide Greatham Site in relation to the surrounding Teesmouth area. Overlaid on this map are areas of value for conservation, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s) and Special Protection Areas (SPA’s). This map shows how close the Greatham site is to the surrounding SSSI’s and SPA’s. The collection of SSSI’s around the mouth of the estuary, protect what is left of the original inter-tidal complex of habitats collectively known as the ‘Teesmouth Flats and marshes’. This area meets the criteria for listing as a Special Protection Area (SPA) and also, due to its wintering bird populations, the area is on the list of Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. Seal Sands, which is to the East of the site and borders Huntsman’s land at the sea-wall, was declared a National Nature Reserve (NNR) on 22 March 1995. Seal Sands are the only extensive area of intertidal mudflats, with tidal channels on the East coast of England between the Lindisfarne NNR and the Humber estuary. The area is very important as it attracts internationally important numbers of wildfowl and waders. Some of these birds use the Greatham site as roosting areas. Also important for this reason is the Cowpen Marsh SSSI, which is only 600m away. This SSSI includes the largest saltmarsh between Lindisfarne and the Humber estuary. The area of marshland is an important wintering site for migratory wildfowl and wading birds.
Figure 3 (PDF) shows the parts of the Greatham site that are covered by the surrounding SSSI’s and SPA’s. The map shows that the eastern edge of the site next to the sea-wall is classed as both SSSI and SPA due to the inter-tidal pools. This area of overlapping SPA and SSSI extends over the southern boundary of the Greatham site on to Number 5 Brinefield, as these pools extend into that area. The area of the Greatham site to the east of the works, which isn’t covered by the SSSI and SPA, is classed as a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI). The same applies to the area of Number 5 Brinefield not covered by the SSSI and SPA. The north-west and south-west corners of the site are not part of the SNCI. Figure 1 (PDF) and Figure 3 (PDF) indicate that not only is the Greatham site itself nationally important, but it is also part of a wider network of nationally recognised important conservation sites. The mudflats adjacent to the site provide an abundant feeding ground for the wildfowl and waders. The proximity of these mudflats in relation to the Greatham site is important, as many of these birds will use Greenabella Marsh for roosting and in many cases, breeding. |
