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EFC Centre at Wat Tyler Country ParkOur centre is available for visits on a pre-booked basis on Wednesdays between 10am - 4pm. The Club’s activities and displays are also usually open to the public on the first Saturday of the month 11am - 4pm.

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UKBAP Habitats

This page lists priority habitats in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, updated in line with the latest review (UK Biodiversity Action Plan website link). Definitions are available on the UKBAP website link.

Also see UKBAP Habitat - Taxa Associations for taxa/UKBAP Habitat associations in the county.

Habitats in the table below are not necessarily present in Essex.

Broad CategoryUKBAP Broad HabitatUKBAP HabitatChangesCriteria
Terrestrial & FreshwaterAcid GrasslandLowland Dry Acid GrasslandNo change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterArable & HorticulturalArable Field MarginsNo change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterBogsBlanket BogNo change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterBogsLowland Raised BogNo change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterBoundary & Linear FeaturesHedgerowsRevised name; expanded scopeDecline, Key species
Terrestrial & FreshwaterBroadleaved, Mixed and Yew WoodlandLowland Beech and Yew WoodlandNo change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterBroadleaved, Mixed and Yew WoodlandLowland Mixed Deciduous WoodlandNo change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterBroadleaved, Mixed and Yew WoodlandTraditional OrchardsNew habitatDecline, Key species
Terrestrial & FreshwaterBroadleaved, Mixed and Yew WoodlandUpland Birchwoods No change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterBroadleaved, Mixed and Yew WoodlandUpland Mixed AshwoodsNo change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterBroadleaved, Mixed and Yew WoodlandUpland OakwoodNo change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterBroadleaved, Mixed and Yew WoodlandWet WoodlandNo change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterBroadleaved, Mixed and Yew WoodlandWood-Pasture & ParklandRevised name; expanded scopeUK obligation, Decline, Key species
Terrestrial & FreshwaterCalcareous Grassland Lowland Calcareous GrasslandNo change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterCalcareous Grassland Upland Calcareous GrasslandNo change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterConiferous WoodlandNative Pine WoodlandsNo change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterDwarf Shrub HeathLowland HeathlandNo change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterDwarf Shrub HeathUpland HeathlandNo change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterFen, Marsh and SwampLowland FensNo change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterFen, Marsh and SwampPurple Moor Grass and Rush Pastures No change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterFen, Marsh and SwampReedbedsNo change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterFen, Marsh and SwampUpland Flushes, Fens and SwampsNew habitatUK obligation, Decline, Key species
Terrestrial & FreshwaterImproved GrasslandCoastal and Floodplain Grazing MarshNo change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterInland RockCalaminarian GrasslandsNew habitatUK obligation, Decline, Key species
Terrestrial & FreshwaterInland RockInland Rock Outcrop and Scree HabitatsNew habitatUK obligation, Decline, Key species
Terrestrial & FreshwaterInland RockLimestone PavementsNo change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterInland RockOpen Mosaic Habitats on Previously Developed LandNew habitat (originally Post-industrial sites)Decline, Key species
Terrestrial & FreshwaterMontane HabitatsMountain Heaths and Willow ScrubNew habitatUK obligation, Decline, Key species
Terrestrial & FreshwaterNeutral GrasslandLowland MeadowsNo change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterNeutral GrasslandUpland Hay MeadowsNo change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterRivers and StreamsRiversNew habitat, incorporating an existing habitat (Chalk Rivers). Further work by specialists is required to develop guidelines for the identification of river reaches which will be priorities for UK BAP action.UK obligation, Decline, Key species
Terrestrial & FreshwaterStanding Open Water and CanalsAquifer Fed Naturally Fluctuating Water BodiesNo change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterStanding Open Water and CanalsEutrophic Standing WatersNo change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterStanding Open Water and CanalsMesotrophic LakesNo change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterStanding Open Water and CanalsOligotrophic and Dystrophic LakesNew habitatUK obligation, Decline, Key species
Terrestrial & FreshwaterStanding Open Water and CanalsPonds New habitatUK obligation, Decline, Key species
Terrestrial & FreshwaterSupralittoral RockMaritime Cliff and SlopesNo change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterSupralittoral Sediment Coastal Sand DunesNo change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterSupralittoral Sediment Coastal Vegetated ShingleNo change 
Terrestrial & FreshwaterSupralittoral Sediment MachairNo change 
MarineLittoral rockIntertidal boulder communitiesNew habitatUK obligation, Decline, Functional habitat
MarineLittoral rockIntertidal chalk Revised name; (currently within Littoral and sublittoral chalk HAP) 
MarineLittoral rockSabellaria alveolata reefsNo change 
MarineLittoral sediment Coastal saltmarshNo change 
MarineLittoral sediment Intertidal mudflatsRevised name; (currently Mudflats) 
MarineLittoral sediment Peat and clay exposuresNew habitatKey species, Functional habitat
MarineLittoral sediment Seagrass beds No change (includes both intertidal and subtidal beds) 
MarineLittoral sediment Sheltered muddy gravelsNo change 
MarineSublittoral rockCarbonate moundsNew habitatUK obligation, Functional habitat
MarineSublittoral rockCold-water coral reefs Revised name; (currently Lophelia pertusa reefs) 
MarineSublittoral rockDeep-sea sponge communitiesNew habitatUK obligation, Functional habitat
MarineSublittoral rockEstuarine rocky habitatsNew habitatUK obligation, Decline, Key species, Functional habitat
MarineSublittoral rockFragile sponge & anthozoan communities on subtidal rocky habitatsNew habitatUK obligation, Decline, Key species, Functional habitat
MarineSublittoral rockSabellaria spinulosa reefsNo change 
MarineSublittoral rockSeamount communitiesNew habitatUK obligation, Decline, Key species, Functional habitat
MarineSublittoral rockSubtidal chalkRevised name; (currently within Littoral and sublittoral chalk HAP) 
MarineSublittoral rockTide-swept channelsName change and habitat expansion 
MarineSublittoral sedimentBlue mussel bedsNew habitatUK obligation, Decline, Functional habitat
MarineSublittoral sedimentFile shell bedsNew habitatKey species, Functional habitat
MarineSublittoral sedimentHorse mussel beds Revised name; (currently Modiolus modiolus beds)  
MarineSublittoral sedimentMaerl bedsNo change 
MarineSublittoral sedimentMud habitats in deep waterNo change 
MarineSublittoral sedimentSaline lagoonsNo change 
MarineSublittoral sedimentSerpulid reefsNo change 
MarineSublittoral sedimentSubtidal sands and gravelsNo change