The Severn Estuary is where the River Severn meets the Bristol Channel. The estuary flows between south west England (North Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire) and south Wales (Cardiff to Monmouthshire).
It has one of the most extensive intertidal wildlife habitats in the UK due to its very high tidal range of approximately 15 meters. Intertidal habitats appear in the section where the ocean meets the land between high and low tides. The habitats include mudflats, sandflats, rocky platforms and islands.
The estuary is recognised as a:
- wetland area of international importance and is designated as a Ramsar site
- Special Protection Area (SPA) under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017
- Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017
Parts of the estuary, including the entire stretch of North Somerset’s coast, has also been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).