Grazing • Access and amenity • Pollution • Coastal defence maintenance • Alternative uses

Access and amenity

Generally speaking, access to saltmarshes for normal recreational purposes does not represent a major problem. For the majority of people they are considered dangerous and inhospitable places which, even if they are appreciated, can be seen from the adjacent land.

Up until recently, the main value attached to saltmarshes was for its limited agricultural use or as important areas for wildlife, mainly of interest to bird watchers or as quarry for wildfowlers. Although the more general "wilderness" quality of the larger areas is increasingly being appreciated, saltmarshes are still considered to have low recreational potential. The range of recreational activities for which saltmarshes are used is described in more detail below. Overall, however, recreational pressures are not very great.

Bird-watching and walking • Wildfowling • Other activities