North Norfolk Coast Site of Special Scientific Interest

North Norfolk Coast SSSI
Protected Area
Salt marsh near Brancaster Staithe
Country	England
Region	East of England
County	Norfolk
Biome	Reed bed, salt marsh, dunes, shingle
Animal	Eurasian bittern, Pied avocet, Western marsh harrier
Founded	1986
For public	Mainly open year-round
Protection status	SSSI, SAC, SPA, Ramsar Site and AONB
North Norfolk Coast SSSI shown within Norfolk

The North Norfolk Coast Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is an area of European importance for wildlife in Norfolk, England. It comprises 7,700 ha (19,027 acres) of the county's north coast from just west of Holme-next-the-Sea to Kelling, and is additionally protected through Natura 2000, Special Protection Area (SPA) listings; it is also part of the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The North Norfolk Coast is also designated as a wetland of international importance on the Ramsar list and most of it is a Biosphere Reserve.

Habitats within the SSSI include reed beds, salt marshes, freshwater lagoons and sand or shingle beaches. The wetlands are important for wildlife, including some scarce breeding birds such as pied avocets, western marsh harriers, Eurasian bitterns and bearded reedlings. The location also attracts migrating birds including vagrant rarities. Ducks and geese winter along this coast in considerable numbers, and several nature reserves provide suitable conditions for water voles, natterjack toads and several scarce plants and invertebrates.