Editing Halvergate Marshes (section)

==Flora and fauna==
Halvergate Marshes support a range of habitats besides grazing marsh, including areas of unimproved pasture, wet fen meadow, reed bed and alder carr. A band of woodland lies along the western edge of the marshes. The drainage ditches which cross the marshes are deemed to be of "outstanding importance for nature conservation" and support a range of freshwater and [[brackish]] communities of plants and [[invertebrate]]s.<ref name=sssicitation />

Freshwater ditch communities, which lie mainly along the western side of the SSSI area, are recognised as being of "being of international importance" and support species such as  broad-leaved pondweed ''[[Potamogeton natans]]'', water violet ''[[Hottonia palustris]]'' and the nationally scarce whorled water milfoil ''[[Myriophyllum verticillatum]]''. Other areas of ditches support species such as the nationally scarce water soldier ''[[Stratiotes|Stratiotes alludes]]'', fen pondweed ''[[Potamogeton coloratus]]'', hairlike pondweed ''[[Potamogeton trichoides]]'' and water parsnip ''[[Sium latifolium]]''. The area of ditch close to [[Breydon Water]] are more brackish in nature and feature species such as soft hornwort ''[[Ceratophyllum submersum]]'' and the nationally scarce stiff saltmarsh grass ''[[Puccinellia rupestris]]''.<ref name=sssicitation />

Invertebrate species associated with the drainage ditches include the nationally rare species Norfolk hawker dragonfly ''[[Aeshna isosceles]]'', the great silver water-beetle ''[[Hydrophilus piceus]]'' and a large hoverfly ''[[Lejops vittatus]]''.<ref name=sssicitation />

Birds typically found on Halvergate Marshes include both wintering species such as [[Bewick's swan]], [[European golden plover|golden plover]] and [[northern lapwing|lapwing]] as well as breeding species such as [[Ruff (bird)|ruff]], [[gadwall]] and [[Northern shoveler|shoveler]]. The Bewick's swan population is considered to be internationally important.<ref name=sssicitation /> The marshes and nearby Breydon Water are an important migration point for a range of bird species in the autumn.<ref name=rspbseasonal>[http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/berneybreydon/seasonal_highlights.aspx Berney Marshes and Breydon Water - seasonal highlights] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225174839/http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/berneybreydon/seasonal_highlights.aspx |date=2014-02-25 }}, [[Royal Society for the Protection of Birds]]. Retrieved 2014-02-20.</ref>