Deben Estuary SSSI

{{Short description|Nature reserve in Suffolk, England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox SSSI

|image= Footpath by River Deben, Suffolk - geograph.org.uk - 72634.jpg

|image_caption =

|name= Deben Estuary

|aos= Suffolk

|interest=Biological

|gridref={{gbmappingsmall| TM 296 434 }}

|area= 981.1 hectares

|notifydate= 1991

|map=[http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271006262%27 Magic Map]

}}

{{Designation list

| designation1 = Ramsar

| designation1_offname = Deben Estuary

| designation1_date = 11 March 1996

| designation1_number = 794{{Cite web|title=Deben Estuary|website=Ramsar Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/794|access-date=25 April 2018}}}}

Deben Estuary SSSI is a {{convert|981.1|hectare|acre|adj=on}} biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) covering the River Deben and its banks {{convert|12|km|mi|abbr=off}} from its mouth north of Felixstowe to Woodbridge in Suffolk.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S1006262&SiteName=deben&countyCode=&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Deben Estuary | series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 24 May 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271006262%27 |title=Map of Deben Estuary|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date= 24 May 2017}} It is a Ramsar internationally important wetland site{{cite web|url= http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/RIS/UK11017.pdf|title= Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS): Deben Estuary |publisher=Joint Nature Conservation Committee|access-date= 4 May 2017}}{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK11017&SiteName=deben&countyCode=&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Deben Estuary | series= Ramsar Site|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 10 May 2017}} and a Special Protection Area under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds.{{cite web|url= http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/SPA/UK9009261.pdf |title=Special Protection Areas under the EC Birds Directive. Deben Estuary. |publisher=Joint Nature Conservation Committee|access-date= 4 May 2017}}{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK9009261&SiteName=deben&countyCode=&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Deben Estuary | series= Special Protection Area|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 10 May 2017}} It is also in the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.{{cite web|url=http://www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org/assets/AONB-Management-Plan-20132018.pdf|page=76|title=Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2013–2018|publisher=Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB|access-date=6 August 2016|archive-date=15 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815202035/http://www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org/assets/AONB-Management-Plan-20132018.pdf|url-status=dead}} It partly overlaps two geological SSSIs, Ferry Cliff, Sutton and Ramsholt Cliff.{{cite web|url= http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1006262.pdf|title= Deben Estuary citation|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher= Natural England|access-date= 24 May 2017|archive-date= 4 May 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150504232647/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1006262.pdf|url-status= dead}}

The site has been designated an SSSI for its overwintering waders and wildfowl, and for its diverse saltmarshes. It has internationally important overwintering redshanks and nationally important numbers of dark-bellied brent geese, shelducks and black-tailed godwits. The estuary also has three nationally rare plants and a nationally rare mollusc.