Hythe to Calshot Marshes

{{Infobox SSSI

|image= Low Water on Calshot Marshes - geograph.org.uk - 327499.jpg

|image_caption = Calshot Marshes

|name= Hythe to Calshot Marshes

|aos= Hampshire

|interest=Biological

|gridref={{gbmappingsmall|SU 456 052}}

|area= {{convert|591.8|ha|acre|abbr=off}}

|notifydate= 1984

|map=[https://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271001035%27 Magic Map]

}}

Hythe to Calshot Marshes is a {{convert| 591.8 |ha|acre|abbr=off|adj=on}} biological Site of Special Scientific Interest which stretches along the west bank of Southampton Water between Calshot and Marchwood in Hampshire.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S1001035&SiteName=&countyCode=19&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Hythe to Calshot Marshes| series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 13 May 2020}}{{cite web|url= https://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271001035%27|title=Map of Hythe to Calshot Marshes|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date= 13 May 2020}} It is part of Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar site{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK11063&SiteName=&countyCode=19&responsiblePerson=&unitId=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Solent and Southampton Water | series= Ramsar Site|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 23 April 2020}} and Special Protection Area,{{cite web|url=https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK9011061&SiteName=&countyCode=19&responsiblePerson=&unitId=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title= Designated Sites View: Solent and Southampton Water | series= Special Protection Areas |publisher=Natural England|access-date = 23 April 2020}} and of Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK0030059&SiteName=&countyCode=19&responsiblePerson=&unitId=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Solent Maritime | series= Special Areas of Conservation|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 23 April 2020}} Calshot Marshes is a Local Nature Reserve{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteLNRDetail.aspx?SiteCode=L1008822&SiteName=calshot&countyCode=&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title= Designated Sites View: Calshot Marshes |series=Local Nature Reserves|publisher=Natural England |access-date= 23 April 2020}} and Hythe Spartina Marsh is a nature reserve managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.{{cite web|url= https://www.hiwwt.org.uk/nature-reserves/hythe-spartina-marsh-nature-reserve |title= Hythe Spartina Marsh |publisher= Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust |access-date= 24 April 2020}}

These areas of saltmarsh and mudflats have nationally important numbers of wintering waders and wildfowl, such as black-tailed godwit, grey plover and dunlin. The site is internationally important for dark-bellied brent geese as it has over 1% of the world population. The benthic zone has a dense concentration of invertebrates which provide the birds' main food.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/PDFsForWeb/Citation/1001035.pdf |title=Hythe to Calshot Marshes citation|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date= 13 May 2020}}