Wetlands

Bexley Wetland

Wildlife

Bexley Wetland has the space and the potential to be an excellent bird habitat for roosting, feeding and nesting once natural gradients are restored, islands are created, and the area is protected from predators by a moat.

The existing natural areas of saltmarsh, saltmeadow, coastal bush and freshwater wetlands already provide habitat for a diverse range of bird life and insects. A range of fish live in the nearby Avon River and estuary. The mudflats in the estuary support an abundance of invertebrates and crustaceans.

Bexley Wetland provides another link in an important chain of wetlands along Canterbury's coast.

Plant life

The restoration of lost or damaged plant communities requires the reintroduction of tidal waters into the site, the isolation of freshwater wetlands, and appropriate planting. This will also restore wetland bird feeding, nesting and roosting habitat.

Plant pests such as grasses and willows are being controlled.