The coastline within the survey area is bordered by the heavily industrialised Mersey to the east and the more unspoilt North Wales coast to the west. The shores within the survey area are backed by sand dunes, shore defence works and urban developments. Sediment shores predominate and there are few sites where a rocky substratum extends down onto the lower shore. Sixteen sites were surveyed on both rocky and sedimentary substrata. A wide range of soft sediment habitat was present and four basic communities were recognised: Crustacean/Polychaete, Tellina (characterised by Spio martinensis), Arenicola and Echinocardium - siliqua (with Lanice conchilega being an important component species). There was a limited range of habitats from the hard substrata sites which, together with the isolated nature of the sites within the region and the heavy sediment influence in most habitats, has lead to a poor species diversity. Beware ! the infauna has been entered in the epifauna window The nature conservation importance of the area has been assessed pointing out those sites and species which might be considered of regional and national importance.
