Bannow Bay

200 Bannow Bay SPA and SAC
NPWS maps showing the extent of the Bannow Bay SPA (left) and the Bannow Bay SAC (right).

Bannow Bay is an excellent example of an enclosed estuarine system. The very extensive sand flats and mudflats exposed at low water attract a great diversity of wetland birds in winter including an internationally-important population of Light-bellied Brent Geese.

Saltmarshes of exceptional species diversity are found above the mudflats and support Perennial Glasswort, a plant that is confined in Ireland to the South Wexford Coast.

Tintern Abbey has excellent woodland trails and important colonies of breeding bats.

Bannow Bay is Special Protection Area (SPA) IE0004033 for thirteen named species of geese, ducks, waders together with wetland and waterbirds in general. The site is also Special Area of Conservation (SAC) IE0000697 for eleven wetland and sand dune habitats.

Further reading

Note. The SWC Promotions eircom email address and 053 landline ‘phone number given in some older leaflets are no longer active; please use the ‘Contact’ tab to get in touch. Thank you. Also, Hazel Doyle is the current NPWS Conservation Ranger for south Co Wexford; her mobile phone number is 085 805 4304 and her email address is Hazel.Doyle@npws.gov.ie.

Images