Bronze Age 

c.1800-700 BC.

Catchment Management Plan 

an Environment Agency plan which provides a comprehensive framework for addressing all their functions, including flood defence, within the catchment of a main river.

Coastal Defence 

collective term for the protection of the coast against erosion plus sea defence against flooding.

Conservation Areas 

locally defined areas of special architectural historic significance worthy of protection and enhancement. Within such areas there are strengthened controls over demolition, minor development and protection of trees.

Contaminated Land 

any use of land which may cause  it to be contaminated with noxious substances.

Discharge (Consent) 

a statutory document issued by the Environment Agency under the Water Resources Act 1991 to indicate any limits and conditions on the discharge of an effluent to a controlled water.

Ecology  

the study of the relationship between an organism and its environment.

Ecosystem 

a dynamic complex of plant, animal, fungal and micro-organism communities and their associated non-living environment interacting as an ecological unit.

Effluents 

liquid discharged as waste from an industrial plant or sewage works.

Environment 

this term is used to encompass all the facets of our surroundings: landscape/natural beauty, flora, fauna, geological or geomorphological features and buildings, sites and objects of archaeological, architectural or historic interest.

Estuary  

a partially enclosed area of water and soft tidal shore and its surroundings, with interchange with the saline water of the sea and receiving fresh water from rivers, land run-off or seepage.

EU Directive 

a type of legislation issued by the European Union which is binding on Member States in terms of the results to be achieved but which leaves to Member States the choice of methods.

Fauna 

animal life.

Flood Defences 

anything natural or artificial that protects against flooding, by rivers as well as by the sea.

Flora 

plant life.

Foreshore 

the area lying above the high tide level.

Habitat  

the customary and characteristic dwelling place of a species or community.

Intertidal 

between mean high tide and mean low tide levels.

Landfill  

the disposal of waste by its permanent deposition in or on the ground, involving either the filling of man-made voids or the construction of features above ground level.

Local Nature Reserve (LNR) 

areas of land or wetland of local importance declared by the local authority, in consultation with English Nature under the provision of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.

Medieval 

AD1066-1540.

Mudflat  

an area of fine silt, usually exposed at low tide but covered at high tide, occurring in sheltered estuaries or behind shingle bars or sand spits.

Neolithic 

the New Stone Age (c. 4000 - 1800 BC).

Palaeo-environmental 

relating to the changes of the environment through prehistory and history, particularly the more distant past.

Physical Processes 

coastal phenomena such as sediment transport, erosion and accretion responsible for shaping the coast and underpinning its dynamic qualities. It refers to geological/earth science processes only.

Planning Policy Guidance 

a series of notes issued by the Department of the Environment setting out the  Government’s policy guidance on planning issues, such as the countryside, nature conservation, archaeology, development etc.

Pollution 

the addition of materials or energy into the existing environmental system to the extent that undesirable changes are produced directly or indirectly in that system.

Post Medieval 

AD 1540 - present.

Preliminary Treatment 

physical treatment of effluent by screening and grit removal.

Primary Treatment 

physical treatment of effluent by screening and settlement.

Ramsar Site 

The Convention on Wetland of International Importance, especially as wildfowl habitat was adopted at a meeting held at Ramsar in Iran. The UK Government in signing the convention in 1973 designates wetlands in accordance with agreed criteria. A wetland is regarded as internationally important if it regularly supports 20,000 waterfowl or 1% of a species, or sub-species of waterfowl.

Rights of Way Network 

bridle ways and footpaths that provide public access.

Roman  

AD 43 - c. 410.

Rural 

land outside of the settlements.

Saltmarsh 

a coastal marsh found along low-lying shores, usually protected by a spit, an expanse of mudflat or in the sheltered part of an estuary, colonised by plant species capable of withstanding frequent and often prolonged immersion in saltwater.

Sea Defences 

anything natural or artificial that prevents the ingress of land by sea.

Secondary Treatment 

biological degradation of effluent which has already received primary treatment. The process may also involve some chemical and physical treatment.

Sediment 

deposited particles or grains of rock.

Set-aside 

land removed from food production as part of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform.

Sewage  

liquid waste matter from domestic or industrial source that is carried in sewers or drains (sewerage) to a sewage treatment works (STW).

Sewage Sludge  

the solid constituents of sewage that are removed for subsequent purification.

Shoreline Management Plan 

plans through which local authorities and others provide a framework for sustainable coastal defence policies within a sediment cell or sub-cell.

Siltation 

at low velocities water will deposit the material being carried in suspension. The slower the velocity the finer the material deposited.

Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) 

areas of land and wetland of local importance for the conservation of semi-natural habitats including mosaics of heathland, unimproved grassland, scrubland and plantation  and/or habitats which support rare local wildlife species. They are not of sufficient extent or quality to qualify for national recognition as a SSSI.

SSSI, Site of Special Scientific Interest 

an area of land which in the opinion of English Nature is of special interest at a national level due to its flora, fauna or geological or physiographical features. EN provide notification to owners, occupiers, local planning authorities and the Secretary of State under the provision of Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.

SAC, Special Area for Conservation 

areas of open water or land of international importance designated by the UK Government to comply with the requirements of the EC Habitats & Species Directive. To conserve natural habitats and wild fauna and flora, which are considered rare or endangered and are recognised as being under a particular threat. Nationally implemented under the Habitat Regulations, 1994.

SPA, Special Protection Area  

an area designated by the UK Government to comply with the requirements of the EC Directive of 1979 on the Conservation of Wild Birds. Member states are required to take special conservation measures concerning the habitat of species of wild birds listed in Annex 1 of the Directive (certain rare and vulnerable species) and of regularly occurring migratory species where particular attention needs to be paid of wetlands, especially those of international importance. These measures include classifying the most suitable localities as SPAs and taking appropriate steps to avoid pollution or deterioration of the habitat or disturbance affecting the birds. Nationally implemented under the Habitat Regulations, 1994.

Sustainable 

capable of being maintained at a steady level without exhausting natural resources or causing severe ecological damage.

Sustainable Development 

balancing the need for development and growth against the need to protect the natural and built environment whilst meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the needs and aspirations of future generations.