State 3 Arable land - converted coastal grazing marsh

The final stage of conversion of saltmarsh from low intensively to intensively managed land comes when arable crops are planted. In this state drainage and subsequent ploughing results in all but the most common plants and animals being eliminated from the system. Overall the value of the land from a nature conservation point of view decreases as the agricultural value increases.

Caption: Pevensey Levels, East Sussex. A former tidal creek (fleet) separating grazing marsh on the left from arable land derived from grazing marsh in the right of the picture.