Part of the food chain
Samphires stabilize the estuary shore and absorb nutrients that wash from the land towards the water. They also provide food and shelter for many small animals which in turn feed birds, and the fish and crabs that people catch in the estuary.

There are several species of samphire on the reserve. Bright green Sarcocornia grows in wetter areas close to the shore while red and green Halosarcia or ‘grassworts’ grow in areas which flood less frequently.