FREE information sheets are being made available to children to encourage them to find out more about one of Bexley's wildlife gems.

The Erith Saltings is London's last remaining remnant of saltmarsh south of the Thames.

Located in the Thames estuary, between Erith and Dartford, the Saltings include saltmarsh, mudflats and reed beds and are rich in plants and wildlife.

At low tide, the remains of an ancient, now fossilised forest can be seen rising out of the muddy foreshore.

This stretch of the riverfront is one of only a handful of places around the coast of the UK where a submerged ancient forest can be seen.

Many of the plants to be found are unique to the saltmarsh because they can survive the salty water.

They include saltmarsh grass and sea wormwood.

The saltmarshes are also home to shrimp and shellfish, which in turn provide food for the wading birds, wildfowl and seabirds who inhabit the Saltings.

They also act as a nursery for fish.

But there is pressure on the saltmarsh, both natural and manmade.

It is currently being squeezed between rising sea levels and the river flood defences, and is also in danger from damage through recreational use or by over-grazing.

Bexley Council cabinet member for the environment Councillor Gareth Bacon said: "I am sure anyone who decides to find out more about the Erith Saltings will be fascinated by what they discover."

He added: "Bexley takes great pride in the environment and we are extremely lucky to have such a unique area on our doorstep."

The worksheets, sponsored by the Thames Gateway London Partnership, have already been distributed to the borough's secondary schools, but are also available free from libraries and Erith Yacht Club, which has its headquarters on the Saltings, off Manor Road, Erith.