The
RSPB on the Ribble
The Ribble is one of the longest rivers in
North
West
England.
From
its source in the limestone
country of the Yorkshire Dales, it flows south-west
through Lancashire , meandering through a wide glacial valley, gently rolling hills and
pastureland.The
estuary it creates between Blackpool and Southport is the
UK's most important river
estuary for wintering birds such as Whooper and Bewick's
Swans, Pink-footed Geese, Wigeons, Knots, Dunlins,
Sanderlings, Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits. An
incredible 250,000 birds make the estuary their winter
home every year.
Hesketh
Out Marsh - a reserve in the making?
Update
Feb 07:
Land
purchase of 170 hectares has gone through for Hesketh Out
Marsh Site. The land is currently farmed , but when the
the outer sea defences are breached by the Enviromental
agency, water from the Ribble will create a haven for
breeding birds. The new reserve will restore the
coastal landscape to how it was before the land was
reclaimed from the sea a quarter of a century ago. Work is
expected to start in March and will include the excavation
of former creeks, construction of a new embankment to
Hesketh Outer Marsh East, and strengthening of the
existing sea defences around Hesketh Out Marsh West.
Subject to a successful planning application, we plan to
recreate 168 ha of estuarine wetland nature reserve at
Hesketh Out Marsh, on the southern shores of the Ribble
Estuary.
The
project will see us working with the Environment
Agency and other organisations and, while ensuring flood
protection is maintained, will also result in a new RSPB
nature reserve, creating saltmarsh, saline lagoons and
muddy creeks. This will provide improved habitat for
breeding waders, and will also provide a new,
recreational asset for the local community and visiting
walkers.
The
works will require the construction of a new embankment,
strengthening the existing inner embankment and breaching
the existing outer embankments around Hesketh Out Marsh
West. Material resulting from the re-creation of the
tidal creek system will be used to upgrade the sea
defences.
Hesketh
Out Marsh West will become one site within the wider RSPB
strategy for the Ribble area. The site will have some low
key visitor facilities such as viewing areas and seating.
The reserve will be accessed by foot. As part of the
scheme, it is proposed to extend the network of dedicated
footpaths in the area and to complete the Lancashire
Coastal Path route, providing great wildlife views over
the proposed RSPB reserve.
2008 update
The
first steps towards the creation of an RSPB reserve at
Hesketh Out Marsh on the southern shores of the Ribble
took place late in 2006 with the purchase of 180 ha of
arable farmland and surrounding sea-walls near Hesketh
Bank. The land had previously been saltmarsh, reclaimed
from the sea in 1980 by the creation of an outer (private)
sea wall. It was subsequently converted to arable, but the
land is now being returned to saltmarsh with creeks,
saline pools and mudflats, via the process of managed
realignment.
This
process involves breaching the outer sea wall in strategic
places, while at the same time strengthening the inner sea
wall, resulting in the reinstatement of a semi-natural
tidal regime, so hastening a return to saltmarsh. Four
breaches are to be made in 2008.
The
prime habitat will be a fine example of
actively-developing saltmarsh at one of the largest sites
of its kind in Europe. We are confident that the new marsh
will soon support a wide range of saltmarsh plants
together with nationally-important high tide wader roosts,
important breeding wader populations and significant
populations of breeding and wintering passerines and
raptors
In
March 2007, we ploughed up some areas to give the lapwings
somewhere to nest away from the Environment Agency diggers
and dumpers engaged in digging out creeks and pools. After
a slow start, the lapwings took to these very well and
twelve of the nineteen or so pairs nested in the plots and
every one of the eight pairs of oystercatchers used them.
The
numbers of small birds increased through the season and by
the end there were probably even more than the estimated
30 pairs of skylarks nesting. Seven pairs of reed buntings
and eight of corn buntings were the other
"important" farmland bird nesters. The
newly-flooded creeks have attracted a few new birds and
six green sandpipers were surprise guests. There have been
no redshanks nesting here for many years, a situation we
hope will rapidly change once the tides return to the
site.
The
bulk of the digging is now finished, but much remains to
be done before the breaches in the outer bank are made -
which will probably take place next summer. If you are
interested in helping out with the project and you have
bird-counting, surveying or report-writing skills do get
in touch with me on 01704 536378 or Tony.Baker@rspb.org.uk.
Ribble Sites Manager
16
SEPTEMBER 2008
The sea wall around part of Hesketh Out
Marsh on the estuary was breached on Tuesday (16
September), allowing the area behind it to flood.
The whole area was a natural saltmarsh
until the 1980s, when local landowners built flood
defences and reclaimed it as farmland.
It is hoped that returning part of the
site to its natural state will reduce the risk of flooding
to the surrounding area and create a large area - 168
hectares - of important wildlife habitat.
The scheme, which also has the backing
of Lancaster City Council and Natural England, will create
a highly effective natural flood defence, with the
saltmarsh absorbing the energy of the tide as it moves up
the estuary.
'This inspirational
project promises to further enhance that importance by
providing a fantastic area of new saltmarsh'
In addition, the Environment Agency is
repairing the original sea defences further inland and
will protect farmland on the eastern side of Hesketh Out
Marsh with a new sea wall.
John Collins, Environment Agency Area
Manager said: 'This project is a fantastic example of how
we are working more closely with the natural environment
to manage flood risk. By assessing the land and its
historical patterns and taking into account how flooding
is likely to impact over the coming years, we are able to
create effective, sustainable solutions to managing flood
risk.'
By allowing the tide to naturally flow
through the area, creating muddy creeks and saline
lagoons, the project creates habitat for breeding waders,
wildfowl, invertebrates and fish.
When the flood improvement work is
complete, the RSPB will take over the management of the
land.
