Ecological monitoring of the managed realignment scheme at Tollesbury, Essex
Research monitoring the biological and physical change following realignment at the managed realignment scheme at Tollesbury.
Documents
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email: defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
Details
Managed realignment is an example of Natural Flood Management (NFM) using mudflats and saltmarsh that absorb wave energy and flood water during coastal flooding events.
This report presents the results of a research programme into the ecology of the managed realignment site at Tollesbury, Essex. The research monitored the long-term natural colonisation of saltmarsh plants and intertidal invertebrates, sediment accretion, strength and stability rates at the site.
The research aims to improve understanding of biological and physical change following managed realignment. This is to inform future design of such schemes for both coastal management and biodiversity targets.
The results of this research should be viewed in conjunction with those from the earlier work (project code FD2008) that was started in 1995 (reported in 2002). This is when the area was first exposed to inundation by sea water.
This project ran from 2003 to 2008 at a cost of £107,219.