Orford Ness NT Wetland Management Works & Site Map DSC01847
The National Trust is in partnership with the RSPB at Havergate Island and is supported by the EU LIFE + Nature & Biodiversity programme. The Nature Reserves are part of the Natura 2000 network of top priority European conservation sites.
The site has been returned to a wetland again and improvements are being continuously made to two important habitats
- coastal grazing marsh (which attracts wildfowl & wading birds such as avocet, redshank & lapwing)
- brackish (salty) lagoons.
The brackish lagoons & specialised invertebrates that live there are an important feature, which have become increasingly rare in the UK & Europe. Work began on digging new lagoons in 1998.
Managing and optimising water levels when weather patterns have become increasingly unpredictable with climate change is challenging. Low spring & summer rainfall with drying winds have resulted in the marshes drying out too early in the season, with wader chicks being unable to feed from the hard ground. Past management has been to keep winter rain rather than pump it off, but this has caused some damage to vegetation and the affected bird species. The old drainage and circulation pumps were inadequate to regulate water levels. A 4-year EU LIFE + funded project began in 2010. It deepened existing pools and scrapes, and created a circulating system of ditches, sluices & pumps to keep levels correct and retain moisture in the correct locations throughout the seasons. This will help to combat changing climactic conditions and support better environments for key bird species such as avocet, redshank, godwit and spoonbill. Monitoring population levels is important to confirm that the new wetland systems and interventions are performing well and as expected - bird numbers have improved.
Within the grazing marshes on Orford Ness NT has created 3ha of new lagoons, restored another 3ha of lagoons and created 2.5km of new ditches to connect these together. These are blending in well and along with the grassland, which is managed by sheep grazing and cutting for hay, and are providing a rich mosaic of habitats for wildlife.
The shingle spit is one of the largest and finest examples of vegetated shingle in the world and a refuge for wildlife year round.
The rare and fragile ridge & swale structure and plant communities including sea pea and lichens are easily damaged by trampling. Ground-nesting species like the little tern are vulnerable to disturbance.
Orford Ness NT Wetland Management Works & Site Map DSC01847
The National Trust is in partnership with the RSPB at Havergate Island and is supported by the EU LIFE + Nature & Biodiversity programme. The Nature Reserves are part of the Natura 2000 network of top priority European conservation sites.
The site has been returned to a wetland again and improvements are being continuously made to two important habitats
- coastal grazing marsh (which attracts wildfowl & wading birds such as avocet, redshank & lapwing)
- brackish (salty) lagoons.
The brackish lagoons & specialised invertebrates that live there are an important feature, which have become increasingly rare in the UK & Europe. Work began on digging new lagoons in 1998.
Managing and optimising water levels when weather patterns have become increasingly unpredictable with climate change is challenging. Low spring & summer rainfall with drying winds have resulted in the marshes drying out too early in the season, with wader chicks being unable to feed from the hard ground. Past management has been to keep winter rain rather than pump it off, but this has caused some damage to vegetation and the affected bird species. The old drainage and circulation pumps were inadequate to regulate water levels. A 4-year EU LIFE + funded project began in 2010. It deepened existing pools and scrapes, and created a circulating system of ditches, sluices & pumps to keep levels correct and retain moisture in the correct locations throughout the seasons. This will help to combat changing climactic conditions and support better environments for key bird species such as avocet, redshank, godwit and spoonbill. Monitoring population levels is important to confirm that the new wetland systems and interventions are performing well and as expected - bird numbers have improved.
Within the grazing marshes on Orford Ness NT has created 3ha of new lagoons, restored another 3ha of lagoons and created 2.5km of new ditches to connect these together. These are blending in well and along with the grassland, which is managed by sheep grazing and cutting for hay, and are providing a rich mosaic of habitats for wildlife.
The shingle spit is one of the largest and finest examples of vegetated shingle in the world and a refuge for wildlife year round.
The rare and fragile ridge & swale structure and plant communities including sea pea and lichens are easily damaged by trampling. Ground-nesting species like the little tern are vulnerable to disturbance.