Thorness Bay Saltmarsh

This was a ‘managed retreat’ project in the Solent. Gift to Nature worked with two landowners and Natural England for around a decade to undertake the feasibility study and deliver a project to see 30ha of reclaimed SSSI grazing land with overlapping European conservation designations returned to tidal creek, a priority habitat.

Saltmarsh

The project has been visited by students and staff from Southampton University and hosted a research visit by Environment Agency staff. The site included a section of the coastal path and was close to Thorness Bay Holiday Park where we have worked with park management to manage visitor pressure along this ecologically sensitive dune and shingle beach. All of the major habitat and drainage works are now in plac.

The Isle of Wight Estuaries Project and the Environment Agnecy are now looking to continue this work further.