Orfordness, restoring saltmarsh - North Lantern Marsh

Caption: North Lantern Marsh at high tide. The sea wall separates the area of the managed realignment from the River Alde in the background. The breach is located in the middle distance of the picture.

The managed realignment area of north Lantern Marsh (approx. 37ha) was considered the most viable option when practical and financial issues were considered. The area (shown in the map opposite) is the subject of a Habitat Scheme Saltmarsh Agreement with DEFRA (formerly Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, MAFF). The agreement began in September 1999 when the existing sea wall was breached in the centre section. The area is inundated on each tide and the the ground levels are 'warping up' as deposition of silt carried in by each tide occurs. As the land was on average 0.5m lower than the height required for the establishment of saltmarsh vegetation.

A monitoring programme uses fixed quadrats, linear transects and fixed-point photography as well as mapping to establish the rate and nature of the change in the vegetation. Accretion plates are used to assess the build-up of silt within the area. A tidal lagoon, mud flats and low saltmarsh are present and the area has become well used by a variety of birds. Ultimately it is hoped in addition to the wildlife value which will develop the saltmarsh will provide a natural defence against the effects of wave and tidal influences.

For more detail see the National Trust web site @ http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/orfordness.