Orfordness summary

Importance of shingle

Orfordness is a complex of habitats which includes one of the most important and largest areas of vegetated shingle in Europe. It is has some 16km of fringing beach and an area of exposed shingle amounting to about 385ha in total, with saltmarsh, lagoons and coastal grasslands. Vegetation on the shingle structure has developed in response to the combined effects of wave action (including storms) and salt spray which covers most of the spit at some times of the year. The vegetation includes excellent examples of the most maritime plant communities with sea kale Crambe maritima and sea pea Lathryrus japonicus. Away from the direct influence of storm waves, which disturb the shingle a lichen-rich sward has developed, the most extensive anywhere in Europe with 116 species, including many rarities. The shingle provides important nesting sites for two species of gulls and is important for breeding little terns (Sterna albifrons). Orfordness also contains one the largest areas of unimproved brackish marsh in Suffolk within which brackish coastal lagoons are listed as a priority habitat on Annex 1 of the EC Habitats Directive and are a key habitat within the UK and Suffolk Biodiversity Action Plans (BAP). In the national context the Alde-Ore complex, of which Orfordness is part, is one of the richest sites for brackish coastal lagoons in Britain.

Human impact

It was owned by the Ministry of Defence until 1973 being used primarily for military research purposes including experimental flying, bomb ballistics and firing trials. These activities took their toll on the natural habitats and after 1973 when the MOD left, unlawful access and activities spread unchecked across the site, resulting in a dramatic and steady decline of many of the birds species. This reached such a critical stage in recent years that immediate intervention was needed to conserve and restore the area. The shingle habitats have been severely degraded in the north, especially on the Ness. Military use including a radar installation, weapons testing and associated building and other infrastructure are the principle causes. The use of beach recharge as a means of sea defence is also an issue. Although the southern part of the site is much less affected by human activities, occasional access by vehicles (illegal) and the increase in breeding gull colonies are important and potentially damaging.

Caption: Location of some of the principle habitat restoration issues addressed at Orfordness

Restoration

The site was purchased by the National Trust in 1993 and since then they have embarked on a series of restoration projects. This work has been aided by funding under the LIFE Nature funding from the European Commission. These have involved the following actions:

• Creation of new saltmarsh;
• Creation of new reedbed;
• Creation of lagoons;
• Restoring grazing marsh;
• Artificial re-creation of a shingle ridge by re-grading. [Note This is one of several key issues directly affecting shingle vegetation dealt with in more detail in the "Guide to the management and restoration of coastal vegetated shingle " where it is included as Annex 06.]

Comment: The site has a long history of scientific study which includes attempts to unravel its origins and development, vegetation and conservation issues. A useful and recent summary, including a list of references has been published (Randall & Fuller 2001). The site is now owned and managed by the National Trust. For more information see http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/orfordness.

References

Randall, R.E. & Fuller, R.M. 2001. The Orford Shingles, Suffolk, UK: evolving solutions in coastline management. In: Ecology & Geomorphology of Coastal Shingle, eds.Packham, J.R., Randall, R.E., Barnes, R.S.K. & Neal, A.Westbury Academic and Scientific Publishing, 242-260.