Essex estuaries CHaMP index

The Essex Coast and Estuaries CHaMP (see also 'Summary of Interest') covers the coastal area from Hamford Water to Benfleet, including Southend Marshes; the Colne and Blackwater Estuaries; River Crouch Marshes and Old Hall Marshes; Dengie; and Foulness. Sites within this area have been designated as Ramsar, SAC, SPA, SSSI, and NNR. The Essex coast is also one of 11 specific site case studies included in a European Commission funded EURosion project, which is designed to provide policy guidance at European Union level on managing coastal erosion. Each of the sites shown below provide a specific example of restoration activities as follows:

• Hamford Water - beach nourishment using harbour dredgings;
• Cudmore Grove - historical saltmarsh restoration site (1988/89);
• Abbotts Hall - recent (November 2002) realignment site;
• Tollesbury - realignment site (1995);
• Northey Island - realignment site (1991);
• Orplands - realignment site (1995);
• Dengie - historical saltmarsh restoration sites (1980-1989);
• Blue House farm - coastal grazing marsh management.

Caption: Location of sites included within the Guide for the Essex Coast and Estuaries CHaMP. Note a further site at Weymarks (not included on the map but near Bradwell-on-Sea) is being proposed as a compensation site for habitat loss elsewhere. Details are out for consulation on the DEFRA web site @ http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/ewd/weymarks/index.htm.

Note: A copy of the Executive Summary for this CHaMP is included on the CD-ROM.