North Kent Marshes CHaMP - summary and index

"The objective of this CHaMP is to take a strategic overview of the consequences of long-term (30-100 year) predicted shoreline changes, due to accelerated sea level rise, within the North Kent CHaMP area on designated habitats and species. The CHaMP provides predictions of future geomorphological and ecological change on the basis that the existing flood and coastal defences would remain in place for the next 30-100 years." Taken from the Executive Summary for this CHaMP, a copy of which is included on the CD-ROM.

The predicted changes to designated habitats within the CHaMP area over the next 100 years are:

• Loss of mudflat, predominantly within the Medway Estuary;
• Total saltmarsh loss within the South Thames, but considerable gains in the Medway and some gain within the Swale. Saltmarsh gain within the Medway is presently dominated by Spartina growth; and,
• Potential, but small-scale, reduction in quality of grazing marsh habitat within all 3 SPAs if defences are maintained and strengthened on line.

Restoring coastal grazing marsh

An important feature of this area is the way in which the Environmentally Sensitive Area payments are being used to restore coastal grazing marsh from land which has been converted to arable since the 1930s, see for example Chetney Marshes. The balance between Spartina growth is also a significant issue as it effects the ability of the area to sustain the wintering population of waterfowl feeding on the mudflats.

Comment: The hydrology of the area is central to any coastal grazing marsh restoration. This has been studied in some depth by the Department of Geography, University of London by The Wetland Research Unit, has been undertaking research in the North Kent Marshes since 1993.