We have been carefully undertaking some essential saltmarsh conservation before work begins on our new clubhouse, and have transplanted a section of the plants by hand to an area safely away from any risk of damage during the construction process.
The plants were growing on a slipway that is to be filled in as part of the development; which will see flood defences built on the site of our current headquarters. The slipway is currently designated as an intertidal habitat, so we are working in partnership with the Environment Agency and Natural England to create compensatory intertidal habitat elsewhere.
In addition to the creation of the new habitat, we decided to protect the existing plants by moving them to a new home at the same tidal height nearby. Local school children will be monitoring them as part of a biology and ecology project.
Our Commodore, Terry Kinch said, “We had agreed with the Environment Agency to provide a new stretch of saltmarsh to compensate for the unavoidable loss of a small area of intertidal habitat as a result of the building work.
“However, we also wanted to try and save as many of the saltmarsh plants as we could, because they are ecologically important to many different species and are an essential part of the aquatic food web.
“After taking advice, we are pleased to have successfully moved the plants and are hopeful that they will survive and thrive in their new location.”
Posted: May 8th 2019
