WWT, the charity for wetlands and wildlife, has today announced that it has agreed the purchase of 148-hectares of low-lying land on the Awre peninsula for a pioneering saltmarsh restoration project.
As part of the organisation’s mission to restore wetlands and unlock their power, they plan to create a new saltmarsh nature reserve in the Forest of Dean, emulating the success of their flagship saltmarsh restoration site in Somerset, WWT Steart Marshes.
As well as being a haven for wildlife and a nature reserve for the local community, it will act as a hub for new research studying the superpowers of saltmarshes to store carbon, boost biodiversity and improve flood resilience.
WWT plans to create a mosaic of wetland features on the land to make it suitable for a huge variety of plants and animals, including ponds and creeks, as well as engineering a breach in the current sea wall.
Breaching the sea wall and allowing salt water from the estuary onto the land will begin the process of re-establishing the saltmarsh habitat likely to have been present on the site centuries ago.
Kevin Peberdy, WWT’s Deputy Chief Executive said: “Saltmarshes support a huge variety of wildlife, slow down floodwater and store vast amounts of carbon – up to 40 times faster than forests. We are delighted that, following extensive research, early conversations with the local community, two public events and successful negotiations with landowners over the last two years, we have agreed the purchase of land on the peninsula. We believe this is the best site on the Severn Estuary for saltmarsh restoration to maximise the multiple benefits of wetlands for people and nature. Our intention is that this new reserve will be an asset for the community, bringing a wealth of wetland wildlife, a new way to connect with nature and an upgraded flood defence.”
This low-lying farmland has flooded before and continues to be at high risk of future flooding, especially as flood defences are no longer being maintained there.
Posted On: 11/12/2024
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