Friday was a very good day.
I was in the Broads helping to celebrate the launch of the Halvergate Marshes Freshwater Project. The weather was kind and it was great opportunity to see the potential of a new £2m scheme designed to keep get more freshwater onto the second largest area of wet grassland in the UK (behind the Somerset Levels) . This is one of those projects that demonstrate what can be achieved when people come together to develop a shared solution to a common problem.
The Marshes are affected by climate change as a reduction in rainfall is compounded by sea level rise which pushes more salt water into the landscape. The project was set up to address this problem. It is a partnership between the RSPB and the Water Management Alliance - a group of 5 like-minded Internal Drainage Boards operating in the Anglian Region. Funded by Defra and the Environment Agency it involved constructing (see below) a new four-kilometre watercourse – known as a ‘Higher Level Carrier’ - leading from the River Bure will allow freshwater to be stored and used for farming and wildlife.
The area is internationally important for wildlife designated a Special Protection Area for its wader and wintering wildfowl populations and adjacent to the Breydon Special Area of Conservation. Natural England have concerns regarding the ongoing condition of the marshes and have welcomed approaches to create a more sustainable freshwater to supply in order to maintain the special features of the area. Without intervention the existing water management approach will lead to unfavourable condition status.
This area has a history of innovation as the area was designated as the first Environmentally Sensitive Area in the UK in the mid-1980s pioneering agri-environment schemes which are now a core part of farming policy.
About 60 people assembled in a marquee erected on the Marshes for the first time and listened to Professor Jenny Gill (BTO Chair and University of East Anglia), Tony Juniper (Natural England Chair), Henry Cator (landowner and Chair of the Broads IDB) and me sing the praises of the project and congratulate all involved.
Collectively we made the case that the urgency, scale of action required and public appetite to address the ecological and climate emergency had grown. We needed more of these schemes to help wildlife and people adapt to the pace of environmental change. What’s more, the lessons from this project can inspire others: build trust between landowners and conservationists, make the case for investment, design an innovative scheme with skill and deliver through a lot of hard work. There is no quick and easy fix to restoring nature but the Halvergate Marshes Freshwater Project shows what can be done.
It was an enjoyable day which included a tour of the Marshes allowing us to appreciate the impact of the scheme which will ensure freshwater is always available in this important landscape benefiting wildlife, farming and inevitably helping to sequester more carbon.
As and when (soon I hope) the UK Government returns to the urgent task of developing a plan to respond to the climate and ecological emergency, I hope they take inspiration from Halvergate and make it easy for conservationists and land managers to come together to restore our threatened landscapes.
Thanks for so thoughtful article. That is what sometimes is very needed for people. Our organisation https://ipayzz.com/ completely supports all the initiatives. Thank you for what you are doing!