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Alkborough Flats managed realignment project, North Lincolnshire

Aerial view of the RSPB Blacktoft Sands nature reserve
An aerial view of RSPB Blacktoft Sands nature reserve

Since 2000, the RSPB has been championing the need to create new intertidal habitat around the Humber Estuary, to offset habitat loss from coastal squeeze through future climate change and flood protection schemes.

The RSPB has been influencing and supporting the Environment Agency’s Humber Estuary Flood Risk Management Strategy and Shoreline Management Plan. This strategy for managing the risks of flooding promotes the creation of compensatory intertidal habitat around the estuary by realigning the existing flood defences.  

Alkborough Flats in North Lincolnshire is the first coastal managed realignment site to be developed as part of the Humber Shoreline Management Plan. 

The site is an area of low-lying arable land of 440 ha which is jointly owned by the Environment Agency (EA) and Natural England (NE, formerly English Nature). A small portion of the site is also owned by Associated British Ports (ABP). The project is being delivered through a partnership between the EA, NE and North Lincolnshire Council, and will create 200 ha of new intertidal habitat in the inner estuary. 

Defending wildlife 

The RSPB has been defending nature conservation interests both at RSPB Blacktoft Sands nature reserve and the wider Humber estuary SSSI and European Marine Site.  

As members of the stakeholder consultation group, the RSPB has welcomed the opportunity to comment on and contribute to the proposals prior to the formal planning application. 

The RSPB has welcomed the opportunity to comment on and contribute to the proposals prior to the formal planning application

Through detailed consultation with the EA and EN/NE, the RSPB have ensured that any negative environmental impacts of the scheme are minimised. This has enabled many of our concerns to be addressed at an early stage. 

For example, the width of the planned breach in the sea wall has been reduced to 20 m to reduce the negative effects of the scheme on high and spring tidal levels at Blacktoft Sands, whilst still allowing the site to function as a flood alleviation scheme. 

This has been achieved through a mitigation agreement to ensure that the current flooding regime for the tidal reedbed and lagoons at Blacktoft Sands is maintained.

Planning for the future 

The RSPB is also actively involved in designing detailed habitat plans for the project as a member of a technical stakeholder sub-group. We are contributing our habitat restoration and creation expertise to ensure that the project delivers the best combination of habitats that the site can support, including lagoons, islands, reedbeds and grazing marsh.  

The sea wall was breached in August 2006. Since then, the site has regularly attracted large numbers of birds and should continue to develop its huge potential for wildlife.

We are continuing our involvement as a member of the stakeholder group to advise on ongoing habitat creation and management and ensure that an essential monitoring package is implemented to monitor the success of the scheme and identify any effects on the wider estuary. 

Last modified: 15 August 2007

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