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Our work here
17 December 2009
At Freiston Shore, the sea has been allowed in through what was the sea wall, creating saltmarsh from farmland
Freiston Shore has one of the the UK's largest 'managed realignment projects', in which the RSPB is working with the Environment Agency to convert 66 hectares of coastal farmland into tidal saltmarsh.
This project will benefit many birds. It will also help to compensate for the loss of such tidal habitats elsewhere in England, and to ensure that The Wash remains the most important estuary for waterbirds in the UK.
The new marsh
Freiston's saltmarsh is important for breeding redshanks, as well as wintering twites, dark-bellied brent geese and shelducks. Through the flood defence scheme, more of this habitat is being created by breaching the old sea bank to allow the sea back onto an area of farmland. With the area now tidal again, the saltmarsh is naturally regenerating, creating valuable wildlife habitat and increasing the level of flood protection for the surrounding area.
The old marsh
Freiston Shore already protects 683 hectares of saltmarsh and mudflats, which form part of the Wash Special Protection Area (SPA). We are managing this habitat for the benefit of wintering and passage birds, and improving it for nesting birds such as redshanks.
We are doing this by controlling the grazing to produce a greater diversity of plant communities. Grazing will benefit feeding brent geese and the saltmarsh is an important habitat for high tide roosting waders.
Borrowed for birds
A 15-hectare saline lagoon has been created in the 'borrow area' at Freiston Shore, where silt has been removed for building up the sea banks. We are managing this rare habitat for the benefit of breeding waterbirds, especially avocets and ringed plovers.
The lagoon also provides an undisturbed high tide roost site for waders, and protects various plants and invertebrates. We have created suitable habitat for the lagoon sand shrimp.
The new wetland
We have converted 72 hectares of sheep fields and arable land into a wet grassland for the benefit of breeding wading birds in the summer and wintering waterfowl. We have constructed a reservoir and installed sluices to contain and control water levels on the fields, and graze with cattle during the spring summer and autumn to produce the conditions that these birds require.
Visitors
Freiston Shore is an important resource for the local community. It is one of the best access points for The Wash, and provides one of the area's best bird spectacles. As well as numerous walkers and birdwatchers, over 1,000 school children visit the reserve each year to learn about the environment.
The RSPB will continue to promote and develop the reserve for visitors, and aims to attract up to 60,000 a year.
How you can help
Join the RSPB and support our work.
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