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ABPmer
Quayside Suite
Medina Chambers
Town Quay
Southampton
SO14 2AQ
2017
Unmanaged realignment
United Kingdom
Taw Torridge Estuary
-4.1758776
51.082013
Mudflat
Saltmarsh
Transitional Grassland
87 Hectares
Create a More Natural Shoreline
During 2016 a patch of sea wall at the north east corner of 'Horsey Island' started to erode on its seaward side. This was evidently triggered by a failed drainage sluice gate. T
owards the end of 2017 and into early 2018 the sea wall either side of this damaged sluice then rapidly deteriorated until it became an enlarged and open seawall breach. The old sluice structure then became fully exposed.
This erosion evidently occurred due to to a combination of high flows speeds through the broken sluice gate, complex flow patterns on the estuary (Caen River) side and, once the island had become flooded, from wave attack on the inside of the sea wall.
Tidal waters covered the low-lying northern side of the island which followed the old river course. Attempts were made to restore and re-build the sea wall but these were unsuccessful.
Devon Wildlife Trust later purchased the land with a view to managing and enhancing the site as a haven for wildlife.
ABPmer
Quayside Suite
Medina Chambers
Town Quay
Southampton
SO14 2AQ