Year Implemented

2003

Project Type

Managed realignment

Country

United Kingdom

Location

Cromarty Firth (Highland Region)

Longitude

-4.0332

Latitude

57.7389

Habitat(s) Created

• Mudflat

• Saltmarsh

• Transitional Grassland

Size

25 Hectares

Why Undertaken

• Habitat Creation

• Demonstration or Pilot Project

• Create a More Natural Shoreline

Project Description Summary

The RSPB’s Nigg Bay nature reserve (Cromarty Firth) is Scotland’s first coastal realignment. In February 2003, after several years of planning and studying the potential realignment site, two 20m breaches were dug into the existing sea wall at the field known locally as ‘Meddat Marsh’ in Nigg Bay, allowing the tide to enter the field for the first time since the 1950s. The reports produced by the RSPB (see Elliott 2015 - see link below) provide a valuable description of how the project was implemented and how it developed.

Documents/References uploaded

References

• Chisholm, K., Kindleysides, D., Cowie, N., 2004. Identifying, developing and implementing coastal realignment projects in Scotland; Lessons learned from Nigg Bay, Cromarty Firth. RSPB, Inverness.
• Elliott, 2015 Coastal Realignment at RSPB Nigg Bay Nature Reserve http://ww2.rspb.org.uk/Images/CoastalRealignmentatRSPBNiggBaynaturereserve_tcm9-406978.pdf
• Nottage, A., Robertson, P., 2005. The saltmarsh creation handbook: a project manager's guide to the creation of saltmarsh and intertidal mudflat. RSPB, Sandy, 128p.
• Densham J. (2016) Glorious Mud – homes for nature, protection for people. RSPB February 2016