Abbotts Hall

Year Implemented

2002

Project Type

Managed realignment

Country

United Kingdom

Location

Blackwater Estuary (Essex)

Longitude

0.8456

Latitude

51.7846

Habitat(s) Created

  • Mudflat

  • Saltmarsh

  • Transitional Grassland

Size

84 Hectares

Why Undertaken

  • Improve Flood Protection

  • Habitat Creation

  • Create a More Natural Shoreline

  • Reduce Flood Protection Costs

Project Description Summary

This project involved a two-stage realignment with an initial regulated tidal exchange (in 1996) then being followed by open sea wall breaching (in 2002). As part of this scheme artificial creeks were dug.

Documents/References uploaded
References
  • ABP Research & Consultancy Ltd, 1998. Review of coastal habitat creation, restoration and recharge schemes. Southampton, 190p.
  • Atkinson, P.W., Crooks, S., Grant, A., Rehfish, M.M., 2001. The success of creation and restoration schemes in producing intertidal habitat suitable for waterbirds. No. 425, English Nature, Peterborough, 167p.
  • Colclough, S., Fonseca, L., Astley, T., Thomas, K., Watts, W., 2005. Fish utilisation of managed realignments. Fisheries Management and Ecology 12, 351-360.
  • Diack, I., 1998. Botanical monitoring of the salt marsh option of the habitat scheme 19951997. ADAS, Oxford, 38p.
  • Dixon, A.M., Leggett, D.J., Weight, R.C., 1998. Habitat creation opportunities for landward coastal realignment: Essex case studies. Journal of the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management 12, 107112.
  • Halcrow Group Ltd., 2002. Managed realignment review. Flood and Coastal Defence R&D programme FD2008. Defra, London. 324p.
  • http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090514092004/http://www.eclife.naturalengland.org.uk/project_details/good_practice_guide/habitatcrr/ENRestore/champs/EssexEstuaries/RealignmentSites/AbbotsHall/Summary.htm
  • http://www.essexwt.org.uk/reserves/abbotts-hall-farm
  • Hughes, R.G., Fletcher, P.W., and Hardy, M.J., 2009. Successional development of saltmarsh in two managed realignment areas in SE England, and prospects for saltmarsh restoration. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 384, 13-22.
  • Lamberth, C., Haycock, N., 2001. Regulated tidal exchange. Phase II report. Case studies and guidelines for the assessment of sites capable of supporting a saline wetland creation project using regulated tidal exchange techniques. Haycock associates Ltd., St. Albans.
  • 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.
  • Parker, R., Bolam, S., Foden, J., Morris, D., Brown, S., Chesher, T., Fletcher, C., Möller, I. 2004. Suitability Criteria for Habitat Creation Report I: Reviews of present practices and scientific literature relevant to site selection criteria. DEFRA R&D Technical Report FD1917TR1. Defra, London, 178p.
  • Wolters, M., Garbutt, A., Bakker, J.P., 2005. Salt-marsh restoration: evaluating the success of de-embankments in north-west Europe. Biological Conservation 123(22), 249-268.
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