The Restoration Delivery Phase…
The Saltmarsh Project supports saltmarsh habitats to re-establish in the Dart Estuary and is run by local partners Dart Harbour and Bioregional Learning Centre, with South Devon National Landscape and Devon Wildlife Trust. Funded by the EA, the project is in its third year and has wide backing and support from many different parties. It was featured at this year’s UK Saltmarsh Forum.
The Saltmarsh Project is in the restoration delivery phase now, trialling a range of approaches such as “gully blocking” which in the US is called “Beaver Dam Analogs” (much better!).
This requires brushwood coppicing and hazel and willow bundle-making, which is being led by ParkLife SW. This week we did this with Nature Recovery trainees at Ambios and next week we’ll do bundling with the public.
They have begun to install the bundles (called faggots) and it turns out that they need way more than they first thought!
This is where you might be able to join in with the restoration delivery?
Everyone is welcome for this FREE half-term holiday activity ParkLife SW will run activity at Lower Sharpham Barton Farm where the land meets the Dart and invite people to help make a “Dart Repair Kit” of brushwood bundles out of coppiced willow and hazel. It offers a chance to learn what saltmarshes are and why they are so valuable. These bundles will be staked at the upper fringe of the Dart Estuary shores – these slow the flow of tidal waters so they drop sediment, encouraging saltmarsh to establish and supporting aquatic life
Tickets are free, but spaces may be limited so it’s advised to book in advance here: Ticket Link
Read more about the project here: https://bioregion.org.uk/project/thesaltmarshproject/