Riverbank Saltmarsh Restoration Projects Aim to Boost Habitats and Combat Climate Change

The re-establishment of saltmarshes is envisioned to safeguard natural environments along two riverbanks and contribute to climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration. Groundwork North East & Cumbria, an environmental charity, has submitted applications to the councils of Newcastle and Sunderland, seeking approval for activities at a pair of locations situated on the Wear and Tyne rivers. According to the charity, this initiative aims to “compensate for centuries of heavy industrialisation” that involved construction on riverbanks. Hellen Hornby, the project manager, noted that despite the limited number of suitable areas along the rivers for saltmarsh restoration, the potential advantages are “enormous”. Ms Hornby stated: “We can’t remove quay walls, dock structures and other large industrial constructs, so finding these little pockets of land and trying to extend and improve what we have is crucial.” Should approval for these projects be granted, bundles of brushwood, fastened with chestnut stakes, are slated for installation along the foreshore. This process is expected to reduce the river’s current, extract sediment from the water, and facilitate the accumulation of mud, sand, and silt. Groundwork stated that these structures would subsequently become covered, creating a habitat for fish, crabs, and various other marine organisms within the newly formed saltmarsh, thereby providing defense against predators. The charity further indicated that the initiative, financed by the Environment Agency (EA), was conceived to counteract “centuries of decline” observed in seagrass meadows, saltmarshes, and native oyster reefs nationwide. The proposed work in Newcastle is designated for an estuarial area situated across from Newburn Industrial Park, a space approximately half the size of the pitch at St James’ Park. The Sunderland location, which is nearly twice as large, is situated at Baron’s Quay and Claxheugh Rocks. Rebecca O’Connell, an EA planning officer, stated that England has experienced a loss of 85% of its saltmarsh, 50% of its seagrass meadows, and 95% of its native oyster reefs. She added that the restoration of these ecosystems would contribute to addressing the effects of climate change and safeguarding sustainable food sources. For updates, follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.