Date 10/04/2012
Suffolk Estuaries Officer Update
April 2012for the Stour & Orwell Estuaries Management Group
Stour & Orwell
Coastal Knowledge fact sheets
After working with parents and teachers in Suffolk we are ready to launch our set of Coastal Knowledge Fact Sheets for 7-11 year olds (Landscape, Wildlife, Sea defences, Tides and waves, Erosion, Pollution, History, and Estuaries). These fact sheets, co-funded by Natural England and the Crown Estate, are a fantastic way for young people to learn about Suffolk’s coast, with lots of fun activities and things to do both inside and outside of the classroom.
They will be launched at the “Outdoor Learning Conference for Primary Schools” on the 16April 2012. More than ten organisations are involved in this event encouraging the 70+ teachers attending to get outdoors and use their local environment for teaching.
We’re giving all primary schools in Suffolk a free set of fact sheets with a CD. You can also download the fact sheets free of charge from our website.
Shotley Gate cliff erosion project
Two sub group meetings have been held in January and February to discuss mitigation for the improved access afforded by the new gabion work at Shotley Gate. At the first meeting the group agreed that screening and diversion of access would be the best way to reduce disturbance to the RSPB reserve and SPA. A second meeting was held with the Landowner, PC, RSPB, NE, community members and the AONB. The outcome of the meeting has meant the landowner hasnot agreed to screening or a diversion, but would like the PC to buy the small area of land to allow for access that diverts walkers away from the fresh water inlet on the RSPB reserve. The PC have agreed to take this forward as a part of their HLF bid.
Stour & Orwell Estuaries Access Group
Stour & Orwell Bait digging group
General feed back from the volunteers and reserve managers is that the Voluntary Code of Conduct has worked again this year. The reports are showing 100% compliance in some areas but there have been some areas that were stripped in early November. The data will be collated from the last two seasons into a case study.
Shore Lane Bradfield Access Issues
TendringDC put out a press release in March to advertise the up and coming works at Shore Lane explaining why the work is needed and the benefits of the work. To date we haven’t had any negative feedback. The Parish Council are very pleased the work is going ahead and are planning to put in a bench.
A site visit with the contractor and landowner last week has helped to mark out the areas for the barriers and information boards which will be put in late April early May.
Mistley Swans
Mistley PC had planned to plant a hedge along the boundary of the green sward to reduce the numbers of Swans accessing the road, however thishas been met with opposition.The PC has written to The Secretary of State for permission to fence off the green sward from the foreshore. The PC hasin place land drainage consent so they are planning to put in a temporary fence asap above the HMWM. The fence has become a more urgent requirement due to road casualties of 12 swans this winter on the Mistley road. The PC believes there is a speeding issue along the road which is made worse by the swans sleeping in the road.
New disturbance risk template for volunteers
Following on from the Stour & Orwell disturbance work and new work by Defra, we commissioned Neil Ravenscroft (funded by NE) to pull together a methodology for volunteers to assess the risk of disturbance tobirds. The draft is now being trialled by the Deben Estuary Partnership Access Group and the community at Shotley.
Trimley Reserve and Managed realignment - access management
A meeting was held in January with SCC RoW and SWT regarding the consistent and frequent use of the footpath along the top of the river wall by cyclists, causing disturbance to SPA birds on the estuary intertidal zone, managed realignment and damage to the river wall.
Objective:
To reduce disturbance to birds by better site and RoW management
Aims:
To improve the bridleway to make it more attractive to cyclists.
To improve signage to ensure the public know where they can and cannot walk and cycle.
To improve information to improve visitor experience.
Outcomes of the meeting
SWT Actions
- To cut grass on permissive path around Managed realignment to increase access at the back of the defence to reduce disturbance and to provide a sheltered path.
- To cut grass on bridleway in addition to SCC RoW contractors
- To explore potential for drainage grips to drain water away from the bridleway into the Freshwater/Brackish ditch to encourage cyclist to use the bridleway
- To insert a Welcome to SWT reserve sign at Point 1 on the map
- SWT to ask Bidwells to provide signs “Cycle on the bridleway” as a part of their contribution.
- To re-establish the fence at the corner of the managed realignment Point 2 to stop erosion of the back of the defence and cyclists using it to access the footpath
SCC RoW Actions
Signage will be applied at three points referenced on the map below
- To reinstate footpath signage
- To provide new signage “No right to cycle” to be attached to the markers for the footpath signs
- To provide new signage for the bridleway
- To cut both the RoW and bridleway twice a year
The outcomes of the meeting will be reviewed at the next SOEAG meeting on the 16th of May
Coastal and Estuary Wardens
New volunteers continue to join the scheme with seven new volunteers joining in March.
Balanced Seas
The Public consultation phase is planned for this winter, this is an opportunity for all stakeholders to have a say about the recommendations found on the following link: decisions on the MCZs should be made by Defra by early 2014.
EstuariesUpdate
The last few months have seen some really positive steps forward around the management of the area’s estuaries. The community-led approaches that are being taken are all unique, as are the estuaries and their communities. Suffolk is really leading the way in how we utilise the expertise and support of the statutory agencies to assist communities in making decisions for their estuaries.
Deben
The Deben Estuary Partnership has launched its pre-consultation document ‘Portrait of the Deben’ to inform and invite comment on the future plan for the Deben Estuary and to find out what people value about the river. It’s a really interesting read and the Partnership would welcome your feedback and additional information that you might have.
Alde & Ore
The Alde & Ore Estuary Partnership now have a new Constitution, which will be launched at the Annual AGM of the Alde & Ore Association and the closure of Alde & Ore Futures project. Guest speaker at the conference will be Richard Benyon MP, Parliamentary Under-secretary for the Natural Environment and Fisheries. You can find a copy of the new constitution on the AONB website.
Blyth
New sheet piling works have been started in early March along the Harbour wall at Southwold. These works should be completed by early May. The European Fisheries Fund and the Marine Management Organisation are providing the £1.22miliion to pay for the works. The new funds mean a crumbling harbour wall can be renewed and port facilities such as fish refrigeration, a crane and improved moorings can be planned.