Description • Monitoring • Effectiveness of the scheme • Further information

Cleavel Point, Poole Harbour, Dorset

Description

The saltmarsh at Cleavel Point underwent restoration following the excavation of a 0.15m diameter backwash pipeline in 1997/1998. Spartina was transplanted using turfs of approximately 0.15m square taken from the adjacent marsh. Care was taken to ensure that Spartina squares were removed from random locations so that the production of large bare patches was avoided. The turfs were replanted ‘firmly’ to prevent them from being washed away at the next tide and pegged in a 1m intersecting grid. It was important to plant the turfs at the same soil depth and tidal location as that at which they were originally growing.

Spartina development following transplantation, Bosham, Chichester (Chichester Harbour Conservancy)

A nearby area that had also suffered damage from the pipeline installation also underwent restoration work. Seeds were obtained for this project using a large vacuum cleaner (Devax); it was considered important to obtain seeds from a nearby marsh in order to ensure that they were genetically adapted to local conditions. The seeds were then dried and stored in a shed prior to being hand sown on the affected area of saltmarsh.

Monitoring

As with the Bosham scheme, due to the small area involved, there is no monitoring program other than visual assessment.

Effectiveness of the scheme

The planted area is growing well, but the area where natural colonisation was allowed is still bare in a number of places. This site is expected to become completely covered by vegetation and, considering the availability of propagules of various marsh plants, this should occur with little difficulty. The pipeline crossing location comprises only a very small part of the overall natural marsh which occurs at this site.

 

Spartina anglica was planted using turfs at Cleaval Point, Dorset (from Brooke et al., 2000)

The adjacent site that similarly underwent remedial work has also proved to be successful, with species such as common saltmarsh grass (Puccinellia maritima), glasswort (Salicornia spp.) and sea aster (Aster tripolium) germinating well.

Further information

Brooke, J., Landin, M., Meakins N. and Adnitt C. (2000). TheRestoration of Vegetation on Saltmarshes. Environment Agency R&D Technical Report W208.