Proposals to realign coastal defences and surrender part of a nature reserve to the sea look set to get the go ahead.

RSPB wardens have applied for planning permission to allow some of the sea wall at Titchwell Marsh, near Hunstanton, to be breached.

They existing defences are prone to being overwhelmed by storm surges, which would lead to a “catastrophic loss of habitat” for rare birds including the bittern and bearded tit.

But by allowing controlled flooding on parts of the site, brackish lagoons would become salt marsh and provide a barrier for more important freshwater pools and reedbeds further inland. (more…)

According to a press release, the RSPB has been forced to take radical action to save one of its best-loved reserves from the sea. To stave off catastrophe it has decided it must allow the sea to reclaim part of the reserve in order to save the rest.

Under the scheme, the sea wall will be moved back behind the present brackish marsh, which will be allowed to return to tidal saltmarsh. This will allow new and improved sea defences to protect the fresh water marsh and the reedbeds with their precious breeding bitterns from the rising tides. (more…)