English Nature is managing this land as 
an experimental site for sea defence set-back. 
This involves building a new sea wall at a more landward location, 
breaching the old wall, 
and allowing saltmarsh to return to the intervening land. 
This new saltmarsh will act as a natural defence and 
help replace saltmarshes 
lost to erosion and historical reclamations
in  the Tollesbury Fleet. 

Site of the Managed Setback
looking towards Old Hall Marshes & the sea 
As the saltmarshes and the sea return farmland plants 
 not tolerant of salt water, decline 
whilst fish other sea and marsh life returns

The sea wall was breached in early August 1995. 

The trial will investigate all aspects of this sea defence technique, 
especially the best management methods for establishment of saltmarsh.

Breach in the Old Sea wall

This work is supported by the 
Flood and Coastal Defence research programme of the 
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. 
For more information, 
contact the 
Maritime Team, English Nature, Northminster House, Peterborough, PE1 1UA. 
 

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English Nature