Our Coast, Our Sea - Marsh land set to be transformed in the North East

12 April 2011

The Environment Agency will be transforming eight hectares of marshy grassland north of Castles Dike near Warkworth back to its natural state.

The project is expected to take 12 weeks to complete and will cost £45,000 through the Northumberland 4shores Project, which is funded through the Northumbria Regional Flood Defence Committee. Northumberland 4shores Project works with landowners, tenants and other partners to enhance important coastal habitats by realigning coastal defences and creating wetlands.

Castles Dike was rebuilt in the 1960s to reclaim a tidal area for caravans pitches. The site was never dry enough to pitch caravans, so was left as unmanaged grassland.

The Castles Dike initiative will open up the tidal floodplain to restore mudflat and saltmarsh, create new areas of water for wildlife, and install a footbridge to provide views of the new wetlands and Coquet Estuary.

Project manager Maria Hardy said: “We were asked by Coquet View Leisure Park, which owns the land, to see if we could improve the area for wildlife. We are really fortunate in that this is one of the few places along the Northumberland coast where we can do this sort of work due to the nature of the land.”

Coquet View Leisure Park Manager Jared Bloodworth said: “Coquet View Leisure Park is pleased to be working with the Environment Agency to expand and enhance saltmarsh and mudflat habitat in this beautiful part of the Northumberland coast. We are looking forward to the end result and the many varieties of wildlife expected to take up residence at Coquet View Leisure Park.”

In addition to the salt water wetland habitat, Northumberland 4shores Project is working with site neighbours, Warkworth Golf Club to create freshwater wetland. Maria said: “We will be creating a shallow pond with reeds on the golf course rough. This will complement the Castles Dike wetland and hold water draining from the golf course, preventing water from pooling on the greens.

“For the final phase of the work we will be building the new footbridge, which will give excellent views of the area. This will give people an opportunity to spot some of the wildlife in the area including wading birds and wildfowl. We are currently working with an artist to draw up an innovative design for the wooden bridge.”

The Northumbria Regional Flood Defence Committee raises money for its Local Levy fund from local authorities to meet the cost of schemes which are not eligible for national funding.