Angling Club and the NT

National Trust Mission and Aims

Mission Statement

The National Trust was founded in 1895 to promote and look after places of historic beauty permanently for the benefit of the nation across England, Wales and Northern Island. Our core purpose is to look after special places for ever, for everyone. 

We protect over 700 miles of coastline and in total we look after 617,500 acres (250,000 hectares) of countryside, moorland, beaches and coastline. 

Amongst the historic properties in the Trust's care are 166 fine houses, 19 castles, 47 industrial monuments and mills, 49 churches and chapels, and 35 pubs and inns. 

The millions of objects in the care of the National Trust reflect its diversity. Conservation staff and volunteers care for an astonishing range of structures and contents, from 26 sets of samurai armour, or 19 magnificent paintings by Turner, to the Oscar awarded to George Bernard Shaw, the national collection of lawnmowers, 57 meat strainers or a photograph album the size of a postage stamp. 

The National Trust is an independent charity and receives no direct funding from the Government. Membership fees only cover just over a third of the total income we need in order to protect and provide access to the beautiful places in our care. We're a UK conservation charity, protecting historic places and green spaces, and opening them up for ever, for everyone. 

National Trust aims to:

• Champion of volunteering. Our 55,000 volunteers contribute 3.1 million hours per year which equates to a notional value of more than £25 million.
• To look after places of historic interest or natural beauty permanently for the benefit of the nation across England, Wales and Northern Ireland
• A major employer,with 5,000 staff and training schemes for young people wishing to learn professional skills and embark on careers in horticulture and conservation.
• Europe’s leading conservation body, protecting through ownership, management and covenants 253,349 hectares (626,051 acres) of land of special importance and 707 miles (1,138 km) of coastline
• Responsible for saving and caring for thousands of historic buildings dating from the Middle Ages to modern times; ancient monuments, nature reserves, gardens, landscape parks, woodland and farmland.

Overview: National Trust

Established January 1895

Registered Charity Number 205846

5500 full time staff

61000 volunteers

Source:  "the Big give" website -  www.the biggive.org.uk

https://secure.thebiggive.org.uk/charity/view/138

 

 

The Alde-Ore Estuary - Securing a Sustainable Future for Wildlife

Here is some interesting and relevant information found on the Alde-Ore LIFE website about the their project. It is definately worth taking a look at if you have the time as they play an important role in the management, evaluation and monitoring of the site http://www.lifealdeore.org/index.php?pid=1

Alde-Ore Future for Wildlife is a project helping to provide long term improvements to the management of National Trust Orford Ness and RSPB Havergate Island for birds and habitats of European importance.

With the support of the EU's LIFE+ programme, we are improving water management and reducing disturbance on this part of the Suffolk coast for the benefit of wildlife, habitats and landscape.

Orford Ness National Nature Reserve

An internationally important nature reserve, with a fascinating 20th-century military history.

Take a short boat trip to this wild and remote shingle spit, the largest in Europe. Follow trails through a stunning landscape and a history that will both delight and intrigue. Discover an internationally important nature reserve littered with debris and unusual, often forbidding, buildings from a sometimes disturbing past. Orford Ness is the best-preserved vegetated shingle site in the UK and holds 15% of the coastal vegetated shingle globally. Changing weather patterns have resulted in the marshes drying out and rectifying this is a main aim of the project. 

The National Trust works to preserve and protect the coastline, countryside and buildings of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. For ever, for everyone

What is a LIFE+ Nature Project?

LIFE+ Nature is one of the European Union's main funding programmes for the environment and its conservation. LIFE+ Nature projects are subject to a rigorous application process, detailed evaluation and have to be supported by DEFRA in the UK. LIFE+ funds innovative, best practice projects that contribute to the implementation of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives on Natura 2000 Network sites.

This is the third time that LIFE funding has been awarded to the Alde-Ore area, underlining its international importance for wildlife and the pro-active work for wildlife conservation undertaken by the National Trust (NT) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

What we have done on the lagoons and marshes?

A main aim of the project is to establish functional, efficient and sustainable systems of water management to maintain and improve the quality of the coastal lagoons and marshes in response to increasingly lower rainfall.  A network of new ditches, lagoons and water controls have been installed, and we continue to monitor species, water quality and levels to ensure these sites are fantastic places for wildlife.

With the work now complete we are entering a period of experimentation and recording to find the best water levels and management regime.

Protection of nesting birds

Most of the bird species on Havergate Island and Orford Ness nest on the ground. This makes them, their eggs and young, very exposed to predation by several different predators from foxes, weasels and stoats to other birds like Gulls and Grey Heron. However, on Havergate Island a more significant problem is the large population of brown rats which cause many losses to breeding Avocets and Terns. After detailed monitoring and research, and the production of an action plan, work is starting on the removal of brown rats in order to protect the nesting birds.

Why is Orford Ness so unusual and why are some of its habitats so vulnerable?

Orford Ness is the largest vegetated shingle spit in Europe and the only one featuring a cuspate foreland. The shingle habitats at Orford Ness host unusual, and some unique, combinations of species, of plants, invertebrates and lichens. The shingle habitat is exceptionally vulnerable to disturbance as its ridge and furrow structure has been formed in a very particular pattern over a long period of time and so cannot be easily re-formed if damaged by human activities. The National Trust has a legal obligation to protect this valuable natural resource

Our aim is to engage with local communities and visitors to assist us in maintaining the fragile balance between offering access to these inspiring places and the essential conservation of the habitats and wildlife.

What surveys of the wildlife are we carrying out?

The National Trust and RSPB carry out regular wildlife surveys on these two sites. The breeding and wintering bird life has been counted for many years, and this will be continued, in even more detail, throughout the project, so we can evaluate how the birdlife is responding to the conservation work we are undertaking.

We shall also survey the plants and invertebrates of the coastal lagoon habitats during the project, to see how the water management improvements affect this wildlife. The completed survey results can be found here.

An Exerpt from the Alde-Ore Future for Wildlife
Ecological Monitoring Report: Baseline 2010-11

The NT and RSPB have been jointly awarded a LIFE+ Nature grant to further improve the

management of Orford Ness and Havergate Island for birds and habitats that are priorities for

conservation across Europe.

The main aim of the project is to establish a functional, efficient and sustainable system of ditches,

water controls, pumps and sluices to enable long-term water management and control of the coastal

lagoons at Havergate Island and the marshes and lagoons at Orford Ness. The project also includes

the monitoring and protection of vulnerable vegetated shingle habitat on Orford Ness.

Target bird species include Redshank, Avocet, Ruff and Sandwich Tern, Spoonbill, Golden Plover and

Little Tern, and priority habitats are coastal lagoons, vegetated shingle and strandline plant

communities.

Equipment has been purchased to enable or assist the monitoring actions. Monitoring locations have

been related to the concrete actions of the project, to ensure meaningful data are recorded and

comparisons can be made as the project progresses. Meetings have been held between the project

staff, including nature conservation advisors of both the RSPB and NT, to agree the types and

methods of monitoring required for input into the scientific reports. Follow-up meetings have been

arranged to review the survey data recorded.

Baseline surveys have been carried out since the start of the project in April 2010, on bird numbers,

water levels, water quality (salinity), and invertebrates. Vegetation surveys will be undertaken in

summer 2011 on Orford Ness marshes prior to the concrete conservation actions. Both sites also have

bird, vegetation and invertebrate data going back for several years. These datasets will enable the

effectiveness of the conservation actions to be judged, through comparison between areas, and with

previous years.
 

1.1 Aim

To be able to evaluate the impact of the new and improved management systems on

the wildlife of European significance present at Orford Ness and Havergate Island.

1.2

Actions

ACTION E.2: Scientific monitoring and surveys of the project sites

Regular scientific monitoring will be carried out across project sites to investigate the effectiveness of

the various habitat management works and engagement activities within the project.

Baseline ecological surveys will be carried out in each of the sub-sites of the project area, in the first 6

months of the project. A main focus will be to monitor the invertebrates (biomass, species) of the

coastal lagoons where work is planned to be carried out in the future, such as revised water level

management, island and berm creation.

Monthly systematic bird surveys will be carried out on each site and sub-site, to provide population

data for Annex 1 and other key bird species, with site-specific density estimates with meaningful

confidence limits, to be able to demonstrate statistically significant habitat associations among the

focal bird assemblage, and to be able to evaluate the impact of management works.

Expected results

On each of the sites we would expect to be able to determine, statistically, the effectiveness and

success of the habitat management works in terms of numbers of the targeted Annex 1 bird species,

and the lagoon invertebrates. In addition, there will be a reduced impact by mammalian predators, and

disturbance, to the targeted breeding bird species.

Survey Results

2.1 Bird surveys

Baseline surveys of all of the bird species, including the target bird species, were carried out on

Havergate Island and Orford Ness marshes in summer 2010 and winter 2010-11, prior to the proposed

concrete conservation actions being undertaken. In addition, both sites have detailed bird survey data

going back for several years.

 

New Lagoons and Ditches

Photos

OTHER ARTICLES OF INTEREST FROM THEIR SITE AND BLOG..

Access to the southern end of the Spit

Nov

05

2012

Following a couple of letters in the East Anglian Daily Times, about the article that suggested the National Trust may wish to restrict access to Orford Ness, we'd like to clear up some of the misconceptions around how we look after this internationally important nature reserve.
Local people obviously have strong feelings about the way we look after this place, and have done so since we bought it from the MOD when they left over 20 years ago. We have already been in contact with many of them and would be very happy to discuss any concerns in the future but ultimately, we have a responsibility to the natural environment on this priceless site.
We have been carrying out surveys and monitoring both the natural history and access on Orford Ness since 1993 and are developing a significant record of the site. In addition, every six years or so the condition of each Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) unit within the site is reviewed by Natural England and our last review resulted in a condition of 'unfavourable and declining' in the southern end of the spit. This has been caused largely by people accessing the site in an unauthorised way and compounded by not then sticking to the one footpath and spreading out along the spit. We are required by law to safeguard the area from further damage and we are obliged by our conservation principles to try to stop the decline.
Balancing the needs of access and conservation has always been a delicate matter but we are committed to ensuring that access continues. That's why we held a community forum and invited as many users and interested parties as we could find and get hold of to discuss the issues Orford Ness faces. We do not have the resources or the wish to police the area to stop further damage caused by people landing here.
We need solutions and we want to involve people in finding them. Some people tell us they have been visiting the spit for 50 years, along with hundreds of other people who land by boat and have picnics, swim and walk in the main during the summer months.  Beach anglers take over and land on the river side of the spit to walk across to the seaward side from October to March. We are very happy for that to continue - but in a managed way and in a way where everyone takes responsibility for safeguarding the integrity of the site.
This year, apart from the substantial amounts of general rubbish left behind we had to remove three abandoned barbeques from this delicate area, and they could only have got there by boat. Would you leave a barbeque on Snowdon or Stonehenge? Why is this rarer habitat/landscape any less precious?
Unfortunately, although the area in question looks like any simple shingle beach it isn't.  It is a world-class nature reserve with some of the most important vegetated shingle habitat with amongst the best preserved shingle ridges than anywhere else in Europe, if not the world. Every step off the designated routes destroys this complex habitat and wildlife community and it is highly unlikely to ever come back.
Orford Ness has to be a jewel in the crown of the Suffolk coast and we need to work together to protect it.  We need everyone's help to keep it precious and special.


HERE IS A LINK TO SOME GOOD AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY OF THE SITE, WORKS, INTERVENTIONS AND CHANGES, WITH ANNOTATIONS http://www.lifealdeore.org/index.php?pid=214&blogid=131

What is Orford Ness like?

What is the ‘built’ product - giving hard details and an idea of its appearance and atmosphere

National Trust

wild and remote shingle spit
stunning landscape
history that will both delight and intrigue.
internationally important nature reserve
often forbidding,
uncompromising about its past and in protecting its future.
15% of the world's reserve of coastal vegetated shingle
the best preserved shingle ridges in Europe
fragile
dangerous debris, including bombs, still remains.


Marsh





Creek



Shingle

Wiki

It is a place of strange contrasts. For the National Trust, its 'elemental nature' contrasts with the 'inherent dangers' of this place, a 'hostile and potentially dangerous site'. Military structures – the Bomb Ballistics Building, the Black Beacon, the 'pagodas' used for explosive design – have been converted into viewing spots. This is not a celebratory site, however; there is ambivalence and doubt here, with regard to what is being physically and ideologically conserved

approximately 10 miles (16 km) long
a total area of approximately 2,230 acres (900 ha).
Forty percent of this (890 acres) is shingle, 25 percent (556 acres) tidal rivers, mud flats, sand flats, and lagoons, eighteen percent (400 acres) grassland, and fifteen percent (330 acres) salt marsh.
The size and shape of the spit fluctuates over time


 Buildings

Dan Pearson

The highlight of the weekend was a guided walk of the National Trust's Orford Ness. This internationally important nature reserve is the largest expanse of vegetated shingle habitat in Europe and, as such, supports a variety of flora and fauna. The Ness was occupied by the military for much of the 20th century and the shingle is littered with the remains of buildings and bomb test sites, which now take on a sculptural quality. The tension between the natural and the manmade, and the eerie atmosphere created by the oceans of pristine shingle is reminiscent of Dungeness, although here there are no houses and no inhabitants, apart from hares and sea birds.

Land being reclaimed by nature?

Galley

the ultimate place to get away from it all and clear your mind. It is the biggest shingle spit in Europe and was a top-secret military site from 1913 to the 1980s. Whether you re just soaking up the atmosphere of the wild open space, bird watching or imaging James Bond type scenarios it is a very special place.

EADT24

the public was kept away until the 1990s (a ruling that helped fan lots of wild speculation about actual nuclear weapons being tested there in the past).
“The combination of desolation, debris and weapons of mass destruction made it a threatening place for many of those who came to consider whether it might be a suitable acquisition for the National Trust

Orford Ness offered “monuments to the realities of twentieth-century history: unimaginable destruction, extermination as an industrial process, war directed as much at civilian populations as at opposing warriors

After 80 years off-limits, the site opened to the public in 1995 – the National Trust’s centenary year.

“The response to Orford Ness has been unusual,” suggests Merlin. “It is as though poets and painters have taken up where the Suffolk poet George Crabbe and Turner had left off.” (JMW Turner had in the summer of 1824 taken a boat from Aldeburgh down the Ore, filling page after page of a sketchbook with pencil drawings that inspired a series of watercolours.)
“One of the most thoughtful responses is in Christopher Woodward’s book In Ruins. He had been particularly struck by the Trust’s decision to allow the concrete pagodas to deteriorate gradually, without attempting to prevent or even slow down the rate of decay . . .”
Woodward wrote that “In a new and hopefully more peaceful century the ruins would crumble into extinction in exposure to the wind and waves, as if the earth was being purified by nature.”

Rough Draft – Note form

Orford Ness Brief

Page 2 “A study of the design team…..What worked?  What didn’t?   What could have worked better?  What surprised you?  What was unexpected?”

What worked?

·         Area conserved following departure of MOD

·         The Orfordness/Shingle Street landform is unique within Britain in combining a shingle spit with a cuspate foreland.  The site supports nationally-scarce plants, British Red Data Book invertebrates, and notable assemblages of breeding and wintering wetland birds (see RAMSAR Info Sheet at jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/RIS/UK11002.pdf).

·         Not sold for  residential/industrial or other development

·         Rare vegetated shingle habitat protected from damage caused by human contact

§  Restricted public access

§  Waymarked paths

·         Legislative protection: National Nature Reserve, part of Alde-ore Estuary SSSI (see Appendix A), Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area, Ramsar Site, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Environmentally Sensitive area.

·         Area made safe for staff and visitors

o   Demolished unwanted structures and buildings

o   Bomb disposal

o   Dangerous areas quarantined and made ‘out of bounds’

o   Visitors only to use specified routes through the site

o   Fenced securely              

·         Habitat conservation (see SSSI condition report in Appendix A)

o   Perennial vegetation increasing on the shingle

o   Increasing wintering and breeding birds on the grassland

o   Saltmarsh generally in good condition

What are some of the issues?

·         Public access too restricted?

·         Conflict between a historical site and a nature reserve?

·         Why spend so much effort and money trying  to hold back nature – sea level rising, coastal erosion (squeeze) etc?

·         Strandline deficient in flora – evidence of trampling.  The site now has an access warden and research/action being undertaken (part of their EU LIFE+ Nature project).

·         Shingle deficient in annual plants – in common with much of the Suffolk coast

·         Substantial decline in the lesser black-backed gull population on the ness.  Possible reasons: predation by foxes (key), habitat change, increased use of roof top nest sites in industrial and urban areas, disturbance of nest sites by recreational boaters, walkers and fisherman, reduction in available food through decrease in pig production and changes in landfill practice, and potential effect of the rapid increase in Chinese Water Deer.  

·         A 0.42ha loss in extent of saltmarsh between 1999/00 to 2006/07 in unit 23, however, the Alde-Ore Estuary as a whole has gained 11.13ha in extent of saltmarsh in the same period. Some of the reduction was as a result of managed re-alignment to offset deterioration caused by coastal squeeze and this should improve  the condition of the littoral sediment.

What surprised us?

?

?

What was unexpected?

?

?

                                               

 

Appendix A    Alde-ore Estuary SSSI  http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/sssi/unitlist.cfm?sssi_id=1003208

Operations likely to damage the special interest

Site name: Alde-Ore Estuary, Suffolk

OLD1003208

Ref. No. Type of Operation

1 Cultivation, including ploughing, rotovating, harrowing, and re-seeding.

2 The introduction of grazing and changes in the grazing regime (including type of

stock or intensity or seasonal pattern of grazing and cessation of grazing).

3 The introduction of stock feeding and changes in stock feeding practice, including

changes in the number of animals stocked.

4 The introduction of mowing and changes in the mowing or cutting regime

(including hay making to silage and cessation).

5 Application of manure, fertilisers and lime.

6 Application of pesticides, including herbicides (weedkillers).

7 Dumping, spreading or discharge of any materials.

8 Burning.

9 The release into the site of any wild, feral or domestic animal*, plant or seed.

10 The killing or removal of any wild animal*, excluding pest control and game

species.

11 The destruction, displacement, removal or cutting of any plant or plant remains,

including tree, shrub, herb, hedge, dead or decaying wood, moss, lichen, fungus,

lead-mould or turf etc.

12 The introduction of tree and/or woodland management and changes in tree and/or

woodland management+.

13a Drainage (including the use of mole, tile, tunnel or other artificial drains).

13b Modification of the structure of water courses (eg rivers, streams, springs, ditches,

dykes, drains), including their banks and beds, as by re-alignment, regrading and

dredging.

13c Management of aquatic and bank vegetation for drainage purposes (see also 11).

14 The changing of water levels and tables and water utilisation (including irrigation,

storage and abstraction from existing water bodies and through boreholes).

15 Infilling of ditches, dykes, drains, ponds, pools, marshes or pits.

16a The introduction of freshwater fishery production and/or management excluding

sporting fishing and angling.

16b Changes in coastal fishing practice or fisheries management and seafood or marine

life collection and culture including the use of traps or fish cages.

17 Reclamation of land from sea, estuary or marsh.

18 Bait digging in intertidal areas.

19 Erection of sea defences or coast protection works, including cliff or landslip

drainage or stabilisation measures.

20 Extraction of minerals, including peat, shingle, sand and gravel, topsoil, subsoil, and

spoil.

21 Construction, removal or destruction of roads, buildings, tracks, walls, fences,

hardstands, banks, ditches or other earthworks, or the laying, maintenance or

removal of pipelines and cables, above or below ground.

22 Storage of materials.

23 Erection of permanent or temporary structures, or the undertaking of engineering

works, including drilling.

24 Modification of natural or man-made features (including battering, buttressing or

grading cliff-faces, infilling of pits and quarries, or regrading shingle ridges).

26 Use of vehicles or craft likely to damage or disturb features of interest including

shingle ridges and vegetation, or disturb wildlife.

27 Recreational or other activities likely to damage features of interest including

shingle ridges and vegetation, or disturb wildlife.

28 Changes in game and waterfowl management and hunting practice.

* “animal” includes any mammal, reptile, amphibian, bird, fish or invertebrate.

+ including afforestation, planting, clear and selective felling, thinning, coppicing,

modification of the stand or underwood, changes in species composition, cessation of

management.

SSSI condition summary

Compiled: 01 Jan 2013

See the SSSI glossary for an explanation of terms.

SSSI name: Alde-Ore Estuary

% Area meeting PSA target	% Area favourable	% Area unfavourable recovering	% Area unfavourable no change	% Area unfavourable declining	% Area destroyed / part destroyed
88.51%	62.67%	25.84%	0.64%	10.85%	0.00%

Bitmap Bitmap Bitmap Bitmap Main habitat	Bitmap Bitmap Bitmap Bitmap Bitmap Bitmap Unit number	Unit area (ha)	Latest assessment date	Assessment description	Condition assessment comment
Supralittoral sediment	17	29.91	06 Aug 2009	Favourable	A band of 25m of shingle with little/no signs of annuals but some perennials. Behind this section, the shingle is a mass of sea pea and grasses. Annual species – field notes indicate little to no sign of annuals. However transect data has spear-leaved orache in ten out of ten quadrats (abundant). No other species were recorded – Fail. Good band of perennial vegetation with large amounts of sea pea. Perennial vegetation includes three species which are Abundant, one Frequent and two rare species. – Pass There is a brief mention of trampling on this unit but the perennial vegetation passes the CSM minimum target. Annual vegetation fails the CSM but this appears to be the case all along the Suffolk Coast and I think there may be a case for the targets to be adjusted. This Unit and adjacent shingle units need to be re-assessed in view of what may be considered an acceptable degree of disturbance within different units.
Neutral grassland - lowland	18	99.70	27 Oct 2009	Favourable	This unit is part of the site fabric that supports some of the breeding and over wintering birds the site was notified for. Bird numbers are increasing under the present management. Southern section Areas of open water with patches of saltmarsh, mud and taller grasses (Elymus pyc/rep, Dactylus glom and Arrhenatherum with Agrostis sto. under). Northern section This is predominantly coarse grasses with little or no areas of open water or short grassland areas.
Littoral sediment	19	31.58	21 May 2010	Favourable	Northern shore - follows Stony Ditch along sea wall with well established creeks and salt pans present within the saltmarsh. Low- mid saltmarsh species include common saltmarsh grass, sea purslane, sea blite and common sea lavender with some greater sea spurrey and sea milkwort on higher areas. Sea couch and Sea wormwood present on sea wall. Shingle ridge behind sea wall in NW of unit. Southern Shore – there is an extensive area of low-mid saltmarsh with approximately 10% of the area consisting creeks and salt pans. The saltmarsh is backed by vegetated shingle/lichen heath. No evidence of grazing, trampling or vehicle damage. No distinct transition between saltmarsh zones on northern shore. On southern shore there is a transition from low-mid saltmarsh to vegetated shingle/lichen heath. The transition zone is about 5 metres wide. A number of waders and wildfowl including 6 redshank, 16 brent geese, 1 curlew and 2 little egret. Spartina maritima occational to locally frequent over marsh. In order to investigate coastal squeeze a study by IECS (2010) was commissioned and this showed a 0.21ha loss in extent of saltmarsh between 1999/00 to 2006/07 in this unit.
					However, the study also showed that the Alde-Ore Estuary as a whole has gained 11.13ha in extent of saltmarsh in the same period. Some of this area was a result of managed re-alignment . As the driver for managed re-alignment here has not been to offset the effects of a plan or project but to offset deterioration caused by coastal squeeze these gains should contribute to the condition of the littoral sediment units within the site and help to push them into favourable condition.
Supralittoral sediment	20	81.61	10 Nov 2010	Unfavourable recovering	The species composition for the stable shingle did not meet the targets set, despite good species diversity over much of the unit. The strandline only had one target species with other target species not being known/expected at this location (along with much of Suffolk Coast). In addition the coast is actively eroding (natural coastal process) with implications for strandline flora. Accordingly, the strandline target should be adjusted and the strandline found to be in favourable condition. Trampling was noted as significant during the field assessment, however access is limited to specific areas due to presence of unexploded ordnance and access areas have not changed since NT took over the site. There is some unauthorised access to areas of the Unit (and beyond) and the site now has an access warden and research/action being undertaken (part of their EU LIFE+ Nature project) (as a remedy to trampling of shingle). Given that the trampling issue is being dealt with and the generally outstanding shingle flora present the site should be assessed as unfavourable recovering, however the Unit needs to be carefully monitored with regard to reduction in unauthorised trampling.
Supralittoral sediment	21	112.43	28 May 2012	Favourable	The majority of LBBG within the Alde-Ore Estuary SSSI/SPA have until recently bred on breed on Havergate Island (Unit 25) and Orfordness Lantern Marshes (Unit 16) the Pagoda roofs (Unit 21) and on the southern end of the Ness (Unit 27). In recent years they have also bred on the roof of the Cobra Mist building. There has been a major decrease in LBBG breeding numbers overall on the SSSI since a peak in 2000, notably on Orfordness. The 5YM for LBBG (Orfordness and Havergate), between 2002-2006 was 5877, just 41% of the population target. Between 2006 and 2010 the 5YM was 2471 (Orfordness and Havergate), was just 17.6%. The feature is clearly in unfavourable declining condition as the SSSI/SPA population is not being maintained within acceptable limits; that is above 75% of that at designation/ loss of 25% or more is unacceptable. However, Havergate Island is showing an increase in LBBG numbers and an accordingly positive population trend. It has been less important for LBBG in the past with numbers gradually increasing since the early 2000’s, possibly as birds moved off Orfordness. Unit 25 should not be considered in unfavourable condition for LBBG.
					The Pagoda roof tops (Unit 21) have seen a stable breeding population of LBBG and should be considered favourable accordingly. Reasons for the collapse of the gull population on Orfordness have not been concluded but are thought to be due to: Predation by foxes (key), habitat change, increased use of roof top nest sites in industrial and urban areas, disturbance of nest sites by recreational boaters, walkers and fisherman, reduction in available food through decrease in pig production and changes in landfill practice, and potential effect of the rapid increase in Chinese Water Deer.
Neutral grassland - lowland	22	86.50	27 Oct 2009	Favourable	This unit is part of the site fabric that supports some of the breeding and over wintering birds the site was notified for. Bird numbers are increasing under the present management. The unit consists ditches with high water levels, areas of tall coarse grass, areas of short grass and brackish pools.
Littoral sediment	23	35.03	21 May 2010	Favourable	Southern Shore – there is an extensive area of low-mid saltmarsh with approximately 10% of the area consisting creeks and salt pans. The saltmarsh is backed by vegetated shingle/lichen heath. Transition of low to mid saltmarsh to vegetated shingle/lichen heath. The transition zone is about 5 metres wide. In SW of unit low to mid saltmarsh with frequent creeks and saltpans with large deep creeks extending to base of sea wall in many places. Common saltmarsh grass, sea purslane and glasswort dominant. Sea couch and sea wormwood present on sea wall. Northern Shore – Mid marsh with areas of higher ground dominated by sea couch and backed by sea wall. Creeks and saltpans represent 10-15% of marsh area. Shingle beach forming in place at the front edge of the marsh and some patches of shingle dumped on the marsh (not significant). No evidence of recent engineering work but one old straightened creek at western end of unit adjacent to northern shore. Spartina maritima occational to locally frequent over marsh.
					In order to investigate coastal squeeze a study by IECS (2010) was commissioned and this showed a 0.42ha loss in extent of saltmarsh between 1999/00 to 2006/07 in this unit. However, the study also showed that the Alde-Ore Estuary as a whole has gained 11.13ha in extent of saltmarsh in the same period. Some of this area was a result of managed re-alignment . As the driver for managed re-alignment here has not been to offset the effects of a plan or project but to offset deterioration caused by coastal squeeze these gains should contribute to the condition of the littoral sediment units within the site and help to push them into favourable condition.
Littoral sediment	24	117.32	21 May 2010	Favourable	The salt marsh is present in small sections along the western bank of the river, and is backed by a sea defence wall supporting the coastal footpath. Along the majority of the unit, the marsh is backed by grazing marsh with some arable farming. The unit includes the town of Orford which sits on the river, and here there is a small marina, with the sea wall continuing. Very little marsh vegetation is present to the west of Orford, here the tidal muds extend up to the sea wall and offer little chance for marsh development. The sea wall has resulted in significant coastal squeeze, with evidence of erosion along seaward edge, and is therefore dominated by mid-level communities which shelve directly into the muds of the river bed. Lower level communities are largely absent. Creeks and salt pans are frequent in places, with large, deep creeks extending up to the base of the sea wall. Disturbance by cattle is frequent, with grazing of vegetation and heavy poaching observed along most of the unit. This has resulted in more open habitats close to the sea wall, where standing water and bare ground are more frequent. Public access is limited to the footpath, which results in little impact on the marsh as the footpath follows the sea wall and access onto the marsh is infrequent. No obvious transition between different saltmarsh zones.

 

Views About Management

A statement of English Nature’s views about the management of Alde-Ore Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

This statement represents English Nature’s views about the management of the SSSI for nature conservation. This statement sets out, in principle, our views on how the site’s special conservation interest can be conserved and enhanced. English Nature has a duty to notify the owners and occupiers of the SSSI of its views about the management of the land.

Not all of the management principles will be equally appropriate to all parts of the SSSI. Also, there may be other management activities, additional to our current views, which can be beneficial to the conservation and enhancement of the features of interest.

The management views set out below do not constitute consent for any operation. English Nature’s written consent is still required before carrying out any operation likely to damage the features of special interest (see your SSSI notification papers for a list of these operations). English Nature welcomes consultation with owners, occupiers and users of the SSSI to ensure that the management of this site conserves and enhances the features of interest, and to ensure that all necessary prior consents are obtained.

Management Principles

Estuaries

Estuaries are relatively natural habitats which generally require little direct intervention to maintain them. Their proper management requires an understanding of the inputs and processes, both natural and otherwise, which affect them, and needs to be responsive to these factors.

The Alde-Ore Estuary needs to be considered as a single functional unit that will respond to a variety of influences such as sea level rise, coastal squeeze and changing sediment regimes. The location and extent of habitats such as saltmarshes and mudflats depends upon the extent to which the estuary is constrained from responding to these influences. In the absence of constraints such as flood banks and hard defences, the estuary would adjust to sea level rise by inland translocation of intertidal habitats. Where constraints occur, space to accommodate greater volumes of water is compressed and the extent and quality of intertidal habitats declines.

The maintenance of high quality estuarine habitats such as saltmarshes and mudflats is essential if the associated plant and animal communities are to be maintained. In addition there are a variety of wetland habitats on the coastal flood plain that contribute to the overall importance of the Alde-Ore Estuary, including coastal

Alde-Ore Estuary Views About Management, Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, Schedule 11(6) Version date: 02/06/05 Page 1 of 6 Alde-Ore Estuary Views About Management, Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, Schedule 11(6) Version date: 02/06/05 Page 2 of 6

grazing marshes, brackish and freshwater pools and ditches. This combination of wetland and intertidal interest features, which may be dynamic over time, provides the feeding, roosting and nesting sites for the large numbers of breeding, wintering and passage wildfowl and waders.

Coastal saltmarsh

Saltmarshes form the upper vegetated portions of intertidal mudflats in sheltered coastal locations, such as estuaries, lagoons and beach plains. There is typically a zonation of vegetation, from plants adapted to regular immersion by the tides (halophytes), through to more widespread plant species in the areas less frequently covered by the sea. The halophyte plant species are confined to this type of habitat, and areas of structurally diverse vegetation provide good invertebrate habitat. Saltmarshes are also important nursery sites for several fish species, and important refuge, feeding and breeding grounds for wading birds and wildfowl.

Where saltmarshes require management this has traditionally been achieved by grazing, and previously used regimes should be continued. Grazing provides a variety of different habitats, particularly for wintering bird species, and if grazing were to cease there may be a loss of botanical diversity. The precise timing and intensity will vary according to local conditions and requirements, for example the type or availability of stock, or the need to avoid trampling ground nesting birds. However on many sites, the aim of will be to create a short turf that can be attractive to over-wintering wildfowl, with a reduction in stock density in the early summer for the benefit of ground-nesting birds. Indeed, careful reduction of grazing can increase the number of breeding birds, without significantly altering the plant species composition. Care should be taken not to overgraze the site, as this may reduce the diversity of animal and plant species that the saltmarsh is able to support, as well as potentially impact the sediments supporting the saltmarsh.

Not all saltmarsh habitats require active management to retain their conservation interest. Where there has not been a history of grazing, the saltmarsh will be able to maintain itself and grazing-sensitive species are likely to be present, therefore grazing should not be introduced.

There are a number of factors that are contributing to saltmarsh change that management may need to take into consideration. These include coastal erosion as a result of coastal flood-defence works, rising sea-levels, variations in sediment deposition, and land claim for development.

Littoral sediments (mud and sand flats)

Intertidal mud and sand flats include a range of generally muddy or sandy low-gradient shores that are exposed to air during low tide and submerged during the higher tides. High energy shores, such as those on open coasts, are generally sandy in nature whilst more sheltered, low energy flats are muddier. They support a wide variety of marine invertebrates that represent an important food source for many fish and bird species. Alde-Ore Estuary Views About Management, Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, Schedule 11(6) Version date: 02/06/05 Page 3 of 6

Good water quality and sediment quality should be maintained, and the sediment budget within the estuarine or coastal system should not restricted by anthropogenic influences.

The birds that use mud and sandflats for feeding and roosting are vulnerable to disturbance from human activities, for example, bait digging, dog walking and wildfowling. These activities can lead to reduced time spent feeding, or individuals being restricted to areas with a poor food supply. Disturbance should therefore be minimised, especially at times when bird populations may be stressed, such as during severe winter weather.

The location and extent of mud or sandflats is dependent on the extent to which the estuary or coast where they occur is constrained from responding to sea level rise and changing sediment regimes. Management needs to create space to enable landward roll-back to take place in response to sea-level rise, and should also allow the system to be dynamic and retain the flexibility to respond to associated changes such as the movement of physical features within the system, e.g. migrating subtidal sandbanks.

Orfordness and Shingle Street geomorphology

Geomorphological sites where the natural processes that produced the important scientific features are still occurring are referred to as ‘active process sites’. The primary management principle is to avoid interfering with these natural processes and the features they produce.

Any development or activity that restricts natural processes is likely to damage the interest features of the site. Direct damage can be caused by activities such as the construction of structures and defences, or the removal of material such as sand and gravel. In some instances, sites are likely to be damaged by tree planting which can restrict natural processes by stabilising the soil. Changes in drainage patterns can also damage active process sites.

Developments do not necessarily have to take place within the boundary of a site to cause damage. Natural systems can be complex. For example, development in one area can disrupt active processes in a site many miles away by altering rates of erosion. As processes within a site can be affected by developments beyond the site boundary, it is important to take a broad and integrated approach to the management of active process sites.

In general, active management of these sites is often only necessary if human activities have affected the natural processes. For example, management may involve removal of man-made barriers which restrict the natural movement of geological features, clearance of rubbish or planted trees.

Collecting of geological specimens may be acceptable if undertaken in a responsible manner. However, there are some sites where the geological interest is very finite in nature and over-collecting can result in damage or destruction of the interest. Collecting of specimens requires very careful management to ensure that the geological resource is conserved. Where there is any doubt, a precautionary approach should be adopted before removing or allowing any material to be removed. Alde-Ore Estuary Views About Management, Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, Schedule 11(6) Version date: 02/06/05 Page 4 of 6

Vegetated shingle

Shingle is defined as sediment with particle sizes from 2-200mm. Shingle beaches form where sediment is first deposited on the shore by wave action. These deposits can then build up into more stable spits, bars or forelands. The types of vegetation that occur on shingle depend on the stability and structure of the shingle itself, but all must be able to cope with the unique physical and hydrological conditions typical of this habitat. This results in some communities being unique to shingle; including unusual moss- and lichen-rich communities that are of great conservation value. Shingle structures also provide important habitats for invertebrates and breeding birds.

A key management requirement is to avoid or minimise surface disturbance, especially in the more open communities. Many of the vegetation types and species associated with shingle are fragile and vulnerable to damage from trampling. This breaks up the fine humus that develops in the upper layers of the shingle that is vital for the plants to survive. Where recreational pressures are significant enough to result in the loss of vegetation cover, or prevent its recovery, it may be necessary to take steps to manage access. Disturbance of areas important for breeding birds should be minimised during the breeding season.

Where there is more closed vegetation cover, light grazing, by rabbits for example, may be all that is needed to prevent scrub encroachment on areas of grassland and heath. However, if there is a tradition of sheep grazing; it may be beneficial to continue this practice at a low intensity. In some cases grazing is not necessary, because of the low rates of plant growth on shingle structures, and can even be damaging, due to the fragility of shingle habitats. The introduction of grazing where it has not been traditionally practiced would not be beneficial.

Coastal lagoons

Coastal lagoons such as those on Orfordness and at Shingle Street are saline water bodies separated from the sea by a barrier (e.g. sand, shingle or rock sill). A small number are separated by tidal narrows which restrict the flow of water into and out of the lagoon. This separation from the sea makes them unique among coastal habitats and means that saline lagoons are either tideless, or where inlets occur, the tide has only a restricted effect on the lagoon. They retain part of their water-body at low tide, and this water may be either saline or brackish. They often support unusual assemblages of marine, estuarine and aquatic plants and animals, including lagoonal specialist species.

Any management needs to be carefully tailored to the needs of each individual lagoon and should be based on an understanding of the natural features of importance and the external factors affecting the lagoon. Indeed, where a lagoon is in a good and stable condition, active management is unlikely to be necessary. Maintaining salinity and water depths can be a key management priority, particularly where some lagoons become increasingly separated from the sea as a result of natural coastal processes - the balance between freshwater (e.g. from rainfall, streams or artificial outputs) and saline (i.e. sea water) inputs may change as a result. It may be necessary to actively manage freshwater and seawater input to favour certain species or communities. Whilst freshwater input is not essential to the conservation of lagoons, some connectivity with seawater is. Alde-Ore Estuary Views About Management, Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, Schedule 11(6) Version date: 02/06/05 Page 5 of 6

The water depth is also critical to many of the lagoonal specialist species with a depth between 0.5 and 1m being desirable. Some deeper water refuges are also beneficial. Siltation from surrounding land run-off may need to be addressed.

Water quality, and any direct and/or diffuse inputs from the surrounding land, can have a profound effect upon the productivity of lagoons and well-being of specialist species. Saline lagoons can show extreme reactions to a build up of some types of nutrients and therefore it may be necessary to actively manage inputs, especially where in close proximity to farmland.

In some cases, it may be desirable to allow vegetation to encroach into the lagoon to increase the diversity of habitats present, particularly for some breeding and migratory bird species. However vegetation should not be allowed to encroach to such an extent that it significantly reduces the areas of open water and shallow water, thus reducing the variety of habitats available to specialist species within the lagoon itself.

Islands in saline lagoons can be important for breeding birds and some management of the vegetation on these islands may be necessary to provide the best conditions for breeding birds. Two typical methods of vegetation control include flooding and hand clearance.

Coastal Cliffs and Foreshore (Gedgrave Cliff)

Coastal geological sites form a very important part of England's geological resource for two reasons. Firstly, in many areas the only natural rock exposures are on the coast. Secondly, coastal cliffs often provide much better exposure of geological features than comparable inland sites.

The key management principle for coastal geological sites such as Gedgrave Cliff is to maintain exposure of the geological interest by allowing natural processes to proceed freely. Inappropriate construction of coastal defences can completely conceal rock exposures and result in the effective loss of the geological interest. In addition, any development which prevents or slows natural erosion can have a damaging effect. Erosion is necessary to maintain fresh geological outcrops. Reducing the rate of erosion usually results in rock exposures becoming obscured by vegetation and rock debris.

Coastal processes are complex and no section of coastline exists in isolation. This means that coastal protection has indirect effects on other parts of the coast. Developments do not necessarily have to take place within the boundary of a site to cause damage. For example, cliff protection in one area may starve other beaches of sediment, accelerating cliff retreat elsewhere. As processes within a site can be affected by developments beyond the site boundary, it is important to take a broad and integrated approach to coastal management. This can provide significant benefits to the conservation of coastal geological sites.

Active management of coastal geological sites is often only necessary when human activity has interfered with natural rates of erosion. Clearance of vegetation or rock debris may be necessary to re-expose geological features where they have become obscured. Alde-Ore Estuary Views About Management, Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, Schedule 11(6) Version date: 02/06/05 Page 6 of 6

Collecting of geological specimens may be acceptable if undertaken in a responsible manner. However, there are some sites where the geological interest is very finite in nature and over-collecting can result in damage or destruction of the interest. Collecting of specimens requires very careful management to ensure that the geological resource is conserved.

Certain activities can cause direct damage to geological sites located on the foreshore and management should aim to avoid or, if necessary, minimise any harmful effects. Such activities include dredging, construction of pipes, heavy machinery crossing the geological features and, in some instances, the introduction of large quantities of beach feed material.

All habitats

The habitats within this site are highly sensitive to inorganic fertilisers and pesticides, applications of which should be avoided both within the site itself and in adjacent surrounding areas. Herbicides may be useful in targeting certain invasive species, but should be used with extreme care. Access to this site, and any recreational activities within, may also need to be controlled. SSSI condition summary

Compiled: 01 Jan 2013