Appendix 1 - Land management options - Inter-tidal and Coastal
- Saltmarsh, mudflats and saline lagoons
- Sand dune and vegetated gravel systems
For each option, overall aims, management requirements and relationships with ELS and OELS options are explained. The exact management requirements for each option, including optional prescriptions, will be negotiated with you, and then included in your agreement. The prescriptions text between square brackets may be changed by advisers to suit particular situations and management needs.
Where HLS options can be located with ELS or OELS options this is highlighted at the end of the text describing the options, see below.
These options are targeted at managed sand dunes, coastal heaths and inter-tidal habitats such as saltmarsh, vegetated shingle ridges and saline lagoons. They are valued for their wild landscapes and historical features. Many of these habitats are nationally and internationally important for their plant, animal and bird interest. For management of cliff tops see the options for grassland, upland and moorland or the lowland heathland management. Coastal grazing marshes can be managed using the grassland options and coastal heathlands managed by the lowland heathland options.
Where saltmarsh, sand dunes or vegetated shingle ridges require active annual management such as grazing, or a change in management practice is required, they are eligible for payment under the following options.
Saltmarsh, mudflats and saline lagoons
These are important coastal habitats which support many plants and invertebrates that are specially adapted to survive high salinities and/or regular flooding by the tide. Saltmarshes also provide breeding sites for wildfowl and high-water roosting sites for both wildfowl and waders. Exposed mudflats at low tide provide an abundant food source for large numbers of wading birds. Saline lagoons are a rare habitat that support some of our rarest plants and animals and are particularly important for birds such as avocet, little tern and common tern.
Coastal land that is currently arable or grass and is protected by a sea wall may be suitable for creating new saltmarsh, mudflat or saline lagoon habitat by breaching the sea wall or constructing a water inlet and outlet system. Ideally, the site would be located close to existing inter-tidal habitat and would naturally rise to higher land. Each site is unique and will require detailed feasibility and planning studies. If you think you have suitable land you should apply for a one-year Inter-tidal Habitat Creation and Management Plan. Please contact your RDS office for further advice.
Maintenance of coastal saltmarsh HP5
View prescriptions and indicators of success
Restoration of coastal saltmarsh HP6
These options will maintain or restore coastal saltmarsh habitat by traditional grazing management. A site suitable for restoration may be one that is currently being grazed in a traditionally un-grazed area, or it may be over-grazed or grazed at an inappropriate time of year. Alternatively, it may be a site that is difficult to graze and has become dominated by a few coarse species.
The extensive grazing supplement (HP10) may be used with the maintenance option (HP5). Both the extensive grazing (HP10) and livestock exclusion supplements (HP11) may be used with the restoration option (HP6).
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Management includes: extensive grazing with no supplementary feeding or fertiliser inputs; retaining wood debris and accumulations of seaweed. Restorative management will be tailored to each site, based on the existing and traditional practices in the area, and may involve introducing or removing grazing.
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Creation of inter-tidal and saline habitat on arable land HP7
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Creation of inter-tidal and saline habitat on grassland HP8
These options create inter-tidal and saline habitats such as saltmarsh, mudflats and saline lagoons on former arable land, set-aside or grassland by a managed breach in the sea defences or, for a saline lagoon, constructing a water inlet and outlet system.
A one year Inter-tidal Habitat Creation and Management Plan will be required. Please contact your RDS office for further advice.
Once the Plan is completed and accepted, the creation of saltmarsh and mudflat habitat may include: site preparation by spraying off existing vegetation; breaching the sea wall and excavating creeks; and allowing the site to flood regularly with the tide. Saline lagoon creation may involve the excavation of the lagoon; constructing a water inlet and outlet system; and implementing a water flow regime.
View prescriptions and indicators of success
Creation of inter-tidal and saline habitat by unmanaged breach or regular inundation HP9
This option maintains inter-tidal and transitional habitats on former arable land, set-aside or ley grassland of low conservation value where an unmanaged breach in the sea defences has already occurred.
Management of the site may be informed by the completion of a management plan and will require you to continue to allow all tides to flood the site. Under this option you should not: plough; re-seed; roll or chain harrow; fertilise; introduce grazing without prior agreement; or remove accumulations of seaweed or wood debris.
Sand dune and vegetated gravel systems
Sand dunes and grazed shingle systems support many unusual plants and animals. Flowers such as wild thyme, dog violets and rest harrows grow in grassy areas on sand dunes, whilst yellow horned poppy and sea pea grow on the vegetated areas of shingle. These habitats are also very important for breeding waders and often contain valuable ponds.
Land that lies behind a sand dune or shingle ridge and is currently arable land, set-aside or grassland may be suitable to allow the roll-back of these systems inland. Each site is unique and will require detailed feasibility and planning studies. Please contact your RDS office for further advice.
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Maintenance of sand dunes HP1
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Restoration of sand dunes HP2
These options maintain or restore areas of grazed sand dune and shingle systems.
Management includes: extensive grazing with no fertiliser or supplementary feeding; maintaining the existing drainage and seasonal flooding pattern; restricting vehicular access; retaining accumulations of seaweed and wood debris; no ploughing, re-seeding, rolling or chain harrowing.
Restorative management may be informed by a management plan, but may involve introducing or changing the grazing regime or undertaking erosion control activities.
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Creation of coastal vegetated shingle and sand dunes on arable land HP3
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Creation of coastal vegetated shingle and sand dunes on grassland HP4
These options provide an area of land to allow the migration of coastal shingle and sand dune systems inland. Very sandy or shingle soils may indicate where this habitat has occurred further inland in the past.
Management will be informed by a Habitat Creation and Management Plan and should not include: ploughing, cultivation, re-seeding, rolling or chain harrowing; fertiliser, supplementary feeding, removal of wood debris or accumulations of seaweed; and access by vehicles is restricted. This option may include flexible grazing or cutting to control excessive growth of vegetation.
View prescriptions and indicators of success
Supplement for extensive grazing on saltmarsh HP10
This supplement supports the management of grazing on saltmarshes where grazing is traditional, or on newly created saltmarsh where grazing is appropriate. It is available on options HP5, HP6, HP7, HP8 and HP9.
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View prescriptions and indicators of success
Saltmarsh livestock exclusion supplement HP11
This supplement removes livestock from saltmarshes where grazing is either not traditional, or is damaging the environmental value of the site. This may be where the site is over-grazed or supports breeding wildfowl or other birds. It is available on options HP6 or HP9.
View prescriptions and indicators of success
Page last modified:
21 March, 2006
Page published: 3 March, 2005