Saltmarsh is vitally important as a coastal defence. At Lymington harbour, Saltmarshes have reduced in size by 85% over the past 100 years, threatening both the harbour itself - which supports a wide range of industries and jobs - and risking the habitat of the multitude of nesting adult birds that call the saltmarsh home.
Lymington Yacht Haven is proud to be working alongside Lymington Harbour Commissioners, The Crown Estate, Land & Water, Environment Agency and other bodies as part of an innovative solution for saltmarsh restoration in Lymington.
We have been able to supply dredged mud from the Yacht Haven and Lymington River to create a sacrificial reef adjacent to the marshes just East of the Lymington river entrance, helping to protect the marshes behind, encourage wildlife and slowing down erosion.
Our dredging barge has hopper doors which open within the hull, without increasing the draft, which means we can deposit mud in very shallow water. A drag box then moves the sediment into a higher position on the marsh to support natural coastal defence and encourage marsh regeneration and biodiverse habitats.
Watch the latest update from the project in the film below.
