PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Orford Ness is a 16 km shingle spit on the Suffolk coast sheltering a broad belt of saltmarsh, brackish lagoons and neutral grassland. Reputedly the largest spit in Europe, it is also a haven for birds: nearly 40 species breed, migrate or winter over in the area, of which 12 are in Annex I of the Birds Directive. It is not just the birds that are attracted to this remote and isolated area. Apart from having stimulated folklore, artists, musicians and poets over the centuries, the place was also a strategically important military site. Owned by the Ministry of Defence until 1973, it was primarily used for military research purposes, including bomb ballistics and firing trials. These all took their toll on the habitats and birds and even today extensive military debris is evident over much of the area. After 1973, unlawful access and activities spread unchecked across the site, resulting in a further dramatic and steady decline in many of the bird species. This reached such a critical stage that immediate intervention was needed to conserve and restore the area. Having purchased the site in 1994, the National Trust successfully carried out a first series of emergency actions under a LIFE I project (LIFE94NAT/UK/000850), including the large scale removal of all harmful military debris. However, reversing the damage of 60 years of use and neglect is a slow and time-consuming exercise. The new project was to build upon the successes and results of the first project in order to restore the site to a favourable conservation state.
OBJECTIVES
The project focused on the same site as the LIFE I project on Orford Ness but was to consolidate this work and introduce new measures. In specific terms, the project would identify the factors suppressing the breeding of Annex I ground nesting birds and the development of rare shingle flora. Grazing would be extended on part of the salt meadows and along the river wall and two new lagoons were to be opened up for breeding and feeding waders. Finally the management plan was to be completely updated and revised in order to establish a long term conservation/ restoration programme for the site. Actions were to include an investigation into the reduced breeding success of Recurvirostra avosetta and Sterna albifrons due to predation, the creation of lagoons, restoration of 34 ha of salt meadow and 3 km of river wall through the re-establishment of grazing, and a range of public awareness actions.
RESULTS
The project achieved all its objectives. The management plan was revised, the breeding success of the birds on the site improved after habitat management work and predator control, 2ha of brackish coastal lagoon was created and cattle grazing with facilities to support livestock was set up. The newly created coastal lagoon immediately became a feeding habitat for a number of bird species, notably Recurvirostra avosetta. Public awareness of the site increased both locally and nationally and the beneficiary shared experience on the site with partners in Netherlands and France. After investigating the effects of predation on Annex I birds, the predator control programme, aimed principally at foxes, was undertaken. This resulted in significant increases in the breeding success of a number of species including redshank (Tringa totanus), lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), skylark (Alauda arvensis), avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) and little tern (Sterna albifrons). Restoration of livestock grazing on a significant part of the site improved the habitat condition and provided suitable habitats for many species of waders, meadow birds and wildfowl. The resident population of snipe ((Gallinago gallinago) increased from 1-2 pairs to 12 pairs in 1999. The tussocky nature of the grazed sward provided good hunting territory for short-eared owl (Asio flammeus), barn owl (Tyto alba) and marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus). Two new brackish coastal lagoons were created to help protect against the loss of this habitat type due to continuing sea level rises. As habitats for birds, again avocets appear to have benefited significantly, with 25 pairs nesting in the first year. The project also led to a better understanding of the complex interactions between nesting gulls and shingle vegetation and of the methods to be trialled in the experimental reconstruction of the damaged shingle ridge. In terms of public awareness, the project raised the profile of this rather remote site both in terms of its historical interest and for its conservation interest. 10,000 people visited the site during the project. A temporary education officer was appointed and a large number of talks and walks were organised during the project’s lifetime. The beneficiary tried to take a proactive role in analysing what the potential visitor is likely to want, rather than just trying to increase the visitor numbers. As Orford Ness needs to be reached by boat (capacity 12 people) it cannot handle large numbers of visitors. To increase the number of people who can learn about the site, the beneficiary developed other methods of interpretation, such as a website with a virtual tour of Orford Ness. It also developed a schools resource pack. The website was established on www.nationaltrust.org.uk/orfordness/. The project also tried to involve local people as much as possible by tailoring particular guided walks to local people and parish councillors and trying to explain what is going on with special ‘Behind the Scenes’ days. The beneficiary has found this approach to be successful, particularly when it has had to resolve site access issues and area restrictions with local user groups. Taking the time to explain why work is being carried out on the site and why certain areas are restricted has minimised potential conflicts. With the adoption of the revised management plan for the SPA and SAC, the project established a five-year programme for the management of the site. The project report on the effects of predation on nesting birds gives useful information for practitioners facing similar predation problems, as the report presents a simple approach to deciding which predator species is causing the problem. After fox control was initiated as a result of the predation report, the number of breeding avocets rose from 1 pair in 1996 to 27 pairs in 1999. The LIFE-Nature funding, in the form of the two projects on this site, has helped the beneficiary take a damaged redundant military site, clean up the debris and restore the habitats to make a well-managed nature reserve where bird numbers have increased and which now receives over 4,000 visitors a year. The transformation from an unmanaged wasteland has been accepted by local people due to a combination of transparent decision-making and good interpretative materials.