Dig what’s done to protect wildlife...
IT is strange to consider achieving a work of some delicacy with a 13-tonne excavator, but that’s precisely what Green Sefton’s contractors are doing in one of the more remote areas of our marvellous coastline.
Before the scheme could begin to improve water drainage works off Tagg’s Island and the historic Nile watercourse, consents from Natural England had to be secured – this is a landscape containing rare plants and some of the most reclusive species on the Sefton Coast.
As the area is in Birkdale Hills Local Nature Reserve it falls within a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Protection Area and a Special Area of Conservation.
The fantastically rare Baltic Rush and Sharp Clubrush grow here, botanical treasures that are often overlooked.
The secretive Jack Snipe lurks in winter, relying on incredible camouflage to pass its days largely unseen in the damp vegetation, before returning to Scandinavian breeding grounds in the summer.
Cetti’s and Reed Warblers sing from the reedbeds here in summer and there is even a historic record of Water Shrew in part of the watercourse.
So when the decision was taken to clear existing drainage channels and create a new channel 260m long, it was clear the work had to proceed carefully to say the least.
The aim is to combine two small schemes to help reduce surface water flood risks to Birkdale residential areas and the coastal road.
The excavator that will be carrying out the work trundles onto site using the same single line of access each day along existing tracks to reduce any unnecessary damage to the habitat.
Areas where protected plants can be found have been marked out to avoid damage even though the experienced and skilled contractor has carried out similar work on this site before.
Its route has been planned to avoid areas where Pink Footed Geese and gulls roost, and waders feed.
The plan for this operation was put together by the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management team, whose vital work tackles the threat of flooding in the borough, whether from rising seas, existing drainage systems or natural watercourses.
By clearing the drains and areas of rank vegetation the work could also reinvigorate ground conditions for some of the rarities mentioned earlier.
Tagg’s Island and the Green Beach (the name is a derivation of the Danish phrase “gronenstranden” meaning growing coast, not a reflection of vegetation present) represents one of the wilder areas of our spectacular coastline.
Here accretion has meant this new land is quickly evolving, edging out to the sea while at the same time erosion is eating away at frontal dunes further south.
But this process can also hinder drainage from inland.
This is the nature of a dynamic coastline – and this particular suite of habitats is one that often throws up surprises with its tapestry of pools, reedbeds and saltmarsh.
Beyond the saltmarsh and reeds the “golden sands” so beloved of Sandgrounders can still be found
– our coastline here is pushing out, not disappearing.
Something that we should all be grateful for in an age of rising sea levels.
John works for Green Sefton, the Sefton Council service that brings together the coast & countryside, parks & green spaces, flooding & coastal erosion, risk management and grounds maintenance teams for a joined-up approach to the vital management, development and oversight of Sefton’s beautiful coastline, parks and green spaces. This column looks at the flora, fauna and history of the coastline, and the work carried out to protect it.