Estuary work postponed over fears for nesting birds
WORK to clear vegetation as part of a project to restore the River Otter estuary in Devon to its historic flood plain and create a large scale wetland habitat has been delayed over concerns about nesting birds.
TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham this week threw his weight behind calls from birdwatchers to put scrub clearance plans on hold and has thanked contractors and estate owners for reviewing the work timetable.
The £15 million Lower Otter Restoration Project, unanimously approved by district councillors earlier this year, will create 55 hectares of mudflats, saltmarsh and other valuable estuarine habitats. Led by landowner Clinton Devon Estates and the Environment Agency, the scheme will see the Big and Little Marsh floodplains around Budleigh Salterton restored, with breaches created in embankments to allow water through and reduce local flooding risks.
The project website outlined plans to start clearing trees and vegetation this week, which it said was “essential for the success of the project and the restoration of an intertidal landscape which will become home to many new species”. It said: “Although we know the timing of vegetation clearance for May is not ideal for birds, this is constrained by the presence of dormice, a European protected species, and the need to carry out the works in the short period allowed by the licence required, as well as construction phasing and project funding deadlines.
“Before vegetation is cleared, experienced ecologists will carefully search for nesting birds and sites used by bats. Where these are found they will be left undisturbed, with a buffer zone to ensure protection. Qualified ecologists have already carried out preclearance surveys and will continue to do so before and during works.”
On Tuesday Chris Packham tweeted a video plea for the work not to go ahead now given there was evidence birds were nesting in the area, including Cetti’s warbler – a species which has the highest level of protection during the breeding season.
“The bigger picture is in the end when the work is completed, it will generate a very rare and valuable piece of coastal habitat. So the outcome could be good. But you can’t just start destroying birds’ nests when they’re protected. What sort of signal is this sending out to developers elsewhere?” he said.
Landowner Clinton Devon Estates said on Wednesday that following consultation with partners and environmental organisations over risks to nesting birds, the start of vegetation clearance work in preparation for the Lower Otter Restoration Project had been postponed. “Any works in the future will be undertaken on the basis that they will not have a risk of impacting breeding birds,” it said.
Mr Packham took to social media to applaud the decision and thank Clinton Devon Estates, the Environment Agency and contractors Kier Group saying: “Let’s hope we can come up with a solution that will see this work being done at a time when it is not destructive and yet still see this project coming to fruition.”
The Environment Agency said yesterday: “Any works which are undertaken in the future will be on the basis that they will not impact breeding birds. The purpose of this vital project has always been to work with nature to achieve a more sustainable way of managing the Otter Estuary.” Under the funding scheme the project must be completed by the end of March 2023.