Titchwell Marsh, Nortb Norfolk Flashcards
List 4 species that are present at Titchwell Marsh
Breeding bittern
Marsh harrier
Breeding avocet
Overwintering birds
What problem has long shore drift caused?
Erosion of the seaward side of the reserve
When did long shore drift have a large effect on the marsh?
In the 1990s
Where does long shore drift move sediment to?
Towards Scolt Head Island
How many tourists visit the marsh each year?
90,000
What coastal management strategy is being used to protect t the marsh?
Managed retreat
What is managed retreat?
The abandonment of the current line of sea defences and then developing the exposed land so that it can be reclaimed naturally and act as a defence.
How much of the Titchwell Marshes have been given up to protect the rest of the sanctuary?
Up to a third
Why would salt water damage the reserve?
It is a freshwater habitat
What are the species at the marsh like?
Rare
How much did the RSPB spend on managed retreat and new sea walls?
£1.4m
What type of land has the erosion of the coast put in danger?
Brackish marshes, freshwater marshes and reedbeds
What are brackish marshes?
Salt marshland that is diluted with freshwater
What could storm surges do at high tide?
Breach the current sea walls
In 2008 how much of the salt marsh did the sea walls protect?
138 acres of the site
How many acres of brackish marsh will return to salt marsh and mudflats exposed to the tide due to managed retreat?
27acres
How long will this scheme protect the marshes for?
50 years
When was the site made an SSSI?
1973
What did the RSPB also intend to do in terms of protecting species?
Crate more island nesting sites for breeding avocets and more reedbeds for bitterns
Where do breeding avocets nest?
In the freshwater part of the reserve
What type of grass can be found on the mudflat and is a pioneer species?
Cordgrass
Why is cordgrass not swept away by the tide?
It has long roots which trap and stabilise the mud
How was the marsh created?
By building sea walls to enclose areas of grazing marshes and salt marches to form a range of different habitat types.
What threat do rising sea levels pose for sea walls?
It increases the likelihood of the sea walls overtopping
