Remaking the Wild Episode Two - Abbotts Hall

Remaking the Wild
S01E02

Abbotts Hall Farm - Essex Wildlife Trust

In 2002, Essex Wildlife Trust at Abbotts Hall Farm started a project whereby the sea wall was breached in five places. By breaching a hole in the sea wall, it allowed the salt marsh seas to colonise the area. This allowed previously arable land to be converted back into salt marsh habitat transforming over 50 hectares.

Why was this done? As well as being fantastic habitats for wildlife, saltmarshes are climate superheroes. They absorb and store carbon which can stay in place for hundreds of years, but they provide flood defenses, which based on rising sea levels are vital in protecting coastal communities from flooding now and in the future.

However, saltmarshes are in decline for a number of reasons including development, sea level rise and pollution. So projects like this at Abbots Hall farm are vital for preserving existing and creating new salt marsh habitat.

Run time: 05:11
Language: English
Subtitles: English (subtitle options in player settings tab)
Produced: 2022 by Bigger Picture Productions for tea:tv