The Our Future Coast project is a DEFRA-funded innovation project, working in partnership with local councils, parish councils, the Environment Agency, organisations like Lancashire Wildlife Trust and Morecambe Bay Partnership, farmers, landowners, researchers and local people. Together they are working across multiple sites along the North West Coast of England to design and test new approaches to coastal flood risk management. In the face of coastal erosion, flooding and climate change, Our Future Coast will use nature-based solutions for sustainable coastal management.
Coastal Communities are at the front-line of climate challenge. It is not possible to protect the whole coast with hard rock and concrete, there isn’t enough money and it is not a good long-term solution. So, we need to get really good at working with nature – using saltmarsh and sand dunes as a coastal defence. The essence of the Our Future Coast approach is designing together with our communities putting them at the heart of Our Future Coast.
Our Future Coast is:
- Working with communities at multiple sites to understand issues from their perspective and work with them to shape solutions.
- Learning how to make natural coastal habitats, such as sand dunes and saltmarshes, effective at protecting the coast.
- Testing new and innovative approaches including monitoring and practical resilience actions.
- Sharing lessons learned to inform future coastal management approaches.
Our Future Coast | The Flood Hub
Here in Fylde, we’re working to trial saltmarsh restoration techniques in the area around Granny’s Bay.
The saltmarsh has suffered reduction in extent in this area due to disturbance during the construction of the hard sea defences at Granny’s Bay. Our Future Coast are looking to restore and develop the saltmarsh in this area with the following key objectives:
- Develop saltmarsh restoration practices for an accreting coastline using sediment devices and saltmarsh vegetation planting
- Investigate the benefits of multi-buffers like saltmarsh and sand dune in terms of sea defence and water quality
Restoring the saltmarsh will not only act as an effective sea defence but also work with the existing hard infrastructure to increase its longevity. It will improve the visual amenity of the area, improve biodiversity, capture and store carbon and therefore help to mitigate against the impacts of climate change and consequent sea level rise.
How you can get involved!
Saltmarsh Champions are our new volunteer group working with the Our Future Coast team to monitor our Saltmarsh habitats, test and trial restoration techniques and help engage local communities. As a volunteer with us, you’ll enjoy a varied role with opportunities to take part in lots of different areas including Citizen science surveying, and even growing and nurturing Saltmarsh plants!
For more information take a look at the volunteer role description or email rangers@fylde.gov.uk for more information
