Saltmarsh Restoration

Saltmarshes are low-lying coastal wetlands where land meets the sea, and they are home to specialised salt-tolerant plants and diverse wildlife that adapt to seasonal changes. Saltmarshes offer a range of social, climate, economic and environmental benefits.

A healthy saltmarsh is key to sustaining our environment. Saltmarshes might look like grass and mud, but these spectacular coastal habitats are tackling some of the world’s most pressing crises. In a healthy and natural state, saltmarshes act as a natural flood defence and provide carbon sequestration, which adds value to restoration and biodiversity offsetting schemes. These unique coastal and tidal sites also play a crucial role in preserving the wider ecosystem, helping various habitats to thrive and providing countless species with ideal nursey grounds in which to grow. Saltmarshes also act as natural filters, absorbing pollutants like pesticides, heavy metals and hydrocarbons, significantly improving water quality along coastlines. They also boost the local economies through tourism, fishing and sustainable agriculture. However, there has been widespread degradation and loss of saltmarshes in the UK and globally due to human activity.

At FiveRivers, we understand that saltmarsh restoration and improvement is exceptionally valuable to the environment. As saltmarsh restoration experts, we can help to reverse some of the damage caused by either natural processes or human activities.

Saltmarsh restoration is a specialist area, due to obvious restrictions such as work only taking place at low tide and the need to avoid unnecessary disruption to important habitats and nesting sites at certain times of year.