Project Name

Abbots Hall Farm

Country

England

Current land designations

SSSI, SPA for birds, candidate for marine SAC

Specific location

Blackwater Estuary, Essex

Year rewilding started

2002

Grid reference

TL962146

Location

Latitude: 51 47 45 N Longitude: 0 50 43 E

Altitude

Project Management

Ownership: Essex Wildlife Trust;

Management: Essex Wildlife Trust

Area under rewilding (hectares)

700ha (total area), 283ha (farmland)

Project funding

Land legacy (from the late Joan Elliot), Essex Wildlife Trust membership donations, EA, EN, WWF, Heritage Lottery Fund, operates under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme

Rewilding methods

Coastal realignment to allow salt water onto the land (breaching of the sea wall)

Habitats present

Pioneer salt marsh, mudflats, coastal grassland, inter-tidal wetlands, arable farmland

Target species

Salt tolerant, or halophytic plants (e.g.Marsh Sapphire, Sea Spurrey), wading birds (e.g. Redshank, Oystercatcher, Little Tern and Shelduck), farmland birds (skylark, grey partridge and corn bunting), Wild Fowl (e.g. Brent Geese), birds of prey

Species reintroductions

No planned reintroductions-relying upon natural regeneration of species

Access to the area

Open public access Monday to Friday only

Links to further information

Essex Wildlife Trust information: www.essexwt.org.uk/Sites/Abbotts%20Hall.htm

WWF information: www.wwf.org.uk/filelibrary/pdf/mu52.pdf