Hesketh Out Marsh Saltmarsh Restoration

Hesketh Out Marsh Saltmarsh Reserve is located on the south side of the Ribble Estuary, an important estuarine habitat in Britain, designated a Special Protection Area (SPA) for its over-wintering waterfowl and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for habitats and birds.
In 1980, an embankment was constructed as a sea defence and the land converted to arable farming. The land (167Ha) was purchased by the RSPB in 2006, in partnership with the Environment Agency and Natural England as part of an ambitious re-alignment programme. Restoration work has created lagoons, creeks and created saltmarsh habitat for many species, including LBAP. Phase 2 of the project is to achieve stability focusing on new works on the topography.