Levington Saltmarsh Restoration Project

The project, at Levington on the River Orwell near Ipswich, will trial an innovative use of dredgings to benefit of wildlife in the estuary which is a European Marine Site. A steel pipe and submersible floating pipe line will pump up to 20,000m3 of sediment from Suffolk Yacht Harbour to the adjacent Levington creek and Loompit Lake mudflats. The sediments will be held in place by soft engineering structures made of environmentally friendly materials (wood, straw, hazel whips and coir matting). The design of the structures will be sensitive to the landscape and the environment.The mud dredged from the harbour is currently pumped out into the estuary and mostly lost into the channel. This project will ensure the sediment is kept in one area to elevate the marsh area to allow for plant growth. This will be monitored by volunteers and Suffolk Wildlife Trust, and coordinated by the Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.