Caring for our salt marshes

Salt marshes are valuable assets for our climate, for nature and for our own well-being. So caring for our salt marshes and ensuring that they thrive will benefit us, as well as future generations. However, over recent years our salt marshes, particularly at Portbury Wharf,  have become very popular places to walk. This is not a problem  providing we all keep to the path by the sea wall.  But since 2020, hundreds of feet have trampled across the salt marsh causing significant damage.

2025 Update

Since the introduction of the posts designating the safe area in which to walk, the community has done a fantastic job at caring for Portbury Wharf salt marsh. Look at what you have achieved!

Does it matter if we walk on the salt marshes?

Actually it really does! But why?

The salt marshes:

• sanctuaries for wildlife
• bury harmful carbon and so protect our climate
• protect the land behind
• Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
• within a Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
• part of a Special Protection Area (SPA)
• falls within an international RAMSAR site

When we walk on the salt marsh we walk on the plants that protect our climate. We also wander into wildlife-only areas often driving away the creatures, many of which are now endangered.

So caring for our salt marshes makes a real difference. The salt marsh plants bury harmful carbon. So if we have more of them our local and global climate will benefit, and so will we. If we give wildlife their own space they are more likely to survive. If we protect them the beautiful songs of skylarks and curlew will still drift across the salt marshes for our children to hear.

So just how can we enjoy the salt marsh without causing harm?

We all want to be able to enjoy the area for our own well-being. But just how can we do that without damaging what we love?

If we want to protect the climate protecting plants and safeguard the wildlife it is as simple as staying by the sea wall?

Working with Natural England

In 2022 we started working with Natural England to protect Portbury Wharf salt marsh. Under their auspices in November 2022 we installed guide posts and signs by the sea wall. The signs ask people not to walk out beyond the posts. In addition we set up three study areas to monitor the recovery of the salt marsh. More about these can be seen here.

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Protect Portbury Wharf Salt Marsh

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Related Links

• Salt Marsh Hub