Project type:

Ecosystem restoration

Type of infrastructure:

Offsite restoration

Location:

North Sea

Country:

United Kingdom

Target species:

Native oysters Salt marsh Sand dunes Seagrass meadows

Implementation period:

2022-2027

Implemented by:

Ørsted, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust

TRL:

7-8

Funding:

Ørsted

Stakeholder engagement

The project is involving local communities in the wildlife conservation of Humber estuary, either by offering the opportunities to volunteer for the project or by offering a chance to create seagrass seed bags during the annual Festival, which will be later planted in the estuary.

Knowledge sharing

The project is regularly updating its website with relevant information. Furthermore, local communities are educated about the importance of restoration and informed about the progress of the project in different ways, at, for instance, their annual Seagrass Festival.

Database Project

Wilder Humber: Restoring coastal ecosystems

Objectives

Improving the health and resiliency of Humber estuary ecosystem by restoring seagrass meadows, saltmarsh, sand dunes, and native oyster reefs

Short description

The Humber estuary is an invaluable habitat, representing the UK’s largest source of freshwater to the North Sea and providing essential breeding and feeding grounds for diverse wildlife. However, due to significant pressures from commercial development, the health of the Humber estuary has deteriorated. Historically, the estuary was home to vast native oyster reefs and seagrass meadows, but today they are almost non-existent.

Oysters and seagrass meadows are considered ecological engineers, playing a crucial role in protecting the coast from erosion and enabling coastal habitats to develop and thrive. To improve the estuary’s health and resilience, Ørsted has partnered with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust to restore saltmarshes, seagrass, native oysters, and coastal sand dunes. Together, they aim to release 500,000 native oysters, restore 40 hectares of seagrass meadows, and enhance 5 hectares of saltmarsh.

To track the project’s progress, environmental data, including water quality, is being monitored. Water quality is directly impacted by water-filtering species like oysters. Additionally, the project is monitoring the presence of species in the estuary to determine if they are successfully returning to the area.