The Fishbourne Footpath to Nature Recovery project seeks to create up to five hectares of new saltmarsh habitat in the north-eastern reaches of Chichester Harbour. At the same time, a quality access route will be created by realigning Footpath 3059.
The site:
Footpath 3059 around the sea wall at Apuldram Meadow was closed in 2022, following damage to the sea wall. Since then access has been along Footpath 555 across the meadow.
The project will realign the footpath along higher elevations within Apuldram Meadow. This will provide a quality access route at the same time as making space for saltmarsh.
Background:
In 2021 Natural England’s Condition Review downgraded the Chichester Harbour Site of Special Scientific Interest to “Unfavourable Declining” condition. This is primarily due to the loss of saltmarsh within the harbour (58% since 1945) through “coastal squeeze”. The presence of hard structures (such as sea walls) restricts the natural processes of the coastline drowning out coastal habitats like saltmarsh. As well as being a valuable and beautiful habitat, saltmarsh stores carbon, removes nutrients, increases biodiversity and provides natural flood defence.
The review recommends removing “inappropriate coastal management measures” that are not providing direct flood defence benefit, like the failing sea wall at Apuldram Meadow. In doing so, this will make space for saltmarsh and help reverse the declining state of the harbour.
The project:
The Fishbourne Footpath to Nature Recovery project has two main elements:
- Removing the outer concrete casing from the failing seawall at Apuldram Meadow.
- Realigning the closed footpath further landward to provide a quality access route for at least the next 50 years.
Once the concrete casing has been removed from the sea wall, the remaining earth bund will naturally weaken and eventually breach. Sea water will then access the lower meadow at high tides, and saltmarsh will develop over time.
Footpath 3059 will be realigned further inland, providing a quality route across Apuldram Meadow for at least the next 50 years. Meanwhile, Footpath 555 (the boardwalk) that crosses Apuldram Meadow will remain in place and open for use for as long as it is safe, practical, and not regularly flooded by the sea.
The detailed design report can be viewed here:
What next?
The planning application is now live on the Chichester District Council website. You can view the plans, and make comments by visiting the website using the reference 25/01160/FUL.