Denge Beach - England

Challenges

Denge Beach is located in Kent. It is characterized by a broad variety of animal and plant species. The site is also remarkable due to the presence of varied natural habitats (pebbles, sand and silt, wetlands and marshes) inhabited by numerous waterbirds as well as species listed in the UK's red list of threatened species and in endangered invertebrate inventories. Consequently, British authorities have listed the area as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

On this site, several gravel lakes with small islands are maintained by the largest nature protection association in Great Britain, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), on behalf of Folkestone & Dover Water, a subsidiary of Veolia Water UK. Nevertheless, the wetland habitat made up of sand and silt on the banks of the lake is becoming increasingly vegetated, which is likely to damage the natural habitat of many species.

Objectives

Promote the sustainable management of ecosystems and water resources

• Works carried out to create the conditions needed (reduced vegetation) for the development and reproduction of bird species (waterbirds, sea birds,wading birds) presenton site;
• Development of raw silt and sand areas to guarantee the survival and reproduction of the invertebrate species living in this environment;
• Development of bird watching areas.

Veolia Water's solution

Folkestone & Dover Water assists the RSPB in the site restoration to lower the level of the islands and allow the water to cover the sand and silt in winter months, which protects the natural habitat from both drought and excessive vegetation. Once this first stage is completed, future brush cutting operations should be less frequent. Brush cutting debris will be deposited in the deepest part of the lake to form a reef. This will notably enhance the development of fish resources, an additional food supply for seabirds.