Tide returns to Greatham after 200 years following completion of £4.5m restoration scheme
A new £4.5m project has seen the tide return to one of the town’s becks for the first time in more than 200 years.
The Environment Agency, working in partnership with The Greatham Foundation and Northumbrian Water, has restored the original course of Greatham Beck, in Greatham, and removed a tidal barrier, allowing the tide to return to the area for the first time in more than 200 years.
As part of the Greatham Marsh Restoration Scheme, sections of old flood bank were removed as well as a tidal sluice that was no longer needed.
This restoration is part of the wider £30m Tees Tidelands Programme that aims to realign flood defences, restore intertidal and river habitats and reconnect tributaries and local communities with the estuary.
The changes are expected to improve water quality and strengthen the area’s resilience to climate change and sea levels rise.
Matthew Rountree, Environment Agency project manager, said: “This project enables the restoration of a large area of coastal saltmarsh on the Tees Estuary through natural processes.
"The area will provide valuable habitat for wildlife and capture hundreds of tonnes of carbon each year.
“By allowing Greatham Beck to return to its natural form, we are restoring balance to the estuary and allowing the tide to return to areas lost to development.
"It also enables migratory fish to return after decades of absence.
“Our next steps are seeding the intended grassland and planting 1.7km of species-rich native hedgerow and ecologically valuable treeline.”
Deborah Lewis-Bynoe, chief executive of The Greatham Foundation, said: “The completion of the Greatham Saltmarsh Restoration Scheme is a fantastic milestone and we are incredibly proud to have worked alongside the Environment Agency and Northumbrian Water.
"Working in partnership to achieve outcomes like this reflects our commitment to enhancing the sustainability of our charity and creating a positive and lasting impact across our communities – both for people and for the environment.”
A spokesperson from Northumbrian Water added: “The benefits from this scheme are significant and diverse but ultimately great news for the environment and a real boost for the Tees.
"Playing a role in helping make the Greatham Marsh Restoration Scheme a reality is part of our wider commitment to supporting improvements for the Tees Estuary through direct investment and engagement with wider partnership working.”