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Conservation
Enhancement

Access
Improvements

Marketing and
Promotion

  

Background

The Boston Wash Banks is an exciting and innovative project, demonstrating the benefits of linking nature conservation and flood defence, providing a catalyst for economic regeneration and rural tourism. The project is managed by a partnership of the Environment Agency, the RSPB, Boston Borough Council and Lincolnshire County Council. The project is grateful for funding of £789,877 from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund of the EU Objective 5b programme.

The Boston Wash Banks project developed from the Wash Banks Flood Defence Improvement Scheme covering the coast from Hobhole to Butterwick Low. The sea defences protect 800 sq km of Lincolnshire from flooding and are managed by the Environment Agency in partnership with the RSPB, HM Prison North Sea Camp and English Nature. The scheme has received grant aid from DEFRA and the Lincolnshire Flood Defence Committee.


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Project elements

Conservation Enhancement

Creation of 12 hectare saline lagoon with islands at Freiston Shore from the borrow area used for sourcing the material for the flood defence works. This important new habitat provides a home for breeding, roosting and wintering waterbirds such as avocets and lapwings.

Lapwing
Yellowhammer

Conversion of a 23 hectare field adjacent to Frampton Marsh from arable to grassland management to benefit declining farmland birds.

Environmental monitoring of the saltmarsh creation area to help inform future managed realignment schemes.

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Access Improvements

Provision of one new car park and one improved car park at Freiston Shore to enable viewing of the saltmarsh creation area and the lagoon.

Improvements and provision of an additional storey to the Lincolnshire Bird Club’s bird hide at Cut End.

Provision of a new bird hide at Freiston Shore.

Provision of a new car park at Cut End for visitors to the Cut End bird hide.
A new cycle route (2.5km) on the disused railway line adjacent to the River Witham from the centre of Boston to Anton’s Gowt and improvements to an existing 24 km cycle route which passes by Freiston Shore.

Provision of community art along the new cycle route.

Access track improvements at Frampton Marsh, Cut End and improvements to the local road network.

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Marketing and Promotion

Provision of nine interpretation boards:Freiston Shore (one at each car park), Cut End car park, Cut End bird hide, Frampton Marsh RSPB Nature Reserve, along the south bank of the Haven, at the Frampton Marsh grassland site and two along the new cycleway.

Provision of directional tourism signage to both Freiston Shore and Frampton Marsh RSPB nature reserves to provide increased visitor awareness.

Production of seven leaflets: Where to watch birds, events, helping farmland birds, the flood defence facts, cycling and walking.

Production of a website (www.thebostonwashbanks.com) providing a wealth of detailed information on the project, such as where to go and what to see, a listing of events, links to local accommodation providers and an educational resource pack for schools.

Production of a set of postcards of images of the Boston Wash Banks.

Appointment of two RSPB project officers for three years: the Boston Wash Banks Project Officer’s prime role is to promote awareness of the Wash and its hinterland, develop initiatives linking the environment to the local economy and promote the project. The aim of the Wash Farmland Biodiversity Officer is to enhance the biodiversity of the farmland habitats of the Wash hinterland, promote habitat improvements and restoration, develop initiatives to link agriculture, biodiversity and economic growth and demonstrate common objectives.

Installation of equipment at the four access points to monitor the number of visitors to demonstrate the effectiveness of the project.

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