Beyond the seawall
A guide to exploring the intertidal zone along the Gwent Levels
Beyond the seawall is a citizen science project that combines exploration of the seashore with scientific recording.
Around 3 million people live on or near the Severn Estuary. But, while many of us are familiar with land- based habitats, such as woodlands, meadows, hedgerows and ponds, and the plants and animals that live there, the land beyond the seawall is generally less well understood or explored. Many of us have lost touch with the estuarine landscape, and its residents, as traditional local activities, such as fishing, boat buildng, ferrying and navigation have declined.
The vast estuary landscape retains a sense of wilderness and remoteness, despite the close proximity of large towns and cities, and is one of the UK’s great natural wonders.
Twice every day, as the tide ebbs, the muddy waters of the Severn Estuary drain away to reveal around 100 sq km of intertidal land, a complex mosaic of saltmarshes, mudflats, sandbanks, and rocky foreshore.
Across the saltmarsh, Peterstone and Wentlogge Marshes.
These habitats are home to a wide range of plants and animals, some of which are found nowhere else. Many are specially adapted to live in the harsh intertidal zone, with its widely fluctuating temperatures and salinity. Together they create an ecosystem as rich and varied as any tropical rainforest.
Sometimes difficult or dangerous to access, and revealed for only a short period each day, the intertidal zone, the land exposed between high and low tides, can be difficult to get to know, but it is every bit as diverse and fascinating as any terrestrial habitat.
The aim of this project is to raise awareness, understanding and appreciation of the Severn Estuary’s vast intertidal zone that borders the Gwent Levels, and help to rekindle connections between land and sea.
So put on your boots, grab a coat, and join us as we explore the land beyond the seawall.
Watch Ed Drewitt’s introduction to Beyond the Seawall:
Beyond the Seawall is is funded by Welsh Government’s Local Places for Nature: Marine and Coastal Capacity Scheme, administered by WCVA.
