Titchwell Marsh, Nortb Norfolk

Question 1

List 4 species that are present at Titchwell Marsh

Answer 1

Breeding bittern
Marsh harrier
Breeding avocet
Overwintering birds

Question 2

What problem has long shore drift caused?

Answer 2

Erosion of the seaward side of the reserve

Question 3

When did long shore drift have a large effect on the marsh?

Answer 3

In the 1990s

Question 4

Where does long shore drift move sediment to?

Answer 4

Towards Scolt Head Island

Question 5

How many tourists visit the marsh each year?

Answer 5

90,000

Question 6

What coastal management strategy is being used to protect t the marsh?

Answer 6

Managed retreat

Question 7

What is managed retreat?

Answer 7

The abandonment of the current line of sea defences and then developing the exposed land so that it can be reclaimed naturally and act as a defence.

Question 8

How much of the Titchwell Marshes have been given up to protect the rest of the sanctuary?

Answer 8

Up to a third

Question 9

Why would salt water damage the reserve?

Answer 9

It is a freshwater habitat

Question 10

What are the species at the marsh like?

Answer 10

Rare

Question 11

How much did the RSPB spend on managed retreat and new sea walls?

Answer 11

£1.4m

Question 12

What type of land has the erosion of the coast put in danger?

Answer 12

Brackish marshes, freshwater marshes and reedbeds

Question 13

What are brackish marshes?

Answer 13

Salt marshland that is diluted with freshwater

Question 14

What could storm surges do at high tide?

Answer 14

Breach the current sea walls

Question 15

In 2008 how much of the salt marsh did the sea walls protect?

Answer 15

138 acres of the site

Question 16

How many acres of brackish marsh will return to salt marsh and mudflats exposed to the tide due to managed retreat?

Answer 16

27acres

Question 17

How long will this scheme protect the marshes for?

Answer 17

50 years

Question 18

When was the site made an SSSI?

Answer 18

1973

Question 19

What did the RSPB also intend to do in terms of protecting species?

Answer 19

Crate more island nesting sites for breeding avocets and more reedbeds for bitterns

Question 20

Where do breeding avocets nest?

Answer 20

In the freshwater part of the reserve

Question 21

What type of grass can be found on the mudflat and is a pioneer species?

Answer 21

Cordgrass

Question 22

Why is cordgrass not swept away by the tide?

Answer 22

It has long roots which trap and stabilise the mud

Question 23

How was the marsh created?

Answer 23

By building sea walls to enclose areas of grazing marshes and salt marches to form a range of different habitat types.

Question 24

What threat do rising sea levels pose for sea walls?

Answer 24

It increases the likelihood of the sea walls overtopping

Question 25

What is salt water inundation?

Answer 25

When salt water mixes with freshwater usually following flooding.

Question 26

What does salt water inundation harm?

Answer 26

Plants and animals that rely on freshwater to survive