Photo 19 (Return)

Spartina dieback, Chidham peninsula, 2003. Frontal erosion by waves has caused near total loss of a once continuous margin of Spartina anglica marsh around the peninsular. Mudflats have replaced the saltmarsh as it eroded forming a surface some 0.5 to 1.0m lower than the former marsh allowing increased wave action at the shoreline. Note the hummocky mud mounds, indicative of the erosion and lowering of the accumulated marsh sediments following dieback of the binding Spartina