In a bold and controversial move, a large tract of farmland on the Somerset coast was intentionally flooded in 2014 as part of a £20 million project aimed at addressing rising sea levels and the increased risk of extreme weather events in the UK.

While some local lawmakers labelled it a "ridiculous" scheme, the long-term effects of the initiative have proven to be transformative, offering a model for how other vulnerable coastal regions might adapt to the impacts of climate change.

The UK has been no stranger to rainfall, but recent years have seen increasingly intense and frequent downpours.

In fact, from late 2022 through early 2024, the country experienced its wettest recorded period, with fields submerged, homes ruined, and villages cut off by floodwaters. With sea levels rising and traditional flood defences struggling to cope, a more innovative approach was needed, and one group of scientists, engineers, and conservationists saw a solution: not to fight the sea but to surrender land back to it.

On the Steart Peninsula, in southwestern England, this strategy was put into action.

The project team allowed tidal waters to flood the area for the first time in centuries, effectively converting the farmland into salt marsh—a natural ecosystem capable of absorbing water, protecting the inland from flooding, and providing a habitat for wildlife.

While this radical idea initially faced fierce opposition, particularly from local farmers and lawmakers, a decade later, its success is hard to dispute.

Restoring Salt Marshes: Reversing Overdevelopment

In the mid-2010s, salt marsh restoration seemed like an alien concept to many in Somerset.

The transformation required the removal of hedges, ditches, and fences, as well as half a million cubic meters of soil to create new creek systems designed to allow water to flow freely across the land. At first glance, the Steart Peninsula resembled a barren moonscape rather than a revitalised ecosystem.

The restoration project, spearheaded by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and the Environment Agency, aimed to bring back an ancient ecosystem.

Salt marshes, historically used for salt production and animal grazing during the Roman period, have been greatly reduced in the UK over the centuries. Overdevelopment saw vast tracts of marshland drained and repurposed for agriculture, housing, and industry. Since 1860, Britain has lost 85% of its salt marshes, a staggering reduction with severe environmental consequences.

By 2014, the decision was made to allow the sea to reclaim the Steart Peninsula. As the tides were permitted to flood the area, an intricate system of channels allowed water to flow through the land, depositing fine mud and silt to form salt marshes once again. This was not without its detractors.

Local lawmaker Ian Liddell-Grainger famously criticised the plan as an “extravagant, ridiculous scheme,” expressing concerns about the environmental and economic costs of surrendering valuable farmland to the sea.

Unlikely Success: A Win for Nature and Local Communities

Despite early criticism, the project at Steart has proved remarkably effective in several ways.

One of the most striking outcomes has been its role in flood prevention. By acting as a natural buffer, the salt marsh absorbs tidal water and slows its movement, preventing it from reaching inland areas. Even during the wettest winter on record, local villages were protected from flooding, and the marshland pathways remained passable. The new flood defenses, which include a grass-covered bank that is much higher than the old flood walls, have significantly reduced the risk of catastrophic flooding.

The restoration of the salt marsh has also had a positive impact on local wildlife.

The marshes have become a haven for birds, with species such as godwits, plovers, and oystercatchers now thriving in the wetland ecosystem. Black-and-white avocets, with their distinctive, curling beaks, have also made a strong return to the area. The increased biodiversity has brought a sense of pride to the local community, many of whom were initially opposed to the project.

Local farmers too, have found new opportunities in the restored marshlands.

Andy Darch, a former poultry farmer, now grazes his cattle on the marsh, where the animals benefit from a varied and organic diet. Darch explains that the cows, who are managed with digital collars instead of traditional fences, provide high-quality, free-range meat.

Additionally, their grazing habits support the marshland’s ecosystem by allowing different types of grasses to grow, which in turn provides more shelter and food for wildlife.

Salt Marshes as Carbon Sponges

One of the most promising aspects of the Steart project has been its role in addressing climate change.

Salt marshes, as it turns out, are exceptional at sequestering carbon. The plants that grow in the marsh pull carbon from the atmosphere, while the anaerobic soils trap carbon in the sediment left behind by retreating tides, preventing it from breaking down for centuries.

Ten years into the project, data shows that the salt marsh at Steart is capturing an impressive 19 tons of carbon per hectare annually. To put this into perspective, that is the equivalent of charging 15 trillion mobile phones or heating 33,000 homes.

However, even with this impressive rate of carbon capture, it is clear that salt marshes alone cannot solve the UK’s emissions problem. Britain’s total emissions are approximately 58 million tons per year, and the country’s salt marshes collectively capture only about 46,500 tons annually.

While carbon sequestration is an important benefit of salt marsh restoration, it is not the primary rationale for these projects. Experts like Dr. Craig Smeaton from the University of St. Andrews argue that the greatest benefits of salt marshes are in flood prevention and wildlife conservation. However, the international interest in projects like Steart suggests that salt marsh restoration may play a more significant role in global climate strategies, particularly in regions like North America and Australia where marshes capture far more carbon.

The Future of Salt Marsh Restoration

The Steart Peninsula project has drawn attention from around the world.

Conservationists and policymakers from Canada, South Korea, and the Netherlands have visited the site to learn from its success. The lessons from Steart are clear: returning land to nature can offer significant benefits, both in terms of flood prevention and ecological restoration.

While some might describe Steart as a “rewilding” project, site manager Alys Laver prefers to think of it as a partnership between humans and nature.

The landscape, though shaped by natural forces, has been carefully designed and maintained by human hands. The salt marsh, while ancient in its origins, represents a modern solution to the challenges posed by climate change.

The success of Steart offers hope that other coastal regions around the world might adopt similar strategies to manage rising sea levels and extreme weather events.

By working with nature rather than against it, we can create resilient ecosystems that protect both the environment and the communities that depend on it.