Our Approach to Management
To protect and enhance Sefton Coast, we follow a set of guiding principles that embrace natural processes, community involvement, and adaptive planning. These principles ensure a sustainable future for nature, people, and the economy
Local Nature Recovery Strategy
The Sefton Coast Nature Conservation Strategy (NCS) guides the conservation and responsible enjoyment of our unique coastal and estuarine habitats. It aligns closely with the Liverpool City Region Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) and supports delivery through targeted, practical actions.
This Strategy has a key role in LNRS delivery and those coastal priorities include:
Sensitively managed, interconnected, and dynamic coastal habitats
Promoting natural processes, varied and biodiverse habitats, and a resilient coastal landscape.
Appropriate management of coastal and estuarine recreation
Ensuring people can enjoy the coast while protecting sensitive wildlife and habitats.
Improved water quality in marine, estuarine, and intertidal areas
Reducing pollutants and supporting healthy ecosystems.
High-quality estuarine and intertidal habitats
With functionally linked land in good condition to sustain species and ecological connectivity..
| LNRS Ref | Action |
|---|---|
| Wetlands & Water Quality | |
| 1a | Creation of reedbeds, wet woodland, coastal and floodplain grazing marsh, and other wetlands to promote natural processes |
| 1b | Creation of settlement ponds, reedbeds and tree or shrub barriers in areas with high pollutants and run-off to improve water quality |
| 1c | Restoration of natural floodplains, reedbeds, wet woodland, coastal and floodplain grazing marsh, other wetland habitats and river morphology to promote natural processes |
| Dune & Coastal Processes | |
| 5a | Further creation of notches along suitable dune habitats |
| 5c | Maintenance and improvement of the mosaic of coastal habitats along the coastline |
| 5d | Co-ordinated grazing across the coast to ensure habitats are correctly managed and stocked with the appropriate levels of livestock |
| Birds & Recreation Management | |
| 5b | Safeguarding and conservation of important breeding and roosting bird populations |
| 6a | Creation and improvement of suitable alternative natural greenspaces to the coast |
| 6b | Implementation of disturbance mitigation measures including any set out in future local mitigation strategies |
| Intertidal & Estuarine Habitats | |
| 8a | Expansion and creation of saltmarsh and other intertidal habitats |
| 8b | Management of salt marsh and other intertidal habitats |
| 8f | Allow natural regeneration of salt marsh and other important intertidal habitats where they start to develop and mitigate external pressures where they occur |
| 8g | Seagrass habitat restoration and reintroduction where appropriate |
| Infrastructure & Marine Debris | |
| 8c | Creation of artificial habitats on hard engineering and infrastructure to create more habitat for estuarine and coastal species |
| 8d | Removal of abandoned boats along coastal areas of the region |
| Functionally Linked Land | |
| 8e | Sensitive long-term management of functionally linked land – maintaining open grassland and farmland with areas of standing water, with minimal disturbance in the winter |