The RSPB has launched an urgent appeal to help defend an important nature reserve on the West Norfolk coast from coastal erosion.
RSPB Titchwell Marsh is home to a host of rare and threatened wildlife, attracted to the reserve for its combination of freshwater and saltwater habitats which offer vital feeding and breeding grounds.
Avocets, oystercatchers, redshank, bitterns, bearded tits and flocks of wintering wildfowl can be seen, making it one of Norfolk’s most popular spots for wildlife – but now the site is under threat and in “a race against time”.
Titchwell Marsh is at risk due to coastal erosion
The banks of an intertidal saltmarsh at the nature reserve, known as Volunteer Marsh, which provide a natural barrier protecting freshwater habitats from the sea, are rapidly eroding – and work to protect it needs to be completed by early spring.
Thanks to generous philanthropic support, the RSPB raised £100,000 in autumn 2025 to kick-start this work in early 2026.
However, to secure the future of the saltmarsh and, in turn, the freshwater areas at RSPB Titchwell Marsh adjacent to Volunteer Marsh, the charity says it needs to urgently raise £10,000 more to complete the work.
This is due to the project facing several “unavoidable costly delays” due to heavy rain and flooding that has impacted contingency funds.
Hayley Roan, nature reserve manager, said: “Despite careful planning, heavy rain and flooding have caused major delays, forcing us to rebuild access to Volunteer Marsh and restart parts of the work.
“These setbacks have very nearly exhausted contingency funds, so additional donations are urgently needed to complete the project. We’re racing against the clock to complete the work before spring – a crucial time when protected birds arrive and start nesting on the marsh.
“The banks surrounding the marsh and protecting our freshwater habitats also cannot withstand many more spring tides so the work needs to be completed now.”
Ms Roan added: “People travel from across the country to experience the incredible birdlife at RSPB Titchwell Marsh.
“Every donation we receive will help secure the future of this amazing area for the birds and other wildlife that depends on it, as well as securing its future for the people who enjoy this iconic part of Norfolk.”
Volunteer Marsh was created to act as a buffer between the North Sea and Titchwell’s freshwater area, slowly filling with seawater during high tides via a purpose-made breach on one of the sea-facing walls.
Instead of the hoped-for building up of sediment within the marsh, the existing channels within the marsh have deepened and sediment is being lost.
Sides of the creeks, made steeper by the erosion, are collapsing, and severe erosion of the protective bank and other surrounding walls is occurring.
To correct these issues and ensure the future of the site, funds from the appeal will be used to partially fill the breach, install pipes to regulate how much seawater flows in and out of Volunteer Marsh on each tide, and lower and reinforce a section of bank to create a spillway – a deliberately lowered section.
On the biggest spring tides, water will flow over this lowered section rather than building pressure elsewhere. This allows water levels to rise evenly, reduces stress on sea walls and helps prevent water coming over the top in vulnerable places.
These interventions will gradually create a stable saline lagoon with open water, channels for water to flow around the marsh, islands and muddy margins – ideal habitat for fish, invertebrates and feeding and nesting birds including spoonbills, great egrets, avocets and common terns.
Once complete, as natural coastal processes continue over time, the area will develop back into productive saltmarsh as the coastline continues to shift.
To make a donation to the appeal, visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/volunteermarsh
If you would like to discuss donating £500 or more to this appeal, you can contact the RSPB philanthropy team on philanthropy@rspb.org.uk