Fylde Saltmarsh Project celebrates top national prize at Biodiversity Challenge Awards
“The saltmarsh at Fairhaven shows how we can protect our coastline while creating a wilder, richer home for local wildlife”
Fylde’s coastline has been recognised as being among the best in the country for nature, after the Fylde Saltmarsh Project won a national award at the CIRIA Biodiversity Challenge Awards 2026.
The win celebrates the work to restore the saltmarsh at Fairhaven after the new sea wall was built.
The project used innovative nature-based techniques to strengthen the unique habitat there, so it can help protect the coast from the sea while giving birds, plants and wildlife a richer place to live.
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The project has explored installing sediment traps made from biodegradable potato starch and using plants grown in a nearby nursery, measures intended to repair damaged areas of saltmarsh, rather than extend it into new areas.
Local people have been at the heart of this success, with residents getting hands-on through citizen science sessions, helping to monitor and care for the saltmarsh and building real pride in the stretch of coast.
The awards recognise projects that go above and beyond to put nature first, and the win places Fylde alongside the country’s leading examples of coastal protection.
Guests at the ceremony also watched a short film about the project, which can now be seen on Fylde Council and CIRIA’s digital platforms.
Lisa Foden, Head of Parks and Coastal Services at Fylde Council, said: “Winning this national award is fantastic news for Fylde.
“The saltmarsh at Fairhaven shows how we can protect our coastline while creating a wilder, richer home for local wildlife.
“It’s a real credit to everyone involved, especially the residents who’ve given their time to our citizen science programme. We’re incredibly proud.”
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Ellie Brown, Our Future Coast Programme Manager, added: “This win is richly deserved, with this project a shining example of collaborative working.
“The dedication of officers and volunteers is phenomenal, and their collective efforts have delivered outstanding outcomes for both nature recovery and the local community.”
The saltmarsh project sits within a wider approach to coastal management, alongside initiatives such as the Fylde Sand Dune project.
Each stretch of coast is managed in a way tailored to its ecological and amenity priorities, balancing the needs of wildlife with how people use and enjoy the area.
The project is part of Our Future Coast, funded by Defra through the £200m Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes, managed by the Environment Agency.