Medmerry

Medmerry
Name	Medmerry
Country	England
Region	South East England
County	West Sussex
District	Chichester
Coordinates	50.834°N 0.782°W

Medmerry Medmerry is a coastal area on the south coast of England within the civil parishes of Selsey and Sidlesham in West Sussex. The site lies on the southern edge of the Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and near the Solent and English Channel, forming part of the complex coastal landscape alongside Pagham Harbour and the River Ems. The area has been notable for a major managed realignment scheme that combined coastal engineering, habitat creation, and flood-risk management.

Introduction

Medmerry sits between the settlements of Selsey and Chichester and adjacent to transport corridors including the A27 road and local rail links toward Chichester railway station. The location is linked historically and operationally to regional bodies such as the Environment Agency, West Sussex County Council, and conservation organisations including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Sussex Wildlife Trust. Its landscape is shaped by interactions with neighbouring features like Pagham Harbour Nature Reserve, the South Downs National Park, and maritime routes used by shipping to Portsmouth and Brighton and Hove.

History

The Medmerry area has a recorded history tied to coastal settlement patterns of Selsey Bill and medieval land use under the influence of historic estates and parishes like Sidlesham Manor. In the early modern period, local economy and land reclamation were affected by salt-working and agricultural practices common to Sussex coastal communities. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, maritime hazards and storm surges that impacted nearby ports such as Chichester Harbour and Portsmouth Harbour highlighted the vulnerability of low-lying farmland, prompting involvement from governmental entities including the Ministry of Agriculture and regional authorities. By the late 20th century, increasing concerns about coastal erosion and flood risk paralleled national dialogues involving the Environment Agency and policy frameworks influenced by legislation such as the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

Medmerry Managed Realignment Project

The managed realignment at Medmerry was developed as a collaboration among the Environment Agency, West Sussex County Council, the European Union funding mechanisms, and local stakeholders including parish councils and landowners. The scheme replaced hard sea defences with a new earth embankment and a breached frontage to allow tidal inundation, an approach informed by precedents such as schemes at Humber Estuary and Thames Estuary pilot projects. Engineering partners and consultants working on the design drew on standards used in projects overseen by bodies like the Institution of Civil Engineers and lessons from Defra coastal policy guidance. Construction contractors implemented habitat creation, monitoring stations, and visitor infrastructure while compliance and oversight involved the Environment Agency and statutory consultees including Natural England and the Marine Management Organisation.

Ecology and Wildlife

The conversion of reclaimed farmland to intertidal habitat created saline lagoons, saltmarsh, and mudflat mosaics that now support bird assemblages characteristic of sites such as Pagham Harbour, RSPB Snettisham, and Titchfield Haven. Bird species recorded include migratory and overwintering populations akin to those found near Chichester Harbour and The Ouse Estuary, with assemblages comparable to monitoring at Humber Flats and recording practices used by organisations such as the British Trust for Ornithology and BirdLife International partners. Marine and estuarine fauna, monitored by academic institutions linked to University of Portsmouth and University of Brighton, include invertebrate communities important for waders and waterfowl, while plant communities mirror coastal saline specialists found across Sussex Heritage Coast sites. Conservation management coordinates with NGOs such as the Sussex Wildlife Trust, research programmes funded by Natural England, and volunteer groups associated with local parish conservation initiatives.

Recreation and Tourism

Medmerry contributes to regional tourism alongside attractions like Chichester Cathedral, the South Downs Way, and seaside resorts at Bognor Regis and Worthing. Amenities cater to birdwatchers who follow routes similar to trails at Pagham Harbour Nature Reserve and visitors accessing viewpoints used in regional guides produced by organisations such as VisitEngland and local tourism partnerships. Cycle routes and walking trails interconnect with long-distance corridors including the Selsey Tramway heritage alignments and parts of the National Cycle Network managed by Sustrans. Proximity to marinas serving Chichester Harbour and boating facilities used by sailors bound for Portsmouth Harbour supports recreational boating and wildlife tourism.

Flood Management and Coastal Defence

The Medmerry scheme is an exemplar of contemporary coastal defence strategy, replacing traditional seawalls with managed realignment to reduce long-term maintenance liabilities faced by authorities like West Sussex County Council and the Environment Agency. The project integrates flood-risk assessment methodologies used in national programmes overseen by Defra and applied in estuarine contexts such as the Thames Barrier planning discussions. Adaptive management arrangements incorporate monitoring protocols aligned with standards from the Flood Defence Association and engineering guidance from the Institution of Civil Engineers. The scheme's outcomes inform policy debates in forums attended by representatives from Local Government Association and national advisory panels.

Access and Facilities

Public access is provided via car parks and footpaths linked to nearby villages such as Sidlesham, with signage and interpretation developed in collaboration with local parish councils and conservation bodies including the RSPB and Sussex Wildlife Trust. Facilities support bird hides, viewing platforms, and waymarked trails similar to those at regional reserves like Pagham Harbour Nature Reserve and are promoted through networks involving Visit Chichester and county-level tourist information centres. Transport accessibility connects to the A27 road and local bus services serving Selsey and Chichester, with cycle access promoted by Sustrans routes and volunteer-led guided walks organised by community groups.

Category:Geography of West Sussex