Accelerating Action on Estuary Flood Defences
A pragmatic approach to protect the Alde and Ore while long-term funding continues
April 2026
Dear friends,
In recent months The Alde & Ore Estuary Trust has been challenging the Environment Agency (EA), alongside the local community, to find a faster route to strengthening our river defences from the real threat of flooding.
The Trust is committed to strengthening defences for the whole estuary, sufficient to withstand future surges. But significant cost increases mean we cannot currently fund the approved estuary plan in its entirety. And work to the upper estuary flood cells will not be approved in more affordable phases because of the increased risk of flood transference from one flood cell to another without funds to complete all upper estuary flood cells.
Frustrated by the delays while costs rise, the Trustees, alongside the Alde & Ore Community Partnership (AOCP), have been working with the EA to find a way round these challenges. We need action to halt further erosion of existing defences, while also strengthening defences for the future.
The short-term solution we have agreed is to access new powers which have been granted to the EA, which will allow them to approve plans where there is most urgent need and accelerate works. This approach is dependent on the support of the Trust.
As Trustees, we believe this is a pragmatic short-term solution while we continue to raise the funds for the whole estuary. Making the walls more resilient to overtopping is vital. Meanwhile, breaches of the existing walls are difficult and costly to repair. This approach is likely to be the fastest way to address the most immediate challenges.
We will be working in close collaboration with the EA and the AOCP. We expect to see a detailed short-term plan and imminent works. The East Suffolk Water Management Board (ESWMB) will be sending out a newsletter in a few weeks.
Thursday 23rd April, 5.30pm
Old Generator Station, Aldeburgh
If you are a member of the Alde and Ore Association, the ESWMB will be discussing their new plan on next Thursday at 5.30pm, at the Old Generator Station following their Annual General Meeting.
More information can be found on their website here.
We would like to thank all of the generous donors to The Alde & Ore Estuary Trust, who are making it possible for us to keep pushing for the upgraded river defences we need across the whole estuary, to ensure the enduring protection for future generations.
The Alde & Ore Estuary Trust
21st April - World Curlew Day
The Eurasian Curlew, Numenius Arquata, is the UK’s largest wading bird, with a wingspan of 90cm. Recognisable by their dappled brown and grey feathers and long bluish legs. The genus ‘Numemius’ or new moon, refers to their distinctive long down-curved bill. Collectively they are known as a curfew, salon or skein of curlews.
Curlews are on The European Red List of Birds. Numbers have decreased by 60% across England and Scotland since the 1980s. This is partly due to intensive farming practices destroying their breeding habitats. Their main predator is the fox who steal their eggs, chicks and even adult birds.
Breeding from April to July on wet grasslands, heaths, moors and farmland, and spending July to February in coastal areas and estuaries wading for worms, shrimp and shellfish. The Alde and Ore, rich with diverse habitats, hosts curlews year round.
