Innovative Panels Installed in Whitby to Revitalise River Esk Biodiversity

An innovative project aimed at transforming man-made structures into vibrant marine habitats has seen the installation of beautifully textured and sculptural concrete panels in Whitby this week.

The scheme, championed by Groundwork NE & Cumbria, is focused on boosting biodiversity in the River Esk estuary.

An area of 25 square metres of these special panels has been fixed to the inter-tidal zone on the slipway at Whitehall Landing. Crafted by hand, partly with the help of local people, the panels are designed to replicate a kind of rock pool habitat, intermingled with deeper pools.

The initiative addresses the issue of intertidal habitats lost over time due to the construction of man-made structures like quays and marinas. The new panels are intended to transform the sheer, man-made concrete sea wall and slipway into new habitats that can be colonised by seaweeds, whelks, winkles, and other marine creatures.

Helen Hornby, Nature-based solutions lead at Groundwork NE & Cumbria, explains the purpose of the panels.

"We've installed. 25 square meters worth of these lovely textured tiles  intermingled with deeper pools. So they're to replicate a kind of rock pool habitat. And they're  spread out a, along the slipway there, so it looks really pretty as well. 

And then eventually it will green up with seaweeds and algae, and then that will provide food for, your Periwinkles and other, Whelks and that kind of thing. And that will be food , throughout the food chain. So . It's quite a simple, solution and one, which we just hope it'll bring a little bit of wildlife back into the Esk, which has got a lot of, man-made engineered walls."

This collaboration brings together three of the UK’s top marine eco-engineering experts Artecology, Cubex and Littorina. The team say that the  installation in Whitby represents a fusion of "cutting-edge science, engineering, craft, innovation, and community involvement".

Helen Hornby says that the project's sculptural forms are "like works of art" and adds that the panels are expected to "green up" over time, Helen says that while they currently resemble a "nice sort of art installation", the expectation is that over the summer season they will become less visible.

"The idea is that they will green up.  But these things can take a little while to colonize.

Certainly, we'd expect over the summer season for them to be bedded in and starting to get covered by, the algae and the seaweed. So maybe this time next year. You might not be able to see as much of the  supporting structures that are there now.

But in the meantime, yeah, they look like a nice sort of art installation as opposed to an ecological sort of habitat.

 The tide will obviously come in twice a day and cover them over completely.

And then as it ebbs away, the rock pools, the sort of structures that act as rock pools will fill up with water and retain the water .

You're best off heading down there, low tide if you wanted to go and have a little look at them."

The project is described by Nigel George, Director of Artecology, as "truly groundbreaking" and what he believes is "the most structurally complex artificial intertidal habitat ever created". He noted Groundwork NE & Cumbria's "dynamic role", including delivering workshops that involved the public.

Community involvement has been a crucial element, with local people helping to create sculptural bio-receptive elements through clay workshops held in Whitby. Participants will see their creations included in the installed panels, which will remain and provide a home for wildlife for years to come. Helen Hornby explained that involving the community was key in explaining the challenges facing the River Esk estuary and expressed her hope that it will foster a "deep, personal connection" to the project.

The scheme has been funded by the Environment Agency, with support from the Whitehall Management Company, North Yorkshire Council, and Whitby Harbour Master. 

Groundwork NE & Cumbria, a community charity operating across the region, focuses on positive, sustainable change in areas of need and developing pioneering solutions for heavily modified rivers and estuaries.