Hampshire beach built up for the return of little terns

The number of little terns pairs nesting on the south coast has dropped by more two thirds

About 500 tonnes of aggregate has been delivered to a Hampshire beach to build up the coastline ready for the return of one of the nation's rarest birds.

The beach at South Binness Island has been replenished to protect little terns' nesting areas from flooding.

It is part of a three-year conservation project which includes creating extra nesting habitats in the area.

It is hoped that raising the height of the beach will help prevent nests from being washed out by higher tides.

'Massive contribution'

The number of little terns pairs nesting on the south coast has dropped by more two thirds since the 1980s.

About 117 pairs now nest in the area and more than half of those breed at the beach in Langstone Harbour compared to about 350 pairs 30 years ago.

Wez Smith, RSPB Langstone Harbour site manager, said the beach would now offer an "attractive and safe" nesting area for the area's little tern population during the breeding season.

He added: "Sea level rise will be a real problem for little terns in years to come and protecting the significant Langstone Harbour population will make a massive contribution to sustaining their nationally declining population."

The project is funded by the European Union Interreg, Heritage Lottery Fund and Veolia Environmental Trust.