Restoring Budle Bay in Northumberland: An EU LIFE WADER Project Film

Budle Bay is one of Northumberland’s most iconic coastal landscapes — but in recent years, rising levels of macroalgae have begun to smother its mudflats and threaten the wildlife that depends on them.
This short film follows the LIFE WADER team and partners as they trial an innovative, low-impact method to remove tonnes of macroalgae from the bay. The aim: to restore feeding space for internationally important bird species, improve the condition of the estuary, and build resilience for the future.
Filmed on location at Budle Bay and the wider Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve, the story highlights:
• How excess macroalgae affects coastal ecosystems
• Why Budle Bay is so important for waders and wildfowl
• The specialist methods used to remove and manage algae
• Insights from Natural England staff, project partners and local experts
• What this pilot means for the long-term restoration of the bay
This work forms part of the LIFE WADER Project, a major EU-funded partnership effort improving the condition of the river, intertidal and marine habitats including species habitat across the Northumberland coast.
If you enjoyed the film or want to follow more restoration updates, visit our website https://lifewader.co.uk/