ONE of the projects on which the organisation has worked is the creation of a network of saline lagoons at Greatham, south of Hartlepool.

The project, a partnership between English Nature, the Environment Agency and Inca, has led to the creation of one of the rarest types of habitats in the UK.

Saline lagoons contain water that is not fresh, but is less salty than seawater. Because of this, they are rare in the wild, occurring only behind shingle bars or spits along the coast.

Mature saline lagoons develop a specialist fauna and flora, including invertebrates that support the food chain, and have been designated a National Priority Habitat in the Government's UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

The project began in 1998 when Inca and English Nature, with support from Northumbrian Water, created a lagoon on ICI land at Greatham Creek.

Since then, more pools have been added to create a network, financed by English Nature, the Environment Agency and landfill tax funding. Additional siteworks were carried out without cost by Huntsman North Tees, which operates a plant nearby, and landowner INEOS Chlor Enterprises donated the site.

The project has included islands to attract nesting terns and waders and the spoil heap resulting from the excavation was re-seeded to create a grassland habitat for skylark, redshank and lapwing.

Geoff Barber, ecology manager with Inca, said: "Saline lagoons are an extremely rare habitat and recognised as internationally important for wildlife.

"This project is a truly exciting venture and has created a network of saline lagoons and interlinking waterways that will greatly enhance the wildlife nature conservation interest on the site."

Published: 30/03/2004