Lowestoft Marine Parade Beach Photos

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South Beach. Lowestoft

Two giant new artificial nesting structures for "vulnerable seabirds", a "first of its kind" project in Lowestoft. The industry first works were carried out as part of a compensation scheme associated with the Hornsea Three wind farm - which will comprise up to 231 offshore wind turbines about 120km off the Norfolk coast and is expected to be commissioned in 2027.
Ørsted commissioned three nearshore artificial nesting structures (ANS) specially designed to house black-legged kittiwakes off the East Suffolk coastline. Two new structures have been built "one kilometre from the shoreline of South Beach in Lowestoft", between the town's two piers, and one close to the Minsmere Nature Reserve.
With the innovative designs developed by a team of ornithologists, architects, ecologists and engineers, the structures have narrow ledges and vertical sides to mimic the cliffs on which the kittiwakes normally nest. Each ANS comprises an octagonal topside with capacity for around 500 breeding pairs of kittiwake supported above the water on a single monopile. Individual nesting spaces are fitted with a sliding Perspex panel which will allow researchers to view the kittiwake from inside the structures without the birds being able to see them. Two cameras have been installed on each ANS, with Ørsted continuing to monitor the existing colonies in Lowestoft and Sizewell for the lifetime of the ANS.