RSPB Wallasea Island Wild Coast Project
Chris Baker has been working on Europe's largest conservation project at Wallasea Island on behalf of the RSPB
At the end of June, Chris Baker spent a week working on Wallasea Island as part of one of Europe's largest conservation projects. With the RSPB Rotary Ditcher and Challenger tractor loaded up onto a transport lorry, Chris headed off to begin creating a series of shallow ditches on Wallasea Island in Essex. The island is currently arable land which is surrounded by a sea wall along the tidal River Crouch. Using soil taken from the London Underground extension works, the rotary ditcher has been creating a series of shallow ditches to extend the natural mudflats and salt marshes by encouraging water flow through the area.
On July 11th the sea wall was breached to allow the tidal River Crouch to move into the newly created mudflats and fill the shallow ditches with water to create the wetland habitat. This was the first time in over 400 years! In total, the RSPB plans to create a 10,000ha salt marsh reserve to help combat threats posed by climate change and coastal flooding, whilst providing the ideal breeding and nesting ground for important wildlife.
Aerial view of Wallasea Island