Good news! Our nearest pub is open again! Now before you accuse me of alcoholic tendencies, this is not just good for those needing refreshment, but also a recognition of the value of the Wild Coast Project to the local economy. When a rural pub closes these days it usually stays closed, and the next thing you see is a planning application notice for housing development. This week I had a visit from Steve, the new landlord of the Creeksea Ferry Inn, who has relieved my 'lottery list' ( businesses I want to set up when I win the lottery!!) of at least one local business that will benefit from the development of a new nature reserve on its doorstep.
But Steve is not the only sharp business man or woman in the area. We recently invited our nearest hospitality traders on a tour of the project site - though alas my catering wasn't a patch on theirs! We now recommend various friendly local businesses to our visitors - you can get a very nice bed and board for the night at the Cherry Tree Inn in Stambridge, camp at the Riverside Village Holiday Park, sample a pint at the Anchor in Canewdon, or grab a great breakfast at the Essex Marina - oh and for all sorts of supplies for the day call with Mark in the Canewdon Costcutter. For a longer stay 'across the ditch' in Burnham, why not rent one of 'The Thatched Cottages' to explore the wider area, then visit Wallasea Island on the Lady Essex Ferry.
Green Tourism is the new black. According to recent surveys, Environment related activities in the UK (broadly defined as those depending directly or indirectly on the quality of the natural environment) are estimated to support around 500,000 jobs and £18.6 billion of GDP.RSPB reserves support economic development in a variety of ways:• They provide direct employment for staff involved in reserve management and associated activities;• Spending by employees supports local economic activity,• In the same way spending by volunteers also supports local economies;• Direct expenditure by reserves on goods and services provides income and employment for local firms and the use of commercial contractors also provides additional employment and income for local businesses;• Grazing lets and agricultural tenancies provide additional income and employment for local farmers;• Visitors to reserves spend money in the local economy;
Nature conservation is a growth sector, unlike agriculture and forestry, both of which have shed large numbers of jobs in the last decade. Nature conservation helps to support a significant proportion of the rural tourism market, worth £12 billion per year in England alone. RSPB surveys of established reserves show that spending by visitors’ benefits a wide range of enterprises in the local area, from hotels and campsites to attractions, cafes, local transport, shops and other local businesses, resulting in additional business turnover.
Visit Essex, our local tourism authority, have recently launched part of Essex as 'The Discovery Coast' - of which Wallasea Island's Wild Coast hopes to play a significant part in the future growth of tourism in the county. I think if I don't win the lottery soon, there'll be other entrepreneurs cashing in - so keep your fingers crossed for me on Saturday night!
I've gone wild on Wallasea!