For a long time now we've been waiting for some visible evidence of construction on our island. Not something most people would hanker after, I guess, but for us it means that 'Europe's largest intertidal habitat creation project' is finally underway! So it is with glee that I can now upload this picture...
This large, Neolithic-looking structure that has risen from the marshes, but looks like it has come from the Planet Zanussi, is actually the foundations for a large spreader arm. Two floating pontoons, currently named Crossrail Marsh Harrier and Crossrail Avocet for shipping purposes, are being fitted out in Tilbury docks over the winter and will be tugged round to the north-eastern part of the Wallasea coast next Spring. Ships bringing excavated material, initially from London's Crossrail tunnels, will unload here and this matter will travel along a conveyor belt also still to be constructed, across the developing Allfleet's Marsh to the spreader arm, to be piled in a handling area. From here the earth, with which our marshland landscape will be formed, will be distributed to certain areas of the island.
Over the coming months other areas will slowly be developed,including a dog-walking area; a bigger car park, events area and a saline lagoon so you are welcome to come along for a seawall walk and witness for yourselves the development of different areas and creation of our wonderful new nature reserve. Our popular guided walks Wallasea Wanders will run again during October and November,led by some of our volunteers. These walks are free, but booking is essential - and book early as they book up fast!
I've gone wild on Wallasea!
"Wallasea Henge emerges from the Marsh" And then promptly sinks back into it again!! I don't fancy having to pull those puppies back out again when the time comes!! In thousands of years archaeologists will be marvelling about this silicon age structure and its ritual role in our society and how we came here to worship our ancestors!! Well done all the staff at RSPB Wallasea Island, the mystery of Stonehenge is solved, it's all that remains of the Salisbury Plain managed realignment project!! How cool is that?
Growing up, my Mum always claimed to feel bad when a bird would slam head-first into our living room window. If she "really" felt bad, though, she'd have moved the bird feeder outside.