Fleet Point

The ditch encloses the Marsh Flats grazing area and lagoons - a major nesting area within the reserve

Western perimeter of Marsh Flats

Crouch seawall east of Burnham Wick sluice

Burnham-on-Crouch

Pannel's Brook and solar farm

The line of the former land drain can be seen. The RSPB is transforming Wallasea from an area of sterile arable to an invaluable diverse mixed wetland. Taken from the relatively new and seasonally open Pool Path.

The following adapted from the RSPB website Link "The reserve covers more than 740ha, with all of the arable farmland now transformed to saltmarsh, mudflats, lagoons and grazing marsh. There are six walking trails – Jubilee Marsh, Allfleets Marsh, Marsh Flats, South Trail, New Pool Trail and Beagle Trail, making over 15km of trail on the reserve. At the ends of Allfleets Marsh trail and Jubilee Marsh trail are two shelters providing a comfortable place to sit overlooking the river. To create this magical landscape of marshland, lagoons, ditches and sea, more than three million tonnes of earth was brought by boat from the tunnels and shafts created by the Crossrail scheme in London. This allowed us to raise the land above sea level and place the soil in a way that created a new 115-hectare intertidal area of saltmarsh, islands and mudflats (known as Jubilee Marsh). In addition, Crossrail helped us create saline lagoons, a creek network and grazing marsh. All of which means Wallasea Island is now a wildlife-rich habitat and a great place to visit. Wallasea Island sits within a Special Protection Area which covers the Crouch and Roach estuaries, and which is special for overwintering waders and wildfowl including Brent Geese. Our work here increases the habitat for these birds both whilst roosting and feeding, as well as creating new grassland areas (wet and dry). The intertidal areas have been designed with climate change in mind, with long shallow slopes from the new seawall providing space for the saltmarsh to creep up as sea levels rise."

The following adapted from the RSPB website Link "The reserve covers more than 740ha, with all of the arable farmland now transformed to saltmarsh, mudflats, lagoons and grazing marsh. There are six walking trails – Jubilee Marsh, Allfleets Marsh, Marsh Flats, South Trail, New Pool Trail and Beagle Trail, making over 15km of trail on the reserve. At the ends of Allfleets Marsh trail and Jubilee Marsh trail are two shelters providing a comfortable place to sit overlooking the river. To create this magical landscape of marshland, lagoons, ditches and sea, more than three million tonnes of earth was brought by boat from the tunnels and shafts created by the Crossrail scheme in London. This allowed us to raise the land above sea level and place the soil in a way that created a new 115-hectare intertidal area of saltmarsh, islands and mudflats (known as Jubilee Marsh). In addition, Crossrail helped us create saline lagoons, a creek network and grazing marsh. All of which means Wallasea Island is now a wildlife-rich habitat and a great place to visit. Wallasea Island sits within a Special Protection Area which covers the Crouch and Roach estuaries, and which is special for overwintering waders and wildfowl including Brent Geese. Our work here increases the habitat for these birds both whilst roosting and feeding, as well as creating new grassland areas (wet and dry). The intertidal areas have been designed with climate change in mind, with long shallow slopes from the new seawall providing space for the saltmarsh to creep up as sea levels rise."

Looking south, see also: TQ9693 : Jubilee Marsh Trail - RSPB Wallasea Island

Looking north, see also: TQ9793 : Jubilee Marsh Trail - RSPB Wallasea Island

Just out of Burnham-on-Crouch at Ringwood Bar walking along the coastal path one comes to the first of a series of abandoned rotting boat carcasses. It looked to me like the remains of a Viking longboat which it most certainly was not. Doubtless the wind here would once have propelled the boat along the river Crouch, now it propels the wind turbine, one of many, seen on the horizon. A changing face of industry.

Looking west at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club as the sun just dipped below the horizon. Although a cold day was coming to an end already the pubs in town were bustling as a Friday night was starting.

This houseboat moored on the River Crouch at Burnham on Crouch is called “Mulberry”. There is little doubt as to her origin. Her concrete hull is a survivor of the “Mulberry Harbour” brought back from Normandy after WW2..

View from footpath East of Burnham-On-Crouch with Wallasea Island in background.

The proverbial "road to nowhere". Off into the great white map space of Wallasea Island. TQ9494 : Road East from Grapnells - some time later

Sign on sluice. Dredger in background