Mersea Flats

Coastal Marsh, Saltings in Essex Colchester

England

Mersea Flats

St. Edmund Church, East Mersea <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Mersea" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Mersea">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> — St. Edmund Church, East Mersea Credit: PAUL FARMER

Mersea Flats, located in Essex, England, is a stunning coastal marsh and saltings area that spans across a vast expanse of approximately 7,000 acres. Positioned on the eastern side of Mersea Island, this area is renowned for its exceptional natural beauty and ecological significance.

The landscape of Mersea Flats is characterized by a mesmerizing combination of mudflats, saltmarshes, and tidal creeks. These diverse habitats provide a haven for a plethora of plant and animal species, making it a paradise for nature enthusiasts and wildlife enthusiasts alike. The marshes are particularly known for attracting a wide range of bird species, including wading birds, such as redshanks, lapwings, and avocets, as well as migratory birds like brent geese and curlews.

The tidal movements in the area are vital for the sustenance of the ecosystem, as the ebb and flow of the tides contribute to the formation of the saltmarshes. These marshes provide a natural defense against coastal erosion and act as a buffer zone, protecting the nearby settlements from the force of the sea.

Mersea Flats is also an important site for commercial activities, such as fishing and oyster farming. The nutrient-rich waters support a thriving oyster population, and the area is renowned for its succulent and flavorsome native oysters, which are highly sought after by seafood connoisseurs.

With its breathtaking vistas, abundant wildlife, and ecological significance, Mersea Flats is a true gem of the Essex coastline, attracting both locals and tourists who seek to immerse themselves in the beauty of nature and witness the wonders of this unique and vibrant ecosystem.

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Mersea Flats Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.783945/0.99040965 or Grid Reference TM0613. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

St. Edmund Church, East Mersea

Link

PAUL FARMER

East Mersea Rain Cloud

Rain was coming up in pulses from the south west and this black cloud, heavy with rain, crossed the estuary to land on Brightlingsea. The photo I think shows a nice contrast between the sandy beach and the dark cloud divided by the line of gorse.

John Kingdon

Sand Martin Holes

It has been a few years since I have seen any TM0614 : Sand Martins nesting in the cliffs at Cudmore Grove country park but 2001 seems to be a good year for them.

Glyn Baker

Sand Martins

There was quite a flock around these TM0614 : Sand Martin Holes

Glyn Baker

Something to Crow About?

Someone sorts out a new flag each year at East Mersea see TM0614 : Colne View and TM0614 : Moonscape and Mersea Mud

Glyn Baker

East Mersea Mudflats

Looking across the Colne Estuary towards Colne Point. A few feet from here I found a WW2 relic in the shape of a spent shell case of a 1/2 inch calibre machine gun round. Most probably it was left over from a gun test of a U.S bomber heading for a raid over Europe. However it didn't look like it had been washed by 48,000 tides. Doubtless it had been buried and had recently surfaced again. I got very muddy boots getting to this point!

Glyn Baker

Towards Bradwell

With the tide on the turn on East Mersea Flats you can see TM0008 : Bradwell Power Station on the horizon

Glyn Baker

Mudflats at East Mersea

The last of the mud about to be submerged under the returning tide.

Glyn Baker

Mudflats East Mersea

A typical scene of Mersea-on-Mud. Before it was subsumed into Colchester's administration Mersea's political body was Mersea Urban District council {M.U.D}!

Glyn Baker

Towards Sandy Point

Mud glorious mud on East Mersea Flats.

Glyn Baker

Low Tide on East Mersea Flats

It was a VERY muddy business getting to this point. However I have been playing on Mersea mud for a little shy of fifty years and know how to avoid ending up to my knees in the gloop! However my boots are still drying out.

Glyn Baker

Mersea Island

Mersea Island and Brightlingsea Reach at sunset as seen from Point Clear.

Martin Speck

Gravel strata in cliffs

Cliffs at Cudmore Grove Country Park, East Mersea. According to the Essex RIGS Group Link

:The cliffs at Cudmore Grove provide superb exposures of Thames/Medway gravels laid down during the Hoxnian interglacial stage when monkeys, bears and early man lived in Essex.

Roger Jones

Kites above the pillbox

Cudmore Grove is found at the eastern end of Mersea Island next to the Colne estuary. Essex County Council purchased Cudmore Grove, in 1974 to preserve a piece of Essex for people to enjoy. The Country Parks Rangers now manage the land for countryside recreation, wildlife and historical interest. For more information see Link

Roger Jones

Path behind the sea wall

Roger Jones

Borrow dyke

A borrow dyke is created when digging out soil alongside the sea defence and placing it along the edge of the tidal waterside to make the raised seawall known as a "dyke”. The void left by digging out the soil to make the defensive dyke is called a “borrow dyke”. Borrow dykes are often brackish with fresh water from the surrounding area mixing with seawater which seeps through the dyke.

Roger Jones