Wallasea Island
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wallasea Island lies in Essex, England. It is bounded to the north by the River Crouch, to the south east by the River Roach, and to the west by Paglesham Pool and the narrow Paglesham Creek.
Much of the island is farmland, devoted to wheat. A small settlement at its western end is linked by road to the mainland and is home to a campsite and marina. It is linked by a ferry to Burnham-on-Crouch.
[edit] Wallasea Wetlands
- Main article: Wallasea Wetlands
On July 4, 2006, a £7.5 million project to return part of the island to its original salt marsh was completed by bulldozing 300m of the sea defence wall, at the points of maximum pressure on the estuary. An area of 115 hectares was reflooded, which will naturally evolve into wetland, mudflats, saline lagoons and seven artificial islands. The wetlands provide winter grounds for wading birds, and ease flood problems on the River Crouch.
[edit] References
- BBC News: "New £5m haven for wading birds" 4 March 2004
- BBC News: "Farmland becomes wildlife habitat" 19 March 2005
- BBC News: "Huge marine wetland starts life" 4 July 2006
- BBC News: "Farmland yields to major wetland" 7 October 2007