RSPB's Wallasea Island Wild Coast Project
The Discovery Coast's wildest shores are closer than you'd think - and are to be found just north of Southend and to the south of Burnham-on-Crouch. Escape the traffic, the crowds and the landmarks of civilisation to a historic landscape of brown hares and sea lavender - Wallasea Island.
Over the next few years, the RSPB will be turning back the pages of time in a landmark conservation project on a scale never seen before, gradually returning the land to the mosaic of mudflats and saltmarsh not seen for hundreds of years on this island. This won't be just for wildlife - new paths will allow explorers to discover the coast for themselves, breath deeply of the sea air and listen to the whisper of tides and call of wild birds.
Throughout the development of this exciting new nature reserve, we will run special events and activities, which will be advertised locally and on our website. But you can come along any day and stroll along the northern seawall to experience the vast skies and wide open space of this wild land. In spring and autumn, watch out for migrant birds passing overhead or the emerging wild flowers at your feet. Summer is a time of gentle breezes, butterflies and the call of skylarks over marshes ablaze with sea lavender, while in contrast winter's bleak skies welcome large flocks of brent geese and over-wintering waterfowl travelling from afar in search of food and rest on our coast.
Top tips on what to see and do during the chillier months:
- Listen for the evocative whistle of the wigeon, or the low bark of the brent goose.
- Witness the vast numbers of winter feeding waterfowl filling the marshes.
- Keep your eyes out to sea for common seals popping up for air.
- Look out for peregrines, marsh harriers and merlins.
To find out more about your escape route, visit the RSPB website download the leaflet or contact Hilary on 01702 258357
