Wallasea Island

Discover the newly created saltmarsh, mudflats and lagoons, bursting with life. Take a stroll around the grassland to catch a glimpse of Short-eared Owls or Marsh Harriers and watch over the river to see Common Seals haul themselves out.

Three million tonnes of soil were brought to Wallasea by ship, which was excavated during the construction of tunnels beneath London for the Elizabeth Line. We used this to raise land levels and create a new 115-hectare intertidal area of saltmarsh, islands and mudflats (known as Jubilee Marsh). 

The tide’s movements bring sediment and seeds into the marsh, which makes it the perfect spot for many invertebrates and fish to flourish. Good news in turn, for the birds.  We designed intertidal areas with climate change in mind, with long shallow slopes allowing for the saltmarsh to creep up as sea levels rise.

The lagoons and grasslands also offer a wildlife-rich haven, with plenty of space for breeding and roosting birds, invertebrates such as Shrill Carder Bee and mammals such as Bronw Hare.  We use sluices to manage the saline lagoons’ water levels and we aim to create a variety of depths of water to suit different species. Cattle graze the area to help us to manage grass length for waders and bird of prey.

There’s plenty to explore with six walking trails, and five shelters where you can sit back and relax while you watch the water. Wallasea Island sits within a Special Protection Area which covers the Crouch and Roach estuaries, which are home to various waders and wildfowl, like Dark-bellied Brent Geese.