Bowers Marsh RSPB - A Reserve In Progress

A Fresh/Brackish Water Lagoon

In a previous post, I mentioned the exciting times for the RSPB in the south of the county with the development of the Bowers Marsh nature reserve being amongst the most exciting developments. Well on Saturday the warden for the South Essex Marshes reserves (also including West Canvey Marsh, Vange Marsh and the centre at Wat Tyler Country Park) Marc Outten, gave a small group of us a guided tour of the work so far as the new reserve moves towards its opening in the autumn.

One end of the large fresh/brackish water lagoon. The earth ridge to the left of the picture
will be removed when the Island at the end is finished.

The construction of a nature reserve of this size (270 Hectare) is essentially a case of two things - shifting earth and managing water. Whilst the land was originally salt marsh, when the sea wall was built in the 19th century it was dried out for farming purposes. Some 350,000 cubic metres of earth have been shifted as two large lagoons have been dug out, one for salt water and one that will contain fresh/brackish water.

The Saline Lagoon, from the top of the new sea wall.

A new sea wall has been built to enclose the new saline lagoon which will be connected to the tidal creek through a breach in the existing sea wall. This is due to happen in September, ahead of a hoped-for October opening to the public. A network of small creeks and ditches have been excavated to re-create the salt marsh. 

Redhill Field

One of the problems that had had to be contended with in the construction of the reserve was the archaeology of the site. There was known to be a roman settlement in the near vicinity, and items of pottery were found under the car park. "Redhills" were identified in a local field, small mounds containing clay, fired red by the fires used to evaporate water from brine in the preparation of salt.

Our guides were both enthusiastic and knowledgable, and the two hours sped by, despite some less than clement weather at times. Despite the site largely resembling a building site, we saw some 20 species of bird including sparrowhawk, hobby, greater spotted woodpecker, reed warbler and an avocet family. It was an interesting opportunity to see how these reserves are put together, and I look forward to visiting in the Autumn, and further into the future as the flora and fauna become established.

In Praise of Essex Beer

The Hoop Beer Festival 2011

The news that Oscar Wilde from the Mighty Oak Brewery had won champion beer of Britain has merely continued a remarkable run for the breweries of Essex. With Crouch Vale Gold having carried off the trophy in 2005 and 2006 it made it 3 wins in 7 years. 

Essex has long been viewed as the poor cousin, in brewing terms, of its neighbours, Suffolk in the North and Kent in the South, but the success of it's breweries is going some way to reddress the balance. Following the closure of Ridleys in 2005, Essex had lost the last of their historical brewers, but there emerged a new breed, led by Crouch Vale who, although only established in the early 80s, are now the oldest brewery in Essex. More recently another new brewery, the Brentwood Brewing Company, have joined the fray supplying my favourite beer at this years Hoop Beer Festival (see picture!).