From
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jul/13/wallasea-island-project-takes-significant-step-forward-as-sea-walls-breached
[Includes map and pictures]

Wallasea Island Wild Coast project is using more than 3m tonnes of material
excavated from London to raise part of the Essex island by an average of
1.5m, to create lagoons across 670 hectares of farmland – an area more than
twice the size of the City of London – and restore the marshland it once
was 400 years ago.

The first phase of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
20-year project was completed at the weekend, when new sea walls were
successfully breached to allow for tidal flow into the marshland.

Five hundred years ago, there were 30,000 hectares of intertidal saltmarsh,
a crucial wildlife habitat and effective sea defence, along the Essex
coast. Today, there are just 2,500 hectares.

By 2025, the RSPB aims to have created 148 hectares of mudflats, 192
hectares of saltmarsh and 76 acres of shallow saline lagoons, with about
eight miles of coastal walks and cycle routes allowing people to get closer
to the island’s wildlife. Wetland restoration on Wallasea began in 2006.

The RSPB said the project would demonstrate, for the first time on a large
scale, how to future-proof low-lying coastal areas against expected sea
level rises and deliver benefits to wildlife.

Species expected to return to the area in significant numbers include
avocet, redshank and lapwing, along with large flocks of Brent geese,
dunlin, wigeon and curlew in winter. Plants such as samphire, sea lavender
and sea aster are also expected to thrive.

It is hoped the new reserve will provide the perfect habitat for newly
colonising species to the UK, such as spoonbills and black-winged stilts.

Almost all – 98% – of excavated material from deep below London, from the
Crossrail tunnels, stations and shafts, has been recycled or re-used, with
almost half being shipped to Wallasea Island. At its peak, six ships
arrived at Wallasea each day, unloading 8,000 tonnes of material. In total,
2,400 shiploads were delivered – the equivalent of 150,000 lorryloads.

But the RSPB requires 10m tonnes to create the reserve and is currently
seeking partners to provide the remaining 7m tonnes.

“At a time when nature is in crisis, we believe Wallasea sets a new
benchmark showing what’s possible with smart regulation and intelligent
partnerships between the private sector and charities,� said Martin Harper,
RSPB conservation director.

“By moving spoil from central Londonto a part of the coast below sea level
and vulnerable to flooding, the partnership is allowing the completion of a
major transport project which will boost the economy, while providing an
area that will become an area of international importance for wildlife. All
sectors, including government, now need to exploit this inventiveness to
unlock other projects on a similar scale for the benefit of wildlife,
people and the economy�.

Crossrail chief executive Andrew Wolstenholme said: “Crossrail has helped
deliver one of Europe’s most significant conservation projects on Wallasea
Island. This trailblazing partnership with the RSPB is a key part of
Crossrail’s sustainability strategy and demonstrates the benefits that can
be achieved when the construction industry and environment groups work
together.

“This major new wetland will be a lasting environmental legacy of the
Crossrail project for generations to come as well as supporting economic
growth and jobs through an increase in tourism to the local area�.

The Essex estuaries are in the top five most important coastal wetlands in
the country, and protected by national and European law.

On Monday, 13 July 2015 09:25:54 UTC+1, Recliner wrote:
From
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jul/13/wallasea-island-project-takes-significant-step-forward-as-sea-walls-breached
[Includes map and pictures]

Wallasea Island Wild Coast project is using more than 3m tonnes of material
excavated from London to raise part of the Essex island by an average of
1.5m, to create lagoons across 670 hectares of farmland - an area more than
twice the size of the City of London - and restore the marshland it once
was 400 years ago.

The first phase of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
20-year project was completed at the weekend, when new sea walls were
successfully breached to allow for tidal flow into the marshland.

Five hundred years ago, there were 30,000 hectares of intertidal saltmarsh,
a crucial wildlife habitat and effective sea defence, along the Essex
coast. Today, there are just 2,500 hectares.

By 2025, the RSPB aims to have created 148 hectares of mudflats, 192
hectares of saltmarsh and 76 acres of shallow saline lagoons, with about
eight miles of coastal walks and cycle routes allowing people to get closer
to the island's wildlife. Wetland restoration on Wallasea began in 2006.

The RSPB said the project would demonstrate, for the first time on a large
scale, how to future-proof low-lying coastal areas against expected sea
level rises and deliver benefits to wildlife.

Species expected to return to the area in significant numbers include
avocet, redshank and lapwing, along with large flocks of Brent geese,
dunlin, wigeon and curlew in winter. Plants such as samphire, sea lavender
and sea aster are also expected to thrive.

It is hoped the new reserve will provide the perfect habitat for newly
colonising species to the UK, such as spoonbills and black-winged stilts.

Almost all - 98% - of excavated material from deep below London, from the
Crossrail tunnels, stations and shafts, has been recycled or re-used, with
almost half being shipped to Wallasea Island. At its peak, six ships
arrived at Wallasea each day, unloading 8,000 tonnes of material. In total,
2,400 shiploads were delivered - the equivalent of 150,000 lorryloads.

But the RSPB requires 10m tonnes to create the reserve and is currently
seeking partners to provide the remaining 7m tonnes.

"At a time when nature is in crisis, we believe Wallasea sets a new
benchmark showing what's possible with smart regulation and intelligent
partnerships between the private sector and charities," said Martin Harper,
RSPB conservation director.

"By moving spoil from central Londonto a part of the coast below sea level
and vulnerable to flooding, the partnership is allowing the completion of a
major transport project which will boost the economy, while providing an
area that will become an area of international importance for wildlife. All
sectors, including government, now need to exploit this inventiveness to
unlock other projects on a similar scale for the benefit of wildlife,
people and the economy".

Crossrail chief executive Andrew Wolstenholme said: "Crossrail has helped
deliver one of Europe's most significant conservation projects on Wallasea
Island. This trailblazing partnership with the RSPB is a key part of
Crossrail's sustainability strategy and demonstrates the benefits that can
be achieved when the construction industry and environment groups work
together.

"This major new wetland will be a lasting environmental legacy of the
Crossrail project for generations to come as well as supporting economic
growth and jobs through an increase in tourism to the local area".

The Essex estuaries are in the top five most important coastal wetlands in
the country, and protected by national and European law.

Lost opportunity to create a brand new London airport - on a brown field site. CJB

On Friday, 17 July 2015 00:23:31 UTC+1, CJB wrote:

Lost opportunity to create a brand new London airport - on a brown field site. CJB

You are right; that's quite funny! Almost a copy of that nitwit BoJo's concept. An old example is the famous Rosehill near Morden. That, in legend at least, was made from the mud from the 1922 Stockwell-Morden extension.

CJB wrote:
On Monday, 13 July 2015 09:25:54 UTC+1, Recliner wrote:
From
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jul/13/wallasea-island-project-takes-significant-step-forward-as-sea-walls-breached
[Includes map and pictures]

Wallasea Island Wild Coast project is using more than 3m tonnes of material
excavated from London to raise part of the Essex island by an average of
1.5m, to create lagoons across 670 hectares of farmland - an area more than
twice the size of the City of London - and restore the marshland it once
was 400 years ago.

The first phase of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
20-year project was completed at the weekend, when new sea walls were
successfully breached to allow for tidal flow into the marshland.

Five hundred years ago, there were 30,000 hectares of intertidal saltmarsh,
a crucial wildlife habitat and effective sea defence, along the Essex
coast. Today, there are just 2,500 hectares.

By 2025, the RSPB aims to have created 148 hectares of mudflats, 192
hectares of saltmarsh and 76 acres of shallow saline lagoons, with about
eight miles of coastal walks and cycle routes allowing people to get closer
to the island's wildlife. Wetland restoration on Wallasea began in 2006.

The RSPB said the project would demonstrate, for the first time on a large
scale, how to future-proof low-lying coastal areas against expected sea
level rises and deliver benefits to wildlife.

Species expected to return to the area in significant numbers include
avocet, redshank and lapwing, along with large flocks of Brent geese,
dunlin, wigeon and curlew in winter. Plants such as samphire, sea lavender
and sea aster are also expected to thrive.

It is hoped the new reserve will provide the perfect habitat for newly
colonising species to the UK, such as spoonbills and black-winged stilts.

Almost all - 98% - of excavated material from deep below London, from the
Crossrail tunnels, stations and shafts, has been recycled or re-used, with
almost half being shipped to Wallasea Island. At its peak, six ships
arrived at Wallasea each day, unloading 8,000 tonnes of material. In total,
2,400 shiploads were delivered - the equivalent of 150,000 lorryloads.

But the RSPB requires 10m tonnes to create the reserve and is currently
seeking partners to provide the remaining 7m tonnes.

"At a time when nature is in crisis, we believe Wallasea sets a new
benchmark showing what's possible with smart regulation and intelligent
partnerships between the private sector and charities," said Martin Harper,
RSPB conservation director.

"By moving spoil from central Londonto a part of the coast below sea level
and vulnerable to flooding, the partnership is allowing the completion of a
major transport project which will boost the economy, while providing an
area that will become an area of international importance for wildlife. All
sectors, including government, now need to exploit this inventiveness to
unlock other projects on a similar scale for the benefit of wildlife,
people and the economy".

Crossrail chief executive Andrew Wolstenholme said: "Crossrail has helped
deliver one of Europe's most significant conservation projects on Wallasea
Island. This trailblazing partnership with the RSPB is a key part of
Crossrail's sustainability strategy and demonstrates the benefits that can
be achieved when the construction industry and environment groups work
together.

"This major new wetland will be a lasting environmental legacy of the
Crossrail project for generations to come as well as supporting economic
growth and jobs through an increase in tourism to the local area".

The Essex estuaries are in the top five most important coastal wetlands in
the country, and protected by national and European law.

Lost opportunity to create a brand new London airport - on a brown field site. CJB

It is a new airport, for birds.