"When I first started working at Wallasea it looked an awful lot like a construction site because that's what it was. But just 10 years on, there's no evidence of the diggers or trucks. There's just thousands and thousands of birds who now use it as a refuge, shelter and nursery for their chicks. It's an almost unbelievable transformation."
"Wallasea shows what's possible when business has an ethos of working with, and alongside, nature. The creation of the Elizabeth line was one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in decades, and by collaborating we were able to create a win for nature and people from what would otherwise have been a huge pile of wasted soil."
Three million tonnes of earth from the Elizabeth line were transported to Wallasea Island in Essex and used to raise ground levels and create wetlands. The RSPB purchased the island in the mid-2000s and engineered conditions for wetland birds to feed, nest and refuel. Removal of the sea wall in 2015 allowed tidal flow onto the island after 400 years. Islands, lagoons and salt marshes were constructed, some using Elizabeth line spoil. The restored wetland absorbs storm water and protects residents from flooding. Bird numbers have surged to a record 39,000 overwintering, including avocets, knot, grey plovers and bar-tailed godwits.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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