Crossrail tunnelling is nearing completion and by the end of June all tunnelling should have been completed. What is currently Europe’s largest engineering project has produced millions of tonnes of earth that needs to be disposed of. Unlikely as it seems, this has been shipped off to Wallasea Island, off the east coast of England, to create one of the largest nature reserves in Europe. Crossrail will have imported 7.5 million cubic metres of soil and raised the land so that there will be 2 million cubic metres of water rather than the 11 million that there was before the project.
Wallasea Island was created by Defra in 2006 as part of a managed realignment scheme for wintering bird whose natural habitat had been lost to development. The site now supports over 12,000 waterfowl.
The RSPB through Natural England manages the site on behalf of Defra, and Wallasea is now the largest coastal project of its type in Europe.
It aims to combat threats from climate change and coastal flooding by recreating the ancient wetland landscape of mudflats and saltmarsh, lagoons and pasture. It will also help to compensate for the loss of such tidal habitats elsewhere in England.
When it is completed Wallasea Island will boast a varied wetland landscape with over nine miles of access routes, and a range of visitor facilities.
The project is not due for completion until 2025, but the sea wall is already open to the public at Allfleets Marsh Trail is already proving to be popular for birdwatching, walking and just getting away from it all.
Find out more from Crossrail and the RSPB
