August Monthly Supporters' Event:

Want to understand sea level rise and coastal realignment ? - Our next PACE Field Trip is on Tuesday 4 August to Fingringhoe Wick just south of Colchester on the Colne Estuary.

 

Fingringhoe Wick is 210-acre Essex Wildlife Trust nature reserve – one of the best known SSSI’s in Essex. Purchased by the Trust in 1961, it was formerly a sand and gravel quarry and shows what can be done to establish superb habitats for a wide range of wildlife such as Nightingales, Turtle Doves, Badgers, Dragonflies, Wading birds etc. Situated on the banks of the Colne Estuary it has important coastal marshes which suffer from “coastal squeeze” due to rising sea levels. In response to this, the reserve was extended in 2014 to include a large area of low-lying land behind a seawall. This sea defence was breached as part of the coastal realignment project. We will walk through the reserve, see the established habitats and the creation of the new coastal marshes, and discuss the impacts of sea level rise.

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Here are the details:

· Date and time: Tuesday 4th August 7.00pm - approx. 9.00pm

· Location: Fingringhoe Wick Discovery Park, South Green Road, Fingringhoe CO5 7DN. It takes about 35 minutes to drive from Manningtree. Please share lifts. Dogs are not permitted on this part of the reserve.

· Parking: There is a long snaking lane signposted from the village of Fingringhoe down south Green Road or Furneaux Lane to the reserve; through the entrance gate continue to drive down to the Visitor Centre and park in the main car park. The Visitor Centre will be open so you can use the toilets before the walk, but will close at 7.10 sharp.

· The Walk: will begin at 7.00pm – total length 1.5 miles easy walking on rough grass tracks. Strong shoes and long trousers recommended – it’s not that we don’t want to see your legs, it is a precaution against ticks. Binoculars useful but not essential. Back at cars by sunset at 8.45pm, leave by 9pm.

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· Booking: Please do let us know if you want to come as we need to know numbers. Everyone welcome, up to about 30 people (No need for you to have been to other PACE-related events.) To book, Email Caroline on ManningtreePACE@gmail.com.

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