After 400 years, Wallasea's sea wall comes tumbling down to create giant wetland site
By Michael McCarthy, Environment Editor
Published: 05 July 2006
After centuries of trying to keep the sea out of East Anglia, the British Government yesterday let it back in. A fleet of bulldozers, excavators and dumper trucks made three breaches in the sea wall at Wallasea Island, Essex - which has been in place for at least 400 years - to create the UK's largest man-made marine wetland.
Last night, the sea was covering 115 hectares of former wheatfields, which from now on will be saltmarsh and mudflats on which migratory wildfowl and wading birds can find shelter.
Article Length: 533 words (approx.)
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