guest blog by Sue Rendell-Read, Projects Co-ordinator
It dawned bright but very cold on Friday morning for this important day for the Minsmere Flood Risk Management Project. It was over five months ago that the North Wall was closed for rebuilding. Since then a terrific amount of hard work by the Environment Agency and their agents on site; Interserve (the main contactor), Lancasters (the ground moving sub-contractors) and Black & Veatch (designers) has ensured that the North Wall has reopened a month ahead of schedule.
During the project the Environment Agency (EA) along with an appointed Environmental Clerk of Works have ensured that all the plans to mitigate for any impact on wildlife have been followed. This means water voles, slow worms, deer, common lizards, otters, fish, stone curlew, bats, orchids, harvest mice, grass-snakes, bitterns have all had to be considered and worked around in the construction methods and timing.
A celebration of the opening started at the Crown in Westleton where the EA had invited Dr Therese Coffey MP to say a few words about the importance of flood protection schemes and protecting Minsmere Reserve. Dr Charles Beardall, EA Area Manager, spoke about flood defence work along the Suffolk coast and the importance of working well with partners and the local community. Ben McFarland, RSPB Area Manager, explained the importance of Minsmere’s wildlife and how the Scrape and freshwater reedbeds to the south of the North Wall will now get protection from the sea for longer.
Local councillors, parish council representatives and Yoxford School were present at the Crown. Yoxford School visited Minsmere twice during the works as part of of a school project on coastal flooding. Dylan, a pupil of Yoxford School, presented Therese with a framed picture of his competition winning drawing of a digger on the North Wall – he was thrilled when she said she would put it up in her Westminster office.
Dylan presenting his winning picture to Dr Therese Coffey MP while Dr Charles Beardall watches
The opening ceremony continued with the unveiling of a plaque on the North Wall, with everyone braving the cold. Pictures were taken and thanks said again to all those involved in the project.
Ben McFarland, RSPB Suffolk Area Manager and Dr Charles Beardall, EA Area Manager unveil the plaque
Everyone was pleased with how well the works had gone and it is a tribute to all staff and volunteers on site who have played their part in ensuring the closure of the North Wall has gone as smoothly as it has for our reserve visitors.
We hope visitors, staff and volunteers enjoy being back on the North Wall, taking in the views once again. Wheelchair users will be especially pleased with the views of the sea from the far end of the bank, as this area has been raised significantly compared ot the old wall so you can now watch the sea much more easily.
The matting on the slopes is there to protect the topsoil and seeded surface from washing off in heavy rain and in the Spring the new vegetation will soon emerge. Just a reminder to everyone to stay on the surfaced footpath.
If you missed us on BBC TV Look East last night, you can watch again here.
There is no better way to sign off than to report that on Thursday afternoon, after the contractors were off site and Andy Needle and I were doing our last walkover check of the footpath, three otters were playing and feeding in the North Marsh pool in full view of the footpath.
The new North Wall - it won't this bare once the vegetation grows through the matting (all photos by Ian Barthorpe)