The Recharge is underway and progressing well.

In September we had specialist contractors Exo Environmental install the brushwood fencing to manage potential recharge material movement by storm waves to Cob Marsh and Packing Marsh.

On 7 November the dredger Sospan Dau commenced recharge at Packing Marsh. She finished placing the 5,000m3 (12,000 tonnes) after three days, working two tides every 24 hours.

She then moved onto Tollesbury Wick and three days later the 5000m3 recharge was complete.

Dredger Sospan Dau recharging Tollesbury Wick east end.

Work then commenced at Cob Marsh with a change to floating pipeline with initially the Sospan Dau and then a different dredger the Scald, as the Sospan had another contract to complete in Ireland.

The placing of 48,000m3 (115,000 tonnes) to Cob should be finished by the end of 2021 and work will then move to Old Hall Point where 40,000m3 (96,000 tonnes) will be complete by the end of January 2022.

This will be the end of the construction phase to be followed by five years of post-placement monitoring.

This project could not have happened without the very generous support of the Harwich Haven Authority, the Environment Agency, RSPB and all the public members and sponsors of the Mersea Harbour Protection Trust.

Thanks to you all for helping save Mersea Harbour for the next generation of people and wildlife to enjoy.