36 students ventured onto the Essex Marshes to assess both the ecology and management of the coast through managed realignment. With the aid of the Essex Wildlife Trust the students carried out transect surveys at Abbotts Hall Farm looking at how the vegetation changes from the pioneer species of the lower marsh, Samphire and Sea Blite to the upper marshes where Red fescue dominats. There was also the possibility to study the management of the commercial farm at Abbotts Hall. After lunch we travelled onto Mersea Island where an assessment of the land use and a questionnaire survey to gauge the locals awareness of the potential impacts of sea level change were carried out. The day ended with several of the students trying out the rock oysters at the West Mersea Oyster Bar. A great end to an exciting year for the current Y12s.
