Even though there was still some white cloud cover around, there were good views up and down the river and in to the channel and creek. It was still early morning with a bit of mist sitting over the water and only the sounds of nature breaking the silence.
There were some beautiful light effects on the water from the sun. Bright sun, clear blue skies, tangy, salty air, silver darlings dancing on the water, sail boats bobbing on the tide down by Point Clear and across the creek. What's not to like? I spent about ten minutes enjoying the vista and taking photographs. What a pity I lost my camera before the week was out.
I walked on the seawall route for about two hours, including stops just to admire the countryside and did not meet another person from the time I left the camp to entering the western edges of the village of St Osyth where I stopped for a late breakfast in a local hostelry.
Conservation Areas) Act 1990). It is not only about specific buildings or sites but also includes the condition of things and the places between them. So, for example, there might be steps taken to preserve or protect a particular view or apsect. I suspect that few of us out walking in the countryside and enjoying spectacular scenery are ever aware of the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to enable our enjoyment! However, I'm sure we can all think of an example of the inapproriate use of, for signage on a shop front that completely detracts from the general 'zeitgeist' of the amenity.
You can see the effects of this kind of legislation walking in this area with its panoramic and pristine views across the creeks and rivers, where there are no carbuncle-like buildings to jar the senses. Other legislation and protections overlap with the conservation status so that, for example, there are listed buildings of various designation in the area including the Priory in the town (marked in the photograph, with Deer Park running to the north of it) which is a scheduled Ancient Monument and, there are 22 Tree Preservation Orders in place in the conservation area. The orders protect individual or groups of trees such that six weeks notice of any plans to alter the trees must be given to local authorities and be approved. Actions such as this may be troublesoome for the people who live here, but they are crucial to ensuring that historic environments and outlooks are preserved for us, the general population and for future generations.
Managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust, Howlands Marsh Nature Reserve is seventy-four hectares of coastal grazing consisting in the main of grassy hummocks and salt marsh, divided by water channels, dykes and fleets. As you would expect in an area where rare plants thrive and threatened bird species nest and breed, the area enjoys various levels of statutary protection, including being designated as an SSSI. It is a lovely, peaceful walk in beautiful countryside.
Two of my favourite birds nest here: the high flying, loud singing sky lark and the wizard of display flying, the Peewit or Lapwing. I remember laughing at the antics of peewits when I was a wee boy and we were walking in the Old Kilpatrick Hills, We would be in kinks as they dragged their 'broken' wing across the ground to lure you away from their nests. If you were daft enough to follow them, thinking to offer them assistance, as soon as you approached them they were up and away sending their piercing cry to the heavens and with all semblance of injury vanished. To watch them fly in the breeding season is a joy and delight that I have long enjoyed and sought out.
There is no access for walking down the remainder of the creek after you reach the top of the left arm, unless you go to the town and then head back out east. Even then you are only accessing the area around the disused oyster pits and that was not reason enough for me to take the long detour having viewed them from the opposite bank. I left the creek by Marsh Farm House and accessed the town at the top end of Chapel Road and headed down this to Hurst Green. From there I made my way through the town to access my camping site for the night, just above and west of the marina.