WORK to improve and expand a bird charity marsh will begin next month.

The RSPB West Canvey Marsh nature reserve, Canvey, is set to be expanded with an extra 59 hectares of new wildlife habitat.

The “Enriching the marsh landscape project” has been funded by the Wren FCC Biodiversity Action Fund work and will also see similar wetland improvement works carried out on the opposite shore of the Thames Estuary at RSPB Northward Hill nature reserve, near Rochester in Kent

Wren is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community, biodiversity and heritage projects.

At West Canvey Marsh, excavators will be used to dig new pools and channels in the reserve’s grassland, which will provide muddy edges for waders such as snipe, lapwing and redshank to feed in and wetter ditches for water voles.

The soil generated will be used to build bunds around the excavated area to retain water, creating a new wetland wildlife habitat.

Natalie Holt, senior sites manager for the RSPB South Essex reserves, said: “We are really excited to see the diggers arrive. It will be great to see our part of this fantastic project coming to life, knowing that we’re helping make more places where nature can thrive. It’s not just about the wildlife though. Green space is really important for the people who live here too and West Canvey Marsh is the largest such space on Canvey Island, so we want to make sure people can get the maximum benefit and enjoyment from it.

“The work we are doing will give visitors new opportunities to have up-close encounters with wildlife, which is so valuable in today’s world, where finding the time and space to get out and enjoy nature seems to be more and more difficult.”

Preparing for the work to start has not been all plain sailing. In September 2015, contractors embarked on a survey to search for any unexploded Second World War ordnance there might have been lying hidden on the site.

Ms Holt added: “We were relieved when we were given the all clear in March this year. The survey dug up lots of agricultural equipment and construction metal, but no unexploded bombs!”

As part of the work, new pipes are being installed to move water around within the reserve to where it is needed and to control water levels. The pipes are not connected to watercourses outside the reserve and will not affect drainage or water management across the rest of Canvey Island.

Ms Holt said: “Managing water and drainage is very important on Canvey Island, and while this particular project won’t have an impact on water management outside of the reserve, we will continue to work closely with the local authority and other agencies and stakeholders to help improve water management and drainage across Canvey Island.”