Emergency Fund

Packing Shed Island is being eroded and the stability, even the very existence of the Shed is now being threatened.

Aerial View Showing Erosion

The Trust is desperately seeking funds to replenish the limpet shells, which have been washed away by recent storms, with granite ballast; this being the most effective way of slowing this erosion and hopefully preventing a re-occurrence. This ballast will have to be shipped in by barge and, as the tide will limit when the barge can discharge its load, it will be very costly.

Donations are welcome. £10 pounds will buy 1 tonne of stone, but even a small amount will help. If you wish to make a donation please send it to:

Mr WG Norman
Hon Treasurer
The Packing Shed Trust
8 Gunfleet Close
West Mersea
Essex CO5 8LE

Cheques should be made payable to 'The Packing Shed Trust'

PRESS RELEASE

“STONES COMING TO THE PACKING SHED”

EROSION

The Packing Shed faces a new threat – erosion.

During WW1 American Liberty ships were moored in the River Blackwater. Slipper Limpets had attached themselves to the hulls, but jumped ship on arriving in England and invaded our Native Oyster Fisheries. The fishermen at that time dredged them up and dumped them on Marsh Island where they decomposed, creating something of a stink! Huge mounds of shells were left, which created a stable defence against erosion of the underlying mud. However, a few years ago severe storms shifted these shell banks, exposing the underlying mud to serious erosion by tide and wave action.

Unless urgent action is taken, the entire Island could be eroded away, exposing the Packing Shed’s supporting piles, and the Shed will disappear forever - into the sea.

The Trust devised a plan to reverse this erosion by bringing in tons of stone by barge but realised that substantial funds were urgently needed to pay for it. The local community has responded magnificently and already the Reclamation Fund has raised over £13,000 towards this project from functions and donations – all from local clubs and Mersea residents. This will purchase four barge loads of granite stone which will be spread along the foreshore, once again protecting the underlying salt marsh from further erosion. It is hoped that river silt will be gradually deposited amongst the stone, helping to restore the Island .

RECLAMATION

The first delivery of granite stones is scheduled to arrive by barge from Kent on Monday 13th August at high tide (around midday). The barge will be manoeuvred into position by its accompanying tug, and with the help of local Oyster Fisherman, Alan Bird. A grab will then deposit the stone on the foreshore, from where it can be spread into position at a later date. If all goes well, a further four barge loads of stone will be delivered during the next two weeks.

Manoeuvring such a large vessel in shallow restricted waters will be difficult enough, but Monday 13th August also happens to be the first day of Mersea Week. A large number of yachts and sailing dinghies will be using the same waters to access the River Blackwater in order to get to their start line for the various races.

All of which should make for an interesting spectacle!

TRANSPORT

The Packing Shed Trust operates two launches to carry passengers – these will be available on the day, with qualified launch drivers, to take journalists out to the Island

Further Information from The Packing Shed Trust (registered charity):-

Paddy Ryan : 01206 384531 or 07785 718119

Steve Marfleet : 01206 386633 or 07966 387781

PRESS RELEASE No 2

Sequence of events - Monday 20 Aug 2007:

	Noddy Cardy and his crew arrive from Maldon (upriver) and anchor out in the River Blackwater in his tug "Nipashore" which is towing a grab crane on board a floating barge. A few minutes before High Water this was carefully eased into position alongside the Packing Shed - awaiting arrival of the barge containing the granite - due to arrive from the Thames.
	High Water comes and goes - no sign of granite barge - calls on mobile established it was definitely en route.
	Half an hour after High Water, Alan Pratt's tug is spotted on the horizon, entering the River Blackwater, towing a barge laden so full with granite that the gunwhales were only a foot or so above the waterline. Strong winds and a foul tide had caused the delay.
	The delayed arrival meant that the tide was fast running out, the water level was going down, and the granite barge could only just be pushed into position before it grounded firmly on the bottom
	One hour after High Water, the granite barge is eventually manoeuvered into position alongside the crane barge - helped by local Oyster Fisherman, Alan Bird. A tricky operation with wind and tide making life difficult.
	Finally, to great relief all round, the Grab Crane begins to unload its cargo
	Both barges now firmly aground - unable to be moved until the next high tide - the Crane Barge will stay put all week, while the granite barge will be floated off on the next high tide and towed back to collect the next load

It is hoped that the weather will permit three further barge loads are later this week.

The next phase of the operation will be to move the granite into position, where it will hopefully protect further erosion of the Island's precious saltmarsh, and save the much loved Old Packing Shed for posterity.

THE STONES ARRIVE ON THE ISLAND

The Crane Barge Arrives - it just needs a little pull into place!