Canvey Wick, Essex

A stark black oil jetty rears out of the green marshes of Canvey Wick like a snake on stilts. It’s a reminder of how close Canvey Island came in the 1970s to losing one of UK’s most biodiverse pieces of grassland under a giant oil refinery that, in the end, was never built. It’s a strange, haunting landscape; one that inspired local band Dr Feelgood to title their debut album Down by the Jetty. The rescue job performed by the RSPB has made it a haven for whitethroat, stonechat and yellow wagtail. www.rspb.org.uk/canveywick

WALK HERE: Download Canvey Island at www.lfto.com/cwroutes