NEW species have been found at a nature reserve five years after a piece of land was deliberately flooded to boost wildlife.

Part of the sea wall at Fingringhoe Wick was breached back in 2014 allowing sea water to rush in.

This year the Essex Wildlife Trust carried out a survey which found new species like thin lipped grey mullet are now using the saltmarsh.

The project has been commended in the wildlife trusts’ marine review.

The report said: “Essex Wildlife Trust notched up a number of firsts this year with successful surveys showing fish are now colonising an emerging area of saltmarsh at Fingringhoe Wick, created following a planned breach in the sea wall five years ago.

“A new expanse of channels, lagoons and marsh is already becoming an important place for fish, waders and wildfowl.

“The first winter fish survey found new species like thin lipped grey mullet are using the saltmarsh.”

The winter fish survey was carried out with the help of Countryfile which filmed the process for an episode of the show.

The reserve was the first to be created by the trust back in 1961 when it bought the disused gravel pit.

The nature reserve is now a Site Special Scientific Interest and boasts hundreds of species across its 200 acre site by the Colne Estuary.

The moves to protect the saltmarsh at Fingringhoe Wick come as UK saltmarsh has declined by 85 per cent in the past 100 years.

Abbots Hall Farm in Great Wigborough was also praised for steps to protect the marshland.

Joan Edwards, the wildlife trusts’ director of living seas, said: “Healthy seas are essential for wildlife and are also a key part of tackling climate change.

“We need to protect and restore blue carbon habitats such as seagrass meadows and saltmarshes as one of our most effective and natural solutions to the climate emergency.”