The purpose of this earth cache is to show how environmental factors are eroding the cliffs at Cudmore Grove.
The cliffs at Cudmore Grove on Mersea Island are badly affected every year by high spring tides and accompanying heavy rainfall.
There is not much left of the original grove, with only one or two oak trees still standing, with the rest having been claimed by the sea.
This constant elemental attack also means that the beach is regularly cleansed, meaning that tonnes of sand is removed by the sea. There is currently approximately one foot of sand sitting on top of a thick layer of clay on the beach.
There is a program of Limited Intervention being currently implemented at Cudmore Grove. This means that an attempt is being made to manage the erosion by working with nature to reduce the effects of the weather on the cliffs whilst embracing natural coastal change.
From where you are standing, if the tide is out, walk down to the beach. Here you will find the remains of a searchlight emplacement which was part of the East Mersea coastal artillery battery (see additional waypoint). The remains can now be seen as broken concrete on the beach after being destroyed by the effects of coastal erosion.
(Adapted from www.bbc.co.uk/essex, www.visitessex.com and www.eurosion.org/project)
To claim this earth cache, please email the CO via the link above with the answers to the following questions.
1. At the given coordinates there is an information board. What is the name of the interglacial geological period from which the bones of hippopotamus, monkey and bear have been found at Cudmore Grove?
2. What is the name of the scheme that has been introduced on the mud flats to combat the effects of coastal erosion?
3. Look at the cliff closest to the remains of the searchlight emplacement. What is the predominant colour of the material in the cliff? And what is this material made up of? Please describe what you see.
4. What evidence can you see that erosion of the cliff is still taking place?
5. Estimate the height of the cliffs closest to the remains of the searchlight emplacement.