Almost 40,000 birds have made their home on a nature reserve created using soil from tunnel excavations for the Elizabeth line.

Three million tonnes of earth were transported from London to Wallasea island in Essex and used to lift the ground level and make wetlands.

The RSPB bought the island in the mid-2000s and has been constructing the ideal conditions for wetland birds to feed, nest and refuel. The sea wall was removed in 2015 to make water flow on to the island for the first time in 400 years.

The charity then constructed islands, some of them from the Elizabeth line soil, and created lagoons and salt marshes. The wetland area now protects residents against flooding by absorbing storm waters.

Wallasea was once bereft of birds but now its visitors include 800 avocets, more tha

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