Iga Świercz Y5
Moving Upwards: Mersea Island Resilient Relocation The diverse ecosystems and community of Mersea Island, off the south Kent coast, are under the threat of extensive coastal erosion and flooding. Coastal managers realize that in many situations attempting to stop erosion through structural or non-structural solutions is a losing battle. To address this issue a new managed retreat is proposed and the communication tools and language are investigated to support community. The self-built plan supports the community in creating a common methodology for the relocation. Designing with the community, at local and bioregional scales, allows for multiple futures for the New Mersea Commons. The participatory citizen science recognizes and addresses the needs of the citizens of Mersea Island while enabling the renewal and preservation of the ecosystems and ‘Mersea Style’. The project act as a catalyst to introduce participatory tools in relocation projects and investigates how approaches with people and at local scales allow for preservation instead of the loss of traditional reference while creating resilient relocation strategies.
