'Marshman' Flavian Capes introduces us to his home on the salt marshes in Tollesbury, Essex. 

Flavian is a self confessed ‘archeology nerd’, local historian, boat builder & wild living enthusiast & has lived on boats for 30 years. His vast knowledge encompasses his personal experiences of foraging local flora & fauna, the extraordinary tidal landscape & landmarks to the local myths, history & traditions of the marshes. 

Flavian proposes a walk to explore the area and provide an alternative guide from his unique perspective.

He will be joined on the walk by musician Frank Turner, who has recently moved to the area. Frank Turner is a punk/folk singer songwriter and performer who has toured worldwide and released 8 albums. 

Tollesbury has a unique and unsentimental landscape of vast salt marshes and wilderness - a landscape that dramatically changes each day with the tide and each year with the seasons. A village 'at the end of the road', it has maintained many idiosyncrasies, rich peculiarities and local traditions, with a strong community and identity.

Teenagers run in packs through the thick black mud towards the sea at low tide. At high tide, villagers gather at the water edge as it spills over onto the road, flooding unsuspecting cars. Locals watch the marshland transform.

Estuary Essex has always been a sanctuary for outsiders and transgressors - from pirate radio stations (Radio Caroline on the nearby River Blackwater) to artists, musicians and creatives looking for an escape from the city.

Tollesbury Wick is a Freshwater grazing marsh, Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) & Special Protection Areas (SPA) 600 acres.

There are about 20 miles of walking routes and footpaths in the area.

This project is supported by the Arts Council England. Audio was recorded by House of Noise. Graphic design by work-form. Project by Tilly Shiner.