Canvey Island is a reclaimed island in the Thames Estuary in Essex. Back in 2015, TDP was contacted by a volunteer group, Canvey Bay Watch, to supply recycled plastic benches that would be sited at Thorney Bay.
The community group, which started in 2014, had been given permission to clean up the beach and the promenade, to make it an attractive place for visitors to enjoy. They decided once the clean-up of the beach had been completed, they would like to offer visitors somewhere to sit and enjoy the view across the bay.
Being a seafront location, it was important to purchase benches that would not be affected by the salt water. Another key factor was that the volunteer group did not want to have to regularly maintain any of the seats.