Rainham Marshes
Rainham Marshes are an area of marshland in south-western Essex, adjacent to the Thames Estuary south of Rainham, and west and north of Purfleet. The marshes extend from the north bank of the Thames inland to Wennington and beyond, but are cut through by the A13 trunk road and the min railway line.
The corner of the marsh where the Thames turns is known as Coldharbour.
Part of the marshes, south of the main road, are an RSPB nature reserve.
Location
- Location map: 51°29’54"N, -0°12’15"E
- Streetmap: TQ531800
The reserve
In 2000, the area of land was bought from the Ministry of Defence, who had used it as a test firing range.[1] With no activity for several years, the nature reserve was officially opened to the public in 2006. It has maintained much of its mediæval landscape, and is the largest area of wetland on the upper parts of the Thames Estuary.
The reserve is home to a diverse range of bird species, wetland plants and insects. It also has one of the most dense water vole populations in the country. In December 2005, the site was visited by a sociable lapwing; over 1,700 people visited the reserve to see this bird. Late in the bird's stay, four penduline tits were also found at the site. Entrance to the site is free to local residents.[2]
The site has a visitor centre designed to be environmentally friendly with solar panels, rainwater harvesting, natural light and ventilation and a ground heat exchange system.[3] This visitor centre, completed in 2006 at a cost £2 million.[4]
Conservation
The site forms the greater part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest called Inner Thames Marshes,[5][6] and part is locally designated as a 'Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation' called Wennington, Aveley and Rainham Marshes.[7][8]
The area west of a drain running south from Brookway is a Local Nature Reserve.[9][10] South of the A13 road the reserve is part of the RSPB reserve, while the northern part is managed by the local council.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Marshes Nature Reserve Rainham Marshes) |
References
- ↑ Wetland Vision website
- ↑ RSPB - Rainham Marshes
- ↑ RSPB - About Rainham Marshes
- ↑ "RSPB Environment and Education Centre, Rainham". van Heyningen and Haward. Archived from the original on 2011-09-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20110930040541/http://www.vhh.co.uk/projects/rainham.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ↑ "Rainham Marshes - June Diary". BBC. 28 October 2014. http://www.bbc.co.uk/essex/discover_essex/nature/rainham_diary/june_05_diary.shtml. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
- ↑ SSSI listing and designation for Inner Thames Marshes
- ↑ "Wennington, Aveley and Rainham Marshes". Greenspace Information for Greater London. 2013. http://www.gigl.org.uk/online/site-Details.aspx?sID=M039&sType=sinc.
- ↑ "iGiGL – helping you find London’s parks and wildlife sites (map)". Greenspace Information for Greater London. 2013. Archived from the original on 2012-10-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20121015142729/http://www.gigl.org.uk/igigl/map.aspx.
- ↑ "Rainham Marshes". Natural England. 6 March 2013. http://www.lnr.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/lnr/lnr_details.asp?C=0&N=rainham&ID=1645. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
- ↑ "Map of Rainham Marshes". Natural England. http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=lnrIndex&query=REF_CODE%3D%271460775%27. Retrieved 22 January 2014.