Rainham Marshes

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The 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

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.

Cattle grazing on the marshes

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]

On the marshes

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.

The RSPB Rainham Marshes reserve from the Thames Path

Outside links

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("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Rainham Marshes)

References