The Essex Naturalist 67
hemlock, with a number of patches of elder. Though the ground is not
particularly interesting botanically, birds and animals find good cover there. An
embankment lined with trees and shrubs serve to separate the area from the
river to the east.
The southernmost arm of the sewage works site is shown as Area 6. The
western edge of the area consists of an old concrete fence - now in a very poor
state - which acted as a barrier between the works and the bridle path. Where
the sewage works area narrows to its southern-most end there is just a short
length of fence and a large metal gate, which is now left open. This serves to
separate the old sewage works from an open area which continues south towards
Manor Park. A large part of the sewage works area adjacent to the concrete
fence was another sludge lagoon, again with much hemlock. Whilst the works
was in use it was common to see many brown rats Rattus norvegicus hereabouts,
but also more attractive visitors such as whinchat Saxicola rubetra and Stonechat
Saxicola torquata might pass through on migration. Now kestrels are often seen,
as well as a variety of smaller birds including linnets Carduelis cannabina and
common Whitethroats Sylvia communis.
At the eastern edge of Area 6 the remains of a tarmac track provide a good
path above the river. The track and the soil that grades into it provide a habitat
for a variety of low plants such as wall pepper, creeping Cinquefoil and whitlow
grass Erophila draba. The track was widened and intensively used during the
power-line work and much of the smaller plant life was disturbed. Growing
alongside the track are a variety of bushes and shrubs including bramble,
dewberry Rubus caesius and elder, as well as hawthorns and silver birch.
The grass covered embankment to the east of the track forms part of the river
defences of the Roding. Here is found squirrel tail fescue Vulpia bromoides, not
otherwise known locally, as well as barren brome Anisantha sterilis, soft brome
Bromus hordeaceus ssp. hordeaceus, meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis and
Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus.
The River
The River Roding forms the entire eastern boundary of the sewage works site.
From the new bridge across the river at the works' north eastern corner, a tree
covered embankment winds alongside the river, separating it from what was the
sludge lagoon (now Area 5) to the west. This provides a pleasant riverside walk
now that overhanging branches have been removed. The tree and shrub cover
consists of much hawthorn, though there are some large crack willow Salix
fragilis. While the works was in use, tree sparrows Passer montanus were often
seen here, though these are no longer present.
The river itself - although not easy of access - does have some mud and
shingle banks, depending on the depth of the river. A plant that does get
established here is water figwort Scrophularia auriculata. Where the tree covered