4
● 1990: A kerosene leak near Stansted Airport destroyed wildlife in the River Stort. A survey
revealed 10 kilometres of the main river and three of its tributary streams were completely dry.
Rainham Marsh, an important site of scientific interest, is threatened by plans for a large
● leasure development.
The trust's Water for Wildlife campaign called on Echo readers to treat water as a valuable resource
and avoid waste. It has launched an appeal to restore Essex rivers and wetlands including Fobbing
Marsh, near Basildon, and Two Tree Island, Leigh.
Fobbing Marsh: This previous coastal grazing marsh, has dried out due to drainage on adjoining
land. The emerald damselfly has almost been lost and breeding lapwing, redshank and shelduck are
also threatened. The trust needs £4,000 for a pumping system to supply clean water.
Two Tree Island: The sluice system is broken and old settling beds rendered sterile by sea water.
Dragonflies, redshank and warblers are at risk. The trust needs £10,000 to repairthe sluices.
Detail sof the campaign are available from trust centres at Brentwood, Abberton and Langdon Hills and
from its headquarters at Fingringhoe Wick Nature Reserve, South Green Road, Fingringhoe.
BUTTERFLY RARITY HAS RETURNED
(taken from the SouthendEveningEcho, Thursday June 18th 1992)
A rare butterfly that disappeared from Essex is back and flourishing in a secret hideaway thanks to a
unique conservation project. The schemeto re-introduce the pearl bordered fritillary to the county has
been hailed as nationally significant. The butterfly disappeared from the whole of East Anglia and from
many southern counties east of Somerset, and has become one of the most rapidly declining species of
butterfly inBritain.
It is the first time the species has been re-established naturally anywhere in Britain. Pioneered by Essex
branch of Operation Butterfly, a campaign toconserve wild butterflies, the project was set up after the
Essex Wildlife Trust bought the secret site in 1987. The area had been turned from original coppiced
woodland to scrub and then bought by a forestry company for conifers. Conservationists took two winters
to clear the conifers and bring back a sunny clearing, complete with vital young violets for breeding. The
result is aremarkable success with 39 butterflies introduced from Sussex increasing to more than 100 by
May last year.
But,despitethesuccess,the fight for life continues. Changes in modern woodland management and the
loss of habitat has seen 26 of Britain's 55 resident species decline drastically.
REPORTS OF SPRING
12-2-92 Toad, Bufo bufo, on footpath at top of Elmhurst Drive, Hornchurch, junction with
Hornchurch Road, (for its safety I put it into Harrow Lodge Park on a flowerbed, it
kicked strongly! Many worms have come to the soil surface, following some rain.
23-2-92 Honeybee worker running around on footpath of Grosvenor Drive. Appeared drowsy
- put into a front garden out of the way of feet.