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Greenwich University is carrying out a mammal survey including the Rainham marsh
development site. John Benge of Hertford University rates Rainham among the best
south-east sites he has found for what we hope will be a definitive study of the water
vole. We now know that the colony extends over the whole SSSI to Aveley via the
watercourses around and between the silt lagoons and across Wennington marsh. How the
existence of probably the largest Water Vole colony in Greater London escaped detection
during environmental impact assessments defies explanation.
Ruth Day of LNHS has confirmed the continued presence of the Scarce Emerald
damselfly. EA have re-surveyed the watercourses and full results are awaited; some
rarities are believed to have been confirmed. Butterfly Conservation are supplying moth
records. Peter Harvey and Del Smith are assisting on Hymenoptera and Diptera. FORM
are endeavouring to co-ordinate a wider re-survey of data and comparison with habitat
and species action plans. Expert help would be appreciated. All of this ongoing work is
essential for defining the role of Rainham within the Greater London and Havering
Biodiversity Action Plans, and preparing for a possible Ministerial call-in or Public
Inquiry. Ministerial, MP and Council lobbying is ongoing.
Greenwich University are currently preparing a management plan covering the whole
Havering, Thurrock, Dartford and Crayford marshland complex. RSPB have made useful
inputs and included Rainham in their 'Land for Life' campaign which highlights damage
to key UK sites in support of a tougher wildlife protection Bill. The London Wildlife
Trust are preparing campaign literature. Friends of the Earth have circulated a pamphlet
'The Best of Both Worlds' supporting the campaign to achieve the designation of
Rainham, Wennington, Aveley, Dartford and Crayford marshes as an ESA, and the
creation of a regional Thames eco-tourism project around it. A partnership to achieve
this is being discussed with other NGOs. All this will add weight to NGO efforts, either
to get conservation management done by the current owners, or to help in bidding for
funding to finance an NGO-led management partnership.
Several Havering Councillors agreed to look at the WWT Barn Elms project with us to
study how this could be achieved. A striking contrast to the neglect and proposed
destruction of ancient grazing marsh at Rainham is the thousands of pounds which has
been spent at Barn Elms to create a small area of new grazing marsh which is already
attracting migrants.
We recently discovered that Havering Council sought advice from WWT for a Thames
Estuary Environment Centre at Rainham. The mission statement was 'to provide
opportunities for the public to observe the rich mosaic of wildlife and habitats in the area
of the centre and to educate visitors about the nature conservation significance of the
adjoining Inner Thames Marshes SSSI and possibly the wider Thames Estuary; and
through the design and function of the Centre to observe the principles of sustainability in
action'. This may be no more than a tactic to deploy at Inquiry, since the Council has
UDP policies to develop 51% of the SSSI which is perversely described as 'disused and
derelict...urban brown land', a classic 'catch 22' !. In the recent past even larger schemes
have been promoted. The creation of a largely artificial environmental experience funded
by destroying at least half of the real ecology of the largest SSSI in Greater London could
hardly be more contentious.
Objections to Planning applications P0050.97, P1467.97 (amended) Rainham Marsh
should be addressed to; Head of Development Control Services, Directorate of
Environment and Planning, LB Havering, Mercury House, Mercury Gdns Romford RM1
3SL, and copied if possible to-Lord Walker, English Partnerships, 16-18 Old Queen St
London SW1 9HP
Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 26, August 1998