The best site of all by far, Mill Wood Pit in the Chafford Hundred development near
'Lakeside' Thurrock, is now essentially destroyed for housing and other important sites
are or will be developed in the near future. The whole Barking PFA site will soon be
cleared and developed for a massive housing complex, planning permissions having been
in place since the 1980s and the Barking Levels to the east of the power station have
already been developed. In Thurrock Ferry Fields is shortly to be developed by the Port of
Tilbury despite the presence there of populations of two Priority Biodiversity Action Plan
species Bombus sylvarum and Asilus crabroniformis and an invertebrate fauna
comparable to that of SSSIs in the region. Together with two other nearby sites these are
apparently the only surviving Asilus populations in eastern England, yet one of these at
Goshems Farm, containing the largest population and quite evidently a key site, has just
received planning consent for 'restoration' by capping with spoil, except for a small
'conservation area'.
This is despite the Essex Biodiversity Action Plans for both species proposing that all
sites are notified as County Wildlife Sites and the Action Plan for Asilus proposing that
all key sites are designated as SSSI and that all designated sites are protected against
adverse planning decisions. English Nature is the Lead Partner for both these
Biodiversity Action Plans but made no objection to the Goshems Farm planning
application. The Chief Executive of Thurrock Council gave the opening address at the
Corporate launch of the Essex Biodiversity Action Plan and presumably supports both the
process and the individual plans.
I have to wonder what is the point of Biodiversity Action Plans when they clearly make
no difference at all to planning decisions or the stance taken by government bodies such
as English Nature. There is an urgent need for action to conserve the core sites and the
habitat complex in the region to ensure the survival of its remarkable invertebrate
biodiversity. 1 wonder whether there is any point in continuing my own efforts.
Peter Harvey
Provisional distribution maps for aculeate Hymenoptera
in Essex and the East Thames Corridor
1 have recently produced two sets of updated provisional distribution maps for aculeate
Hymenoptera covering Essex and the East Thames Corridor in south Essex and north
Kent. The Essex maps are based on over 12,500 modern records and include provisional
Essex Red Data status categories. The maps for the East Thames region are based on
approximately 15,000 records and include about 2700 from north Kent in Gerald Dicker's
collection, for which I am very grateful to Liverpool Museum.
The Essex volume runs to 25 pages and the East Thames Corridor to 28 pages and both
are spiral bound. Copies are available on receipt of £3.00 per volume to help towards the
cost of production and postage.
1 would welcome any further records for this region, which is under enormous threat from
the 'Thames Gateway' and other development pressures. Without urgent and effective
action by government bodies such as English Nature and the local authorities involved,
the astonishing biodiversity and nationally important populations of aculeate
Hymenoptera and other invertebrates present in the region will soon be lost forever.
Peter Harvey, 32 Lodge Lane, Grays, Essex RM16 2YP
Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 29, May 1999