The site is currently closed to the public. Located in an area of Thames-side ex-industrial land, the reserve supports a mosaic of important habitats developed over former fly ash lagoons. It is a fine example of how nature can reclaim former industrial land. The northern part of the site is a Local Nature Reserve. The site is managed by London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Ripple Nature Reserve
Borough: Barking and Dagenham
Grade: Metropolitan
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 7.25 ha
Description
Wildlife
Much of the site is open, with damp neutral grassland, some drier, alkaline grassland, and drainage ditches as well as areas of willow scrub and birch woodland. Locally rare and uncommon plants include cornsalad yellow-wort, common centaury, viper's-bugloss, carline thistle and slender thistle on drier grassland, with sea club-rush in wetland habitats. Also present are important insects, including many nationally rare and scarce species. These include the scarce emerald damselfly and a large number of bees and wasps that typically occur around the Thames estuary. The breeding birdlife is diverse and includes species such as song thrush and linnet. Among the reptiles and amphibians present are smooth newt, grass snake and slow-worm.Facilities
Information (on signs); trails
No photo yet available for this site
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