Local Wildlife Site

Wildlife

Much of the site is open, with damp neutral grassland, some drier, alkaline grassland, and drainage ditches as well as areas of scrub and young birch woodland. The dumping of fuel ash has created a soil that is very alkaline. Locally rare and uncommon plants include yellow-wort, fenugreek, vervain and cotton thistle. On the drier grassland the nationally scarce yellow vetchling can be found; in the wetland areas are saltmarsh rush, wood small-reed, sea club-rush and grey club-rush. There are a number of orchid species including pyramidal orchid and a mixed colony of common spotted and southern marsh-orchids together with their hybrids. 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. Mammals include weasels and a population of the declining harvest mice. Among the reptiles and amphibians present are smooth newt, grass snake and slow-worm.

Facilities

Information (on signs); trails