Supporters feel the earth move as diggers move in

West Canvey’s green future starts to take shape

Heavy machinery has begun landscaping a large new nature reserve on Canvey Island in south Essex.

David Hedges, the RSPB’s South Essex Area Manager says, “West Canvey Marsh is the largest single area of green space on Canvey Island. Our commitment is to make this a high quality open green space, where local wildlife can once more find a home and where local people and visitors can enjoy new, enriching access.”

David continued, “The landscaping was made possible with generous financial support, and is part of the Parklands Project that is part-financed by Essex County Council, under the Thames Gateway programme of the Homes and Communities Agency, Biffa and Interreg - allowing us to create a sustainable green space for future generations on Canvey.”

West Canvey Marsh was originally bought in May 2006 from William Morrison Supermarkets Plc. The purchase was made possible by generous financial support from the East of England Development Agency, Veolia ES Cleanaway Pitsea Marshes Trust and the Department for Communities and Local Government’s Thames Gateway Programme.

Work has begun on the RSPB’s 256 hectares (640 acres) of grassland and saltmarsh to create a haven for both wildlife and people. This includes 3km of new multi user/purpose nature trail, viewing points, picnic areas and playground to open the landscape up to discover the wildlife secrets of the marshes.

Once the works are completed, this new nature area is set to open to the public in summer 2010. The RSPB will encourage wildlife to flourish allowing visitors to enjoy the flocks of wetland birds, butterflies and wildflowers and discover the rich historical heritage of how local communities have shaped the landscape of Canvey Island.

The RSPB is fully committed to Greengrid, an initiative to provide new green spaces connected to each other in a network accessible to people and filled with wildlife. This is a foundation for sustainable development, securing a healthy and attractive place to live in and to visit. West Canvey Marsh will directly benefit the 650,000 people living in the area of south Essex close to the Thames Gateway.

Doug Benjafield, Chairman of Veolia ES Cleanaway Pitsea Marshes Trust, one of the funders for the original purchase, added: “To make this land available to the local community to enjoy in perpetuity was the main reason why the Trust originally supported the land purchase. Out of our £2½ million support of the RSPB in south Essex, £750,000 has gone to West Canvey Marshes. Having been involved with this project right from the start, it’s very exciting now to see the reserve really starting to take shape providing an accessible green lung for people and wildlife on the edge of the urban fringe”.

John Meehan, Project Manager for Parklands said: “The Parklands Programme has been made possible by Essex County Council preparing a Parklands Business Plan which won Essex £11.5 million. The fruits of all this effort are now starting to show themselves on Canvey Island and will continue to do so for years to come. We are delighted that Canvey Island has now got high quality environmental organisations such as the RSPB helping to look after the natural areas of the island”