A Wetlands Reserve for Redbridge?
Those that follow the 'Redbridge Birdwatching' blog, or have read the 2009 yearbook published there, will be aware that one of the top birding sites in the the London Borough of Redbridge is the gravel works site on Painters Road, Fairlop. In spite of the heavy workings that go on there, this really is a wonderful local wildlife site. Bird watchers will probably be most aware of it, but it is almost certainly a haven for other forms of wildlife as well, both plant and animal.
For example, we know that it is the home to several Brown Hare which breed on site. It has also had all of these bird species noted in just the last year:
- Home of the winter Lapwing flock (up to 550 birds this winter, and the only flock in the borough)
- Home of the winter Golden Plover flock (up to 148 birds this winter, and the only flock in the borough)
- The Borough's largest population of wintering Snipe (usually well over 20 present, and occasional Jack Snipe)
- The only location in the borough where there are Green Sandpiper (up to 8, with usually at least 2 on site for 10 months of the year)
- Good numbers of wintering wildfowl, (including the only place in the borough where Shelduck are regular)
- Good for raptors, (Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Little Owl, Hobby are all regular; Marsh Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine, Barn Owl and Buzzard all seen in the last 12 months)
- The only major site in the borough for migrating waders (last season we saw Whimbrel, Black Tailed Godwit, three Ringed Plover, several Greenshank, seven Redshank, many Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Dunlin and many Green Sandpiper passing through)
- The only place in the borough where waders breed: last year there were two pairs of Little Ringed Plover and three pairs of Lapwing
- One of two major sites in the borough for migrating passerines (the othe being Wanstead Flats). During 2009 up to 50 Wheatear, 50 Whinchat, 50 Yellow Wagtail, several White Wagtail, 2 Rock Pipit, a Water Pipit and - not a passerine - a Spotted Crake.
- The only place in the borough where Sedge Warbler breed, and one of only 2 or 3 sites where Reed Warbler breed.
Aerial view of the gravel works at Fairlop
We could go on and on, and mention the wintering Stonechat, wintering Woodcock, Water Rail and a lot - more but you get the picture... Also, due to the limited accessibility of this site at the moment (evenings and weekends only), many of the birds present are probably missed!
The gravel extraction in the current site is coming to an end in 2010, and they will be moving to a new site by St. Peters Church, Aldborough Hatch. Part of the original agreement was that this area would be designated as a Nature Reserve upon completion of the infilling of the site (which has been designated "Area D"). The company that extracts the gravel - LAFARGE - have struggled to find enough landfill, and it is our belief that we should encourage the council to cease infilling as the birds listed above (as well as other wildlife forms), have found there home there in its existing wetland habitat state.
Our plans include the following possibilities:
- A small car park.
- Bird hides, walkway and panels to 'hide' behind.
- Planting a good-sized reedbed to attract Water Rail, wintering Bittern, Bearded Tit, and Cetti's Warbler, and to increase the breeding success in the borough of Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers and Reed Buntings that are now all only present in single figures.
- To create a wetland habitat based on the existing layout of the works, that will benefit wildfowl and wading birds.
- To improve Seven Kings Water (the stream that runs alongside the site), to include nesting areas for Kingfishers.
- To create a nesting site for Sand Martins (they often prospect, but do not nest anywhere in the borough at present).
- To plant more wet woodland adjacent to Hargreaves Wet Woodland to increase the excellent habitat there.
- To protect the habitat that the Hares favour, and the wet meadow - which is excellent on the site.
- To re-introduce Grey Partridge, and encourage Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow, Corn Bunting to return.
The Redbridge Conservation Team are behind the project; potentially the site could become as important as Barnes or Rainham! In principle the Council are in agreement that the land will be a nature reserve. but its intention is still to fill in the gravel pits and restore it essentially to a field. This would mean the lossof much of the wonderful variety of wildlife that is already there.
What was required was to persuade everybody that the development of a REAL nature reserve - one that the creatures would find to their liking - was worth it. It would be used by bird-watchers, by naturalists and for the enjoyment of the public in general - just as Barnes and Rainham are. Although it is agreed that Area D on Painters Road will be designated as a Nature Reserve, the council and the gravel extractors LAFARGE are still contract-bound to first fill in all the gravel pits, thus removing all the above wildlife, leaving it as a nature reserve by name only, after utterly destroying the habitat and removing all of the wildlife.
Whether resident in the London Borough of Redbridge or not, people have been encouraged to email a letter to the following people:
Three local councillors have also been included in the e-mails: local copuncillors (
It was suggested that a statement to Mr. Anderson that it would be a grave mistake to fill in the gravel pits, rendering the land useless to the majority of its wildlife.
Although own words would be better, the following text was provided as a basis on which to work, or simply to copy and paste:
Dear Mr Anderson, Ms Vincent and Mr Castro
I recently heard of the proposals being made to designate Area D in Fairlop, where there is currently gravel extraction works taking place, as a Local Nature Reserve. I am very pleased to hear that the council is considering such a wonderful opportunity, as so much suitable habitat for wildlife is lost. Already Redbridge Borough has lost many breeding species for which it was once a stronghold, and many others are just hanging on. The area proposed is probably the most important wildlife habitat in the borough, being home to Brown Hares, breeding Lapwing and Little Ringed Plover, and being the top site in the borough for 100s or 1000s of migrating birds.
It would really be a tragic loss for this habitat to be lost. If these proposals are not manifest, then potentially we could lose 10% of the species found in, or regularly passing through the borough. It is vital that these pits are not filled in, and that the existing wetland habitat be retained and improved. Filling in this land would only bring a small revenue, but would reap a HUGE loss to the wildlife, most of which would leave.
As a local wildlife enthusiast I am very excited about the prospect of regularly visiting this site when it is completed, and strongly urge you to do everything within your power to influence the decision makers not to make a tragic mistake, but to create a site of national importance, and of which the borough would be very proud.
Your sincerely
This is what the site looked like a month or two ago - this is what the birds were finding so attractive. To keep a habitat like this, to improve it by appropriate plantings of reeds and other plants, to erect hides and walkways so as to enhance it for human visitors - this could be a wonderful place. However, infilling has already started; we need to do all we can to try to stop it being made into just another piece of land with a copse or so and a pathway through it, which has the sign "Nature Reserve" at the access point!
Please
This request was made by Chris Gannaway, advisor to the Conservation Team in Redbridge Council, via Redbridge Birdwatching blogspot and Wanstead Wildlife.