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- Canvey Wick on the Thames Estuary has recorded greater than 3,200 species of invertebrates, birds and crops. It was the primary brownfield web site to be protected particularly for invertebrates and given SSSI standing in 2005.
- Initially the positioning of a proposed oil refinery earlier than being left deserted for 30 years, habitat efforts have helped preserve the brownfield web site as a flower-rich grassland that helps uncommon invertebrate species such because the Shrill Carder Bee, with the variety of Nightingales additionally rising in recent times.
- Because the UK’s wildlife faces declines, Canvey Wick is a shining instance of how brownfield websites will be wealthy in, and ship for, nature. With the proper administration, these areas will be thriving biodiversity hotspots and problem the standard concept of what nature reserves ought to seem like.
Canvey Wick is a 93-hectare brownfield Website of Particular Scientific Curiosity (SSSI) in Essex. Twenty years on from gaining particular safety, the positioning has now recorded greater than 3,200 species. This complete consists of species recorded within the early 2000s that helped safe the designation. Because of the mixed efforts of the RSPB reserve workforce, volunteers, native wildlife recorders, companions at Buglife and land house owners, the Land Belief, this “brownfield oasis” is now residence to a few of the UK’s most threatened invertebrates and a rising variety of Nightingales.
The positioning was traditionally used as grazing marshes within the Seventies earlier than being ready for growth as a possible oil refinery. While this was ultimately deserted, preliminary web site works concerned protecting and elevating the grazing marsh with sediment from the Thames. The ensuing habitat discovered there right this moment has shaped an open mosaic of flower wealthy grassland – excellent for invertebrates. Canvey Wick is managed by the RSPB in partnership with Buglife on behalf of nationwide land administration charity the Land Belief.
Of the three,200 species recorded, 11.7% are thought of uncommon, scarce, threatened or close to threatened. This consists of the Shrill Carder Bee, which will get its identify from the high-pitched buzz made when flying. Their pale straw color, distinctive black band on the thorax and orange tail provides this dainty bumblebee a novel look. Its UK inhabitants has seen steep declines attributable to lack of appropriate flower-rich habitat and is now restricted to a handful of places. This consists of alongside the Thames Estuary similar to at Canvey Wick, the South Wales coast and Somerset Ranges. As a precedence species for the RSPB, the protected brownfield web site has supplied the bee a lifeline.
Nature reserve supervisor, Marc Outten, stated: “Canvey Wick is a massively essential place for wildlife. We’re happy with the function our reserve workforce, volunteers and companions have performed in sustaining such a wealthy habitat. The wildlife discovered right here consists of a few of the most threatened within the UK, such because the Shrill Carder Bee, and to see them profit from our efforts is one thing to be celebrated – greater than 3,200 species is a improbable success.”
Elimination of invading scrub and restoring grasslands has created very best circumstances for invertebrates. Greater than 250 species of bees, wasps and ants have been recorded, together with the Brown-banded Carder Bee, 5-banded Weevil-wasp and Carrot Mining Bee. The myriad of flowers, similar to eternal pea, trefoils and vetches, all present invaluable meals. Habitat administration at Canvey Wick not solely helps invertebrates but additionally a spread of different wildlife. Creation of naked sand areas via scraping is important for basking reptiles – the positioning being a hotspot for Adders, Widespread Lizards and Gradual-worms.
There has additionally been a notable enhance in Nightingales. In 2021, 11 territorial males have been recorded in the course of the RSPB’s breeding chook surveys. The next yr, main habitat restoration works have been undertaken at Canvey Wick for the good thing about the positioning’s uncommon invertebrate communities and it grew to become clear that Nightingales wanted to be factored into the planning of this. Working with territory mapping and vegetation construction knowledge, the positioning workforce actively averted clearing sure scrub areas for the good thing about Nightingales. Consequently, 2023 noticed a rise to 13 singing males with 21 recorded in 2024 – a 61% enhance on the earlier yr. In 2025 that quantity stayed constant at 21 territories.
Marc continued:“Hanging a stability between clearing and avoiding scrub for the good thing about the native Nightingale inhabitants while sustaining the open flower-rich grasslands and naked floor for uncommon invertebrates, was a problem made simpler by knowledge collected by native specialists, the reserve workforce and volunteers. This essential knowledge knowledgeable discussions with Pure England and our companions, the Land Belief and Buglife. The clear influence of labor accomplished on the reserve, alongside the choice to depart some scrub areas untouched, will be seen within the enhance of Nightingale numbers at Canvey Wick.”
Alan Carter, CEO of the Land Belief, stated: “Canvey Wick demonstrates how brownfield websites will be remodeled into vibrant inexperienced areas that serve the neighborhood and supply essential habitats for wildlife. We’re extraordinarily happy with the regeneration efforts carried out since taking up the possession of the positioning in 2012. We’ve then put the wonderful workforce partnership in place to handle the positioning, the RSPB, Buglife, and neighborhood volunteers. The positioning is now among the many prime places in Britain for endangered invertebrates, a powerful achievement.”
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