Rainham Marshes Nature Reserve
Encyclopedia
Rainham Marshes is an RSPB nature reserve
to the east of London
, adjacent to the Thames Estuary
in Purfleet
, Thurrock
and Havering. In 2000, the area of land was bought from the Ministry of Defence
, who used it as a test firing range. With no activity for several years, the nature reserve was officially opened to the public in 2006. It has maintained much of its Medieval landscape, and is the largest area of wetland
on the upper parts of the Thames Estuary.
The reserve contains Wennington, Aveley and Rainham Marshes, which have been designated as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation by Havering Council
The reserve is home to a diverse range of bird
species, wetland plant
s and insect
s. It also has one of the most dense water vole populations in the country. In December 2005, the site was visited by a Sociable Lapwing
; over 1,700 people visited the reserve to see this bird. Late in the bird's stay, four Penduline Tit
s were also found at the site. Entrance to the site is free to residents of Thurrock and the London Borough of Havering
.
The site is home to an environmentally
friendly visitor centre which features solar panel
s, rainwater harvesting, natural light and ventilation
and a ground heat exchange system. This visitor centre, completed in 2006 at a cost £2 million, was designed by Architects van heyningen & haward
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
to the east of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, adjacent to the Thames Estuary
Thames Estuary
The Thames Mouth is the estuary in which the River Thames meets the waters of the North Sea.It is not easy to define the limits of the estuary, although physically the head of Sea Reach, near Canvey Island on the Essex shore is probably the western boundary...
in Purfleet
Purfleet
Purfleet is a place in the Thurrock unitary authority in Essex, England. It is situated south of the A13 road on the River Thames and within the easterly bounds of the M25 motorway but just outside the Greater London boundary. It was within the traditional Church of England parish of West Thurrock...
, Thurrock
Thurrock
Thurrock is a unitary authority with borough status in the English ceremonial county of Essex. It is part of the London commuter belt and an area of regeneration within the Thames Gateway redevelopment zone. The local authority is Thurrock Council....
and Havering. In 2000, the area of land was bought from the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
, who used it as a test firing range. With no activity for several years, the nature reserve was officially opened to the public in 2006. It has maintained much of its Medieval landscape, and is the largest area of wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
on the upper parts of the Thames Estuary.
The reserve contains Wennington, Aveley and Rainham Marshes, which have been designated as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation by Havering Council
The reserve is home to a diverse range of bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
species, wetland plant
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
s and insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s. It also has one of the most dense water vole populations in the country. In December 2005, the site was visited by a Sociable Lapwing
Sociable Lapwing
The Sociable Lapwing or Sociable Plover is a wader in the lapwing family of birds.It breeds on open grassland in Russia and Kazakhstan. Three to five eggs are laid in a ground nest...
; over 1,700 people visited the reserve to see this bird. Late in the bird's stay, four Penduline Tit
European Penduline Tit
The European Penduline Tit is a passerine of the genus Remiz. It is relatively widespread throughout Eurasia.The Asian species include the Black-headed Penduline Tit, Remiz macronyx, the White-crowned Penduline Tit, Remiz coronatus, and the Chinese Penduline Tit, Remiz consobrinus.It builds an...
s were also found at the site. Entrance to the site is free to residents of Thurrock and the London Borough of Havering
London Borough of Havering
The London Borough of Havering is a London borough in North East London, England and forms part of Outer London. The principal town in Havering is Romford and the other main communities are Hornchurch, Upminster and Rainham. The borough is mainly characterised by suburban development with large...
.
The site is home to an environmentally
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
friendly visitor centre which features solar panel
Photovoltaic module
A solar panel is a packaged, connected assembly of solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells...
s, rainwater harvesting, natural light and ventilation
Ventilation (architecture)
Ventilating is the process of "changing" or replacing air in any space to provide high indoor air quality...
and a ground heat exchange system. This visitor centre, completed in 2006 at a cost £2 million, was designed by Architects van heyningen & haward
External links
- Rainham Marshes photos
- RSBP - Rainham Marshes
- http://www.elbf.co.uk/rainham.htm - Marsh Matters newsletter on the East London Birders Forum