Representation by L Clark
- Date submitted
- 12 March 2021
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I personally really enjoy the wild, natural spaces near to where I live and the Swanscombe Peninsula is a special example as it supports an outstanding range of wildlife- and there are few enough places for our precious and human life supporting wildlife to survive now a days. It is wonderfully beneficial and inspiring to be in nature observing wildlife such as birds and insects a perfect and necessary antedate to city living. Swanscombe is a unique open mosaic of coastal habitats, grasslands, scrub and wetlands that have developed as a result of the site’s complex human history. Natural England have recommended Swanscombe be declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest- we must protect our most important wildlife sites from being lost. It supports over 250 invertebrate species of conservation concern, including the Critically Endangered Distinguished jumping spider (Attulus distinguendus), which is found on only one other site in the UK. Swanscombe is home to nationally rare and endangered bees, spiders, beetles, wasps and a host of other invertebrates that make the site of national importance. Its rich breeding bird assemblage includes 15 red-listed Birds of Conservation Concern and 12 Species of Principal Importance- including Marsh harriers, Bearded tit, Nightingales and Black redstart. 13 nationally scarce vascular plant species have been found at Swanscombe, including 5 red-listed species such as the Man orchid. It also has locally important populations of reptiles, bats, Water vole and Otter. I am extremely worried that wildlife across the country is in drastic decline, and that it is more important than ever to spare and care for our national treasure which cannot be replaced if lost.The Swanscombe Peninsula is clearly the wrong place for a theme park- we must value our precious wildlife more than we do a theme park. Times have changed and commercial entertainment that returns nothing to real life, the long term health of humans and the natural world, is outdated. If it is to go ahead let this be on one of the many brown field sites with less or limited effects on native wildlife. Thank you. Yours sincerely, Lou Clark