Representation by Janet Aunins
- Date submitted
- 12 March 2021
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I believe that Swanscombe Peninsula supports an outstanding range of wildlife and is crucial for the wildlife depends on it, as it 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 has recommended that Swanscombe be declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest and 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 this 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, and 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. (Please see the “Rationale for the SSSI designation of the Swanscombe Peninsula” which was presented to Natural England in February.) So much of our precious wildlife across the country is in drastic decline, and it is more important than ever to conserve our precious wildlife habitat. Too much is being lost for frivolous and unnecessary reasons. The Swanscombe Peninsula is absolutely the wrong place for a theme park and we must value our precious and endangered wildlife more than we do something so frivolous and completely unnecessary as a theme park.