Representation by Ria Monckton
- Date submitted
- 13 March 2021
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
The Swanscombe Peninsula supports an outstanding range of wildlife- so important that it is being designated as a site to be statutory protected as a SSSI. It is so important for the world life that it supports. This is because if the unique open mosaic of habitats, following human history across the site, allowing it to regenerate into a thriving habitat supporting 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. Hence why Natiral England has confirmed that they recommend it be designated as a SSSI. The site has a rich breeding bird assemblage including 15 red-listed Birds of Conservation Concern and 12 Species of Principal Importance- including Marsh harriers, Bearded tit, Nightingales and Black redstart. It also supports 13 nationally scarce vascular plant species have been found at Swanscombe, including 5 red-listed species such as the Man orchid. Not to mention it also contains protected expected such as locally important populations of reptiles, bats, Water vole and Otter. One of the greatest things to come out of the covid pandemic is showing how much we value our wild / open spaces for all to enjoy. People being able to access these spaces has MASSIVE health and well-being improvements. And it’s free- so supports those on low incomes and families to enjoy these spaces (which are few and far between and continuing to decline due to development). Connecting with nature and ‘forest/wild bathing’ reduces stress, mental health issues, increases fitness and connects us to the outside world like nothing else can- particularly a theme park. We need to protect these spaces for wildlife and for our own means. Once it’s gone it can never be replaced. The huge array of habitats and species that it supports could never be fully mitigated and it will be lost forever- and action that you will be responsible for. Please make the right decision for all of our futures, and rather than allow a non-essential development such as a theme park to be delivered, you protect this area from unnecessary development. Jobs can still be provided through the running of the site as a reserve. Please prove that we do in fact have value in our wildlife havens by rejecting this development. Thank you Ria Monckton