Representation by Marlies MacLean
- Date submitted
- 13 March 2021
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Mankind depends on healthy, rich biodiversity for our very existence - clean air, clean water, fresh food, physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. This has been proven fairly dramatically during recent years and particularly during the confinement caused by this covid 19 pandemic. The State of Nature reports made since 2013 by experts in all fields of knowledge of nature have been alarmed at the speed of the reduction in, and extinction, of much biodiversity since 1970, due to loss and fragmentation of habitat, expansion of manmade infrastructure, and climate change and other factors. It is well known that today's children, and often their parents, have lost touch with nature, as shown by the dictionary with the "lost words" of previously very common flowers etc. Schools, at least in Scotland, are beginning to have some outdoor education and it has been shown that this often helps with behaviour, attention in class, and general wellbeing. Swanscombe Marshes has a great deal of rich biodiversity, including some very rare, and decreasing flowers, eg the Man Orchid; insects, such as the delightfully named Distinguished Jumping Spider, of which only ONE has been found anywhere else in England; a good number of amphibians and other water creatures; and several uncommon or rare birds eg. the nightingale, the only night-singing bird which is being lost in other parts of southern England where it lives due to worsening habitat; Bearded tits which can be heard but can be challenging to see; Black Redstarts which are again almost only southern species; and Marsh Harriers, another uncommon and exciting bird of prey. If any one of these species becomes extinct, we do not yet have enough knowledge to know how it will affect the chain of life on which, as already said, we all depend. However, we are now beginning to realise how vitally important biodiversity is. We must increase it throughout the country, not destry it. it is good for everyone's well being to be out in it, discover its intricacy and be fascinated by our discoveries; and to become close to nature once again for the sake of our own health and happiness. I therefore am against the current plans for Swanscombe Marshes. .