Representation by Carol Palmer
- Date submitted
- 18 March 2021
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
My view is that Swanscombe Peninsula supports an outstanding range of wildlife and is vitally important for the wildlife that depends on it. 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. We must listen and act upon Natural England's recommendation that Swanscombe be declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest- this recommendation would not have been made lightly. Natural England are doing what we task them to do: protect our most important wildlife sites from being lost. Given that Swanscombe 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 and is home to nationally rare and endangered bees, spiders, beetles, wasps and a host of other invertebrates, this site is one of national importance. It also supports breeding sites for 15 red-listed Birds of Conservation Concern and 12 Species of Principal Importance- including Marsh harriers, Bearded tit, Nightingales and Black redstart. Meanwhile 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. More details about Swanscombe’s value for wildlife, are contained in the “Rationale for the SSSI designation of the Swanscombe Peninsula” which was presented to Natural England in February. Thar the destruction of such a species rich and a valuable habitat can be contemplated flies in the face of all recent environmental and wildlife-support policies championed by this Government, and such as the Nature Recovery Network. Let's not give ourselves the challenge of replacing nature, let's save it. The Swanscombe Peninsula is simply the wrong place for a theme park- we must value our precious wildlife more than we do a theme park.