Representation by John Rees Puckett
- Date submitted
- 25 March 2021
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I visited this site some years ago with the Kent group of the Botanical Society of the British Isles (BSBI). I was struck by the botanical diversity and the number of rare plants recorded. I was appalled by the thought that this extremely rich mosaic habitat would be largely destroyed by an amusement park. It is obviously an inappropriate site for a theme park. It has been recently notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. As such it supports a nationally important assemblage of invertebrates including the Critically Endangered Distinguished jumping spider, Attulus distinguendus. The site has 15 red-listed Birds of Conservation Concern and 12 Species of Principal Importance. All these have been recorded breeding on site. Botanically 5 red-listed plant species such as Man Orchid have been recorded. Wildlife countrywide is in drastic decline and thus it is more important than ever to protect our SSSI network. The Swanscombe Peninsular is an inappropriate place to develop a theme park. We must value and protect our precious wildlife.