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Crossness Nature Reserve

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Coordinates: 51°30′04″N 0°08′53″E / 51.501°N 0.148°E / 51.501; 0.148
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One of the many ponds in Crossness Nature Reserve

Crossness Nature Reserve is a 25.5 hectare local nature reserve in Crossness in the London Borough of Bexley.[1][2] It is part of the Erith Marshes Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation.[3] The site is adjacent to Crossness Sewage Treatment Works; the works form the reserve's western boundary. It was created under a planning condition (Section 106 agreement) in 1994 and is owned and managed by Thames Water.[1][4][5][6] At the northern edge of the reserve is a waste management facility owned and operated by Cory.

Crossness is part of the original Thames floodplain called Erith Marshes.[7][8] It is one of the few remaining areas of grazing marsh in London, and it has the largest reedbeds in Bexley. It also has ponds and ditches, and areas of scrub and rough grassland.[9] It is a major site for water voles, and 130 species of birds have been recorded, together with some rare invertebrates, including five species of water beetles and one of the UK's rarest wild bumblebee species, the Shrill Carder bee.[10] Scarce plants include Borrer's saltmarsh grass and frog rush, a species that was previously thought to be extinct in Kent.[1][8][11]

There are footpaths through the eastern part of the site, accessed from Norman Road and Eastern Way, but the western part is closed to the public.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Crossness Nature Reserve.

Developments

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Between 2005 and 2011 the Belvedere Green Links project saw £1,000,000 spent on restoring Erith southern marsh and Crossness Nature Reserve, including the stable block.[12] This was funded by the Homes & Communities Agency (HCA), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Greater London Authority (GLA). Bexley Borough Council were key stakeholders.[13]

In the early 2020s, Cory announced plans to create one of Europe's largest Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) facilities in Belvedere, on a site including 11.7% of the 25.5 hectares of land at Crossness Nature Reserve.[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] In December 2023, a campaign group (Save Crossness Nature Reserve) and petition was established to oppose the development.[24][25] The petition generated 2,790 signatures. In June 2024, the campaign group sought to raise £8000 to fight the plans.[26][27]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Crossness". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. 4 March 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  2. ^ "Map of Crossness". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  3. ^ "Erith Marshes". Greenspace Information for Greater London. 2013. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  4. ^ "Crossness Nature Reserve | Days out". Thames Water. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  5. ^ "Thames Water's Crossness Nature Reserve". Bexley Local Group. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  6. ^ "Thames Water Utilities Limited" (PDF). Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  7. ^ "Experience". experience.arcgis.com. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  8. ^ a b "Crossness Nature Reserve". Wild Travel Magazine. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  9. ^ "Crossness Nature Reserve". Thames Water. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  10. ^ "Bug-catchers abuzz after spotting UK's rarest bee in Thamesmead". News Shopper. 2019-08-20. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  11. ^ "Juncus Ranarius" (PDF). Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  12. ^ "Belvedere Green Links". SlideShare. 2016-03-23. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  13. ^ "Environmental Sustainability Bexley's Environmental Sustainability Strategy" (PDF). Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  14. ^ "'World's largest': Cory plots carbon capture system for Thames waste-to-energy plant". www.businessgreen.com. 2021-11-16. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  15. ^ "Documents | Cory Decarbonisation Project". national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  16. ^ "Wild Things: Wildlife facing an uncertain future". News Shopper. 2023-12-03. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  17. ^ "Bexley locals 'furious' at plans for carbon capture plants on nature reserve". News Shopper. 2023-11-15. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  18. ^ "Bexley: Carbon capture plant raises concerns about wildlife". BBC News. 2023-11-10. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  19. ^ "Residents 'hugely worried' over contamination at nature reserve from new carbon capture plants". South London News. 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  20. ^ Coughlan, Joe (2023-11-09). "Campaigners fight plans for carbon capture plants at Crossness incinerators". The Greenwich Wire. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  21. ^ Coughlan, Joe; Updated (2023-11-09). "Locals 'furious' at plans to build on nature reserve rich with wildlife". My London. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  22. ^ "New threat to key London nature reserve". CPRE London. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  23. ^ "Wild Things: Crossness Nature Reserve plan must be stopped". News Shopper. 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  24. ^ "Nature campaign group opposes Cory's carbon capture plans". letsrecycle.com. 2023-12-08. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  25. ^ "Save Crossness Nature Reserve | Erith Marshes". Save CNR. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  26. ^ Coughlan, Joe (6 June 2024). "Campaigners appeal for £8,000 to fight plan to build on Crossness Nature Reserve". Greenwich Wire. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  27. ^ https://southlondon.co.uk/news/fundraiser-to-challenge-plans-to-build-carbon-capture-plants-on-crossness-nature-reserve/ [bare URL]

51°30′04″N 0°08′53″E / 51.501°N 0.148°E / 51.501; 0.148

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