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Crossness Enhancements Receive Commendation
Environmental work at the Crossness Southern Marshes and Crossness Nature Reserve, owned by Thames Water, has been commended by the judges of an important environmental award.
Judges of the RSPB/CIWEM Living Wetlands Award 2007 said that they were “impressed with the ‘enhancing biodiversity and community access’ project at Crossness, particularly the strong community involvement.”
Funded by Bexley Council, Communities & Local Government (previously known as the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) and Thames Water, the works have increased biodiversity and public access to an area that is much valued by the local community.
The Leader of Bexley Council and Chairman of the Invest Bexley Board, Cllr Ian Clement said: “Open space and parkland is highly valued in Bexley, and projects like this ensure residents get the greatest benefit. We are very proud that the judges have recognised the achievements at Crossness, and we will be working to continue this great work throughout the borough.
“I would also like to thank the local volunteers who contributed to the management of the project.”
The Crossness Southern Marshes are now open to the public for the first time in generations, providing access through the 30 hectare grazing marsh and providing home to a large population of water voles. Enhancements included the removal of silt from ditches, reshaping of ditch banks to provide better habitats, and the planting of reeds to provide food and shelter for water voles. The voles once inhabited just 130 metres of ditch; now they occupy over one kilometre.
The Crossness Southern Marsh has seen improvements including a 1.5km footpath, six new bridges, new ponds to provide drinking water for grazing horses, new gates and wildlife viewing areas, as well as the removal of 100,000kg of rubbish - roughly the equivalent weight of 100 saloon cars. Since these improvements, Thames Water has hosted a number of community events at both the Southern Marshes and the Nature Reserve, including bat and butterfly walks and bird ringing demonstrations.
Thames Water’s Crossness Nature Reserve Manager, Karen Sutton, said: “We’re delighted by this commendation for our enhancements at the Crossness Nature Reserve and Southern Marshes which have already proved popular with residents. Our new mile-long footpath and viewing platforms are very well-used and it’s great to see the water vole start to thrive in Crossness after our work to improve their habitat.”
The Invest Bexley board, the local regeneration partnership, is continuing to push for funding to further improve access and biodiversity at both Crossness and the Crayford marshes.
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