In a wildlife area created by The Port of Tilbury as part of the London Distribution Park development in 2014, major insect and invertebrate species have increased, according to a new surveillance study.
The habitat, recognized in 2019 as of National Importance for Insects and Other Invertebrates, was created seven years ago by spreading chalk slurry over an area the size of six soccer fields on the bare surface of a former landfill and then placing dunes’ (made from fly ash ) and bundle of chalk on top. It was then left to develop.
Interesting insects and invertebrates found in the latest study, carried out by one of the UK’s leading invertebrate surveying companies in collaboration with ecology expert Bioscan, include showy species such as:
- the bombardier beetle Brachinus crepitans, a beetle with a secret weapon: its rear end acts as a chemical reactor and creates explosions to defend itself and repel predators;
- the pantaloon bee Dasypoda hirtipes, which carry large pollen baskets on their hind legs, resembling a costume made of fluffy yellow pantaloons; and
- the six-belted clearwing Bembecia ichneumoniformis, a day-flying moth that resembles a wasp as a protective mimicry;
All of these are nationally rare species that favor this particular area of South Essex. The wildlife site sounds like its own success. Due to the different densities of insects and levels of activity, the hum can sometimes be amplified into an overpowering hum.
Previous surveys in 2018 found that the new habitats newly created in Mucking were already home to proportionally higher numbers of rare and rare invertebrate species than were found at the LDP site prior to development, and the most recent report concluded that the new Habitat “continues to support a remarkable abundance and abundance of invertebrates and are habitats of very high conservation importance for invertebrates. “
Commenting on the results, John Speakman, Snr Asset Manager for property in Tilbury Harbor: “Port of Tilbury takes its responsibility as a developer seriously. This is further confirmed by the results of this study, which clearly show that this habitat, in collaboration with our consultants at Bioscan, is an important natural area for living beings today.
In a predominantly industrial area, it is gratifying that this “urban meadow” is flourishing. Through our partnership with landowners and ecology experts, we jointly achieved our environmental goals in the development of the London Distribution Park. “
Dominic Woodfield, Managing Director of Bioscan UK Limited said:
“One of the best parts of my job is putting habitat creation theory into practice, and the LDP compensation area at the Mucking Landfill is a fantastic example of how nature will thrive if you give it the right building blocks and give the time for it. The Port of Tilbury has been fully invested in making this project a reality from the start and the success of invertebrate surveillance is only a reward for its commitment to corporate responsibility. “
Ecologists will re-monitor the site in five years, with the planned intervals between monitors becoming longer as habitats become established. However, given the positive development so far, it is to be expected that our surveyors will discover more exciting finds in 2025. Because the first study was so successful, the report recommends the creation of additional invertebrate habitats in Mucking – a program currently in full swing to offset the effects of the Tilbury 2 development on the site of the former Tilbury Power Plant.
Bioscan UK Limited designed the wildlife area on behalf of Tilbury Harbor.
