Bradwell-on-sea is a burgeoning habitat for rare and unique species of flora and fauna. It forms part of the protected Dengie Nature Reserve.
The scope of Bradwell’s precious cockle banks, meandering marsh and protected nature conservations covers five National and Internationally protected conservation sites, including SSIs and RAMSAR*.
The waters that spill onto our shores are home to rare Essex native oyster, mussel and clam species. The area is classed as a Marine Conservation Zone.
Dengie Nature Reserve is a 3,105 hectare biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest between the estuaries of the Blackwater and Crouch near Bradwell-on-Sea in Essex.
It is also a National Nature Reserve, a Special Protection Area, a Nature Conservation Review site, a Geological Conservation Review site and a Ramsar site.
The area forms part of the Essex estuaries Special Area of Conservation.
The Bradwell Shell Bank nature reserve covers an area of 12 hectares and is which is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust. The area is made up of large, remote expanses of tidal mud-flats and salt marshes, overlooked by the Chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall.
This wetland is of international importance as it provides habitats for rare and protected bird species including: Bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica), Hen harrier (Circus cyaneus), Grey plover (Pluvialis squatarola), knot (Calidris canutus), Black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa islandica), Dunlin (Calidris alpina alpina), Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus), Dark-bellied brent goose (Branta bernicla bernicla), Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus).
Construction of the proposed Bradwell B power station is set to include a water intake and outfall into the estuary for cooling purposes. The installation of any such facility will scour the seabed and has the potential to devastate the ecology, increasing the temperature of the water and killing the fish stocks.
Inland, the impact would extend beyond the Dengie and out to Danbury and South Woodham Ferrers, as the proposed bypass, park and ride and lorry parks would increase air and noise pollution.
Where there are cleaner, far more ecologically sound and less hazardous means of generating electricity, would it not be better for us and our future generations to protect our vital environment and ecology, and look to greener renewable energy resources?
This stunning video (below) captures the essence of the unique environment that is the Dengie Peninsular and that which Bradwell B would completely devastate. With six protection designations including a RAMSAR for our internationally important wetlands bird, our ecology must be protected from this misjudged development and its irreversible consequences.
