[blacky]

hi everyone from a foggy canvey island

[Suzanne B]

Hi Blacky
Welcome to WAW.
I've just had a peep out the door (brrrrrr!!!) but there's no fog in South Cumbria tonight!!
Hope it's not too bad where you are!
Anyway, it's a good excuse for you to sit back and enjoy yourself here!!
See you around the forums!

[goosey]

Hello Blacky welcome from me too! we had plenty of freezing fog Wednesday and Thursday but that has cleared now. I hope its a bit brighter for you today.
I have just seen your beautiful images in the gallery and look forwards to seeing some more and your posts - I hope you join in - the more the merrier!

[stirling]

Hi and welcome from me.
Best from mike.

[blacky]

hi guys thanks a lot look forward to shareing photos and views regards Blacky

[Guy F]

Hi Blacky, welcome to the site. I've seen Canvey Island on the tv recently, it looks like a fascinating place for wildlife.
Guy

[paul m]

Yes, welcome - hope the fog has cleared!
Canvey is a great example of a bvrownfield (ex-industrial) site that supports much more wildlife than the average bit of British countryside! The habitat is very distinctive, supporting short grasses, ruderal flowers and therefore is attractive to many insects. It also holds heat from the sun, attracting thermophilic organisms.

It's not unique, there are plenty of similar habitats in SE England (and elsewhere in the world) but these, unfortunately, tend to be regarded as wasteland by developers and planners. It was a severe struggle to save Canvey Wick but hundreds of other sites (especially along the Thames Corridor) will be built upon - housing, roads and supermarkets . Some very good ones in the lower Lea Valley will be destroyed for the Olympics ...

[blacky]

Hi guys canvey wick is now a site of scietific importance after a six year battle it was recently on bbc alan tichmarsh natural britain .but it not all good news scores of motor bikes are destroying the habitat every weekend very frustrating

[goosey]

Originally Posted by blacky

Hi guys canvey wick is now a site of scietific importance after a six year battle it was recently on bbc alan tichmarsh natural britain .but it not all good news scores of motor bikes are destroying the habitat every weekend very frustrating

Thats bad news, is Canvey wick not protected then, or are the motor cyclists breaking the law? It seem such a shame after all the hard work. I suppose more lobbying by members of protection groups and measures by the council would take time to put into place and then could be too late.

[blacky]

Hi Goosey we have been working with the police ,you would not beleive what these people will do to get on the site thousands of pounds of damage to fenceing,gates, they even took off the padlocks and put there own on . but we are i think winning .it is such a wonderfull place

[paul m]

I think that there is a big problem for a lot of people (especially in Essex, I'm sorry to say) that when they see land that isn't built up then it's "wasteland" - it has no value and therefore it's ideal for driving vehicles about (or whatever else you want to do). I've seen this in Essex woodlands - great places for motorcycle scrambling (never mind what it does to the footpaths or wildlife) but probably the best (i.e. worst) example is coastal dune systems. These are very fragile ecosystems but many people just see them as somewhere to shelter from the wind, play hide and seek and have a barbeque ... with consequent destruction of the environment.

It is very sad that we need to 'lock up' nature reserves but seems to be the norm ...

Originally Posted by blacky

Hi Goosey we have been working with the police ,you would not beleive what these people will do to get on the site thousands of pounds of damage to fenceing,gates, they even took off the padlocks and put there own on . but we are i think winning .it is such a wonderfull place

[goosey]

Originally Posted by blacky

Hi guys canvey wick is now a site of scietific importance after a six year battle it was recently on bbc alan tichmarsh natural britain .but it not all good news scores of motor bikes are destroying the habitat every weekend very frustrating

Originally Posted by blacky

Hi Goosey we have been working with the police ,you would not beleive what these people will do to get on the site thousands of pounds of damage to fenceing,gates, they even took off the padlocks and put there own on . but we are i think winning .it is such a wonderfull place

I heard yesterday that a similar problem has occured On Walney Island in Cumbria at nature reserves.
Both ends of the Walney Channel are significant wildlife sites, home to natterjack toads, major seabird breeding colonies and rare wildflowers. The police have been called in to tackle repeat offenders driving onto the North Walney reserve and last week a car was caught in the tide and abandoned now with the threat of leaking oil and petrol. Signs warning drivers off Foulney Island where terns and oyster catchers nest on the shingle, were ripped down within five days of being put up.
A complete ban would breach genuine access rights. This week Barrow council's being asked to undertake a wide ranging investigation.

South Walney nature reserve is owned by the Wildlife Trust. South Walney Nature Reserve
North Walney is owned by Natural England Natural England - Special Sites