Wildlife
The Park covers an area of 125 acres within the South Essex Marsh area and contains a variety of habitats and a rich diversity of species which includes a number of locally and nationally rare species. These include the green winged orchid, redshank, the scarce emerald damselfly, shrill carder bee and the roesels bush cricket.
- Scarce emerald damselfy
Reedbed is a rare habitat in Essex and a number of species are either wholly or partly dependent on reededs including five red data book species. The reedbed at Wat Tyler is the largest such habitat in South Essex. Species found in the reedbeds include reed warbler, sedge warbler, bearded reedling, water rails and cuckoos.
- Reed warbler
It is for these reasons that the Park has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest – a national designation for important wildlife sites and commonly referred to as S.S.S.I.
Nowhere else in Essex can be found such a rich diversity in such a small area making it one of the most important wildlife sites in the county. Many of the communities and species in existence at Wat Tyler Country Park are recognised as nationally and regionally significant in the National and Essex Biodiversity Action Plans.
Wat Tyler Country Park is central to the wider marshes that border the Thames and stretch from Thurrock in the west to Castle Point and parts of Southend in the east. This extensive area forms a major ecological unit of international importance.
Work that RSPB, Essex Wildlife Trust and the local authorities are doing will ensure that the incredible biodiversity of the marshes is conserved and enhanced, and will also enable people to access this rich and historic landscape for quiet recreation.
The major improvements currently taking place at Wat Tyler Country Park are crucial to the wider plan, with the park forming a central hub for this visitor focus. This has been recognised by the Government’s Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG), in their construction of a ‘Parklands‘ concept that will put green spaces and the connections to them at the heart of the Thames Gateway strategic development.
