Riverscapes

An environmental vision for 2013-23

Bata Reminiscence and Project Davy Down Trust Resource Centre

EWT Chafford Gorges Country Ngage Nature Park Park & Friends Conservation Thurrock CVS Fort Volunteers Tilbury Riverside Visit Project

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

INTRODUCTION

i. Environment in Thurrock ii. Riverscapes Approach iii. Principles iv. Achievements so far

PART ONE: Making Connections

PART TWO: Delivering Change

PART THREE: Celebrating Thurrock

THE DELIVERY PLAN

Executive Summary

Thurrock's Vision is set out in the Community Strategy.

"A place of opportunity, enterprise and excellence, where individuals, communities and businesses flourish"

This is supported by five objectives.

1 Create a great place for learning and opportunity 2 Encourage and promote job creation and economic prosperity 3 Build pride, responsibility and respect to create safer communities 4 Improve health and well-being 5 Protect and promote our clean and green environment

The environment is a key priority and Riverscapes is one of the plans that support the delivery of this.

Over the last decade Thurrock has seen the delivery of world class environment sites spanning the borough from the RSPB Rainham Marshes to EWT Thurrock Thameside Nature Park.

These have transformed the visual and natural environment of their local area, provided social, leisure and recreation opportunities for local people, contributed to the economy, and have helped improve the image of Thurrock.

However individual sites are not enough to make the environment function for the long term, help us adapt to climate change, enable species to thrive or maximise the environments economic value. Latest national thinking focuses tackling these issues through a "landscape scale" approach. This recognises the importance of creating a connected environment for our nature and people and that a high quality environment provides a significant contribution to regeneration and the economic life of urban centres.

Riverscapes aims to translate this ambition into delivery for Thurrock. It outlines our approach to improving Thurrock's riverside landscapes and their surrounding environment. It embraces the concept that our unique natural places need to connect and function as a whole system to provide the best benefits for people and wildlife. It also recognises that environmental enhancement improves investment and provides opportunities for green skills and employment.

Thurrock is fortunate to have many environmental organisations and groups working to make a difference through their own sites and projects. Recognising this strength, the Council has placed partnership working at the heart of Riverscapes and will promote a joined-up approach with its partners by utilising its enabling role as local authority.

Riverscapes also recognises that to strengthen our environment we need to engage more people in celebrating and promoting what is special about Thurrock, involve people in decision making about our environmental priorities and empower people to take ownership and support the sites that they value.

Riverscapes aims to translate these ambitions for Thurrock into delivery. It will achieve this through three areas of activity:

1. Making Connections - At its heart Riverscapes is a partnership approach, Making Connections formalises Thurrock's role in five cross boundary partnerships which span south Essex and the Thames Gateway. Each partnership will have its own projects, activities and funding bids which extend through the sub region and across the Thames and is committed to having an active role in their development and delivery.

2. Delivering Change - Building on the existing project delivery and strategic sites Delivering Change is a prospectus of 15 project areas which will be the focus for strategic environmental delivery within the Thurrock boundary over the next ten years. This will include a range of projects which will be developed with local partner organisations and supported by a range of external funding applications.

3. Celebrating Thurrock - The environment is as important for people and the economy as it is for wildlife. Celebrating Thurrock covers five projects to engage local people in the environment around them, empower people to get involved and promote strategic sites and Thurrock as a whole.

These areas of activity are overarched by a refreshed natural environment vision and six principles that have been developed with local stakeholders and partners. These will guide project development and delivery over the next decade.

The Riverscapes Plan on a page

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INTRODUCTION

Introduction

Thurrock's Vision is set out in the Community Strategy,

"A place of opportunity, enterprise and excellence, where individuals, communities and businesses flourish"

This is supported by five objectives.

1 Create a great place for learning and opportunity 2 Encourage and promote job creation and economic prosperity 3 Build pride, responsibility and respect to create safer communities 4 Improve health and well-being 5 Protect and promote our clean and green environment

In 2011 the Government published The Natural Choice - Securing the value of nature. This white paper recognised that a healthy, properly functioning natural environment is the foundation of sustained economic growth, prospering communities and personal wellbeing. It identified three priorities:

 Protecting and improving our natural environment  Growing a green economy  Reconnecting people and nature

These priorities link closely to to the Council's objectives and Riverscapes has been developed as our prioritised plan to achieve these in Thurrock. Riverscapes sits alongside a suite of initiatives focussed on reconnecting Thurrock to River and the borough wide framework for Big Skies.

Environment in Thurrock

Thurrock's environment has been influenced by its good location adjacent to one of the world’s most famous rivers; this is reflected in its motto

‘By the Thames to all people of the world…’

Its history and character has always been interwoven with that of the , something that continues today.

The Thames is also home to a rich collection of resident wildlife and is of international natural significance as an over wintering ground for 300,000 waterfowl.

Behind these 18 miles of riverfront lies a borough which boasts a diverse green belt covering 60% of its area: a unique combination of atmospheric marshland, ancient woodlands, historic fens and the river valley.

This distinctive landscape contrasts with a rich and continually evolving industrial heritage that, as a key focus of Thurrock’s regeneration agenda, continues to shape Thurrock’s character: the new Gateway Port, the complex, the Port of Tilbury and the ex-Bata Factory conservation area to name but a few examples.

Strategically positioned with a world city on its doorstep and lying between Essex and Kent, its excellent transport links put six million people within easy reach of Thurrock and its natural environment.

Our natural environment provides many opportunities but it also faces many challenges, from growth and development pressures, the impacts of a changing climate and perceptions of its image and quality.

Ensuring that our environmental assets are protected and enhanced is good for Thurrock’s people, wildlife and economy. From ensuring its soil quality for growing crops, supporting biodiversity, creating attractive surroundings that attract new businesses and residents, increasing house values, providing resources for industry to supporting healthy living. The environment is crucial to Thurrock’s wider regeneration ambition and integral to the Thurrock vision .

"A place of opportunity, enterprise and excellence, where individuals, communities and businesses flourish"

The relationship between the Community Strategy and Environment is outlined in Appendix 1

Riverscapes Approach

The concept of Riverscapes has been built on the premise that environmental protection and enhancement is a shared privilege and responsibility. It r ecognises the need to maintain our environmental network for it to function properly and prevent fragmentation. It embraces this "landscape scale" approach to environmental strategy as advocated by the white paper, the RSPB’s ‘Futurescapes’ and Essex Wildlife Trust’s ‘Living Landscapes’.

Riverscapes is a cross cutting agenda which will help to deliver a range of outcomes for people and the environment. It considers the challenges and opportunities available to Thurrock’s environment and seeks to deliver this through three distinct yet interconnecting programmes.

Thurrock's environment is extensive, but it is only part of a much wider landscape system that stretches across South Essex, the Thames and into London. The first part of our approach is recognising Thurrock's position and importance within this wider environment landscape and the contributions we need to make to ensure its wellbeing. These are set out in Making Connections - which outlines the priorities for sub regional project working through five cross boundary partnerships.

The second stage in our approach is project delivery within Thurrock. Delivering Change aims to piece together local initiatives to complete a bigger, strategic whole . Improving the environment is a wide ranging challenge and Riverscapes prioritises improvements to the natural environment of our two rivers, the Thames and the Mardyke.

This has been driven by two factors, the international importance of our riverside landscape for wildlife and the aspiration from local people to be better connected to the river.

The final part of our approach focuses on connecting people with nature. Celebrating Thurrock aims to embed community engagement approaches into Riverscapes to better connect local people to the environment, riverside and strategic sites.

A full diagram of the Riverscapes Approach is outlined in Appendix 2

Riverscapes Principles

Thurrock's environmental objective to protect and promote our clean and green environment is underpinned by a range of strategies including the Greengrid Strategy and the Community Regeneration Strategy. Riverscapes updates the ambition of these documents and focuses on transforming our aspirations into delivery.

As part of this a refreshed delivery vision has been developed in partnership with local and national stakeholders.

“Use Thurrock’s riverside location to promote, connect and enhance Thurrock’s natural environment for the benefit of local people, wildlife and economy”

This is supported by a set of Riverscapes principles shared with our stakeholders which will guide delivery. These are:

1. Promote, protect and enhance the special character of Thurrock

2. Develop a connected multi-use green space network and accessible, vibrant riverfront

3. Integrate climate change adaptation and mitigation responses into Thurrock’s green space network

4. Maintain the natural integrity of Thurrock’s air, land and water including biodiversity

5. Use Thurrock’s environment to improve local health and well- being, volunteering, learning and green employment

6. Support partnership working between Thurrock’s stakeholders

Achievements so far

Riverscapes builds on more than a decade of environmental delivery which has begun to transform our environment and regenerated environmental assets across the borough. Some of the achievements to date include:

s e h s r a M t e m e fl a r h u in P a d t R e e a d r d t s n n n n u a e e d F c p te n t r o o c p t to e y i e o g j s r d o g i t in n a y r e v b n t e y P a s n r C g d e n t e e g r te r io S r W t to a u x t o i r c s y a c t e G is e n e m s je S i l r V s g e s o d d o r r s i g e v f E o r n P f e in b A I h f g t h n d e y a s B to y u e e n s e l h r P l o l a e u a e l C r f S h S a v a M G s o V n R C V id e d r e k d s M e p m n g k a c a n e k y o o l B y n h r a m d r k P d e r T in r a r e u a T S r a W a h a h P W R M E R T T M G E 2000 2005

d e h c n d u e t la e l a p e r m o A c t t n d d e e e d n t e m it v te o s m e r e t v s m l n p n b p p o p e lo r e u d p p s a m m e o v e O n n e v Im C v e o io d d o k i t o s r e r t y e r r t t r a a a d t r p c p e a c p u P ic i u le r t e t l l t m j a a p I lo s e p p S o r p p t r g N p y m e x c n u a a t o s p i s t i E je e a 2 il C u 1 d 2 o h N b s o e r n e e i y l e u s n h i s f r e s s s d e b P a e t a t a d a a tu o s i h e p a h c M s h n P F S O G M P je e P e s t t y t t d t o t r r e r r r r r e m r e o o o o ll g o a o P m a F d F F h F F a i F G a r n T e e V e e e e h e s B s d s T k s s e s e u t u n u r r c u u k u o o e o a o e o o y e o G t r h h l h lh s h i r lh l l d f l ll l a r a r r a a x a a a a a a e u o o u o o o r h o C C M P C C W C M G T C 2010 2015

This Riverscapes Plan focuses on the next decade of delivery.

PART ONE -

MAKING CONNECTIONS

Making Connections

Nature, wildlife, landscape, air, water, roads, paths and rivers do not stop at Thurrock's boundary. Thurrock is part of a complex connected natural system that supports both people and wildlife. To make the best of our environment we have to recognise our position within this wider landscape, that what happens around it impacts on us both positively and negatively and that working with our neighbours will help maximise our opportunities.

There are a number of organisations that deliver environmental change in Thurrock on specific sites, these organisations come together to contribute to five cross boundary partnerships which stretch across the Thames from the east coast to the heart of London.

Thurrock Council is committed to actively contributing to these five landscape scale partnerships: • South Essex Greengrid • Thames Chase Community Forest • Wildspace for a World City • Greater Thames Marshes Nature Improvement Area • Local Nature Partnership

Each partnership brings together a range of organisations to deliver a specific set of priorities and objectives, from community forestry to improving the marshes. Each partnership has its own programmes of projects and activities, some are physical, some focus on funding bids and others on planning, guidance and expertise.

The partnerships recognise our connections with our traditional local partners but also engages us with the green infrastructure agenda in neighbouring London boroughs and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership. This enables opportunities to grow the green, low carbon and rural economies and develop the environmental skills base through their funding programmes such as ERDF and future European funding.

These partnerships contribute to the strategic context for Riverscapes and influence the Thurrock projects and community engagement programmes.

TOP DOWN RIVERSCAPES PARTNERSHIPS MAP

Thurrock is committed to working with our strategic and local organisations to support strategic delivery within the sub region through these five partnership groups. We will contribute to the delivery of projects through these partnerships and in the development of appropriate external funding bids.

South Essex Greengrid

Vision: To create a thriving system threading through the urban and rural landscape, connecting places that are attractive to people, wildlife and business, and providing clean air, food, water, energy, minerals and materials.

Partners :

Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership, Essex County Council, Council, Castlepoint Council, Southend on Sea Council, Council, RSBP, Essex Wildlife Trust, Environment Agency.

Fig 1. Map of the South Essex Greengrid Boundary

The South Essex Greengrid is a sub-regional partnership set up in 2000 which works towards a shared strategy. It aims to put landscape at the heart of the development process and environment at the heart of sustainable development and the economy. The partnership moved into delivery in 2008 when it secured £9.8m of Parklands funding to improve five sites:

Projects Include :

Maxigreen An Interreg funded project to enhance the environment and heritage sites between Southend and Tilbury which will engage with 9 local communities to create a vision and visitor attractions for the marshes, create the Path from Tilbury to Leigh and connect it to rail links, develop a mobile application to guide visitors

Walls and Gardens An Interreg funded project with Essex County Council and sites in France, Holland and Belgium to create best practice interpretation of historic sites

South Essex Landscape Partnership. Currently under development the partnership aims to make an application to develop a landscape partnership Heritage Lottery Fund in May 2014

Thames Chase

Vision: Thames Chase aims to increase access to woodland, open space and nature, conserve landscape and the natural environment, adapt to climate change, make sustainable travel connections, enhance the area as a distinctive visitor destination, boost the visitor economy, promote healthy living, sustainable food production, green skills, sustainable design, management and maintenance and engage with communities

Partners : Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership, Essex County Council, Basildon Council, Castlepoint Council, Southend on Sea Council, Rochford Council, RSBP, Essex Wildlife Trust,

Environment Agency,

Fig 2. Map of the Thames Chase Boundary

Thames Chase was set up in 1990 as part of a national programme for Community Forests. The project aimed to provide a forestry and recreational resource for East London and South Essex covering Thurrock, Brentwood, Havering, Barking and Dagenham supported by Essex County Council. Over the last 10 years the partnership has secured funding and delivered a range of projects including over £2m of improvements for the Mardyke Valley.

Projects Include :

• Heritage Lottery Funding application for up to £3m for a cross boundary Landscape Partnership between Havering, Thurrock, Forestry Commission and Thames Chase

• A river catchment project with Thurrock, Thames Chase and the Environment Agency to improve the quality of the River Mardyke

• A programme of woodland management grants with Thames Chase Trust and the Forestry Commission which will support the maintenance of Council owned woodlands

Wildspace

Vision: To create a regional destination of international importance

Partners : RSPB, London Borough of Havering, Port of London Authority, Veolia, Environment Agency

Fig 3 Map of the Wildspace Boundary

Wildspace aims to create a flagship natural visitor attraction for East London. One of the top London Greengrid projects, it is recognised as a key regeneration project for the area.

Projects Include :

• RSPB Rainham Marshes Reserve, including the Education Centre and the Council's Magazine site

• Havering's Rainham to the River Project

• Port of London Authority and Veolia sites including long term plans for a country park in Havering

Greater Thames Marshes Nature Improvement Area

Vision: Our Vision for the Greater Thames Marshes NIA is a living and vibrant marshland and estuary landscape where the skills and enthusiasm of residents, visitors, businesses and technical experts are harnessed to work in partnership, delivering more wildlife, more public understanding and enjoyment of the environment and greater resilience by the natural world to the changes brought about by climate change and development.

Partners : Thames Estuary Partnership, Greening the Gateway Kent Partnership, Essex County Council, Buglife, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts for Essex, London and Kent,

Fig 4. Map of Thames Gateway Nature Improvement Area

The Greater Thames Marshes covers 48,981 ha and is one of 12 Nature Improvement Areas in the UK. Designated in 2012 the NIA is trialling best practice on wildlife protection, agricultural practice, water level management, community engagement and visitor management. The programme is developing 4 shared funding bids which will be submitted in 2014.

Thurrock's priorities within the NIA are biodiversity offsetting, brownfield and invertebrates and connecting people to nature.

Projects Include :

Mapping the biodiversity to identify all known sites so that future investments can be targeted at areas of need and stepping stones between areas of interest.

Developing projects where partners are either funding or helping with resources such as Defra Higher Level Stewardship scheme

Piloting Biodiversity Offsetting with Thurrock Council to improve sites in Thurrock.

Developing projects where NIA resources fund improvement. Including a project in Essex to improve the habitat of Thames Terrace Invertebrates.

Looking to the future and seeking to raise £5 to £7 million of legacy toward future projects. Local Nature Partnership

Vision: Drive positive change in the local natural environment, taking a strategic view of the challenges and opportunities involved and identifying ways to manage it as a system for the benefit of nature, people and the economy.

Contribute to achieving the Government’s national environmental objectives locally, including the identification of local ecological networks, alongside addressing local priorities.

Become local champions influencing decision-making relating to the natural environment and its value to social and economic outcomes, in particular, through working closely with local authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and Health and Wellbeing Boards.

Partners : Partners :

Thames Estuary Partnership, Greening the Gateway Kent Partnership, Essex County

Council, Buglife, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts for Essex, London and Kent

Overview :

The government has recognised that partnership working is the best way to achieve effective action for the natural environment. The formation of a LNP is to develop a partnership that can work strategically to conserve biodiversity and improve the range of socio-economic benefits and services provided by a healthy natural environment.

At the heart of the government’s ambition for LNPs is that each area finds its own way to make the LNP role real and meaningful locally. It is for each partnership to decide what their priorities are and how they work in the way that best suits the needs and challenges of their local area.

The LNP is in its early stages and currently developing its role.

PART TWO -

DELIVERING CHANGE

Delivering Change

Riverscapes aims to translate the principle of a connected environment into delivery on the ground. A set of 15 project areas have been identified and make up a prospectus showing priorities for delivery within Thurrock. Together these create a mosaic of sites and areas which connect the landscape of the Mardyke and Thames and support regeneration through our six growth hubs.

We are fortunate to have a strong network of environmental organisations active on specific sites across Thurrock. This Riverscapes prospectus has been developed through a collaborative approach with these partner organisations.

Whilst Making Connections outlines Thurrock's contribution to the regional environment, Delivering Change outlines the priorities for delivery for the Council and its partner environmental organisations within the Thurrock boundary.

The 15 programme areas are:

1 Rainham Marshes

2 Purfleet & Riverside

3 Forest

4 Lakeside Basin & South 5 Riverside 6 Mardyke Valley

7 Chafford Gorges

8 Grays Riverside

9 Grays & Chadwell

10 Grays & Tilbury

11 Tilbury & Riverside

12 Coalhouse Fort

Thurrock Thameside Nature 13 Park & Riverside 14 Corringham &

15 Langdon Hills

Living Landscapes

Living Landscapes

1. Rainham Marshes

Enhancing access to Rainham Marshes as part of the Wildspace Partnership

Partners: RSPB ; Havering Council; PLA, Natural ; Environment Agency

Overview

Acquired from the Ministry of Defence in 2000, the RSPB have since worked to make Aveley, Rainham and Wennington Marshes one of their flagship sites, which includes a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The carbon- neutral visitor centre was completed in 2006 and is the educational flagship for the RSPB in England. It is a key part of the Wildspace Partnership and project outlined in Part 1. It will be essential to ensure that Thurrock’s communities can access and benefit from this strategic environmental resource as the further developments take place across the site over the next decade.

Projects include:

• Enhancement of pedestrian and cycle link from the station to the Mardyke • Enhancement of the link from RSPB to Davy Down and on to • Landscape work to open up routes and vistas between Purfleet and waterfront • Restoration of Kings Quay • Platform and/or boardwalk to view the foreshore • Interpretation points on both sides of the Mardyke • Encourage greater use of Wildspace by Thurrock residents.

2. Purfleet and Riverside

Connecting Purfleet East, West and Centre to the Thames and the surrounding natural environment

Partners: High House Production Park; Royal Opera House; RSPB; Purfleet Heritage Centre; Developers

Overview

Purfleet is currently a disjointed place with several inward-facing residential areas alongside industrial and storage estates that are slowly being replaced by further residential areas. The area has an environmental importance and a high invertebrate value however more could be done to utilise the benefits of its riverside location. Purfleet also benefits from a conservation area, derived from its heritage as a garrison and gunpowder store – something that could help support a distinct identity for the place. The plans for a new town centre intend to create a core for Purfleet that will bring its fragmented components together and follows the successful creation of a creative industry cluster at High House in East Purfleet and the plans for TV and film studios. While new green space will be created, constraints preclude anything on a strategic scale. As such, it is imperative that Purfleet is better connected to its adjacent strategic environmental sites at Rainham Marshes and the Mardyke Valley.

Projects include:

• Lower Mardyke biodiversity and public realm improvements being delivered using S106 monies for 2013 • Support Royal Opera House, RSPB and Purfleet Heritage Centre links with the community to enhance local community involvement and understanding of natural riverside environment • Purfleet bypass landscaping improvements to enhance quality of access corridor • Strong potential for community-driven heritage projects that deliver physical and digital interpretation. 3. Aveley Forest

Develop Aveley Forest connections and accessibility

Partners: Thames Chase; Forestry Commission ; Essex County Council; Impulse Leisure

Overview

The north west of Thurrock is very fortunate to have many different natural spaces, some of which are historic and some representing restored landscapes. The area enjoys a common heritage associated with the now demolished Belhus mansion and landscapes by Capability Brown. This has contributed towards conceptualising these spaces as part of a bigger whole through heritage trails and signage. Many of these sites also form part of a community forest which is managed by Thames Chase and the Forestry Commission. Effective partnership working has transformed the area over the last twenty years, ensuring it is now one of Thurrock’s strategic environmental sites. Continued support for projects that enhance connections and accessibility will ensure that more Thurrock residents can enjoy and become involved with these spaces.

Projects include:

• Supporting the development and delivery of projects led by Thames Chase and the Forestry Commission (e.g. Mardyke Woods) • Working with landowners and partners to develop the physical and educational connections between its composite spaces • Supporting greater community involvement with these spaces through Thames Chase.

4. Lakeside Basin

Delivering connections within and between Lakeside Basin and the surrounding environment

Partners: Intu Properties (formally Capital Shopping Centres); Retail Park landowners; Natural England; Buglife

Overview

Lakeside Basin contains the largest collection of retail space in Europe and benefits from a significant catchment area extending far beyond Thurrock. The future plans for the basin include its development as a town centre with associated residential development alongside enhanced retailing opportunities. Given extensive development pressure that will mitigate against new large scale greenspace, it is imperative to better connect and enhance the limited greenspace on offer within the basin, and protect important biodiversity such as the SSSI at West Thurrock Marshes. Furthermore, there are opportunities to tap into the strategic Mardyke Valley to the north as a recreational resource and use development opportunities to enhance links to the Thames in the south, with appropriate access management solutions. This will help enhance the quality of life of its existing and future residents and provide greater recreational choice to visitors to the basin.

Projects include:

• Development of greenspace plan as part of wider Lakeside plan to guide future development opportunities • Develop greater community involvement and community-led projects which are lacking outside of the shopping centre • Feasible ‘link’ improvements to be worked up.

5. West Thurrock & South Stifford Riverside

Connecting West Thurrock, and South Stifford to the Thames

Partners: Proctor & Gamble; Essex Wildlife Trust; Lakeside; Natural England; Buglife

Overview

Chafford Riverside – or rather West Thurrock and South Stifford – is a heavily industrialised section of the riverfront with some dramatic features: the backdrop of the Proctor & Gamble factory behind St Clement’s Church, the urban artwork adorning the sea wall, the Queen Elizabeth II bridge and one of the tallest pylons in Europe. While the remaining marshes have been subject to high-profile and intense development pressure, the over-riding characteristic of this area is its detachment from South Stifford and Chafford Hundred residents and a sense of neglect. Work is needed to enhance the connections to the Thames whilst using the remaining industrial and environmental assets to promote the riverside as an interesting, unusual yet accessible place, whilst managing access to the SSSI and protecting it.

Projects include:

• A13/riverfront route connecting Elizabeth Road to South Stifford (LSTF funding) • Continued working with Proctor & Gamble and Essex Wildlife Trust to promote accessibility of St Clements Church and surroundings • Access plan from West Thurrock Way Green Wedge and Chafford Gorges required • Feasible ‘link’ improvements to be detailed up.

6. Mardyke Valley

Enhance access to the Mardyke Valley

Partners: Davy Down Trust; Thames Chase; Forestry Commission

Overview

While the River Thames dominates the landscape across southern Thurrock, the Mardyke as Thurrock’s second river shapes the natural environment near Bulphan, , Aveley, North Stifford and Purfleet. It represents a strategic environmental resource that connects many of Thurrock’s settlements and green spaces and is within close distance of most of Thurrock’s urban areas. Enhancing access to the Mardyke Valley will ensure that more of Thurrock’s residents have easier access to the natural environment and help alleviate the deficiencies in greenspace within the urban areas adjoining the valley.

Projects include:

• Supporting the development and delivery of projects led by Thames Chase and the Forestry Commission (e.g. Mardyke Woods) • Supporting Environment Agency recognised initiatives that improve river quality to the benefit of people and wildlife • Development and delivery of intellectual and physical access along the whole Mardyke Valley • Supporting community involvement within the valley • Enhancement of the link from Bulphan to Davy Down and on to Rainham Marshes.

7. Chafford Gorges

Enhancing access to Chafford Gorges Nature Park

Partners: Essex Wildlife Trust; Natural England

Overview

Comprised of Warren Gorge, Lion Gorge (Geological SSSI), Grays Chalk Pit (SSSI), Mill Wood and Wouldham Cliffs, these gorges are manmade having been the site of significant quarrying from the 18 th century to the late 1950s. Many of the surrounding quarries were redeveloped for housing however in 2005, Chafford Gorges Ltd, a subsidiary of Essex Wildlife Trust took over what is now Chafford Gorges Nature Park. The range of chalky, sandy and gravely soils supports large numbers of nationally significant plants and invertebrates. There is a visitor centre at Warren Gorge with a shop and café that acts as a gateway to the gorges. The Nature Park represents the most significant area of semi-natural space in the Chafford Hundred area.

Projects include:

• Continued delivery of community engagement through educational events and activities and conservation work parties • Review greenspace provision across Chafford Hundred (land ownership; management) as part of developing improved access and management arrangements.

8. Grays Riverside

Promoting access to the Thames from Grays

Partners: South Essex College; Grays Town Team

Overview

Historically an industrial waterfront, this section of the riverside has been transformed over the last two decades into a predominantly residential area. This has enabled a continous path and lateral riverside access running from the Fiddlers Reach development site in the west to Grays Beach in the east. However the connections to the Grays hinterland are weak, with high-rise residential development blocking vistas towards the river. The building of the new college and other developments in Grays offers opportunities to improve the connection between the Town Centre and the River. Community events such as T-Fest and the Green Flag award-winning Grays Beach demonstrate the value of Grays’ riverside location.

Projects include:

• New college being built in South Grays • Town Team related improvements in and around the Town Centre • Gull lightship mast erected on riverside as a landmark • Cultural and community events and activities in Grays Beach and Kilverts field • Potential for physical and digital interpretation at river front linked to proposed public realm improvements currently at scoping stage.

9. Grays & Chadwell

Connecting greenspace between Grays and to enhance local access

Partners: Thurrock Play Network; Impulse Leisure; Natural England

Overview

The land between Grays and Chadwell St Mary is an abundant recreational resource. There is a series of large recreational spaces such as Blackshots and Heath to the north, Chadwell Recreation Ground to the east and Rookery Hill and Delafield to the south. Within these spaces are the ancient woodlands at Terrels Heath and Hangmans Wood with chalk extraction heritage evident in its Deneholes, designated a SSSI. There are also aspirations for a sports hub at Blackshots to enhance its status as Thurrock’s premier leisure centre. Currently many of these spaces are considered in isolation, however by addressing this area in a more strategic and joined up way; much more could be made of this area to the benefit of local recreation and sport opportunities.

Projects include:

• Development of a strategic greenspace plan for the area focussed on enhancing access and connections between spaces • Delivery of Blackshots as a sports hub that uses the greenspace hinterland for recreation and health activities • Awareness raising through community led projects in the area.

10. Grays & Tilbury

Connecting Grays and Tilbury via Tilbury Marshes

Partners: Community forums and groups (One Community Development Trust; Tilbury Riverside Project; local forum)

Overview

There is an opportunity to better connect Tilbury and Grays by considering the role of the green wedge between Elm Road Park and Tilbury Town. The area will see big change in the future as part of the proposed Port of Tilbury expansion onto the marshes north of Tilbury. Following this development, it will be important to keep the green link between Grays and Tilbury open; otherwise it will only become practical to travel between Grays and Tilbury using motorised transport. Furthermore, the Thames Estuary Path has to circumvent the Port of Tilbury and using the green link better will enable this to be done in a more pleasant manner. There are also potential opportunities to connect further into Grays by considering the link between Grays Beach and and also considering the connections between Tilbury Town East and the surrounding marshes and associated environmental assets. The mudflats provide direct connections to the internationally important Mucking Flats and Marshes.

Projects include:

• Promote and enhance the green link between Tilbury and Grays to open up the natural environment north west of Tilbury and south east of • Develop and promote environmental linkages at the eastern end of Tilbury Town with the surrounding marshes to the north and east, and Tilbury Riverside to the south. 11. Tilbury and Riverside

Delivering Two Forts Way and enhancing access to riverside assets

Partners: Essex County Council; Sustrans; Tilbury Riverside Project; Natural England

Overview

There is a wealth of historic and industrial assets located at Tilbury riverside juxtaposed against the natural significance of the surrounding marshlands. Running east, there is the Port of Tilbury, Tilbury Cruise Terminal, , Tilbury Power Station and Coalhouse Fort. With the Port being a major gateway into Thurrock and Tilbury Town somewhat underserved by leisure opportunities, there is a need to enhance access and improve accessibility to these riverside assets, which in combination could be marketed as an interesting tourism and leisure destination. With Tilbury as a regeneration growth hub, it is imperative that improvements are made to the linkages between Tilbury Town and these riverside assets. Connecting Tilbury and Coalhouse Fort via a ‘Two Forts Way’ is also a priority with physical and digital interpretation linking the sites being introduced during 2013/14.

Projects include:

• Aspirations for a ‘museum of migration’ funded by the HLF at Tilbury Riverside • A mobile way finding app between Tilbury and Coalhouse Forts under development • Planning obligation in place to facilitate completion of Two Forts Way by 2015 • Development of Tilbury Riverside as a gateway destination and marketing through ‘Destination Thurrock’ that is also connected to Tilbury Town • Explore opportunities for new habitat creation.

12. Coalhouse Fort

Enhancing access to a restored Coalhouse Fort and Park

Partners: Coalhouse Fort Project; Bata Reminiscence & Resource Centre; Coalhouse Fort Park Conservation Volunteers; Natural England; RSPB; Essex Wildlife Trust

Overview

Coalhouse Fort Park has seen significant improvements in the last five years with new paths, signage and branding which alongside community involvement and innovative developments such as two iPhone trails has enabled the site to secure Green Flag status every year since 2010. The Fort is leased to the Coalhouse Fort Project charity which opens the Fort for open days on the last Sunday of each month and Bank Holidays between March and November. Their focus is on Fort restoration and currently there is joint working with the Council on a HLF second stage application worth half a million pounds to create a café and interpretation space with two members of staff. The Park is managed by a full-time Ranger in accordance with a Natural England approved Higher Level Stewardship Plan that brings additional revenue to the site. Part of the site is a SSSI, with the eastern area being an SPA and Ramsar site.

Projects include:

• Development of a HLF application to fund restoration of the generator house to create a café and community interpretation space with an education officer and a community development worker • Development of long term restoration options at Coalhouse Fort to support employment and skills development • Supporting ongoing community involvement through the Coalhouse Fort Project and Park Conservation Volunteers.

13. Thurrock Thameside Nature Park & Riverside

Enabling access from East Tilbury, Linford, Stanford-le-Hope & Coalhouse Fort to a restored Mucking

Partners: Essex Wildlife Trust; Cory Environmental Trust; Natural England

Overview

The capping of Mucking landfill and its transfer to Essex Wildlife Trust is helping to create Thurrock’s newest strategic environmental site. With the visitor centre opened in 2012 to be followed by future additions to the Nature Park as capping is completed, the site will grow and evolve over the coming years. The site as a whole lies adjacent to an area designated as Ramsar, Special Protection Area (SPA) and SSSI and so the need to conserve and enhance the designated sites whilst promoting a visitor attraction will need to be carefully managed. The northern end of the site has been subject to coastal realignment linked to the DP World development – this area is managed by the RSPB.

Projects include:

• Future extensions to Park as capping is completed • Path to be delivered through Interreg funded ‘MaxiGreen’ project • Ongoing Essex Wildlife Trust site improvements (e.g. cameras and viewing panels at sensitive sites; improved access) • Marketing and promotion of site as a new environmental destination for recreation, leisure, education and volunteering.

14. Corringham & Fobbing

Connecting people to Corringham & Fobbing Marshes

Partners: Local forums; DP World; Natural England; Port of London Authority; local landowners

Overview

Thurrock east of Corringham and Fobbing is comprised of atmospheric marshlands contrasting the historic and natural environment against the heavy industrial landscape of Coryton and the London Gateway Port. To the north and east into Basildon, the RSPB and Basildon Council have delivered an improved Wat Tyler Country Park and soon to be opened new reserve at Bowers Marsh. As such there is an opportunity to conceptualise Corringham & Fobbing Marshes as part of a wider South Essex Marshes and to connect Fobbing and Corringham to these new strategic destinations lying immediately outside Thurrock.

Projects include:

• Delivery of new path connecting Mucking in the south and on to Bowers Marshes through Interreg funding and the development of longer term footpath and bridleway opportunities • Development of a South Essex Marshes app interpreting the landscape and its features without physical impact • Delivery of improved environmental education and awareness by RSPB and Essex Wildlife Trust • Engaging local community groups and supporting community-led projects that improve connections to Corringham, Stanford-le-Hope and Thurrock Thameside Nature Park • Explore natural environment opportunities linked to London Gateway and associated job creation.

15. Langdon Hills

Connecting Stanford-le-Hope and Corringham to Langdon Hills

Partners: Friends of Langdon Hills; Natural England

Overview

Langdon Hills straddles the boundary between Thurrock and Basildon and is comprised of ancient woodlands, grassland meadows and scrubland, parts of which are designated SSSI. As one of the highest points in Essex, it affords panoramic views of the Thames Estuary. It is managed by the Thurrock Ranger Service which is based at a small visitor centre at One Tree Hill. The Ranger Service provides outdoor educational opportunities and works with an established community group: the Friends of Langdon Hills on a variety of conservation initiatives within the country park. The Essex Wildlife Trust also manage a nature reserve and visitor centre just into Basildon and work collaboratively with Langdon Hills to improve the area for wildlife and the public – it is designated by them as a ‘Living Landscape’.

While separated from the towns of Stanford-le-Hope and Corringham by the A13, there are two crossings that support connections between Langdon Hills and the towns.

Projects include:

• Improve the connections between Langdon Hills and Stanford-le-Hope and Corringham • EWT-led Living Landscapes project of £50k towards capacity building of volunteer groups and improved interpretation • Support community-led initiatives within Langdon Hills.

PART THREE - CELEBRATING THURROCK Celebrating Thurrock

Celebrating Thurrock is based on a community focused approach to Riverscapes. It aims to engage with local residents, community groups and interest groups to increase the use of key sites, engage local people in decisions and empower groups to take ownership for the environment around them.

Celebrating Thurrock is cross cutting. The outcomes of these engagement and consultation activities will be used to inform the development of the area based Riverscapes delivery programmes and influence the sub regional partnerships through a bottom up approach.

BOTTOM UP BOTTOM

This programme will also link with a range of other initiatives include our arts, culture, leisure and heritage plans and asset based community development.

There are five community engagement projects that will be delivered as part of Riverscapes. These are based on the principles of the Community Engagement Toolkit.

Community Engagement Our Projects Our aims theme

• To share information on strategic sites

• To promote sites to a wider Information audience Gathering Visit Thurrock • To raise pride in Thurrock

• To develop new audiences for the environment

• To deliver a programme of consultation that will underpin our work Understanding what • To carry out site specific Consultation matters consultation and visitor surveys to support future funding bids

• To map what matters to local communities

• To improve the opportunities for volunteering Deliberation Getting Involved • To increase the number of friends of groups and members

• To seek funding to support Supporting Local Collaboration community engagement in Groups strategic sites

• To carry out participatory Making decisions Partnership prioritisation of future projects local and funding bids

Celebrate Thurrock

Aim: To raise awareness of the sites and special environmental interest of Thurrock

Partners : Visit Essex; RSPB; EWT; Thames Chase & Forestry Commission

Overview :

The programme will engage with local partners, residents, businesses, visitors and interested groups to share information on the environment through a series of promotional activities.

Projects Include :

Identifying the audience for our environment and preparing an audience development plan to support future funding applications.

Developing a marketing campaign for key sites, as part of Celebrate Thurrock to increase visitor numbers.

Delivering a programme of promotional activities to create learning resources, including;  Building on the existing apps, and  Identifying opportunities to develop new apps in partnership with local communities and interested groups.

Developing the use of “instant information” through Social Media to increase access to information.

Securing funding for interpretation and information at key sites.

Talking to local people to gain the views of residents, businesses and volunteer groups.

Supporting local talks and information days for natural environment projects.

Developing a young roots funding application to create you-tube films promoting sites in new ways and to new audiences.

Understanding what matters

Aim: To underpin the Riverscapes delivery plan with a programme of community consultation and visitor surveys to ensure the community needs and aspirations are at the heart of project planning.

Partners : Thurrock CVS, Ngage

Overview :

Engage with local partners, residents, businesses, visitors and interested groups to gather views on Thurrock's environment, specific sites and assets. Using questionnaires, one to one consultation, focus groups, planning for real and other consultation activities.

Projects Include :

Completing a Riverscapes Consultation at various venues and events across the borough to identify local priorities for future funding applications.

Undertaking Visitor Surveys to provide a better understanding of visitors to our natural environment and heritage sites to provide a baseline for future funding applications. Including: where visits are made, why and what attracts people, understand what visitors think about sites and what needs improving or changing. Local groups inputting to the Greengrid consultation event

Developing a funding application to deliver a programme of community mapping. This will engage local people to identify the natural and historic things that matter to them in their area using social media to upload information and supported by specific community mapping events the programme will develop a comprehensive list of the things that people care about.

Carrying out project specific consultation activities on key projects as they are developed.

Getting Involved

Aim: To support local people to get involved in the environment in Thurrock

Partners : Friends Groups; local and regional partners

Overview :

Getting people involved in the environment and projects is a key aim of this plan. The environment is a local resource which should be available to be enjoyed by all local people. But it can be much more than a place to walk, sit, bird watch or have a coffee. It is a resource that can be used for many things and activities set in the environment and can provide an opportunity for: • learning, skills, training, work experience • building making new friends • healthy activities • volunteering

Getting involved in the environment can range from attending an event in a park to taking the lead in friends of group and being part of decisions on a site. The level of involvement can be a day a week on a regular basis or for less, perhaps a few hours, as and when able.

Projects Include :

Creating new volunteering opportunities in our projects and strengthening volunteering by coordinating promotions for the opportunities available through the Riverscapes partners.

Developing applications such as young roots to encourage schools and colleges to take an active involvement in their local area, with a chosen heritage or natural environment site or project.

Developing activities that engage normally hard to reach groups.

Taking the Community Mapping outputs and developing a volunteer programme to gather data on the sites and assets and develop online resources to store and manage the information.

Developing community of interest events about the river environment.

Supporting the development of friends of groups.

Working with local groups to collect oral histories of the natural environment including filmed interviews with the help of other volunteer groups.

Supporting Local Groups

Aim: To support existing groups to be involved in the local environment

Partners : Thurrock CVS; Ngage

Overview :

This plan has a partnership approach at its heart. The partnership is not just with big organisations working across Essex or England. Local groups are equally important and vital to support the environment at a local level, often providing essential specialist knowledge and experience.

We have many friends of groups, people who voluntarily work to maintain, improve and help to promote a natural green space or heritage asset. These groups make a positive contribution and work to achieve improvements. This can include applying for funding or litter picking or weeding or many other things that help to improve and maintain a site or project for its heritage or natural value to the benefit of the local community.

Riverscapes is about strategic sites but many small areas contribute to the connected network so are important to this plan. Supporting local groups is about what we can do to help groups link their environmental projects to the Riverscapes network.

Projects Include :

Identifying friends of groups sites that contribute to the Riverscapes prospectus sites.

Supporting local groups in the development of up to 4 small scale natural environmental funding bids a year. Bata War Memorial refurbishment Providing training opportunities for project delivered by Bata R&R friends of groups and volunteers as Centre in partnership with Thurrock part of Riverscapes funding Council applications.

Engaging local groups with the Community Mapping programme. Making Decisions Local

Vision: To work with local residents and groups to prioritise future projects.

Partners : Thurrock CVS; Ngage

Overview :

Whilst there are many legal processes to protect the environment there are still many areas were local people should be empowered to lead and make decisions.

Where possible Riverscapes Projects will be in true partnership with local groups. As with the Aveley Forest where Thames Chase takes the lead led by the Thames Chase Trust a charity run by volunteers or Coalhouse Fort where the Coalhouse Fort Project are a key member of the project steering group and the funding bid has been developed to encompass their site needs as well as the Council's site improvements.

Projects Include :

Developing and delivering the Coalhouse Fort Heritage Lottery Project.

Working with Thames Chase to develop the strategic vision for Aveley Forest and supporting Thames Chase in the development of the Mardyke River Catchment project.

Translating the community mapping outcomes and research into a community prioritised delivery programme through a participatory budgeting approach. This takes the sites and assets identified as locally important and developing projects to improve or promote these. Where possible these will be developed with local groups. A suite of outline projects will be voted on using online voting and events voting to prioritise the projects for funding.

Translating the community mapping outcomes, where appropriate, into a list of locally valued assets which can be fed into the Local Heritage Listings for planning and the Community Assets process. Giving local residents the decision on what goes forward for assessment.

PART FOUR

The Delivery Plan

The detailed delivery approach for Riverscapes will be outlined in Riverscapes Delivery Plan. This will be completed in 2014 and will:

Provide a prioritised plan for the Council's contribution to the sub regional partnerships and cross area funding bids, including time and match funding contributions.

Provide an outline master plan for each of the 15 delivery project areas developed in partnership with the appropriate local delivery partners.

Develop detailed plans for one delivery project area per year.

Develop project plans for five priority delivery projects for phase 1 - 2015 to 2018:

1. Delivery of Coalhouse Fort Phase 2 improvements 2. Delivery of virtual connections from Purfleet to Rainham Marshes 3. Development of the Aveley Forest Plan 4. Mardyke Valley management review and delivery of improvements 5. Delivery of Tilbury Riverside Heritage Trial

Prioritise and develop research plans for five further priority projects through consultation and engagement activity.

Identify outline project costings and external funding opportunities.

Provide a detailed delivery plan of the five Celebrate Thurrock engagement and promotion projects.

Outline a plan for communication with partners and stakeholders.

Appendix 1 - Thurrock Vision

Thurrock's Vision is set out in the Community Strategy:

The environment agenda contributes to all of the five priorities for Thurrock through a range of objectives. The key environment objectives are highlighted in bold.

1 Create a great place for learning and opportunity • Ensure that every place of learning is rated “Good” or better • Raise levels of aspirations and attainment so that local residents can take advantage of job opportunities in the local area • Support families to give children the best possible start in life

2 Encourage and promote job creation and economic prosperity • Provide the infrastructure to promote and sustain growth and prosperity • Support local businesses and develop the skilled workforce they will require • Work with communities to regenerate Thurrock’s physical environment

3 Build pride, responsibility and respect to create safer communities • Create safer welcoming communities who value diversity and respect cultural heritage • Involve communities in shaping where they live and their quality of life • Reduce crime, anti-social behaviour and safeguard the vulnerable

4 Improve health and well-being • Ensure people stay healthy longer, adding years to life and life to years • Reduce inequalities in health and well-being • Empower communities to take responsibility for their own health and well-being

5 Protect and promote our clean and green environment • Enhance access to Thurrock’s river frontage, cultural assets and leisure opportunities • Promote Thurrock’s natural environment and biodiversity • Ensure Thurrock’s streets and parks and open spaces are clean and well maintained

Appendix 1 - Riverscapes Summary Diagram Challenges, Opportunities

Riverscapes is a cross cutting agenda which will help to delivery a range of outcomes for people and the environment. It considers the challenges and opportunities available to Thurrock’s environment and seeks to deliver this through three distinct yet interconnecting activities:

1. Making Connections 2. Delivering Change 3. Celebrating Thurrock

Challenges

Economic growth Wildlife Climate Change Food production Image Resources Health inequalities

and Outcomes

Opportunities

Skills and jobs Wildlife Climate Change Local Food Heritage, culture and tourism Partnership working Health