The Thurrock Thameside Nature Park is sited on Cory Environmental’s restored landfill site at Mucking, spanning 120 acres that will eventually expand to cover 845 acres.

The park sits on top of a ‘pie-crust’, which caps 50 years of waste from six London boroughs, up to 30 metres deep. This former landfill site now attracts rare bees, birds and reptiles through a network of paths, bridleways and cycle routes.

The project is being run by Essex Wildlife Trust and the funds for the new visitor centre have come from Cory Environmental Trust in Thurrock.

The restoration of the landfill site is also reconnecting local communities to a stunning location they have not had access to for decades.

In launching the new park, Sir David Attenborough said: “A new chapter has begun for this historic landscape beside the Thames – one which will bring joy to people and dramatically improve the fortunes of wildlife in this part of the Thames estuary.”

Maxine Perella

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