Bexley campaigners ask for public’s help to save Crayford Marshes

CPRE London was recently contacted by a local group in Bexley concerned that the Outer Crayford Marshes site has been bought by developers Berkeley Homes.

Added to this, the Bexley section of Inner Crayford Marshes, designated one of the best wildlife sites in London, is up for sale as a ‘prospective development site’.

The Friends of Crayford Marshes is campaigning to save this much loved site located in Green Belt on the Thames at the outer edge of South East London. The site is protected Green Belt and a nature reserve with rare birds and seals, and has considerable historic interest, but is now under threat from being built over.

The friends are currently asking for help from the public. They want residents to complete their survey and help them create a ‘vision’ to save the site from development.

Alice Roberts of CPRE London said: “We were astonished to find the site under threat is not only Green Belt but a flood plain adjacent to the River Thames and an incredibly important site for wildlife. Like many other sites in London, it lacks a clear identity and is not well known as a public open space, despite being a wonderful destination. These ‘hidden’ sites come under threat because developers feel people don’t know or care about them. We need to change that”

Donna Zimmer of the friends groups said: “The local community values this site immensely. It’s really the last of the truly wild, natural spaces left in Bexley, with its large open green space and big skies. We use this unique green space for a range of activities, including organised wildlife walks, photography, cycling, sailing and general exercise. The London Loop and Thames Path walks go through it as does National Cycle Route 1.”

After a successful campaign in 2019, Crayford Marshes was saved from development, when a planning application for a large rail freight interchange was refused. The Secretary of State agreed with the Planning Inspector stating it would cause substantial harm to the Green Belt.

But only days later the whole of the site adjacent to the Thames was purchased by Berkeley Homes.

The friends group is determined to protect this much loved wildlife haven with its many public footpaths through and around the marshes. Red-listed Skylark and Corn Bunting live and breed there and their home needs protection, they say.

Working with the RSPB, London Wildlife Trust, CPRE London, CPRE Kent and WWT, they are preparing to create ‘A Vision for Crayford Marshes’. They then intend to campaign to make it happen. Ms Zimmer said: “The vision will be a great way to show clearly to everyone the value of the site to people and wildlife and ultimately to save it as a critical site for nature conservation, and for the health and enjoyment of Bexley residents for generations to come.”

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