Rainham Marshes Nature Reserve

Rainham Marshes is a nature reserve in east London, beside the Thames Estuary. It lies across Purfleet, Thurrock and the London Borough of Havering. The land was once a Ministry of Defence firing range. After years without use it became a wetland reserve and opened to the public in 2006. Much of the medieval landscape remains intact. It is the largest wetland area on the upper Thames Estuary. The reserve supports many birds, wetland plants and insects. Water voles live here in high numbers. In December 2005 a rare sociable lapwing drew more than 1,700 visitors. Later four penduline tits were spotted at the site. The visitor centre uses solar panels, rainwater harvesting and natural ventilation. It was designed by van Heyningen and Haward Architects and won six awards for sustainable design. Paths wind through reedbeds, grazing marshes and lagoons. Views stretch across the Thames and the Essex shore. The western marshes are a landfill site managed by Veolia. A power station on site burns landfill gas to generate electricity for thousands of homes. The reserve forms part of the Inner Thames Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest.