A Rare Habitat at Risk
Buckingham Hill Pit, near Stanford-le-Hope in Essex, has naturally reclaimed itself since quarrying ceased in the 1990s. The site features layered sand verges, grass, shrubs, small trees, and wetland areas, providing a home for wildlife such as grass snakes, great crested newts, and rare bees and wasps.
Wildlife charity Buglife has warned that filling the pit with sand would destroy a “precious habitat” of national importance, particularly for invertebrates. James Robins, Buglife’s programmes manager, said, “It would be devastating to see yet another precious habitat lost in the Thames Estuary. There are fears we are reaching a tipping point where species simply cannot recover.”
Plans for Sand Infilling
Ingrebourne Valley Ltd has proposed extracting sand from a nearby quarry and importing it into Buckingham Hill Pit if Thurrock Council approves the plans. To offset the environmental impact, the council has suggested creating a new “eco park” to house displaced species. However, Buglife argues this would be “not nearly enough” to replace the value of the existing habitat.
Local Wildlife and Council Decision
Once used to produce sand for the M25, Buckingham Hill Pit is now designated a Local Wildlife Site, with flower-rich terraces, vertical sand faces, and scrubland. Buglife surveyed the area in 2007 and highlighted its national importance to insects.
Thurrock Council is set to review the planning application on 24 February, with conservation groups urging them to reject the proposal to preserve this rare and valuable ecosystem.
