Help us Save Swanscombe Peninsula SSSI
Help us Save Swanscombe Peninsula SSSI
Latest: Feb. 7, 2023
Campaign closed
We have now closed the campaign to donations- thank you to the over 2,000 people who have supported our ongoing work to save Save Swanscombe Peninsula. Your generous contributions have made a huge di…
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Help us Save Swanscombe Peninsula SSSI
The Swanscombe Peninsula in North Kent is one of England’s richest wildlife sites and home to thousands of species - but it is under threat. Shockingly, developers want to build a theme park on over 100ha of this nationally important habitat. We have joined together to fight for the Swanscombe Peninsula and to show that England’s most important wildlife sites must be protected- but we need your help.
Why is the Swanscombe Peninsula important?
The Swanscombe Peninsula is incredibly rich in wildlife, home to some of the UK’s most threatened species of plants and animals. Over 2,000 species of insects and other invertebrates have been recorded here, including the Critically Endangered Distinguished jumping spider. It is also the richest site for breeding birds in the South East, living side-by-side with Otters, Water voles and rare plants such as the Man orchid. This is thanks to this special site’s remarkable mosaic of grasslands, coastal habitats, scrub and intricate wetlands, much of which is brownfield habitat that has been reclaimed by nature. In recognition of its valuable wildlife, it was made a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) last year.
SSSIs like the Swanscombe Peninsula are the backbone of the UK’s protected sites network. They include our best habitats and are essential to protecting wildlife and supporting healthy ecosystems.
For local people in Swanscombe, Greenhithe and Northfleet, the Swanscombe Peninsula is also a much-loved green lung and open space. A place for peace, calm and recreation to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life in one of the most built up and congested parts of the country.
Why is the Swanscombe Peninsula under threat?
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Distinguished jumping spider (Attulus distinguendus) © Roman Willi www.endlessfields.ch
Despite the site being nationally notified for its wildlife, developers are applying to build a theme park on it, called the London Resort. Over 100 hectares, equivalent to 140 football pitches, of the unique habitat of the Swanscombe Peninsula would be destroyed and concreted over if the development plans go ahead. This would be one of the largest ever losses of designated habitat in England. At a time when the value of wildlife and open spaces is being appreciated more than ever and amid ongoing declines in some of our best loved wildlife, we can’t let such a precious site be lost.
If this shocking development is allowed to go ahead it would have devastating consequences for the natural environment. Once these unique habitats are lost, they cannot be replaced. This development would set a terrible precedent. If a SSSI such as the Swanscombe Peninsula is allowed to be destroyed for a theme park – is anywhere safe from development?
These proposals are being considered by the Planning Inspectorate as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), a process normally reserved for major roads, airports or power plants. Experience from previous NSIP applications has taught us that any environmental impacts can be deemed acceptable in the name of economic development – including the loss of some of our best wildlife sites, as we have seen with HS2. We need to be clear that our SSSIs, our national treasures, should be out of bounds to developers.
Nightingale © Graham Goodall RSPB-Images.com
What are we trying to achieve?
Buglife, Kent Wildlife Trust, CPRE Kent and the Save Swanscombe Peninsula SSSI campaign group have been working closely to secure the site’s future. We have ensured that the SSSI notification was completed, responded to London Resort consultations, engaged fully with the planning process to date and rallied with the local community to raise awareness of the site’s importance.
However, the NSIP planning process is long and incredibly complex, taking many months and producing thousands of pages of documents. To make sure that we are properly prepared to tackle such an exhaustive examination, we need the support of experts and specialists, to help us stand up for this precious wildlife site and the flora and fauna that call it home.
We urgently need to raise at least £30,000 to provide the resources that we need to Save Swanscombe.
£30,000 will cover the cost of specialist barristers who are experienced in the legal proceedings and can cast a critical eye over the processes and decisions. It will also enable us to bring in expert advisors to review specialist documents such as those affecting carbon calculations, and other planning considerations. This will give us the strongest footing to stand up for nature at the forthcoming NSIP examination and do everything that we can to Save Swanscombe.
For more information, please visit https://www.saveswanscombepeninsula.org.uk/
Save Swanscombe Rally October 2021 © Richard Bayfield
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I'll share on FacebookBuglife, Kent Wildlife Trust, CPRE Kent & Save Swanscombe Peninsula SSSI
Feb. 7, 2023
Campaign closed
We have now closed the campaign to donations- thank you to the over 2,000 people who have supported our ongoing work to save Save Swanscombe Peninsula. Your generous contributions have made a huge difference to defending this nationally important wildlife site.
However, our work isn't done. Despite being a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the site still isn't safe and the potential for a resubmitted theme park application still hangs over it. But importantly we are now in a stronger position than ever to stand up for the Swanscombe Peninsula and respond to any planning threats.
We are also continuing to gather support for our Vision for the Swanscombe Peninsula and doing everything in our power to make sure that the future of this wildlife haven is secured for the local community and the species wildlife that calls it home.
Buglife, Kent Wildlife Trust, CPRE Kent & Save Swanscombe Peninsula SSSI
Nov. 15, 2022
A Vision for Swanscombe Peninsula
Today the Save Swanscombe partners have launched a Vision for Swanscombe Peninsula, which puts nature and the local community at its heart. Following a community survey, a vision has been created that reflects the local desire for it to be managed for its amazing interest and as a much loved green space.
To help make the #SwanscombeVision become reality, we have called on local residents of Dartford and Gravesham to write to their MP and Council Leader calling on them to support the vision.
None of this would be possible without your support- thank you
Buglife, Kent Wildlife Trust, CPRE Kent & Save Swanscombe Peninsula SSSI
March 31, 2022
London Resort application withdrawn!
On Tuesday we received the great news that the application to build the London Resort on the Swanscombe Peninsula Site of Special Scientific Interest has been withdrawn at the eleventh hour! The news came the very morning that the Preliminary Examination to agree a timeline for the six month examination was due to be agreed, following a 13 month protracted Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) application.
However, despite this welcome news, the developers plan to resubmit their troubled application later in 2022, meaning that the fight is not over.
We will continue to work with the local community to stand up for the important wildlife on the Swanscombe Peninsula and to explore avenues to prevent this wildlife haven being lost, thanks to the generous support of our Crowd Justice backers.
Buglife, Kent Wildlife Trust, CPRE Kent & Save Swanscombe Peninsula SSSI
Feb. 15, 2022
Examination commencement
This week, the Planning Inspectorate have confirmed that the Preliminary Meeting to examine the London Resort will take place on 29th March. They have also laid out a timeline for how the examination will progress, which we will now use to inform our legal and expert advice strategy, to find the best way forward to Save Swanscombe.
None of this would be possible without your support- thank you
Buglife, Kent Wildlife Trust, CPRE Kent & Save Swanscombe Peninsula SSSI
Jan. 27, 2022
New £60,000 target
Thank you to the more than 2,000 people who have now supported our efforts to save the Swanscombe Peninsula SSSI- pledging over £48,000.
We have now taken the step of increasing our fundraising goal to £60,000, as we look to develop our strategy to protect this wildlife haven. We will shortly know the expected examination date for the London Resort, and we need to be ready.
Please help us to reach our new goal of £60,000 so that we can do everything possible to Save Swanscombe.
Thank you to everyone who has donated and shared our appeal so far.
Buglife, Kent Wildlife Trust, CPRE Kent & Save Swanscombe Peninsula SSSI
Jan. 21, 2022
New £50,000 target
Over 1,800 people have now supported our efforts to save the Swanscombe Peninsula SSSI- pledging over £45,000.
Knowing the challenge that we face to protect this wildlife gem, and the enormous benefit of expert and legal advice , we are now aiming for £50,000.
Thank you to everyone who has donated and shared our appeal. Please help us to reach our new goal of £50,000 so that we can do everything possible to Save Swanscombe.
Buglife, Kent Wildlife Trust, CPRE Kent & Save Swanscombe Peninsula SSSI
Jan. 20, 2022
1,600 pledges and counting...
Over 1,600 people have now supported our efforts to save the Swanscombe Peninsula SSSI- pledging over £40,000.
Knowing the challenge that we face to protect this wildlife gem, and the enormous benefit of expert and legal advice ,we have now increased our fundraising goal to £45,000. Please help us to reach our new goal of £45,000 so that we can do everything possible to Save Swanscombe.
Thank you to everyone who has donated and shared our appeal
Buglife, Kent Wildlife Trust, CPRE Kent & Save Swanscombe Peninsula SSSI
Jan. 19, 2022
Over 1,000 pledges for Swanscombe!
Thank you! We are thrilled to have received over 1,000 pledges in just a week and met our £30,000 fundraising goal- all to help protect the amazing wildlife on the Swanscombe Peninsula.
We have increased out goal again to £40,000, as the more we can raise, the better prepared we will be for the examination to follow. We can secure further legal guidance and even more expert advice to help us navigate this complex process and challenge the theme park threat. Please help us to reach our new goal of £40,000 so that we can do everything possible to Save Swanscombe.
Thank you to all who have donated and shared our appeal
Buglife, Kent Wildlife Trust, CPRE Kent & Save Swanscombe Peninsula SSSI
Jan. 17, 2022
Kent Online showcase Save Swanscombe appeal
We spoke to Kent Online last week, to talk about why our appeal is so urgent and why we need your help to challenge the theme park that threatens the Swanscombe Peninsula.
Buglife, Kent Wildlife Trust, CPRE Kent & Save Swanscombe Peninsula SSSI
Jan. 14, 2022
Another new goal!
Thank you! We have been overwhelmed by meeting our £20,000 fundraising goal in under two and a half days. This continued commitment shows how strongly people all around the country feel about protecting the unique wildlife and habitats on the Swanscombe Peninsula.
In response, we have set another new goal of raising £30,000. Quite simply, the more funds we can raise, the better prepared we will be for the crucial examination to follow. With £30,000 we could secure legal guidance and expert advice for even more areas of this complex process. Please help us to reach our new goal of £30,000 so that we can do everything possible to Save Swanscombe.
Thank you to all who have donated and shared our appeal
Buglife, Kent Wildlife Trust, CPRE Kent & Save Swanscombe Peninsula SSSI
Jan. 13, 2022
New target
Thank you! We have been overwhelmed by meeting our initial £10,000 fundraising target in under 36 hours. This is testament to how strongly people all around the country feel about protecting the unique wildlife and habitats on the Swanscombe Peninsula.
In response, we have set a new goal of raising £20,000. Why have we done this? Well, quite simply, the more funds we can raise, the better prepared we will be for the crucial examination to follow. With £20,000 we could secure legal guidance and expert advice for even more areas of this complex process. Please help us to reach our new goal of £20,000 so that we can do everything possible to Save Swanscombe.
Thank you to all who have donated and shared our appeal
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