Crossness Nature Reserve

Crossness Nature Reserve is an oasis offering a unique opportunity to escape city life and enjoy one of the last remaining areas of grazing marsh within the Greater London area and the wildlife associated with it.

The reserve is part of the original Thames floodplain known collectively as the Erith Marshes. With much of the marshland complex having been developed to provide business and residential opportunities, the creation of Crossness Nature Reserve in 1996 has secured part of this important, declining habitat for nature conservation and public access. As a result of the regionally important communities of wetland birds, plants and invertebrates, the site has been awarded Local Nature Reserve status and has been designated as a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation.

You can find out more about CNR and how to become a member of the ‘Friends of Crossness Nature Reserve Scheme' by contacting Thames Water's Crossness Conservation Warden.

Crossness Southern Marshes

Crossness Southern Marshes, also owned by Thames Water, is made up of a 30ha area of grazing marsh that runs south of Eastern Way, north of Southmere Green.

Thames Water is currently carrying out a range of enhancement works to improve biodiversity and public access to this area and although not yet open to the public, by the end of 2005/beginning of 2006, a public footpath will take people from Southmere Park, through the site, towards the existing public footpath to Eastern Way.

Thames Water has already reinstated a number of ditches to create areas of open water, and installed a lot of fencing, but a programme of work beginning this year (once planning permission has been approved), includes the creation of a permissive footpath with viewing screens, interpretation boards, ponds, viewing platforms and footbridges across ditches, and a wader scrape (area of open water for wetland birds) with a viewing platform.

In the meantime, a number of events are available to the public on Crossness Southern Marshes and to members of the Friends Group on Crossness Nature Reserve.

T. 020 8507 4889
E. [email protected]