WILDLIFE charity Buglife is calling for Thurrock Council to save what it describes as one of the most threatened nature sites in the Thames Estuary.

Buglife is urging Thurrock Council to refuse planning permission for the proposed Tilbury 3 development that it says would lead to the loss of Tilbury's ashfields.

It has also made a wider appeal to the borough community to 'stand up for its wildlife'

The charity says: "For decades, the waste from the coal-powered Tilbury Power Station was stored in nearby fields. However, the waste material, known as Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA) has been reclaimed by nature, and together with a network of ditches and coastal habitats is home to nearly 1,200 species of invertebrate.

"This includes an incredible 185 of conservation concern- over 15%, making it of national importance.

"This includes the elusive Critically Endangered Stripe-eyed Paragus (Paragus albifrons) which is known form only a handful of modern sites, the Vulnerable Great Sneak-spider (Harpactea rubicunda), Endangered Wall Butterfly (Lasiommata megera) and the Shrill Carder Bee (Bombus sylvarum)- one of our most threatened bumblebees.

The area earmarked to be Tilbury 3.

"Such wildlife-rich brownfields can be havens for nature, and in the Thames Estuary they are home to nationally important populations of invertebrates, giving them a lifeline where traditional habitats have been lost.

"However, the future of these unique and irreplaceable ashfield habitats is in the balance from proposals to expand the Port of Tilbury, as part of a new project called Tilbury 3.

"Eight years ago, in 2017, Buglife fought to stop the previous port expansion, the Tilbury 2, in a campaign supported by 75,000 supporters. This was green lit by the Secretary of State for Transport in 2019 - the impacts of losing yet more of this vital habitat could spell disaster for the Thames Estuary's wildlife."

The campaign group, which fought a similar battle in 2006 to try and save ashgrounds when West Thurrock power station was demolished  and managed to save some treasured habitat.

A planning application was approved for warehousing and a lorry park on the site. Buglife sprang into action with a high profile campaign lasting two years. Although part of the West Thurrock Marshes has gone to development, the majority of the brownfield site was preserved and its long term management secured. "A great outcome for bugs1" said campaigners at the time.

Oliver Road Lagoons. Picture by Greg Hitchcock

A 40 hectare site, sometimes referred to as Oliver Road Lagoons is now managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust, thanks to a partnership between the new land owners The Land Trust, developer Goodman and Natural England. This has seen 7 hectares of established scrub cleared to restore the important open PFA habitats needed by some of our rarest and most threatened invertebrates.

Buglife hopes for at least a similar outcome in Tilbury.

It says: "Buglife is calling on Thurrock Council to take urgent action for its precious wildlife. In recent years, important Local Wildlife Sites and brownfield habitats have been lost both as a result of locally determined planning applications, but also Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects that are decided by the Government.

"Tilbury 2 led to the loss of nationally important habitats associated with the power station, and now the spectre of the Lower Thames Crossing hangs over Thurrock.

"Time is running out for action to be taken to preserve its best remaining wildlife areas- losing these ashfields would be another devastating blow for nature in the Thames Estuary."

Jamie Robins, Buglife Programmes Manager, says: "The ashfields at Tilbury are one of Thurrock's hidden wildlife gems - people don't know they are there so they can be easily overlooked, but they are extraordinarily special.

"They have been well and truly reclaimed by wildlife, becoming a home to some of our most threatened species. Thurrock Council needs to recognise this importance and refuse permission for Tilbury 3 - we cannot afford to keep allowing sprawling development to destroy our last wild spaces."

Buglife is encouraging nature-lovers to share their concerns with Thurrock Council by objecting to the planning application.

People can send an email to 'mailto:[email protected], including 'Tilbury 3 25/00598/FUL' in the email header and expressing their concerns.