THREE new ponds are to be created within the area of Davy Down Park at North Stifford in a bid to improve the local natural wildlife habitat and improve the effectiveness of the floodplain.

The move may well be welcomed by those affected by recent flooding in the area - which have not yet been fully explained by either the Environment Agency or Thurrock Council.

The application for the work at Davy Down was made by the Thames 21 project, on behalf of the wider Land of The Fanns programme , a Heritage Lottery Funded project that engages with the local communities of Havering, Barking & Dagenham, Thurrock, Brentwood and south-west Essex to highlight the natural, geological, archaeological and built heritage of their areas.

As well as the new ponds, two scrapes will be made within the riverside park and a new footpath and improved fencing will be put in place.

The scheme has been approved by Thurrock Council and you can read full details here.