Canvey Wick, on Canvey Island in Essex, is a c19 hectare site (an area equivalent to around 25 football pitches) which has been hailed in the past as a ‘brownfield rainforest’ due to its amazing wildlife value. Surveys by wildlife charity Buglife- The Invertebrate Conservation Trust have shown that Canvey Wick has more biodiversity per square Metre than any other site in the UK and it is home to many rare species of insects which is why the site was the first Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) to be designated specifically for invertebrates.
Thanks to a funding package totalling c£1million from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the long term future of this special space has now been secured. Vitally the HCA has transferred the ownership of space to the Land Trust, a charity that ensures public spaces, such as Canvey Wick are managed for community benefit. Crucially £860k of this money will be held by the Land Trust as an endowment, meaning that the unique wildlife that inhabits the nature reserve will be protected for future generations.
The site currently has no formal public access and the Trust will ensure that local communities can safely enjoy this exemplar site whilst protecting the wildlife.