Vikings once settled historic Swanscombe, Saxons and Normans fought over it and now it seems likely to be ruled by cartoon characters.
The town near Dartford achieved nationwide fame when a skull, several hand axes and other tools were excavated there plus the remains of a straight tusked elephant.
The tools and skull are displayed in the British Museum. Skull fragments are believed to be from a 400,000 year old Neanderthal man or woman.
Now there are development plans afoot which could overwhelm Swanscombe and obliterate a major wildlife site.
Wild Things: A journey back through time
During the Covid-19 lockdown many visited for solace a triangular area of peninsular bordered by the River Thames and a row of poplar trees featuring wildlife-rich reed-fringed lakes, trees and scrub. It may resemble wasteland to councillors and developers but it is important wildlife habitat found rarely as the Thames bankside increasingly disappears beneath concrete.
Distinguished Jumping Spider by Peter Harvey
Picture the scene: Garganey, our only summer-visiting duck, swim majestically between the reeds avoiding grumpy swans, a Marsh Harrier floats over while a Cuckoo sits patiently in a tree waiting for a Reed Warbler to leave her nest so it can swoop in and lay her own egg there. Nightingales sing, Swallows, Swifts, House Martins and Sand Martins wheel overheard in a never-ending search for insects continued at night by bats.
Two noisy Ravens alight on an electricity pylon. They drive away a Peregrine falcon perched higher up. Butterflies and Dragonflies are all around while the site is perfect for foxes and perhaps badgers. It is home to common lizards and the nationally rare Distinguished Jumping Spider.
Wild Things: Tracking down the Emperor
All this is threatened by a £5billion Disney-themed entertainment park planned for the 872-acre site. There’s no guarantee how many of 27,000 jobs at the London Resort will go to local people but you can guarantee the nearby A2, already choked by Bluewater traffic, will be gridlocked.
Who wants to see a bloke dressed up as Donald Duck when you could stop development and watch real ducks instead ? Sign Buglifge’s petition. Go to the website https://www.buglife.org.uk/campaigns/save-swanscombe-marshes/.
That’s all, folks.
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