Thurrock Thameside Nature Park, Nature reserve at Thames Estuary in Thurrock, England.
Thurrock Thameside Nature Park is a nature reserve situated at the Thames Estuary in Essex. The site features mudflats, saltmarsh, grasslands, woodlands, a lake, and reed beds connected by walking paths for observing wildlife.
The land served as a gravel pit from the 1960s onward and later became a waste landfill. In the early 2000s, it was restored and designated as a protected nature reserve.
The site marks a successful return to nature after decades of industrial use as a waste facility. Walking through it today, visitors witness how ecosystems recover and thrive when restoration work begins.
The best way to explore this site is on foot using the marked walking paths throughout the grounds. Facilities including a visitor center with a cafe and restrooms are available for visitor comfort and convenience.
The visitor center is built on hydraulic jacks that compensate for ground settlement from the former landfill beneath it. This engineering solution allows the building to adjust to the land's ongoing movements and changes.
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