Thurrock Countryside

Green Thurrock

Thurrock's countryside is varied in character. It has areas of traditional landscape, particularly along the Thames to the east of Tilbury where historic and social influences have determined its use and development. It also includes woodlands, meadows, wetlands and other wildlife habitats of nature conservation value. Around sixty percent of Thurrock is in the Green Belt, with country parks and open spaces open to all.

Countryside Access

Thurrock Council has made a number of improvements to Langdon Hills Country Park, Davy Down and Oakwood and Ash Plantation to improve access to the countryside. These have been made after consulting disability groups, providers of countryside services, Community groups and the Fieldfare Trust. We have improved the information available, physical aspects of the sites and links to disabled organisations. The consultation resulted in the creation of a Countryside Access Improvement Plan which is currently being finalised. We have ensured that the plan meets the BT Countryside for All Standard.

Thurrock Open Space Strategy

Thurrock Council are currently working towards producing an Open Space Strategy for the borough, due to be completed by December 2005.

The Council has liaised with local communities through questionnaires and stakeholder groups which has helped to inform the Council about what aspects residents currently like and dislike about parks and open spaces. It has also given residents an opportunity to convey their ideas and aspirations for the improvement of open spaces in the future.

Thurrock Council has also carried out surveys of all the parks, allotments, amenity greens, natural and semi-natural green spaces, churchyards and cemeteries and sports facilities in the borough.

The surveys and the feedback from local communities will inform Thurrock Council's Open Space Strategy so we can prioritise the open spaces that need improvements. By doing so we will ensure that both present and future communities have access to high quality green spaces.

South Essex Green Grid

South Essex Green Grid is a project that will create a high quality network of open spaces and links throughout the Thames Gateway. The project will connect today's communities and future communities with their local environment and improve peoples quality of life by providing people with a link from their 'doorstep to countryside'.

For more information on South Essex Green Grid please visit their web site: www.tgessex.co.uk

Thames Chase

Thames Chase is a community forest that was created in 1990. The project has regenerated the landscape between East London and South Essex by creating new woodlands and a network of links through them.

For more information on Thames Chase please visit their website: www.thameschase.org.uk

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