This report provides the results of a terrestrial invertebrate survey to inform Natural England’s proposal to enlarge the Mucking Flats and Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), notified (in part) for its invertebrate interest. The survey was conducted on land at Mucking, known as the Enovert Landfill site to the west of Mucking Flats and Marshes SSSI.
The survey targeted Species Assemblage Types (SATs) F111 ‘bare sand and chalk’ and F112 ‘open short sward’. Data was collected via pitfall trapping where a set of nine pitfall traps were placed in each compartment, totalling 36 traps. In addition, data was collected by sweep netting and suction sampling.
A total of 286 species of invertebrates were recorded of which 44 species have a national status. The SAT that is most prominent at the site is the F002 ‘rich flower resource’ with a total of 38 species of fidelity recorded (where the threshold for favourable condition is 15). Of the targeted SATs F111 had 18 species recorded (where the threshold for favourable condition is 19) and F112 had ten species recorded (where the threshold for favourable condition is 13).
The report found that the site has a huge potential to support invertebrates associated with F111 and F112, along with other supporting assemblages such as ‘scrub edge’ (F001) and ‘rich flower resource’ (F002). However, this potential is currently limited by the lack of proactive ecological management on the site during the site restoration works. It is understood however that the site is under a phased restoration and handover to Essex Wildlife Trust, and so appropriate conservation management is anticipated in the longer term.
The reader is advised to read this report alongside the survey of the Enovert landfill site undertaken in 2022 as part of a wider survey in the North Thames area: NECR577 Edition 1 North Thames Estuary and Marshes Terrestrial Invertebrate survey 2022.