This ditch has been created to increase habitat for water vole, a familiar face as ‘Ratty’ in Wind in the Willows. Listen for the distinctive ‘plop’ sound which is often the only indication that water voles are around. The ditch will also be home to many invertebrates and amphibians, perhaps even the great crested newt.

Water voles are currently declining at a rapid rate through habitat loss and predation (often by non-native mink). Water voles are very shy and mainly eat grass and plants near the water. They live in burrows dug within the banks of ditches and small rivers. Water voles like thick vegetation as it provides food and hides them away from potential predators.

A rare shield bug, which in Britain is found only in Southern counties. Shield bugs are so called as many have shield shaped wing cases. They can produce a foul smelling liquid when threatened by predators, or carelessly handled!

This spider usually occurs in chalk and limestone grassland, often under stones in fairly open areas. In Essex it occurs on dry south-facing grasslands, landslip areas and at the base of sea walls, such as those found on Canvey Marshes. Egg-sacs are deposited under stones.Adults of both sexes have been recorded between May and August.

Yellow Legged Zipper (Trachyzelotes pedestris)

Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum)

This small red and black ground beetle is found across southern England, south Wales and East Anglia. It is restricted to localised sites in these areas, where it prefers dry sandy or chalky places with short turf.

Panagaeus bipustulatus

Wildlife Ditch

Water Vole (Arvicola amphibius)

Wildlife interpretation boards

Log pile

Bridleway

Public Footpath

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This map is based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf ofthe Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringesCrown copyright and may leadto prosecution or civil proceedings. Essex County Council 100019602 2011 0 100m 200m

Detail missing from edges, black line indicates suggested area of use

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THE ORCHARD LAND - WESTMany of Britain’s wildflower species have declined through use of farming chemicals since the 1960s. Wild flowers provide shelter and food for many invertebrate species. Most of the flowers you can see growing along the road have been grown from seeds collected before the road was built!

Rhombic Leather Shieldbug (Syromastes rhombeus)

Wild flower meadow

A pretty red dragonfly which is widespread and locally common at suitable sites. Adults can be seen ‘darting’ about between mid June and September. Ruddy darters use weedy ponds and ditches for laying their eggs which turn into fierce looking nymphs that live in the water for up to 3 years.

A unique little corner of England.

This area, known as The Orchard Land, is a leading example of how habitat creation and management can mitigate the impact of human activity on the natural world.

The Orchard Land is home to a range of rare and endangered species.

The area was enhanced and improved by Essex County Council working closely with environmental consultant Mouchel, and Natural England - to ensure that the extension of Roscommon Way was carried out with minimal impact on the natural environment.

Together we have worked to develop ways of recreating the habitat of one of England’s most important invertebrate sites - the Canvey Wick Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and also the Canvey Village Marsh Local Wildlife Site (LoWS).

As a result, the Orchard Land now features a range of different habitats that support rare invertebrates, reptiles, and water voles.

This forms part of Essex County Council’s continued commitment to the protection, preservation and enhancement of the natural environment for the benefit of all.

Some areas of grassland have been allowed to become tussock-like and appear unmanaged. Cutting the grassland only once per year and removing the cuttings stops the very competitive species of grasses from taking over. They form a really important area for invertebrates, small mammals and reptiles to forage and live.

Rough Grassland

The use of sandy soil and rubble piles mimics the post-industrial sites which make Canvey Wick Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) so important for invertebrates. The sandy soil which is poor in nutrients allows the kind of plants beneficial to invertebrate to grow and prevents more competitive plant species from taking over. The rubble piles give spaces and hollows for invertebrates, reptiles and mammals to forage and live.

Sandy Soil & Rubble piles

Britain’s only venomous snake, the adder is a shy animal which will slide away when disturbed. Never disturb or try to pick up an adder. Although it is venomous it is of very little threat to man, and will only bite if provoked. Only 10 people have died from adder bites in the last 100 years.

Adder (Vipera berus)

Shrill Carder-Bee (Bombus sylvarum)

Shrill Carder-Bees are threatened by habitat loss and intensification of agriculture and are declining in numbers across Europe and in the United Kingdom. Common until the early 20th century, they are now restricted to a few small areas in southern England and south Wales and Canvey Island is one of them.

Wildlife interpretation boards

Log pile

Bridleway

Public Footpath

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This map is based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf ofthe Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringesCrown copyright and may leadto prosecution or civil proceedings. Essex County Council 100019602 2011 0 100m 200m

Detail missing from edges, black line indicates suggested area of use

Kings Road

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Cocker Road

Supermarket

Northwick RoadRoundabout

FleetRoundabout

CharfleetsRoundabout

Canvey Road

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Sandhurst Street

Arjan Way

Koln Close

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Common Lizard (Zootoca vivipara)

THE ORCHARD LAND - EASTThe Bombardier Beetle is 6-10mm long, of typical ground beetle shape. They are famous for their defence mechanism. When alarmed they eject explosive pulsating jets of noxious gas at 100˚C from their rear end which can be directed against an attacker (such as an ant or another beetle), appearing as puffs of smoke with a popping noise. Early naturalists thought it resembled gunfire hence their name!

This is the small, very quick brownish lizard often seen on commons, moors, cliffs, embankments and dry stone walls around Britain. It gives birth to live jet black young which turn copper coloured in theautumn. Common lizards feed on invertebrates, and they love to bask in sunny spots.

Bombardier Beetle (Brachinus crepitans)

A unique little corner of England.

This area, known as The Orchard Land, is a leading example of how habitat creation and management can mitigate the impact of human activity on the natural world.

The Orchard Land is home to a range of rare and endangered species.

The area was enhanced and improved by Essex County Council working closely with environmental consultant Mouchel, and Natural England - to ensure that the extension of Roscommon Way was carried out with minimal impact on the natural environment.

Together we have worked to develop ways of recreating the habitat of one of England’s most important invertebrate sites - the Canvey Wick Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and also the Canvey Village Marsh Local Wildlife Site (LoWS).

As a result, the Orchard Land now features a range of different habitats that support rare invertebrates, reptiles, and water voles.

This forms part of Essex County Council’s continued commitment to the protection, preservation and enhancement of the natural environment for the benefit of all.

Wildlife interpretation boards

Log pile

Bridleway

Public Footpath

N

This map is based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf ofthe Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringesCrown copyright and may leadto prosecution or civil proceedings. Essex County Council 100019602 2011 0 100m 200m

Detail missing from edges, black line indicates suggested area of use

Kings Road

Rom

anvi

lle W

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Cha

rfle

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Roa

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Northwick Road

Northwick Road

Roscom

mon W

ay

Hav

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oad

Clinton Road

Cocker Road

Supermarket

Northwick RoadRoundabout

FleetRoundabout

CharfleetsRoundabout

Canvey Road

Sha

nnon

Way

Sandhurst Street

Arjan Way

Koln Close

Wes

t Poi

nt P

lace

Malvern Avenue

Laburnum Grove

Roa

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Runwood Road

Charfleets House

Mul

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Charfleets Close

Charfleets Service Road

Vik

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Cambria Close

OrchardLand

Water Vole Ditches

St Marks Road

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Roscommon Way passes through one of England’s most important invertebrate sites – the Canvey Wick Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Essex County Council worked closely with their environmental consultant Mouchel, and Natural England to ensure that work on Roscommon Way was undertaken sensitively to maintain importance of the site to many invertebrate species.

Invertebrates are integral to the ecosystem, providing essential food to birds and mammals, as well as other ecological, agricultural and technological benefits.

A number of features have been designed to support this ecosystem. In some areas next to the roadside you will see what appears to be piles of rubble and long grassy areas. Rubble areas are important as they provide basking areas for invertebrates, with the unkempt grass verges helping to maintain their favoured habitats.

Free draining sandy soils have little nutrients present which prevents competitive plants from crowding out the plants that are more beneficial to the local wildlife. The damp areas, reedbeds and other wetlands (including ditches) all support wildlife. Wildlife crossing points allow animals to cross under the road safely. The trees at the Fleet roundabout have been planted to protect barn owls from road traffic.

THE HIGHWAY VERGES

Some areas of grassland have been allowed to become tussock-like and appear unmanaged. Cutting the grassland only once per year and removing the cuttings stops the very competitive species of grasses from taking over. They form an important area for invertebrates, small mammals and reptiles to forage and live.

Also known as the Hedge Brown, the Gatekeeper Butterfly is so named due to its frequent occurrence near field gates, field margins and hedges. The adult Gatekeeper has a short proboscis/tongue, so can often been seen feeding on the shallow flowers of the blackberry. The male possesses a dark patch of scent producing scales on their middle forewing which is used during courtship.

Gatekeeper Butterfly (Pyronia tithonus)

Rough Grassland

Many of Britain’s wildflower species have declined through use of farming chemicals since the 1960s. Wild flowers provide shelter and food for many invertebrate species. Most of the flowers you can see growing along the road have been grown from seeds collected before the road was built!

Wild flower meadow

Sandy Soil & Rubble piles

An eye catching and unmistakable butterfly, the Peacock can be seen throughout the summer feeding on nectar rich flowers in Britain’s gardens and parks before winter hibernation. The four eyespots on the wing resemble the tail feather pattern of the peacock and are there to scare away predators.

Peacock Butterfly (Inachis io)

The use of sandy soil and rubble piles, instead of normal topsoil on the road embankments, mimics the post-industrial sites which make Canvey Wick Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) so important for invertebrates. The sandy soil which is poor in nutrients allows the kind of plants beneficial to invertebrate to grow and prevents more competitive plant species from taking over. The rubble piles give spaces and hollows for invertebrates, reptiles and mammals to forage and live.