Fairlop Gravel Works

For Information. This site is still under the Management of Brett Tarmac Ltd and access to the north of the site is curtailed for the next 12 years while local gravel extraction continues. Current design is deliberate to stop access of dog walkers to The grassland areas and stop disturbance to breeding species such as Skylarks and meadow pipits. When BTL leave there will be opportunities to improve. Including the circular route and access into the existing Country Park.

Currently all of the Fairlop Plain complex is undergoing a local consultation process to integrate the landholdings Into a extended Fairlop Waters Country Park (10 to 20 years project) local Conservationists are fighting to prove that nature must come first. Therfore I would ask that any wildlife records for anywhere at Fairlop are uploaded direct to Greenspace Information for London (GIGL) at the earliest opportunity.

Chris Gannaway LWT rep for Redbridge 12/11/21

update: In the last week I've been to this site twice (for the 1st time) and it's now an official nature reserve that has signs up with 2 names, Aldborough Hall Nature Reserve on entrance sign and Fairlop Quarry Nature Reserve is written on 2 older signs. The entrance to the reserve is on Aldborough Road North.

The place is very badly designed from a birder perspective. For example there is no vantage point to see over the grassland, which has a small herd of cows. In most places the path is lower than the grassland, which is fenced off and the view blocked by hedges along the fence.

The habitat that attracted the variety of waders over 10 years ago, has been filled and made into a big field which is full of corvids; crows, magpies and jackdaws. As stated there is no place to view over the large grassland. Unless one ventures into an area that is not officially part of the new reserve. A medium size flooded gravel pit, large area of very rough scrub and a 2nd larger area of water are disussed, but not part of it. I just wonder if they are going to develop this area into habitat that could attract back some waders and install hides and a viewing platform?

I saw 38 species in 2 visits, including Ring Ouzel, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Sparrowhawk (no waders) and 2 rabbits but no hares.

Michael Mac 11 11 2021

The History The Fairlop gravel works site on Painters Road, Fairlop (map; OS grid reference TQ462897) is one of the top birding sites in the London Borough of Redbridge and is the subject of a proposal for creating a new local nature reserve.

History

The site has a history of use for gravel extraction but this is coming to an end. It has been agreed that the area will be designated as a nature reserve on completion of the infilling of the site but local campaigners want the council to cease infilling because of the wildlife that has made its home on the site in its existing wetland habitat state. Please join the protest here.

Habitat

The site is currently devoted to gravel workings but there are plans to plant a large reedbed in order to: create a wetland habitat based on the existing layout of the works; improve Seven Kings Water (which runs along the site); create a nesting site for Sand Martin; plant more wet woodland; protect the habitat favoured by the Brown Hare.

Species

BIRDS

In spite of the heavy gravel workings, the site is a wonderful local birding spot. It is home to the borough’s only winter flocks of Lapwing (up to 550 birds) and Golden Plover (up to 150 birds) and also has the borough's largest population of wintering Snipe (usually well over 20), with the occasional Jack Snipe. It is also the only location in the borough for wintering Green Sandpiper (up to eight, and usually at least two on site for 10 months of the year). It also has good numbers of wintering wildfowl, and is the only site in the borough at which Shelduck are regularly seen.

The site is also good for raptors, with Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Little Owl and Hobby all regularly seen and Marsh Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine, Barn Owl and Buzzard all seen in the 12 months ending March 2010.

It is the only site in the borough for breeding waders and the major site for migrating waders. In 2009, two pairs of Little Ringed Plover and three pairs of Lapwing bred. Waders seen on passage include Whimbrel, Black-tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover, Greenshank, Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Dunlin and Green Sandpiper.

Fairlop gravel workings is one of the best sites in the borough for migrating passerines. During 2009 up to 50 Wheatear, 50 Whinchat, 50 Yellow Wagtail, several White Wagtail, 2 Rock Pipit and 2 Water Pipit were seen. It is also the only place in the borough where Sedge Warbler breed, and one of only two or three sites where Reed Warbler breed.

Other birds include wintering Stonechat, Woodcock and Water Rail and occasional Spotted Crake.

OTHER VERTEBRATES

Brown Hare, otherwise virtually unknown in the London area, breed on the site.

INVERTEBRATES

(Information needed, please)

Practicalities

Directions The nearest station is Barkingside, on the London Underground’s Central line. Just north of the station a track goes east, then south then east again to Aldborough Hatch, then go north on Aldborough Road North and bend right into Painters Road.

Access

Because the site is still an active gravel working, access is currently restricted to evenings and weekends.

Facilities

There are currently no on-site facilities but proposals for the site include a small car park, bird hides, walkway and observation blinds.

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This page has been thrown together by Andrew Haynes, who has never visited the site but thinks that it deserves a page on this website because of the threat it is facing. If you are familiar with the site, please correct, expand and/or update this information (and delete or amend this paragraph).