There are many other unusual and attractive plants to be
found and a complete list of vascular plants recorded in
Grays Chalk Quarry is given at the end of this article.
Moving away from the flora we find that many other aspects
of natural history are well represented in the Quarry. The
birdlife is particularly varied considering its close
proximity to a large town. Warblers such as Chiffchaff,
willow warbler and Whitethroat are common during the summer
and the wooded areas hold great spotted and green woodpeckers,
with substantial finch and tit flocks during the winter.
We have seen in an earlier article that the insect life is
impressive and this will always be so in an area rich in
plant life, where many plants may require specific insect
pollinators.
The Quarry has two badger setts, the larger and more active
being in the western cliff face. Badgers from this sett
regularly visit the gardens of houses in Meesons Lane on
their nocturnal wanderings. The small mammal population
has not been investigated so here is an ideal project for
anyone wishing to add to our knowledge of the area. The
fungi are slightly better recorded, and one particular species
to be found, Amanita virosa, commonly known as Destroying
angel, is most attractive - and deadly poisonous!
So we have seen in this brief look at Grays Chalk Quarry
that the area is a haven for wildlife. It is evident that
the Quarry is the most important botanical site in Thurrock
and it clearly makes a very valuable contribution to our
County's wildlife resources. It is extremely sad, therefore,
that a planning permission should exist for the development
of residential housing on about 40 acres of the Quarry. A
marvellous natural progression has occurred, through several
generations, in habitat originally created by man's disruption
of the countryside. It seems heartless that man should now
destroy what Nature has created. We can only hope that the
development does not proceed, for it will be a sorry day
indeed if the bulldozers move in.
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