MORE than £500,000 is to be spent on creating “nature zones” on a stretch of our coast.

The Greater Thames Marshes, which includes Rainham Marshes nature reserve in Purfleet, has been awarded the £571,000 from the Government to improve wildlife habitats and landscapes across the Thames Estuary.

The money will be invested in creating a grazing and salt marsh, mudflat habitats, as well as working with community groups and residents to become more involved in maintaining natural, open spaces. The marshes are one of 12 so-called “nature improvement areas” across the country to benefit from funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Speaking during a press conference at Rainham Marshes, Environment Minister Jim Paice said: “I am delighted to be here. This whole area is really exciting, as it is covering all of the Thames Marshes.

“This is an area of high development pressures, with a lot of commercial and industrial development.

“This demonstrates we can have the pressures of development, but at the same time keep a sensible area established for nature.

“This exciting wildlife project is part of many across the country with a common purpose, to safeguard our wildlife for generations to come.”

The Greater Thames partnership hopes the creation of wildlife habitats will encourage birds, invertebrates and mammals, such as the water vole, to the area.

Sam Dawes, conservation manager for the RSPB, said: “Our vision is to enrich the Thames Marshes to attract more investment and more wildlife, and to make it easier to access. It will be a model for smart development.”

The estuary is one of the most important in Europe for wintering waterfowl.

Simon Walsh, chairman of Essex County Council’s environment scrutiny committee said: “The unique habitats of marshes and brownfield sites in Basildon, Castle Point, Rochford, Southend and Thurrock will be enhanced for our local communities and future generations.”

Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price was delighted by the news. She said: “This will really put the site on the map.

“What this shows is there is a changing approach and we are seeing how bio-diversity can sit alongside the estuary in a rapidly improving area.”