Alan Johnson from the RSPB confirmed that Rainham Marshes will remain protected as a vital reserve, despite recent cuts that led to the closure of its shop and cafe. He highlighted its importance as a breeding ground for waders and habitat for wildlife like water voles and returning otters. While he addressed uncertainties regarding the visitor center's upstairs area, he expressed openness to proposals that could generate financial support for the RSPB, emphasizing the site's unique value to the community and wildlife alike.
Alan Johnson, RSPB area manager for Kent and Essex, has assured that Rainham Marshes will be protected as a reserve in the future after its shop and cafe were scrapped. These were part of sweeping cuts across the conservation charity, revealed exclusively by the Recorder in October, which put several other nature reserves at risk of complete closure. However, Mr Johnson called Rainham Marshes a "hyper important" reserve, which will not shut due to it being a "hotspot" for certain bird species and other wildlife.
He told the Recorder: "We're not going anywhere because it's an amazing site. It's one of the best sites for breeding waders in the country - a species that previously disappeared from the wider countryside."
Mr Johnson said that any future use of the upstairs would "ideally" support the charity financially, but that he is "very open-minded" to different proposals, stating, "It is just an unusual space - it's reasonably large, it's got a nice view over the marsh and river."
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