This site is in two separate but very close locations. Dagenham Breach is a lake created by the River Thames flooding in the early 18th century. It lies just west of the Beam River, which runs through the Ford Works. The riverbank is at its best at the southern end of this section. Wildlife habitats on the Beam extend into neighbouring Havering borough, where the site is known as Lower River Beam and Ford Works Ditches. Public access is restricted to a footpath along parts of the northern edge of the lake.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Dagenham Breach and the lower Beam River in Dagenham
Borough: Barking and Dagenham
Grade: Borough Grade I
Access: Access on public footpaths only
Area: 18.04 ha
Description
Wildlife
The banks and surrounds of the Breach contain a fringe of common reed and great reedmace, widest at the southwestern end. Other wetland plants growing among the reeds include sea club-rush, false fox-sedge, lesser reedmace and common club-rush, all rather scarce in London. The lake supports several species of common dragonflies. It also holds a good community of fish, including eels, carp, tench and roach, and is popular with anglers. Breeding birds include reed warbler, great crested grebe, mute swan and possibly kingfisher, while wintering waterfowl include substantial numbers of tufted duck and pochard and smaller numbers of shoveler. Where the Beam is fringed by reedbeds and rough grassland, stonechat and black redstart have bred.Facilities
Fishing.
Shovelers © Susy Hogarth
Black redstart © Craig Churchill
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