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Biodiversity

Even though Crossrail is being built through heavily populated areas of London, it still has an impact on wildlife. The land surrounding our rail tracks and some of the areas where new Crossrail tracks, depots and stations will be built support a variety of wildlife including orchids, trees, snakes, lizards and frogs.
We are working hard to protect and improve the environment we touch. Crossrail and Network Rail have undertaken work using the DEFRA biodiversity accounting methodology to determine the value of habitats lost and created. Habitats that can be included in site restoration have been identified in the central section and these are being continually reviewed as work progresses and it becomes clearer what land will be retained as part of the operational railway. A multidisciplinary working group has been set up internally to maximise the opportunities for biodiversity enhancement. An example of restoration that resulted in improved biodiversity value is the Ham and Wick worksite in east London. This site was used to support tunnelling operations and was originally intended to be returned as car park for local residents. In consultation with the local community, a planting scheme of trees and shrubs has been implemented around the car park boundary, enhancing the site for future use.
Wallasea Island
- Excavated material from Crossrail’s tunnels and stations was used to create RSPB nature reserve at Wallasea Island, Essex
- 1528 shipments have delivered 3 million tonnes of excavated material
- Nearly 80% on a tonne per km of material transported by rail and water, removing approximately 150,000 lorries from London
Over three million tonnes of excavated earth contributed to the creation of a landmark 1,500 acre wildlife habitat at Wallasea Island - a collaborative project between Crossrail and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).
In September 2015, the sea walls were breached to allow the tidal water to flood into the new wetland habitat. Since the breach, the RSPB has undertaken detailed monitoring of the area to ensure it will establish a suitable habitat for many thousands of visiting birds. Named Jubilee Marsh, the area created by Crossrail sees around two million cubic metres of water enter and leave the breached area every day.
Raised embankments that were barren with spoil from the tunnels are now lush with greenery. Feeding birds are expected to move in as the marsh builds up with silt and vegetation and becomes colonised by invertebrates. In early November 2015 at least 39 different species of birds were counted at the site including the peregrine falcon, kingfisher, avocet and corn bunting. The RSPB expects more than 10,000 birds to visit Jubilee Marsh in 2016.
Find out more about how Crossrail's excavated material has been used.
Gallery - construction milestones at Wallasea Island
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Crossrail signs agreement with PLA to move excavated materials via river, September 2009
In 2008 Crossrail agreed a deal with RSPB to provide material excavated from beneath London to create a huge wildlife reserve in Essex. By September 2009, Crossrail signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Port of London Authority (PLA) to confirm its commitment to use barges and ships along the Thames to move its excavated materials. -
Reinstatement works on freight rail link into Northfleet site, September 2011
Freight trains will transport material from Crossrail's western tunnels site at Westbourne Park to Northfleet via the Great Western Main Line, the Greenford Loop, West London Line, Clapham and Lewisham. -
Aerial view of Wallasea Island, November 2011
In December 2011 Crossrail awarded the Marine Transportation contract to ship excavated material arising from Crossrail’s construction to Wallasea Island, Essex to create the new RSPB nature reserve. -
First trainload of excavated material from Crossrail’s tunnels leaves London for Kent, May 2012
The first trainload of excavated material from Crossrail’s western tunnels leaves west London via rail to be delivered to Northfleet in Kent. -
Aerial view of excavated material from Western Tunnels being loaded onto GB Railfreight train at Wes -
Protected wildlife relocated from Wallasea Island construction site, May 2012
As Crossrail prepares for the first phase of development at Wallasea Island, protected wildlife, including water voles, are being relocated to safe new homes. Detailed ecological protection measures are included in all of Crossrail's works contracts. -
Ecology team working on re-locating water vole population on Wallasea Island_103853 -
Jetty construction underway at Wallasea nature reserve, July 2012
The Wild Coast Project on Wallasea Island, receives two giant floating pontoons in preparation for the arrival of excavated material from Crossrail. The 76 metre long pontoons will be joined to create a single jetty for ships to unload excavated earth for the new 1,500 acre nature reserve. -
First shipment of Crossrail excavated material arrives at Wallasea Island, August 2012
560 tonnes of excavated material from construction sites in central London was shipped from the Docklands Transfer Station at Barking and arrived at Wallasea on 22 August for unloading. -
Wallasea Island jetty completed, August 2012
Crossrail takes another step towards the creation of a new 1,500 acre RSPB nature reserve with the completion of a new 180 metre jetty at Wallasea Island in Essex. The jetty will receive in the order of 4.5 million tonnes of material excavated during Crossrail’s tunnelling operations in London. -
Construction of Europe’s largest man-made coastal reserve starts, September 2012 -
Aerial view of Wallasea Island site, November 2012
This aerial image shows the jetty at Wallasea Island and conveyor system in use to transfer material from the marine transportation ships. -
Aerial view of Wallasea Island site, November 2012
The Wallasea Island Wild Coast Project will deliver 670 hectares of marshland. -
Aerial view of Wallasea Island site, November 2012
At its peak 10,000 tonnes of material will be unloaded from ships per day. -
Conveyor system in use at Wallasea Island, November 2012
The giant conveyor system transfers the material from river to land for use in constructing the nature reserve. -
Excavated material from Crossrail tunnels arriving at Wallasea Island, November 2012 -
Aerial view of Wallasea Island site, November 2012
Crossrail will deliver more than 2,000 ship loads of excavated material to Wallasea Island, equating to in the region of 4.5 million tonnes of earth removed during tunnelling. -
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Wallasea Island final shipment of excavated material_191779 -
Wallasea Island final shipment of excavated material_191763 -
Aerial view of Docklands Transfer Station _172846 -
Aerial view of Docklands Transfer Station_172860 -
Wallasea Island - pre-sea wall breach works_167057 -
Wallasea Island - pre-sea wall breach works_167068 -
Wallasea Island - pre-sea wall breach works_167082 -
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Wallasea Island post-sea wall breach aerial photo July 2015 -
Wallasea Island post-sea wall breach aerial photo July 2015