Title

0: Introduction to Bluewater



0.1 Introduction

The Bluewater site is situated in Northwest Kent less than 2 miles outside the
M25 orbital road on the eastern periphery of London. It opened to guests in
March 1999 following its inception in 1995.

0.2 History and Ecology

The environs of the site in all directions but the south are characterised by a
mix of residential, institutional and industrial development. The Bluewater site
forms the westernmost portion of the largest chalk pits in England. Mineral
working at the site ceased in late 1994 but evidence of the workings is still
evident to this day. The landscape and landforms of the Bluewater site are
thus almost entirely man-made and have been inherited from the previous use
of the site.

The general level of the pit floor now lies some 40 to 60 metres below the
level of the original land surface.
The topography of the pit floor, when working ceased is unknown as the
developers have subsequently filled in the site with Thanet sand, the stratum
which naturally overlies the chalk in this part of Kent. The depth of this sand
was estimated at between 12 and 13 Metres and formed the effective
substrate of the site.
The pit at the time was marked by the presence of lakes along the southern
side and midway along the northern site of the former pit.

Only on the southern side of the site is there any sort of countryside. This
countryside represents a wedge of fields within which lies the ancient
woodland of Darenth Woods. It was in this southern area that at one time it
was believed that there were two species of plant rare to Kent this belief has
subsequently been refuted following site surveys carried out by independent
Nature Conservation Assessors who could not find any evidence of them. The
area had all the characteristic shrubs of chalk and scrub and there was a
relatively rich herbaceous flora; where conditions are favourable, plants that
are early colonists of bare ground survive.

The conclusion of this survey prior to the existing development was that the
Bluewater site was most unlikely to be of any particular merit in nature
conservation terms.
It stated that the lakes as they existed then were of limited value to wildlife
(being deep and steep sided) and almost any change that did not entail a
serious reduction in the water area would be beneficial.
The report stated that of most value to the site were the grasslands high
above the pit floor near the northern and eastern boundaries; it was stated
that even this grassland could not be considered as permanent if left to itself
it would inevitably be invaded and then eliminated by scrub


1 of 2

Title


0: Introduction to Bluewater


0.3 Environmental Aims of the Development

One of the aims of the Bluewater development was to bring back to the site
many of the different features for which the Kent countryside is renowned.

It was considered, as an essential aim of the scheme is to ensure that the
development of the site was in no way compromised by the impact of the
development.

The development was designed to convey the feeling that the landscape had
been established for many years this was done by installing mature plants
and trees (some being 30 years old).
The site was designed to provide a protected environment that would
encourage the habitation of wildlife by including an area of woodland adjacent
to the water for birds and insects to reside.
The selection of most of the tree and plants were considered as being
symbolic of the local Kent countryside which would help integrate the
development with the local area.

The lakes which at the onset had been considered as inhospitable to many
wildlife has been redeveloped to provide sloping shorelines and areas of
shallow water.


























2 of 2