Reptiles

London Gateway is investing millions of pounds into a world class environmental management programme and, already, over 50,000 animals have been re-housed from the site. A team of 25 ecologists has collected thousands of animals from across the London Gateway site including water voles, Great Crested newts, adders, grass snakes and lizards.

London Gateway is creating new nature habitats in which to re-house the reptiles, each of a different character, which will accommodate a variety of wildlife that has moved into the derelict land of the former oil refinery.

These sites will be prepared and managed to protect the wildlife so these species can enjoy sustainable green habitats.

One of the methods to catch reptiles includes laying over 23,000 mats across a 78 hectare site, which provide a protected environment reptiles can shelter under. The ecologists turn the mats twice a day to collect the reptiles. The mats were checked over two million times during the summer of 2008.

As part of our environment programme, the London Gateway team has been working with local schools to educate children in ecology management. We will continue this education throughout the development phase.

Watch a video about the environmental management programme.