Barking Point

Coastal Marsh, Saltings in Essex

England

Barking Point

Substation Sunset This major electrical substation is located in Renwick Road Creekmouth near Dagenham. — Substation Sunset Credit: Glyn Baker

Barking Point, located in Essex, England, is a coastal marshland area known for its unique landscape and ecological significance. Situated along the coast, it encompasses a vast expanse of salt marshes and saltings, making it an important habitat for various species of flora and fauna.

The marshland of Barking Point is characterized by its muddy and marshy terrain, which is predominantly covered by salt-tolerant grasses and low-lying shrubs. These plants have adapted to the saline conditions and serve as a crucial food source and nesting ground for numerous bird species, including waders, wildfowl, and terns.

The area is also home to diverse marine and intertidal life, such as crabs, clams, and small fish, which thrive in the brackish waters. This abundance of food attracts a variety of bird species, making Barking Point an ideal spot for birdwatching and ornithological study.

Apart from its ecological importance, Barking Point is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. The marshlands offer picturesque views of the surrounding coastline, with its expansive mudflats and channels that provide an ever-changing landscape depending on the tides.

Visitors to Barking Point can enjoy leisurely walks along the designated footpaths and trails, observing the rich biodiversity and taking in the tranquil ambiance. The area also offers opportunities for outdoor activities like birdwatching, photography, and nature study.

Overall, Barking Point in Essex is a captivating coastal marshland that showcases the beauty of nature and provides a haven for a diverse range of wildlife.

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Barking Point Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.513984/0.10790207 or Grid Reference TQ4681. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Substation Sunset

This major electrical substation is located in Renwick Road Creekmouth near Dagenham.

Glyn Baker

Creekmouth Substation

This is just a small section of the electrical substation at Creekmouth

Glyn Baker

A Creekmouth Jetty

This is a jetty at the eastern end of Creekmouth looking across the Thames towards Thamesmead

Glyn Baker

Thames & Navigation Marker

A navigation marker on the Thames between Creekmouth and Dagenham Dock. The picture was taken looking downstream so it is Dagenham Dock and Ford’s in the background.

Glyn Baker

N-Power Depot

This is a derelict ancillary building to the old Barking Power Station, long since demolished. The area is still owned by N-Power and this is their "Open Air Storage Depot" or so the sign nearby declares. Tied to the railings is a planning application for the old power station site. Included are 10800 homes, 65,000 sq metres of retail space, and all the infrastructure (schools, medical, facilities etc etc) to service them, in fact a new town in the Thames Gateway. Also included in the application are provision for a City Farm and an ecology centre.

Glyn Baker

Paper Recycling in Creekmouth

This is a photo of one of SITA’s paper recycling depots. SITA is the country’s largest waste management company. The group as a whole recycle some 1.4 million tonnes of waste per year. This plant handles some of the 350,000 tonnes of paper and card the company recycles each year. In the background can be seen the Barking Creek flood defence barrier.

Glyn Baker

Blumsom timber merchants

This is a photo of Blumsom timber merchants kiln drying plant. The company declare they only use wood from legal renewable resources and have a written environmental policy.

Glyn Baker

Tripcock Light

This photo shows the Tripcock Light and a fingerpost on the Thames Path Cycleway

Glyn Baker

Thamesmere

Looking across Thamesmere Lake towards the Thamesmere Leisure Centre. Rather prosaically the Environment Agency pumping station on the lake refers to the location as "Lake 4".

Glyn Baker

Park in Thamesmead

This is a canalised stream through a recreation ground in Thamesmead. The photograph was taken looking north.

Glyn Baker

Tower at Gallions Reach

This modern folly stands on a roundabout on the extensive Gallions Reach shopping centre. It seems to have no purpose except to act as a lighthouse to guide shoppers to somewhere to bash the plastic!

Glyn Baker

Southmere, Thamesmead

Southmere (variously spelt as one word or two) is the lake at the heart of the huge Thamesmead housing development (started in the 1970's and still expanding).

Stephen Craven

golf driving range

The golf driving range, situated at the end of Fairway Drive (where else?) in Thamesmead

Stephen Craven

Barking Barrier

the flood barrier at the mouth of the River Roding at Barking, viewed from the Thames Path on the opposite bank

Stephen Craven

Barking Barrier

This is the downstream side of the barrier, which was built over a period of four years, being completed in 1983. It is about 60 metres high, and was needed to be this size to allow shipping to reach the Town Quay in Barking further upstream. The barrier crosses the Barking Creek reach of the River Roding, at its confluence with the River Thames.

Nigel Cox