Ruxley Gravel Pits, Edgington Way, Bromley are old gravel workings, owned by the Environment Agency, used as online flood storage for the River Cray. The site comprises four small gravel pits. The River Cray flows through three of the pits, whilst the fourth is fed by springs. The pits were active from 1929, with extraction ceasing in 1951, thereafter the old workings attracted an increasing variety of birds.

The first breeding of the little ringed plover in Kent was recorded here in 1947. Since this time the bird community has evolved with the changing pattern of vegetation to include some 169 species of bird have been reported on the site including some 15 species of birds which are nationally rare and listed as endangered (including: Song Thrush, Bull Finch, Reed Bunting, Kingfisher, Skylark and many others besides)

The importance of Ruxley was first officially cited in 1975 as a Site of Special Scientifc Interest (SSSI) by Natural England. It is noted for its rich variety of breeding waterfowl and insects particularly dragonflies and damselflies. The site remains an extremely important area for nature conservation because it is one of the few areas of relatively undisturbed open water in Greater London south of the Thames.

Aside from proving a vital haven for wildlife Ruxley Gravel Pits has served a very real purpose as a flood defence within the capital it functions as a flood storage area.  It is part of a high risk Flood Risk Management System controlled by the Environment Agency. 

Since 2000, Kent Wildlife Trust and the London Borough of Bromley have been working with volunteer teams to cut back the encroaching scrub and trees and return the SSSI to favorable conditions. 

In July 2002 a decision was taken to site one of a number of recolonisation programmes at Ruxley in July 2002. A colony of critically endangered watervole was re-introduced to the site and is now flourishing on the site. Surveys have shown that elsewhere in the UK watervoles have disappeared from more than 89 per cent of sites previously occupied by this tiny mammal 60 years ago.

During 2005-2007, with funding from Natural England, the Environment Agency and the London Borough of Bromley, Kent Wildlife Trust has managed a programme to restore the wildlife habitats. The improvements made over the past years will greatly enhance the habitats at the site and the wildlife they support for years to come.

The future of Ruxley lies in the continued management of the site to ensure that scrub doesnt threaten to encompass the wide range of habitats present. To find out more about taking part in working parties contact Kent Wildlife Trust on 01622 662012.