The Land Restoration Trust (LRT) and Essex Wildlife Trust carried out work to the 16ha Langdon Lake & Meadows site to combat vandalism and littering.

The local community highlighted a growing concern that problems such as littering, broken glass, fires and illegal vehicle use were worsening. Local Paralympics gold medal athlete Danny Crates, who used Langdon as part of his training route, joined forces with local residents to lobby for investment.

In 2007 the LRT - which owns the site - secured a £1m grant from the Thames Gateway Deliv- ery Unit of the Department for Communities & Local Government.

Essex Wildlife Trust came on board to carry out consultation work with the community.

The improvements include clearing scrub from the meadows, securing the site boundary fences and providing site interpretation.

Seating has been installed around the lake and in the meadows for the public to enjoy the views. Bridleways and footpaths that were once dark and forbidding have been opened up to provide a more welcoming atmosphere.

The funding has provided an endowment that will cover all maintenance and management costs, which includes the recruitment of a part-time reserve officer.