The Friends of Canvey Lake community group is hosting a quiz night on 10 April 2026 to raise funds and awareness for the ongoing preservation of the 8.3-hectare Local Nature Reserve on Canvey Island. Residents are invited to attend the event at The Paddocks, with doors opening at 7:30 PM and tickets priced at £5 per person.
The campaign group, formed by residents concerned about the environmental health of the area, continues to advocate for the restoration of the lake. The site, which acts as both a recreational space and a facility to store excess rainwater to help prevent flooding, has faced repeated outbreaks of toxic blue-green algae. In July 2025, tests conducted by the Environment Agency found algae levels were 125 times higher than the accepted safety threshold.
Following these environmental issues, Canvey Island Town Council surrendered its lease for the site in July 2025, transferring ownership to Castle Point Borough Council. The borough council has since committed to a £500,000 restoration programme intended to improve water quality and prevent future algae blooms.
Despite these plans, members of the Friends of Canvey Lake, including chairman Alan Tibbit, continue to call for concrete action. The group is pushing for the lake to be dredged, clear timelines for the work to be finished, and guarantees that maintenance funding will be set aside for the future. Organisers hope the upcoming quiz night will help keep the community engaged as they work to return the lake to its former condition.
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