We've just got back from scouring the length and breadth of the Mardyke right up until it was pitch black out there and it really is a sorry state of affairs.
There are still horses on the Mardyke despite the fact that they should have been removed over 20 days ago. At least 10 horses we found being corralled in a small fenced area out of sight of the road and footpath. We were able to get close to this bunch as they were fenced in. All the horses were in a very poor condition (as usual). One (pregnant) mare we were able to get close to seemed to be unable to open her eyes probably due to an infection from the matted burs in her mane rubbing them. Two foals were in the field too, all the mares were heavily pregnant. Absolutely NO water in their water container and looked like there hadn't been for quite some time. They obviously have to try to survive off rain water. All of them seemed very lethargic (probably from lack of water).
The entire place is littered with bones, both old and new. We found a whole skeleton of a horse in the woods near a makeshift camp/den partly covered by leaves which looked like it'd been there for some time and had obviously just rotted away, horse skulls in the field itself along with bits of bones scattered all over the place.You couldn't walk for ten minutes without discovering another bone of some sort. Something needs to be done about this whole dire situation and soon. Thurrock Council should NOT be allowing this kind of animal neglect by its tenants!
Photos to come in a bit.