Get closer to nature with Essex Wildlife Trust

Enjoy and experience your local wildlife

Essex is a truly beautiful county, just take a look around and you can see how much it has to offer. We have some beautiful habitats for wildlife to flourish in, including ancient woodland, the longest coastline in England, important marshes, some fantastic waterways, heathland and meadows, to name but a few.

Nature, Wildlife and being outdoors is good for you!

The benefits of getting outside and experiencing the countryside are enormous. Infact recent research has proved this.

“Research has shown that green space if vital for people’s well-being. It improves self-esteem and mood, and reduces blood pressure.”

Professor Jules Pretty OBE, Essex University

How to get involved

Visit our Nature Reserves

You have free access to our nature reserves (a few do not have public access). Take advantage of this and go for a walk around these important wildlife. These areas are being managed to improve them and ensure that they are the best habitats for wildlife to flourish in and people to enjoy.

Our nature reserves have footpaths through them that allow you to experience the wildlife within them, whilst not disturbing it.

There are a wide variety of nature reserves including 3 farms, all of which are situated on some fantastic Essex coastline, there are a lot of ancient woodlands that in spring time offer carpets of beautiful bluebells. Some of our Reserves are old industrial areas which, as they have declined, have become an absolute haven to wildlife.

Visiting a Nature Reserve could not be easier, simply go to www.essexwt.org.uk and click on Top Reserves to find out more details. Or phone 01621 862960 for more information.

Go to an Essex Wildlife Trust Visitor Centre

Get closer to nature while taking advantage of the comforts of our visitor centres. There are 7 visitor centres spread across the county and you can be sure that you will get a warm welcome if you visit one.

All of them offer some fantastic views across the nature reserves within which they are set. They will offer you the opportunity to find out more about the nature reserve within which they stand, offer a hot cup of coffee and refreshments, give fantastic views across our Reserves and the opportunity to buy some really original gifts, cards and wildlife products. Disabled facilities are available at all centres and they all have a full programme of events for adults and children.

Essex Wildlife Trust has visitor centres at Bedfords Park, Thorndon Countryside Centre, Chafford Gorges, Langdon, Hanningfield Reservoir, Abberton Reservoir and Fingringhoe Wick.

To find out more go to www.essexwt.org.uk and click on visitor centres or phone 01621 862960.

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW

• go for a walk at a Essex Wildlife Trust nature reserve, or
• call in at at Trust visitor centre
• contact us about volunteering opportunities
• come along to an event
• become a member of Essex Wildlife Trust.

Take the opportunity to get closer to nature in Essex.