What is 'People & Wildlife'?

The Essex Wildlife Trust provides unique opportunities for children, young people and adults, enabling them to experience the beauty and natural wealth of our reserves and to understand important issues relating to the conservation of our county's wildlife.

The Essex Wildlife Trust's People and Wildlife team are a group of highly dedicated and passionate members of staff and volunteers who directly educate over 44,000 people each year.  Interpretation boards, trail guides, events, visitor centres and work parties all enhance the people and wildlife work of the Trust.

For more information contact Rachel Steward, People & Wildlife Manager on (01621) 862991 or click here

"The link between people and wildlife is vital for us to secure a future for the wildlife of Essex."

Adult Education Courses

We run a wide range of beginners and advanced courses from hedge laying and tree planting to identification to fungal forays to basket making to art classes.

For more about events click here

Birthday Parties

Enjoy a morning or afternoon with all of your friends and family outdoors with one of our team. Enthral your friends in pond dipping, bird watching or just getting muddy on a winters walk! Suitable for all ages.

The party includes 90 minutes of fun packed activities with one of our team plus an hours party room hire, booking essential.

Requested donations of £6.00p per child with a minimum donation of £60.00p per party booking e.g. the requested donation for 18 children on a party would be £108.00p but any booking of 10 or less children would be £60.00p. All donations for bookings are used to support the work of the Essex Wildlife Trust charity.

To make a booking contact your nearest centre:

Abberton near Colchester
Richard Smith or Karalyn Foord on (01206) 738172 or to email click here.

Bedfords Park near Romford
Roz Wisniewski or Vicky Rudd (01708) 748646 or to email click here.

Chafford Gorges Nature Park near Grays
Hayley Arnold or Donna Bennett (01375 484016) or to email click here.

Fingringhoe near Colchester
Laura Hopkins (01206) 729678 or to email click here.

Langdon near Basildon
Karen McKay or Dee Abbott (01268) 419103 or to email click here.

Hanningfield near Chelmsford
Becky Gibson or Sarah Jaggard (01268) 711001 or to email click here.

Thorndon near Brentwood
Susanne Eaton or Penny Brewster (01277) 232944 or to email click here.

Community Outreach

Our outreach projects provide the perfect opportunity for local communities, youth groups and other organisations to become involved in projects and events which really benefit both people and wildlife, including building gardens and public greenspace enhancement.

For more information or to make a booking contact: Roz Wisnieski, Community Wildlife Officer at Bedfords Park (01708) 748646 or to email click here.
For more information or to make a booking contact: Hayley Arnold, Community Wildlife Officer, Chafford Gorges Nature Park, (01375) 484016 or to email click here.

Requested donations for community outreach work: £200 per day, £100 per half day and £50–75 per mini-session plus travel.

Early Years and Toddler Groups/Clubs

We offer a variety of club, activities and events for the under fives and their families.  Details below of our pre school clubs across the county.  Wildlife discovery, arts and craft, sand and water fun, painting, fun and games.

 

Caterpillar Club, Bedfords Park

The last Wednesday of every month, 10am - 12 noon, £4 donation per child, booking essential

Bedfords Park near Romford
Reception or Vicky Rudd (01708) 748646 or to email click here.

 

Messy Bugs Club, Chafford Gorges

Every Friday, 10 am – 11.30am, £4 donation per child

Chafford Gorges Nature Park near Grays
Reception or Donna Bennett (01375) 484016) or to email click here.

 

Little Bugs Club, Fingringhoe

Every Friday, 10 am – 11.30am, £4 donation per child

Fingringhoe near Colchester
Reception or Laura Hopkins (01206) 729678 or to email click here.

Caterpillar Club, Hanningfield

Every third Thursday of the month, 10am - 11.30am, £5 donation per chills, booking essential

Hanningfield near Chelmsford
Reception or Becky Gibson (01268) 711001 or to email click here.

Messy Play Mornings, Langdon

Monthly on Wednesdays, £4 donation per child

Langdon near Basildon
Reception or Karen McKay 01268) 419103 or to email click here.

Events

Throughout the year many of our sites run a variety of events to suit all people; family fun days, woodland craft days, art exhibitions are just some of the events you can visit.  Other sites run events at night: e.g. wild nights out, bat evenings and nightingale walks. 

Booking essential.

For more events information click here.
For over night camping wild nights out at Hanningfield contact
Reception or Becky Gibson on (01268) 711001 or to email click here.
For Nightingale Walks contact Fingringhoe on (01206) 729678.

Family Nature Days

Suitable for children of all ages but aimed at the under 8's with an accompanying adult.

These days run a wide range of activities ranging from pond dipping and painting to minibeast hunting and modelling.

Requested donation of £5.00p per person per day, babes in arms go free, booking essential

To make a booking or for more information contact your nearest centre:

Reception at Abberton near Colchester
Richard Smith or Karalyn Foord on (01206) 738172 or to email click here.

Reception at Bedfords Park near Romford
Roz Wisniewski or Vicky Rudd (01708) 748646 or to email click here.

Reception at Chafford Gorges Nature Park near Grays
Hayley Arnold or Donna Bennett (01375 484016) or to email click here.

Reception at Fingringhoe near Colchester
Laura Hopkins (01206) 729678 or to email click here.

Reception at Langdon near Basildon
Karen McKay or Dee Abbott (01268) 419103 or to email click here.

Reception at Hanningfield near Chelmsford
Becky Gibson or Sarah Jaggard (01268) 711001 or to email click here.

Reception at Thorndon near Brentwood
Susanne Eaton or Penny Brewster (01277) 232944 or to email click here.

Forest Schools

Forest Schools consists of a minimum of six regular sessions. Activities include: shelter and playground building, learning to safely build and cook on fires, creative weaves, mud sculptures and woodland crafts. Depending on the age group they will learn to use different tools. The child’s natural inquisitiveness and enthusiasm leads them into many areas of learning. We then help to deepen this understanding.

The activities are small and child led ensuring success. This allows them to learn from their current level of understanding and develop their personal creativity. Adults are there to support learning and ensure safety allowing the children to explore the many stimuli provided by the resources of the natural environment.

Research has shown this inspirational approach helps develop confidence, self-esteem, emotional and social skills whilst developing a connection and respect for the natural environment. The careful planning ensures success, helping children with challenging behaviour take a more positive approach. We all know when we are happy and confident we achieve so much more. This approach allows children to develop independence, learn how to take responsibility and manage risk in a controlled way.

Requested donation of £125 plus travel per session

Fingringhoe near Colchester
Laura Hopkins (01206) 729678 or to email click here.

Hanningfield near Chelmsford
Sarah Jaggard (01268) 711001 or to email click here.

Abbotts Hall Farm near Colchester
Anna Rule (01621) 862993 or to email click here.

Guided Walks

Enjoy a guided walk around an Essex Wildlife Trust reserve, led by a knowledgeable member of staff or a volunteer.  An excellent opportunity to learn about the wildlife of a reserve, the reserves history and current conservation management.  Learn a great deal of fascinating information about a reserve and it’s wildlife, while enjoying the fresh air and exercise.

For more information on events click here

To book a larger group or organisation on a guided walk contact our head office to find your nearest reserve with an available walk leader on (01621) 862960 or click here

Volunteering

We have a large number of people wanting to experience our education programmes, we cannot do this on our own.  We have a team of dedicated, inspiring volunteers who are enthusiastic about wildlife and assist us with our activities.

Our People and Wildlife staff have a team of volunteers who support us in our 'hands on' environmental activities across the county helping to protect the wildlife of Essex for future generations. 

If you would like to volunteer for the Trust but in a capacity other than education contact our Volunteer and Staff Officer, Maureen Stewart on (01621) 862977 or click here.

If you are passionate about wildlife and can spare us some time please contact one of the People and Wildlife team for an informal chat:

Visitor Centres: Gateways to Understanding

Our 7 visitor centres around the county offer a warm welcome and friendly expert advice all year round. 

All boast toilets, disabled access, shop facilities, tea, coffee and confectionary, observation areas, information and a gateaway to fantastic nature reserves and parks.

Through a programme of events, encompassing everything from dawn bird watching to late night bat walks, they create awareness and understanding of the wildlife of Essex.  From absolute beginner to expert, toddler to grandparent there is an opportunity for discovery for everyone.

For centre events click here

Wildlife Discovery Days

Designed for unaccompanied over 8 year old primary school age children.

Drop your children off at one of centre sites for a fun packed day of nature-based activities.

Requested donation £10.00p per child per day (10.30am - 3pm).

Booking essential.

Enjoy pond dipping, crabbing, minibeast hunting, orienteering, wildlife gardening, art and craft, games and many more activities.

To make a booking or for more information contact your nearest centre:

Reception at Abberton near Colchester
Richard Smith or Karalyn Foord on (01206) 738172 or to email click here.

Reception at Bedfords Park near Romford
Roz Wisniewski or Vicky Rudd (01708) 748646 or to email click here.

Reception at Chafford Gorges Nature Park near Grays
Hayley Arnold or Donna Bennett (01375 484016) or to email click here.

Reception at Fingringhoe near Colchester
Laura Hopkins (01206) 729678 or to email click here.

Reception at Langdon near Basildon
Karen McKay or Dee Abbott (01268) 419103 or to email click here.

Reception at Hanningfield near Chelmsford
Becky Gibson or Sarah Jaggard (01268) 711001 or to email click here.

Reception at Thorndon near Brentwood
Susanne Eaton or Penny Brewster (01277) 232944 or to email click here.

Wildlife Explorer Bumbags

Available at visitor centres, containing all of the nature detective equipment and identification resources for young wildlife explorers. 

£1 requested donation required to hire

Work Parties - Young People and Adult

Volunteer on one of our many nature reserves and help us conserve and manage habitats vital to Essex's wildlife.  Get involved with a range of practical activities, including coppicing, tree planting, scrub clearance, construction and much more.  A great way to keep fit and healthy, and most importantly, to help wildlife.

For more information contact:

Neil Bedford, Senior Reserves Manager on (01621) 862972 or to email click here or our main offices on (01621) 862960 or to email click here.

Young people can also get involved; a number of our nature reserves organise Green Bunch Young Peoples Work Parties during the school holidays for secondary age young people to get involved with practical conservation.

For more information contact:

Abberton near Colchester
Reception or Richard Smith on (01206) 738172 or to email click here.

Becky Gibson Hanningfield Education Officer on (01268) 711001 or to email click here.

Youth Groups

A wide range of organisations from brownies to guides from scouts to beavers join members of our team for a few hours discovering one of our nature reserves, try building nest boxes, orienteering and crabbing.

Work towards the following badges:

Brownies - Wildlife Explorer, Season, Environment, Out and About, Gardener and Friend to Animals

Guide - Animal Active and Community Action

Cub Scout - Global Conservation, Scientist and Naturalist

Scout - Global Conservation, Forester and Naturalist

Requested donation of £4.00p-£5.00p per child (depends on length of session), minimum donation £40 per group, booking essential.

To make a booking contact your nearest centre:

Abberton near Colchester
Richard Smith or Karalyn Foord on (01206) 738172 or to email click here.

Bedfords Park near Romford
Roz Wisniewski or Vicky Rudd (01708) 748646 or to email click here.

Chafford Gorges Nature Park near Grays
Hayley Arnold or Donna Bennett (01375 484016) or to email click here.

Fingringhoe near Colchester
Laura Hopkins (01206) 729678 or to email click here.

Langdon near Basildon
Karen McKay or Dee Abbott (01268) 419103 or to email click here.

Hanningfield near Chelmsford
Becky Gibson or Sarah Jaggard (01268) 711001 or to email click here.

Thorndon near Brentwood
Susanne Eaton or Penny Brewster (01277) 232944 or to email click here.

For more information contact Rachel Steward, People & Wildlife Manager on (01621) 862991 or click here