Fingringhoe Wick

Strategically placed on sloping ground overlooking the wild expanses of the Colne Estuary, The Wick offers one of the finest saltmarsh panoramas in eastern England.

Over 200 species of birds have been recorded, of which 50 species nest each year. Come in spring to hear the massed nightingale chorus and for other breeding migrants. Watch the ponds for the darting blue flash of a kingfisher. Kestrels nest, as well as tawny owls, little grebes and sparrowhawks. Between June and September, migrant waders find the Scrape attractive. The estuary, quiet for much of the year, comes into its own in winter. Thousands of wintering waders and wildfowl rely on the expanses of mud and saltmarsh for food or for roosting. This includes up to 700 avocets, viewable from the shore hides. Sea duck can be seen in mid-river.

You will see many rabbits and grey squirrels, and maybe a fox. There are regular sightings of brown hare, stoat and weasel. Watch out for common seals in the estuary.

At least 350 species of flowering plants have been recorded, including common spotted orchids and bee orchid. The shaded, humid conditions in the thickets suit ferns, mosses and lichens. Visit in spring for tiny unobtrusive clovers, medicks and trefoils. Summer is best for colourful species, especially sea lavender on the saltmarsh, and masses of dog roses.

The Wick teems with insect life. Thirteen species of dragonfly and damselfly breed on the reserve. Many common butterflies flourish, together with the less usual green hairstreak. The sandy, eroding cliff faces are attractive to bees, ants and wasps.

Strangely, frogs are almost unknown at The Wick, although there is a tiny breeding population of toads. Common lizards, slow worms, great crested newts and smooth newts are abundant. Adders and grass snakes are reported regularly.

On a site like this an annual programme of management is essential to let in sunlight and to create areas of new young growth. Scrub must be controlled and ponds must be maintained. Occasionally large-scale projects become necessary. For example, the Trust has re-profiled the lake shore to benefit wildfowl and has created a scrape (a shallow lake) for wading birds.

Up until 1924 a small sheep and arable farm existed on the site. Wick Farm was broken up and sold to several buyers: the saltmarshes to the War Department, some fields to a farmer, and the remainder to a gravel extraction firm named The Freshwater Pit. By 1959 the pit was worked out and it was bought by the Trust in a totally unrestored condition in 1961.

Visiting