Flowering rush
Flowering rush is a pretty rush-like plant of shallow wetland habitats, such as ponds, canals and ditches. Its cup-shaped, pink flowers appear in summer, brightening up the water's edge.
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Marine Week Species
Find out more about our six featured Marine Week species.
Adopt a Species
Give a gift to nature – and a loved one! Your generous support will help us protect and preserve our local wildlife.
Species of the month: Nightingale
Meet May's species of the month, the nightingale! Find out about the iconic songbird and how you can help monitor them in Essex.
Soft rush
As its name suggests, the smooth stems of soft rush are thinner and more flexible than those of hard rush. It forms tufts in wetland habitats like wet woodlands, marshes, ditches and grasslands.…
Species in the spotlight - Common seals
The Common seal (Phoca vitulina), also known as the harbour seal is one of two seal species that can be found in the UK.
Protecting insect species in Essex
It was worrying to hear further news of insect decline earlier this year; it is reported that more than 40% of insect species are declining and a third are endangered.
Hard rush
The stiff, spiky and upright leaves and brown flowers of hard rush are a familiar sight of wetlands, riversides, dune slacks and marshes across England and Wales.
Species in the spotlight - Fly Agaric
One of the most iconic fungi species; the Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) is the classic toadstool of fairy tales and a truly magical sight amongst the autumnal leaf litter.
Species in the spotlight - The Adder
Adders (Vipera berus) are the UK’s only venomous snake. Usually appearing from hibernation during March, Adders were spotted in Essex as early as February this year, due to the unseasonably warm…
Species in the spotlight - Goldfinches
Essex isn’t known for its technicolour birds, so it’s always a pleasure to spot an eye-catching Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis).
Species in the spotlight - Redwing
The Redwing (Turdus iliacus) is the UK’s smallest true thrush that you’ll be able to spot feeding in fields, hedgerows and orchards this winter.