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World Wetland Day

Peter Cairns/2020 VISION

Wetlands support over 40% of the world's wildlife. Why are these habitats so special and how are we restoring them in Essex?

Celebrating World Wetland Day 2023

Wetlands are habitats where water saturates land permanently or for a period of time. Whether it is the turning of the tide or anticipating rainfall, these dynamic ecosystems are constantly changing. A wetland can take many forms, from upland peat bogs to floodplain meadows or muddy saltmarsh. 

Wetlands offer a home to a tenth of the UK's wildlife. The cool pools of collected water on a hot summer's day are lifelines for aquatic species like dragonflies, snakes and water voles. On the shallow muddy marsh banks, wading birds will paddle and hunt for food using their long beaks. In long, grassy wetlands, you'll find vulnerable ground-nesting birds like lapwing and redshank.  

Restoring Essex wetlands

Across Essex, species use wetlands to breed, feed and survive. They also have a positive impact on humans. Protecting us from storm surges, acting as coastal buffers in high tides and helping us fight climate change by storing carbon are all advantages of wetlands. However, in the UK we have lost 90% of our former wetlands, often draining them to make way for agriculture, development, forestry and other land uses.   

But Essex Wildlife Trust knows the importance of these habitats and is restoring wetlands across the county. Take a look at some of our projects below: 

Blue House Farm

Blue House Farm nature reserve

Thanks to funding from Biffa Award, this South Essex site will boast 40 hectares of wetland in 2023. Internationally renowned as a site for thousands of dark-bellied brent geese, this site offers grazing marsh and a migratory spot for winter waders. In the warmer weather, the reserve was drying out and the water was not well-retained. Now, the extended wetland that is almost complete will support ground-nesting birds and be a water source for other wildlife. We are excited to see this wetland come to life! 

Read more about the project 

beaver wetland

Natural flood management

Beavers are extraordinary engineers for the ecosystem they live within. We have been supporting Spains Hall Estate for three years, since their introduction of a pair of Eurasian beavers to Finchingfield, Braintree. What once was dry woodland is now, thanks to the hard work of the beavers, a thriving wetland, providing pools, canals and dams for other species to call home. 

Dive deeper into the beavers project

Fobbing marsh

Fobbing Marsh nature reserve

We have now completed the initial phase of our Fobbing Marsh nature reserve restoration project. Previously, the site was not supporting breeding waders and wintering bird numbers were lower than comparable local sites. Throughout the year, we were unable to store rainfall or control water levels, and the ditch systems are drying too frequently. We need to hold this winter rainfall for longer into the spring and early summer to maintain optimum conditions for ground nesting wading birds, particularly lapwing, and to support characteristic plant and animal communities, including water voles and aquatic invertebrates. As one of the few remaining grazing marshes in South Essex, it supports hundreds of species. This project has been made possible thanks to the Water Environment Infrastructure Fund (WEIF) and Anglian Water.

AHF saltmarsh

Saltmarsh from the air, Abbotts Hall nature reserve - Terry Whittaker/2020VISION

Saltmarsh restoration

Saltmarsh epitomises the Essex coastline. They are fantastic wetland habitats, supporting birds, insects, fish and plants to survive. However, in the UK, we are losing 100 hectares of saltmarsh per year. We have been working on ways to restore and protect saltmarsh across the county, as they are climate-fighting superheroes as well as wildlife sanctuaries. 

Tell me more about superhero saltmarsh

Protecting peatland

Peatlands are wetland landscapes characterised by waterlogged soils made of dead and decaying plants, called peat. Peat forms at an incredibly slow rate, accumulating on average only 1mm a year - that means it takes 1,000 years for one metre of peat to form! 

But peat is under threat. By draining peatlands to use the land for agriculture, or taking peatland away to use in horticulture we are removing a vital carbon sink from our landscape, and depriving wildlife of their natural home. 

How can you help? Join the movement of gardeners saying no to using peat compost. 

Pledge to go peat-free 

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