We have been overwhelmed by the fantastic work that Urban Wildlife Champions have delivered this year. If you don’t know, these people are volunteers taking action in their local communities, all in the name of wildlife.

Fingringhoe Green Group has launched a project to support local pollinators. Leaflets were delivered to all residents asking them to make a pledge to pollinators. More than 50 households joined the pollinator pledge including planting pollinator plants, leaving areas wild and saying no to pesticides.

In Great Baddow, a mother and daughter team are leading the development of a hedgehog highways project. In their community, a hedgehog highway has been mapped out with current sightings and active gardens plotted.

Barbastelle bats are one of the rarest mammals in the UK. This scarce bat lives in woodland and forages over a wide area. It has a distinctive 'pug-like' appearance because of its upturned nose.

Across Danbury Ridge nature reserves, barbastelle bats are being monitored with the help of Essex Bat Group, to collect data and to inform conservation efforts. Thanks to the mosaic of habitats across Danbury Ridge, barbastelle bats have a network of woodland and wetland for them to breed, feed and roost. 

The Conservation Team at Two Tree Island, with the help of our fantastic volunteers, have been working to restore and create habitat for breeding waders.

The team cut sea purslane on the lagoon islands to open up areas for waders to roost and breed on. The cuttings were raked off and 140 bags of shingle and sand were laid to top up already created beach-like areas for beach-nesting waders to use.

New sand and shingle areas were also created. Some vegetation has been left to provide hiding areas for chicks to use. There are also chick shelters in place for their refuge. 

Our conservation projects would not be possible without your support. Become a member of Essex Wildlife Trust today, and help us make conservation happen. 

I want to protect wildlife