We have begun this winter's tree planting! It wasn't the best start. The weather has been extremely dry, and the ground of the area we are working in is particularly stony and hard.

Feeding our garden birds not only gives them a helping hand (or wing), it also means we get to see our wonderful wildlife up close and all the joys they bring. However, it is important to know…

October has been a relatively mild month here at Abberton, but the reserve is still changing into its autumn colours.

September has been a month of varied weather. Some days stormy, others dry and bright.

August has turned a little wet, with some quite stormy days here at Abberton, this hasn’t put off the wildlife though.

July has been another good month for the nature reserve at Abberton. We have had lots of birds visiting including a Great white egret.

The wildflower areas at Abberton are getting better and better through June with a lovely variety of species including Lady’s bedstraw, Wild carrot, Knapweed, Birdsfoot trefoil, Self-heal, and…

Now is a great time of year to visit Abberton Reservoir nature reserve. We have lots of migratory birds right here on the reserve as well as around the wider Essex & Suffolk Water reservoir…

A sortie west this week to Essex Wildlife Trust’s Brookes Reserve – between Braintree and Earls Colne – produced brief views of one of Essex’s scarcer bird species: the marsh tit.

It was high fives in north Essex at the weekend: all five species of thrushes to see in winter, spotted in my garden.