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    Common carder bumblebee - Wildnet / Nick Upton

    Common carder bumblebee - Wildnet / Nick Upton

    We are the county’s leading conservation charity, committed  to protecting wildlife and inspiring a lifelong love of nature. We manage nature reserves and discovery parks across the county,  providing outstanding outdoor education and preserving places of wonder.

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    Bluebells

    Essex Wildlife Trust manages and protects over 8,400 acres of land on 87 nature reserves and run 11 Nature Discovery Centres. 

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    Harvest Mouse

    Photo: Vaughn Matthews

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    Common blue damselfly - Les Binns / Wildnet

    Common blue damselfly - Les Binns / Wildnet

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  2. Nature Reserves

Nature Discovery Centres and Nature Reserves

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Abberton Reservoir Visitor Centre

Abberton Reservoir Nature Discovery Park

A wetland site of international importance for wildfowl. Up to 40,000 ducks, swans and geese visit each year. Excellent bird watching opportunities and fabulous views over the reservoir.

  • A family day out
  • Birdwatching
  • Butterflies
  • Getting away from it all
  • Overwintering birds
Aubrey Buxton Autumn

Aubrey Buxton Nature Reserve

Visit a beautifully wild nature reserve with its woodlands, ponds and species rich grasslands, filled with amazing wildlife

  • Ancient trees
  • Birdwatching
  • Butterflies
  • Fungi
  • Historical interest
Belfairs Wood

Belfairs Nature Discovery Centre

Belfairs Nature Discovery Centre is the gateway to the Daws Heath Woodland. The centre provides a space for schools, groups and families to learn about south Essex’s fantastic ancient woodlands in…

  • A family day out
  • Ancient trees
  • Butterflies
  • Dog walking
  • Exploring woods
Brookes nature reserve

Brookes Nature Reserve

Step into this wonderful pocket of ancient woodland and meadows, filled with wildflowers in spring and butterflies in summer

  • Ancient trees
  • Autumn colour
  • Butterflies
  • Spring flowers
  • Wildflowers
Chafford Gorges work party

Chafford Gorges Nature Discovery Park

Chafford Gorges Nature Discovery Centre is set in a spectacular position over looking Warren Gorge. Chafford Gorges Nature Discvery Park offers 200 acres of green space for numerous wildlife and…

  • Birdwatching
  • Butterflies
  • Fungi
  • Geological interest
  • Wildflowers
Copperas Wood Anemones

Copperas Wood Nature Reserve

On the edge of the Stour Estuary, you'll find the flourishing Copperas Wood Nature Reserve, filled with blooming wild flowers in the spring

  • Ancient trees
  • Birdwatching
  • Butterflies
  • Exploring woods
  • Wildflowers
Wall Brown - Amy Lewis

Cranham Marsh Nature Reserve

A woodland oasis located inside the M25, this relic marshland is a prime example of what the countryside would have looked like

  • Birdwatching
  • Butterflies
  • Getting away from it all
  • Spring flowers
Fobbin Marsh Marc Outten

Fobbing Marsh Nature Reserve

Wander through one of the few remaining Thameside grazing marshes; full of flowering plants and visiting migrant birds

  • Big skies
  • Butterflies
  • Insect spotting
  • Spring migrant birds
Great Holland Pits in Autumn

Great Holland Pits Nature Reserve

This enchanting nature reserve was once a working gravel pit but for the last 50 years has been transformed into a flourishing wildlife haven

  • Butterflies
  • Insect spotting
  • Wildflowers
Langdon Grassland

Langdon Nature Discovery Park

We are in the process of making some major long-term improvements to our much loved Langdon site, including a new, more sustainable Nature Discovery Centre with enhanced facilities, generously…

  • A family day out
  • Birdwatching
  • Butterflies
  • Dog walking
  • Historical interest
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Love Essex - Love Wildlife

Essex Wildlife Trust Headquarters, Abbotts Hall Farm, Maldon Road, Great Wigborough, Colchester, CO5 7RZ
Registered Charity Number 210065    VAT Registered 945 7459 77    Company Number 00638666