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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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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
Crowsheath Wood

Crowsheath Wood Nature Reserve

Take a walk through this fantastic woodland that shows off one of Essex's best spring flower displays

  • Ancient trees
  • Autumn colour
  • Exploring woods
  • Spring flowers
Little Haven reserve by A Rochester

Little Haven Nature Reserve

A rich mosaic of woodland, meadows and flower-rich acid grassland that forms an important wildlife corridor in an urban area

  • Autumn colour
  • Bluebells
  • Butterflies
  • Exploring woods
  • Fungi
Stow Maries Halt glade

Stow Maries Halt Nature Reserve

Once a railway stop on the Maldon-South Woodham Ferrers line, the disused remains have been claimed back by nature

  • Autumn colour
  • Historical interest
  • Insect spotting
Tree creeper - John Bridges

Thrift Wood Nature Reserve

Listen out for the drumming of woodpeckers, the singing trills of the nightingale and warblers and even the sounds of wood ant colonies scuttling along.

  • Autumn colour
  • Exploring woods
  • Spring flowers
West Wood

West Wood Nature Reserve

Wander around this spectacular woodland filled with rare and beautiful flowers such as Oxlips and Greater Butterfly Orchids

  • Autumn colour
  • Fungi
  • Spring flowers
Wood Anemone

Westhouse Wood Nature Reserve

Wander through the ancient trees, passing by idyllic ponds and woodland flowers that fill this little pocket of nature

  • Ancient trees
  • Autumn colour
  • Bluebells
  • Exploring woods

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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