From Thursday 21 July – Sunday 24 July, Essex Wildlife Trust is hosting tours exploring the new centre and surrounding nature reserve. At 10am on Saturday 23 July, the public is invited to join the Lord Mayor of Basildon in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the official opening of the site.

Other activities across the days include seed-bomb making, wildlife gardening advice, a Beatrix Potter nature trail to explore, and an opportunity to learn more about the rich history of Dunton plotlands. A full list of times and events over the weekend can be found on Essex Wildlife Trust’s website.

The previous visitor centre at Langdon opened in 1996 and welcomes over 55,000 visitors through its doors. Situated in a populated urban area, the centre acts as a gateway to the natural landscape and plays a crucial role in engaging communities with local wildlife.

A nature reserve encompassing 461 acres of woodland, meadows, lakes and former plotland gardens, it is the largest inland reserve managed by the Trust. The reserve occupies some of the highest land in the county, offering scenic views and an abundance of wildlife. Rare species include turtle doves and nightingales, and seven species of wild orchids bloom here in the summer months.

With thanks to funding from Veolia Pitsea Marshes Maintenance Trust and The National Lottery Community Fund, the new centre has larger educational facilities linking to the social heritage of the site, alongside a café, indoor and outdoor seating areas and an extended car park.

The public are invited to make use of special offers and discounts across the weekend, including free entry and parking, and 20% off all food and retail.

Charlotte Goodman, Site Manager at Langdon Nature Discovery Park, says:

“We are thrilled to welcome the public to our new and improved centre. We have got an exciting array of wildlife activities and talks from Thursday to Sunday, and we hope to see both familiar faces and first-time visitors at our official opening.”  

James Astley, Grants and Trusts Officer for Essex Wildlife Trust, says:

“Thanks to this funding, Langdon Discovery Centre can become a hub for the local community to see and experience wildlife. With the help of our funders, we are making wildlife accessible to all audiences, and hope that the public will join us to celebrate the official opening of this site.”

Stewart Goshawk, Vice Chair of the Veolia Pitsea Marshes Maintenance Trust, added:

“The Veolia Pitsea Marshes Maintenance Trust is proud to have provided £1,229,340 of funding to support the delivery of the Langdon Nature Discovery Centre project. The Trust is very pleased that a high-quality building has been designed and constructed in a way that is sensitive to the local environment and would like to thank Essex Wildlife Trust for delivering such an excellent project”.   

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