Essex Wildlife Trust has announced that it has reached its £30,000 fundraising target to support the planned expansion of Wrabness nature reserve. The target was met in just over five hours following the appeal’s launch.
From 2 December – 9 December, all donations to the appeal were match funded by The Big Give up to the £30,000 target.
The funds will allow the Trust to proceed with the purchase of 6 acres of land adjacent to the existing reserve on the banks of the River Stour. This acquisition will enable the Trust to bring the land under long-term conservation management.
The expansion will support the restoration and protection of key habitats, including grazing marsh, ponds and hedgerows, and will support some of the UK’s most endangered species, such as nightingale and turtle dove.
The additional land will also strengthen the wider ecological network, creating a more resilient and connected nature reserve.
Thank you to all our supporters who kindly donated to the campaign and shared our appeal. A special thanks to our Big Give match funder The Reed Foundation.
The funding will add to a major grant secured from the Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape to buy and manage the land located within the National Landscape, as well as funds from the Reg Arthur Community Fund.
Rich Yates, Chief Executive of Essex Wildlife Trust, says:
“Reaching our £30,000 target so quickly has been incredibly heartening. It’s clear that Wrabness nature reserve holds a special place in people’s lives, and this support means we can now extend the reserve and create even more space for wildlife to thrive. Thank you to everyone who has donated to make this a reality. It’s a great win for wildlife as we come to the end of 2025.”
