From flourishing wildflowers to thriving species populations and rare species recoveries, we’re making a real difference for wildlife and wild places. Here are just some of the highlights from an inspiring year of conservation success.

A blooming success for wild orchids 

Thanks to the Blooming Wild appeal success this year, in spring and summer 2025 staff and volunteers could survey flowering orchids across our reserves. 

An incredible 140,000 orchids were recorded across 25 Essex Wildlife Trust nature reserves, representing 14 different species. Green-winged orchid and common-spotted orchid were the most abundant, showing just how important our protected sites are for these beautiful and increasingly vulnerable plants.

Invertebrates thriving at Langdon Nature Discovery Park

Following a specialist invertebrate survey at Langdon Nature Discovery Park, the site was assessed as being in favourable condition for five nationally important invertebrate. The reserve’s extensive flower-rich meadows, long-standing habitat continuity, and varied vegetation structure provide ideal conditions for invertebrates.

Species of conservation priority, including the brown-banded carder bee and long-horned bee, were among those benefiting, showing just how important our reserves are for supporting pollinators.

Breeding waders on the rise at Blue House Farm

Our breeding wader surveys revealed encouraging news at Blue House Farm. Between 2022 and 2025, the number of breeding pairs of Avocet, Lapwing, and Redshank increased significantly.

This success follows targeted habitat improvements in 2022, including the installation of predator-proof fencing and the creation of shallow water-holding depressions. These measures have transformed conditions for breeding waders and demonstrate the impact of carefully planned conservation, 

Record numbers for Fisher’s estuarine moth 

In 2025, we marked 20 years since habitat creation began for the rare Fisher’s estuarine moth at Abbotts Hall Farm. As part of ongoing efforts to secure the moth’s future in Essex, surveys in September recorded over 100 moths, the highest count ever at the site.

This is fantastic news for a species that has suffered habitat loss due to coastal flooding and habitat loss.

Protecting ringed plovers through Share Our Shores 

Our Share Our Shores campaign continues to deliver outstanding results for beach-nesting birds. In 2025, protective nest cages were trialled for a second year to reduce predation of ringed plover nests.

The outcome was remarkable! We had 49 chicks hatch, a 50% increase on 2024 and an astonishing 1,600% increase compared to 2023, when just three chicks hatched and cages were not used. 

Looking Ahead 

These successes show what’s possible when people come together to support nature. From volunteers in the field to members and supporters across Essex. As we look ahead, we’re excited to build on this progress and continue creating a brighter future for wildlife.

Learn more about our conservation work