About the reserve

A visit at high tide in autumn and winter will reward you with views of up to 20,000 waders roosting and creating magnificent murmurations in the sky. At low tide you will be able to see the Thames barges offshore that help protect the saltmarsh and seawall from erosion.

This saltmarsh is a fantastic habitat for a wide variety of species, during the summer witness the beautiful saltmarsh flowers of the Yellow-horned Poppy, Slender Birdsfoot Trefoil and Sea Holly while looking out for the distinctive tail-bobbing of Yellow Wagtail and the overhead song of the Skylark. During the summer months waders such as Oystercatcher and Ringed Plover will breed along the shellbanks, so please keep to the seawall to avoid disturbance and watch them raise their young from afar.

The mud and sandflats to the east are part of the Dengie National Nature Reserve, an internationally important site for overwintering waders especially Grey Plover, Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit. Winter often brings with it opportunistic views of raptors too, including Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owls.