Written by Eve Ingram
87 adventures with Essex Wildlife Trust: a fundraising challenge
Eve Ingram's fundraising challenge to visit the Trust's 87 nature reserves.
Eve Ingram - volunteer at Wrabness nature reserve
Wow, what a challenge! I really had no idea what I was signing up for on the 31st December 2022. I am so proud - I think I’m actually the first person to have visited all of the Essex Wildlife Trust sites. It’s not easy to do, but totally worth the challenge!
I always like to challenge myself and try things I haven’t done before, so for my New Year’s resolution I decided to visit all of the Trust's sites within the year. I thought there would be about twenty or so - got that wrong didn’t I! I’m not one to shy away from a challenge, so got cracking!
At the same time, our rake went missing from our volunteer work party at Wrabness nature reserve, so I thought that if I could raise any funds we might get our Warden a new rake!
The variety of habitats within these sites is incredible - we truly are very lucky to live in such a diverse county as Essex. My favourite sites were Wrabness, Colne Point, Warley Place, Fingringhoe Wick, West Wood, Roman River and Aubrey Buxton.
Spring flowers at Warley Place nature reserve
Colne Point nature reserve
There are too many wonderful sightings to write about, but one of my favourite experiences was watching my daughter running through waist-high grass and then stopping still as there was a female roe deer watching her! Also, watching tree creepers feeding their young was pretty special.
There were certainly challenges along the way. Just getting time to fit all of the sites in was difficult! But I found that, although I had friends along for the ride at some sites, others I had to do on my own, and as a lone female that can sometimes feel difficult.
I have been so lucky to get out amongst nature as much as I have, and knowing that Essex Wildlife Trust is protecting these spaces for the wildlife and for us to enjoy makes me very happy. I would strongly encourage anyone who is thinking of fundraising for a good cause to consider donating to the Trust.
