Throughout spring and summer, ecologists and volunteers have enjoyed many early mornings listening to the dawn chorus across our reserves. Our team have been monitoring breeding birds, to gain valuable data that will inform conservation works, protecting their future.

Across 35 of the Trust’s nature reserves, 101 different bird species were identified. Nature is facing an ecological crisis, and relatively low numbers of some species, for example greenfinch, chaffinch, bullfinch and willow warbler, reflects the wider regional and national trends of decline. However, we remain optimistic as species that are extremely vulnerable such as skylarks appear to be doing well on coastal grazing marsh reserves such as Blue House Farm, Thameside Nature Discovery Park and Tollesbury Wick. Similarly, turtle doves at Wrabness and Abbotts Hall show that hope is not lost for these rare birds. Fingringhoe Wick Nature Discovery Park once again proved its national importance as a stronghold for the melodic nightingale.

It is too early in our monitoring programme to say if species are increasing or decreasing, but it is promising that our reserves are attracting, or have the potential to attract, new species that have recently colonised the UK. We will be looking to recruit additional volunteers to survey next spring, and welcome keen birdwatchers with great ID skills to join us.

Winter grazing has proven successful at Thameside Nature Discovery Park after its first year. This year we have had 14 cattle on site, grazing across the Coronation Meadow, which saw a record variety of wildflowers and stable numbers of skylark choosing to nest in the bare patches, left by the chewing of the cud.

The cattle will be roaming the wider site this winter, helping us manage the longer grassland, maintaining vital habitat for reptiles and small mammals, both of which in turn attract birds of prey.

Our rangers and volunteers have been busy refreshing and adding to our man-made reptile hibernacula, as well as adding a network of mini meadows for the benefit of both our common and rare invertebrate visitors next spring.

Recently, the Trust hosted an event with the University of Salford at Hanningfield Reservoir Nature Discovery Park, to share the results so far of a collaborative research project that uses environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect mammal species in our rivers.

Essex Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers have collected and filtered water samples from across Essex since 2019. Volunteers had the opportunity to discuss the results and their experiences taking part in the research, followed by a practical demonstration of the eDNA survey technique outside.

Thank you to all the volunteers that were involved with this project, it wouldn't have been possible to gather the samples without your help. 

Our conservation projects would not be possible without your support. Become a member of Essex Wildlife Trust today, and help us make conservation happen. 

I want to protect wildlife

Volunteer with us