Essex Wildlife Trust has raised £200,000 to secure a woodland in Little Baddow, thanks to generous support from the public.  

With Essex being one of the most heavily developed counties in the UK, ensuring that wildlife has protected space is essential for nature’s recovery.  

Essex Wildlife Trust already manages and protects over 100 hectares of wild spaces in this area known as the Danbury Ridge nature reserves complex, which is of critical importance to nature in Essex and the region. Across this nature network, heathlands, grassland meadows, hedgerows, peatland bogs, streams, and woodland support an array of wildlife species. These include rare barbastelle bats, hazel dormice, badgers and bird species suffering long-term declines elsewhere in the UK, such as lesser spotted woodpeckers and tawny owls.

The woodland, named Fir Tree Wood, will become a refuge for wildlife. The woodland will connect species with the ancient habitats of Danbury Ridge, while providing a buffer of tranquil green space to the expanding urban areas of Chelmsford. The site will also benefit the local community, continuing to provide a place for people to explore and connect with nature. 

The fundraising campaign was the biggest ever for Essex Wildlife Trust and the first land appeal for over five years. It was launched in November last year in close partnership with Little Baddow Parish Council – which raised a further £200,000 for the other half of the woodland – and Little Baddow Residents’ Group, who helped promote the campaign.

The public are invited to follow the Danbury Ridge reserve’s nature trail and visit Fir Tree Wood.

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Rich Yates, Chief Executive Officer for Essex Wildlife Trust, said:

“A huge and heartfelt thank you to every single person who has helped us with this appeal, whether that’s through donating, helping to spread the word or by organising a fundraising event: we simply couldn’t have done it without you. We are also very grateful to Chelmsford City Council for a grant of just under £10,000, which helped propel us to our target within six months, and to all our friends in the community who have helped us with this campaign and been ambassadors for the Wildlife Trust.

Danbury Ridge is one of our largest woodlands in Essex and is an important haven for nature both for the county and region. Our woodlands enable us to be more climate resilient and they have a vital role in connecting us to nature and inspiring us to protect our wild spaces.”

The Balls family, on behalf of the vendors of Fir Tree Wood, said:

“We are pleased to have worked with Essex Wildlife Trust and Little Baddow Parish Council to secure the future of this woodland, which the vendors’ families have been connected to for generations. The woodland has been undisturbed for many years and enjoyed by the local community, and we’re pleased that under the stewardship of the Trust it will remain a woodland habitat as a legacy to the late Mike Balls and continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.”

Peter Irvine, Chair of Little Baddow Parish Council, said:

“This campaign has strengthened both the Parish Council’s long-running partnership with Essex Wildlife Trust in defending the special habitats around the Danbury Ridge and has acted as a stepping stone in enabling greater recognition of the whole area as a special landscape for wildlife and people, in need of even greater protection in the future. I would like to personally thank all those who donated to the Parish Council and to Essex Wildlife Trust so we were able to buy this woodland for public use.”