Trust news
Stories and news from throughout the Trust on our work to protect wildlife and inspire a lifelong love of nature throughout Essex. Written by our staff, volunteers and members of our Local Groups.
Photo: ENORI
Native oysters
Native oyster restoration and outreach in action Rachel Langley Living Seas Coordinator and Anna Gordon Community Engagement and Education Advisor Essex Wildlife Trust is a partner of the Essex Native Oyster Restoration Initiative (ENORI), who have made great strides with their native oyster restoration and outreach efforts this year. Following a successful trial in 2019, this spring ENORI undertook the mammoth task of deploying approximately 700 tonnes of cultch (stone and broken shell) into the Blackwater Restoration Box in the Blackwater, Crouch, Roach and Colne Marine Conservation Zone. The cultch added this year provides vital new native oyster habitat (approximately 3.5 thousand m2 of it) that will be ready for settlement
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WILD Autumn 2021
next year; an important step to help recover this vital and rare species and habitat. Meanwhile, Essex Wildlife Trust’s Outdoor Learning team have been busy developing a new sensory shoresearch session and inviting school groups with special educational needs and disabilities to explore their local coast and learn about native oysters, the restoration project and coastal wildlife. The aim is to reach 360 people through this scheme in 2021. These activities are generously funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Environment Agency.
