TRUST NEWS

Stories and news from throughout the Trust on our work to protect wildlife and inspire a lifelong love of nature across Essex. Written by our staff, volunteers and members of our Local Groups.

Greenfinches

Willow warbler Redshank

Skylark

Breeding bird survey results

Stuart Brooker Lead Reserves Ecologist 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.

Wetland on the horizon

Harry Smith Warden

The ambitious conservation project at Blue House Farm nature reserve to create 40 additional hectares of wet grassland continues to develop, with thanks to funding from Biffa Award. With the completion of a predator exclusion fence in recent months, this area will give vulnerable birds like redshank and lapwing a safe haven for laying eggs and hopefully aid the recovery of these ground-nesting species. Currently, scrapes and foot drains are progressing on the flat fields which will help store water in this area for all wildlife to enjoy. We are in the final stages of this project and anticipate the wet, splashy, muddy, grassy marshland abounding with wetland life when this project is complete.

Share Our Shores continues for beach-nesting birds

Rachel Langley Head of Marine and Coastal Recovery

At Tollesbury Wick nature reserve, it has been an encouraging year for ringed plover, with three breeding pairs noted. At Colne Point nature reserve, the little tern colony that successfully bred in 2021 was unfortunately not evident this year. We did see some little terns in early May, so we had hoped for chicks on our shore. However, 14 ringed plover and 13 oystercatcher pairs were counted, with juveniles spotted throughout the season. Essex Wildlife Trust and the RSPB continue to work together on the Share Our Shores project to give our beach-nesting birds a positive future. We will continue to monitor these vulnerable species next year and look forward to working with local communities. Thank you to everyone who helped in the project during breeding season, respected protected areas, kept dogs on leads and educated others about Essex’s beach-nesting birds.

Tollesbury Wick

Conservation

grazing at Thameside

Jimmy Allan Site Manager 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.

Successful first year for

The Essex BioBlitz

Bailey Tait Campaigns Officer Since spring, we’ve been working with the University of Essex on an exciting citizen science campaign, the first of its kind in our county. We asked you to capture photos of wildflowers in bloom, across Essex, and submit them through the free app; iNaturalist.

We set out to engage as many people as possible and record 15,000 wildflower observations. Over six months, 626 people took part in The Essex BioBlitz, 17,694 observations were made, and 995 species were recorded.

Every one of your wildflower photos will help the University of Essex to determine what effect climate change is having on flowering plants across the county, and we look forward to developing this project further next year.

Running Wild

Michelle Shepherd Supporter Development Officer We held our first Running Wild event at Nuclear Race’s Wild Forest site near Brentwood in October. If you can picture a large group of people racing along on space hoppers, clambering up ropes, crawling through mud and sliding 20ft into a lake, then you’re halfway there. Everyone was there for one reason – to raise vital funds for Essex Wildlife Trust. We’d like to say a huge thank you to all of those who took part, as a team they raised nearly £4,000. The Ray Marsh Award 2022, for an outstanding contribution from a volunteer, was awarded to George Catchpole at this year’s Annual General Meeting. Mark Iley, Head of Landscape and Rivers Recovery, said “George has almost single-handedly increased data coverage in Essex, and has specifically set out to collect species records and habitat photographs for sites where data was needed most”. George has recorded almost 15,000 records for Essex and is a former trustee and volunteer for over twenty years. Congratulations George and thank you!

Wild Business Awards

Karen Dixon Corporate Coordinator This year, we launched our new Wild Business Awards, and I am delighted to say that two well-deserving Investor in Wildlife Corporate Members have been chosen for showing exemplary commitment to wildlife and the environment.

Old Park Meadow Natural Burial Ground received the Wild Business Award for the outstanding work Delyse Jackaman and her team have done in creating a nature reserve at this burial ground and inspiring a love of wildlife in the local community.

The Green Leader Award was awarded to Michael Wadham for the instrumental work of starting the Big Green Internet Project, a 10-year project to connect woodlands across the county and create corridors for wildlife. This amazing project will leave a legacy on the landscape for the people of Essex and most importantly for wildlife.

Congratulations to these wonderful recipients and thank you for taking action for wildlife: something we need now, more than ever.

Winner of the Ray Marsh Award 2022

Rosie Abbott

Business Partner – Volunteering

Wonderful new memorial

Lizzy Steward Legacy Officer There is a popular spot at Fingringhoe Wick Nature Discovery Park, just outside the centre next to the busy bird feeders. When Lena contacted us about a memorial for her grandad who had loved birds, we knew just the location to place it.

Rodney Southgate was a well-known barber in Colchester who enjoyed photography and games of scrabble with his wife. As he became ill, he found comfort sitting in his chair, watching the birds in his garden. His love of animals started early, and he always tried to rescue any wildlife in need. He once carried a young muntjac over his shoulders on a long train journey home to get help!

Rodney’s family sponsored a beautiful new companion seat in his name. His granddaughter kept this secret from her nan and after the installation, she arranged for the family to meet her there to reveal the seat and enjoy a surprise picnic. The weather was perfect for the event and the family enjoyed a fabulous morning celebrating the life of a nature-loving man. His plaque reads “Watch the birds and think of me, and all our happy memories.”

Find out more about leaving a memorial at www.essexwt.org.uk/memorials.

Nextdoor Nature

Danielle Carbott

Wilder Communities Manager Thanks to £5 million of funding from

The National Lottery Heritage Fund

to The Wildlife Trusts, Nextdoor Nature is providing people with the advice and support needed to help nature on their doorstep, while leaving a lasting natural legacy to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

In Essex, this two-year scheme is bringing communities together to help nature flourish in Clacton, Jaywick, Thurrock and Basildon. Our Wilder Community Officers, Adam and Helen, will be supporting members of these local areas to help nature in their communities. If you’ve got an idea to help nature in these areas, let us know by emailing nextdoornature@essexwt.org.uk.

Memories of Fingringhoe Wick

Verity Hales Site Manager

As Essex Wildlife Trust’s first nature reserve, we have so many people sharing fond memories of the site, so we would love to record them for posterity.

In conjunction with the Fingringhoe Historical Recorders group, we are recording people’s memories of visiting, working, or anything in relation to the nature reserve – they will be stored with the village archive for future access and hopefully be used at Fingringhoe.

We would love to hear your memories of the reserve, or any memories of friends or family who worked on the quarry. Visit us on Saturday 7 January between 10am-3pm to speak with a Recorder, who will digitally record your recollections. Alternatively, you can write your memories and post them to us at Fingringhoe Wick Nature Discovery Park, South Green Road, Fingringhoe, Colchester, CO5 7DN or email fingringhoe@essexwt.org.uk.

Helping hedgehogs

Bailey Tait Campaigns Officer A giant hedgehog, named by the public as ‘David Hasselhog’, was painted in Chelmsford City Centre to celebrate the launch of our new campaign, Nature Neighbours.

Hedgehogs are one of the most loved and familiar mammals in Britain, yet they are declining rapidly in the UK. This incredible work of art, painted by local graffiti artist Dave ‘Gnasher’ Gnash, helped us to raise awareness of how we can all help hedgehogs to recover. The mural reached over 1,180,000 people within the first week.

We’re asking everyone in Essex to create a hedgehog hole in their garden to connect up the county and allow hedgehogs to roam freely. You can then add your garden to the hedgehog highway map on our website at www.essexwt.org.uk/nature-neighbours.

A special thanks to High Chelmer Shopping Centre, one of our Investors in Wildlife, for hosting our mural.

Hooded African vulture

News from Brentwood & Billericay Local Group

Graham Clegg Chair

We have continued to enjoy a programme of walks and talks, including a visit on 15 September from the Imperial Birds of Prey at Barleylands. Several birds were on display, including ‘Gonzo’, a rescued hooded African vulture who fascinated his audience, particularly the children. Details of future events can be found on the Trust website. If you have any ideas for next year’s programme or would like to donate to next year’s plant sale, please email g.clegg@btconnect.com. In July, two memorial chestnut benches, made by Gerry Slater, were unveiled at Weeleyhall Wood nature reserve, in memory of the first and third wardens there – Doug Simons and Roger Hawes. On 17 September, a 25th anniversary celebration was held for Mill Wood’s planting, adjoining Great Holland Pits nature reserve. The growth since 1995 of the 4,500 saplings is heartening and a tribute to the Tendring Woodland Initiative Group.

Our members have continued regular Tendring Moth Group evenings and weekly Tendring Wildflower Group surveys, though latter foreshortened by the summer drought. Our forthcoming evening meeting at Great Bentley on 26 January will showcase their recent results.

There will also be a local launch of a book celebrating Colne Point, currently being edited by Kevin Marsden and myself, with over 70 contributors. This marks the forthcoming retirement of Bob Seago, who has been part-time Warden at Colne Point since 2000. He is fortunately continuing as honorary warden at Great Holland Pits nature reserve.

News from Havering Local Group

Joy Emerson Secretary

Come and enjoy monthly Saturday walks with us. Our New Year’s Day walk will be at Hornchurch Country Park, RM7 0SS, meeting at the visitor centre. Although speakers are yet to be confirmed, we will be offering talks at Fairkytes Arts Centre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch RM11 1AX. We meet on the second Monday of the month at 2.15pm and invite all to attend.

News from Tendring Local Group

David R Bain Honorary Secretary

To join our committee, please contact

david.r.bain@gmail.com

and follow the Facebook

group for updates

@EWTTendringLG. Brimstone moth photo: Amy Lewis

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