Essex Wildlife Trust protects and restores nature across the county. From ancient woodlands offering a green lung in Southend-on-Sea to the last place in the country where all three species of heather grow together, we protect the largest remaining species-rich water meadow in Essex and the historically important gardens at Warley Place nature reserve. These areas of significant natural heritage are protected in perpetuity.
We are at the centre of the nature crisis: our county is one of the most over-developed in the UK, a country which is, according to the Biodiversity Intactness Index, one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth. We are at the epicentre.
But we do not face this challenge alone. Although we are an independent charity, we are part of a wider grassroots movement of Wildlife Trusts across the UK that engage in critical conservation work and campaign collectively on behalf of wildlife and the natural world. Our movement embodies the concept of ‘think globally, act locally’, ensuring that our conservation efforts do not stop at the county border.
Local Seagrass Efforts
Thinking locally, we are supporting a national effort to restore seagrass in the UK, just off the coast in Southend-on-Sea. These seagrass meadows are the only flowering plants able to live in seawater and pollinate while submerged – a vital tool in capturing carbon, right on our front doorstep!
There’s so much more going on around us, so if you haven’t already, check out places like Belfairs Nature Discovery Centre, Two Tree Island Nature Reserve, or Gunners Park and Shoebury Ranges Nature Reserve and experience nature firsthand.
Take Action for Nature
You might be thinking about nature, wildlife, and the environment more and more. So many of us are, and it can feel like a massive challenge. We’re here to make real, local differences that support the big picture.
If you want to be part of our goal to help 1 in 4 people in Essex take action for nature and climate by 2030, visit the Essex Wildlife Trust website and learn more about our work.
If you do one thing for nature today, make it that!
By Joe Benton
Corporate Partnerships Manager
Essex Wildlife Trust Ltd
joeb@essexwt.org.uk