Abberton reservoir

Explore Essex with the Essex Wildlife Trust

Essex Wildlife Trust is the county's leading conservation charity, with 11 Visitor Centres, 87 Nature Reserves, 2 Nature Parks and they manage 8,200 acres of land. Essex is blessed with a rich and varied wildlife heritage, with heaths, wetlands and important wildlife corridors scattered throughout the county within the wider farmed countryside. These beautiful and often vulnerable wild places are not static and have evolved gradually over thousands of years in response to climate, soil, water and the impact of humans.

With visitor centres scattered throughout the county from the Naze in Walton and Fingringhoe Wick in Colchester to Chafford Gorges in Thurrock and Belfairs Woodland Centre in Leigh-on-Sea, there are plenty to choose from, or you may want to visit them all.

Bedfords Park

Explore Constable Country

The Great Outdoors

Explore the Country Parks

Discover the Outdoor Centres

Essex Wildlife Trust Centres

Abberton Reservoir

Abberton Reservoir

Visitors can enjoy walks on Nature Reserve; with stunning panoramic views across the Reservoir and surrounding villages as well as superb views of the water’s edge from three accessible bird hides.

Fingringhoe Wick

Fingringhoe Wick Visitor Centre

Set in a spectacular position overlooking the Colne Estuary, even on the dullest of days the views are fantastic. It offers the visitor real peace and quiet and a chance to escape from it all.

Thurrock Thameside Nature Park

Thurrock Thameside Nature Park

A stunning and innovative visitor centre built on a former landfill site, with superb views over Mucking Flats SSSI and the Thames Estuary (SPA). Great birdwatching - and ship watching.

Bedfords Park

Bedfords Park

Set in the stunning grounds of Bedfords Park, an historic parkland site of 215 acres, owned and managed by the London Borough of Havering. The nature reserve affords fantastic views.

Belfairs Woodland Centre

Belfairs Woodland Centre

The Centre provides a space for schools, groups and families to learn about south Essex’s fantastic ancient woodlands in an interactive way. Events and activities are arranged throughout the year.

Naze Visitor Centre

Naze Visitor Centre

A unique coastal landscape of outstanding geological and biological importance, the Naze is an important site for migrating birds and boasting a number of habitats, both terrestrial and marine.

Chafford Gorges

Chafford Gorges

The visitor centre is set in a spectacular position over looking Warren Gorge, offering 200 acres of green space for numerous wildlife and recreation for both residents and visitors.

Hanningfield Reservoir

Hanningfield Reservoir

Providing panoramic views over the 870 acre reservoir. The visitor centre is set in mature woodland and has proved a popular bat roost, with a beautiful carpet of Bluebells in the spring.

Ingrebourne Valley Visitor Centre

Ingrebourne Valley Visitor Centre

A partnership project between Essex Wildlife Trust & Havering Council, the centre is within Hornchurch Country Park, overlooking the marshland of River Ingrebourne Valley.