Appreciating Wildlife at Fingringhoe Wick Nature Reserve in Essex
Fingringhoe Wick Nature Reserve was established in 1961, and it’s the first nature reserve of Essex Wildlife Trust. Through decades of dedicated work from conservationists, the area became a safe haven for wildlife. Clacton Gazette included it in its top Essex destinations for animals appreciation. Enjoy the opportunity to witness firsthand all the interaction among its diverse ecosystem. Fingringhoe Wick Nature Reserve attracts waves of visitors both from the UK and overseas each year.
Fingringhoe Wick is one of the country’s finest nature reserves. Rightfully so, as Day Out with the Kids specified that it’s home to around 200 species of birds and 350 species of flowering plants. Insects like butterflies and dragonflies also inhabit the area.
The greatest attraction in Fingringhoe Wick Nature Reserve is bird watching. Depending on the season, you will see different kinds of birds. The active species include several kinds of plover, lapwing, Brent geese and red-breasted Merganser. The predatory peregrine also hunts within the region.
Essex Wildlife Trust
Spring Time
Spring is the best time to visit, as it’s famous for Nightingales. East Anglian Daily Times mentioned before that this is the best place to hear Nightingales sing. An audible treat which is the unmistakable sound of spring. Today, there are still usually around 25 males all letting their sweet voices be heard.
Aside from admiring the scenery and wildlife, the reserve also has many trails for families to wander along. The paths will take you through various ponds, woodlands. Look out for a recently opened intertidal area which is dedicated to the care of marine life and a few species of sea birds.
In addition, numerous children’s activities may be enjoyed. There’s a wildlife garden where you can feed birds, and the management also holds lamb feeding sessions at specific times of the year. The reserve even caters to outdoor birthday parties!
Wildlife Trusts
Reaching the Reserve
For commuters, there are buses available but they only stop at Fingringhoe Village. You will need to trek for up to 45 minutes at a normal pace to reach the reserve. Using a private vehicle is a good alternative, but be advised that some roads are quite narrow.
For foreign visitors, the nearest airport is Stansted Airport, which is around 40 minutes away. A trip from London takes about 2 hours so if that’s your entry point, you’ll need to plan your journey out beforehand especially if you’re going to be driving a rental car after a long haul flight. Although if that is the case, it might be worth considering one of the airports nearby an airport such as Stansted where you can park and rest before the long drive, according to Parking4Less. Upon reaching the reserve, Visit Colchester indicated that the car park is only about 50 metres away from the entrance for the convenience of visitors, and parking is free. As for admission, small donations are requested with the usual amounts being £2 and £1 per adult and child, respectively.