The Essex Wildlife Trust (EWT) is one of 47 wildlife trusts which cover the United Kingdom. The EWT was founded in 1959, and it describes itself as Essex's leading conservation charity, which aims to protect wildlife for the future and the people of the county. As of January 2017, it has over 34,000 members and runs 87 nature reserves, 2 nature parks and 11 visitor centres.
The Crouch and Roach Estuaries are a 1729 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) at the mouth of the Crouch and Roach rivers in Essex. The Crouch part of the SSSI stretches from near Battlesbridge to Foulness Island, and the Roach from Rochford to the junction with the Crouch. Part of the site is in the Mid-Essex Coast Special Protection Area under the EC Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds, and a Ramsar wetland site of international importance. It is also part of the Essex Estuaries Special Area of Conservation. An area of 65 hectares is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust as the Lion Creek and Lower Raypits nature reserve and 8 hectares at Woodham Fen, both of which are managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust. A small area is also a geological SSSI, The Cliff, Burnham-on-Crouch.
Hamford Water is a 2,185.8-hectare (5,401-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest between Walton-on-the-Naze and Harwich in Essex. The site is a tidal inlet which has marsh grasslands, creeks, mud and sand flats, salt marshes, islands and beaches. It is described by Natural England as "of international importance for breeding little terns and wintering dark-bellied brent geese, wildfowl and waders, and of national importance for many other bird species." Rare plants include hog's fennel and slender hare's-ear. The main invertebrates are worms and thin-shelled molluscs. The largest island, Horsey Island, can be reached on foot at low tide across The Wade from Kirby-le-Soken.
Crowsheath Wood is an 8.1 hectare nature reserve in Downham, between Billericay and South Woodham Ferrers in Essex. It is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust.
Little Haven is a 37.2 hectare nature reserve in Thundersley in Essex. It is owned by the Little Haven Children's Hospice, and leased to the Essex Wildlife Trust (EWT).
Pound Wood is a 22.3 nature reserve in Thundersley in Essex. It is owned and managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust.
Tile Wood is a 6.5 hectare nature reserve in Thundersley in Essex. It is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust.
Oxley Meadow is a 3.2 hectare nature reserve in Tolleshunt Knights, near Tiptree in Essex. It is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust.
The Naze SSSI is a 22 hectare geological Site of Special Scientific Interest on The Naze peninsula north of Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex. It is a Geological Conservation Review site both for its Pleistocene fossils and for its birds. It is part of The Naze Nature Reserve, which is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust.
Cockaynes Wood is a 20.2 hectare nature reserve between Wivenhoe and Alresford in Essex. It is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust and the Cockaynes Wood Trust.
Grove House Wood is a 2.2 hectare Local Nature Reserve in Stanford-le-Hope in Essex. According to Natural England, it is owned by Thurrock Council and managed by Essex Wildlife Trust but it is not listed on the web site of either body.
Wrabness Nature Reserve is a 27 hectare Local Nature Reserve on the south bank of the River Stour, west of Wrabness in Essex. It is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust.
Bradwell Shell Bank is a nature reserve on the coast of the Dengie Peninsula near Bradwell-on-Sea in Essex. It is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust. It is part of the Dengie Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Area and Ramsar site, and the Essex Estuaries Special Area of Conservation. It is also part of the Blackwater Flats and Marshes, a Grade I site in the Nature Conservation Review.
Colne Point is a 276.4 hectare nature reserve south-west of St Osyth in Essex. It is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust. It is part of the Colne Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest, National Nature Reserve. Ramsar site, Nature Conservation Review site and Special Protection Area. It is also part of the Essex Estuaries Special Area of Conservation.
Great Holland Pits is a 16.2 hectare nature reserve east of Great Holland in Essex. It is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust.
Langdon Nature Reserve is a 210 hectare nature reserve west of Basildon in Essex. It is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust.
The Naze Nature Reserve is a 45 hectare nature reserve on The Naze peninsula north of Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex. It is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust,. Part of it, The Naze SSSI, is a geological Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Geological Conservation Review site.
Newland Grove is a 3.2 hectare nature reserve north of Chelmsford in Essex. It is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust.
Oakfield Wood is a 2.8 hectare nature reserve west of Wrabness in Essex. It is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust.
Phyllis Currie Nature Reserve is an 8.9 hectare nature reserve north-west of Great Leighs in Essex. It is owned and managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust.
