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Our West Canvey Marshes reserve is primarily managed as coastal wet grassland with breeding waders being the main management objective.
Habitat improvement work is just beginning. Grassland management will be aimed at breeding lapwings and redshanks. A mix of cattle grazing and hay cutting, as well as water level control, helps manage the grassland to create the right conditions.
Water voles can be found in the ditches that hold water all year and a large great crested newt colony can be found in fresh water ditches. The 30 hectares of saltmarsh has the highest density of breeding redshanks in Essex.
The north and west sides of the reserve are bounded by tidal creeks where oystercatchers, knots, dunlins, godwits and sandpipers can be found. The wide fleet, with its open water and reed fringe, attracts good numbers of feeding little egrets.
The dryer grassland is good for breeding skylarks. The scrubby areas have linnets and whitethroats.
Contact informationSouth Essex Project Office
Wat Tyler Country Park
Pitsea Hall Lane
Basildon
SS16 4UH
Telephone: 01268 559158
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