01/01/2026

On the first Monday of the month I lead Ladybirders (a guided birdwatching walk for ladies) for Essex Wildlife Trust at The Naze. For dates, further details and bookings please contact the Centre team on 01255 679379.

01/01/2026

On alternate Wednesdays I lead Ladybirders (a guided birdwatching walk for ladies) for Essex Wildlife Trust at Fingringhoe Wick nature reserve. For dates, further details and bookings please contact the Centre team on 01206 729678.

01/01/2026

Guided walks last 2.5 hours (unless otherwise stated) and finish with refreshments back at the cars. Group size is a maximum of 8 (plus me as leader).
Booking in advance is essential on all walks please.
If you are booked and have to cancel within 2 weeks of the day (or fail to attend) it will incur the full charge if I'm unable to fill your place.

11/04/2026

On Saturday 11th April 9.30am - 12.30pm I'm leading a Bird Song Workshop at Fingringhoe Wick for EWT. This will include a classroom session followed by a guided walk round the nature reserve. For further details and booking please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.

13/04/2026

Monday 13th April 10am – 12.30pm Alresford Creek
(£15 per person). Parking/meet near the memorial by the ruins of St Peter’s church in Ford Lane, Alresford. Nearest postcode is CO7 8AZ. TM064206. We’ll walk a circuit across the fields to the River Colne and along Alresford Creek (approx 3 miles).
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: yellowhammer, wigeon, teal, red breasted merganser, waders (eg avocet, godwits, curlew, knot), marsh harrier, common buzzard, great spotted woodpecker.
Booking in advance is essential please.

24/04/2026

Friday 24th April 10am – 4pm Lakenheath Fen RSPB
(£30 per person + £4 reserve entry or bring RSPB membership card). Meet in the RSPB car park in Station Road (B1112), Lakenheath, IP27 9AD. TL724865. There is a visitor centre with toilets. The main circular trail is approx 3 miles. Please bring a packed lunch.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: marsh harrier, bittern, bearded tit, common crane, kingfisher, water rail, garganey, sedge warbler, grasshopper warbler, hobby.
Booking in advance is essential please.

30/04/2026

Thursday 30th April 10am – 1pm Arger Fen SWT
(£15 per person). Meet in the layby at CO8 5BN. TL930353. From the A134 at Nayland turn left (W) at Nags Corner, signed to Wissington and Bures. Continue along Wiston Road/Bures Road (‘wiggly’ road for a few miles); then turn right (N) at a crossroads onto Smallbridge Entry (this road is very narrow); pass paddocks, then WA Church seed store; then layby is on your right. (See also Suffolk Wildlife Trust website for location map.)
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: nightingale, blackcap, garden warbler, red kite, raven; bluebells, early purple orchid, wild garlic.
Booking in advance is essential please.

01/05/2026

Friday 1st May 11.45am wildlife boat trip
(£21 per person). We’ll be joining Tony Haggis for a 2-2½ hour boat trip around the beautiful Walton Backwaters. Meet in the car park at Titchmarsh Marina in Walton on the Naze CO14 8SL at 11.45am (for 12 noon boat trip). From Kirby Road (B1024) turn into Coles Lane (signed for Titchmarsh Marina and Harbour Lights restaurant) and drive to the boatyard car park at the far end (it’s a long narrow lane with speed bumps!). Maximum 11 places (plus me!) so please book early to avoid disappointment. Please bring weatherproof clothing and sensible footwear!
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: terns (sandwich, common & little), Mediterranean gull, marsh harrier, common buzzard, avocet, ringed plover, oystercatcher; common seals.
Booking in advance is essential please.

02/05/2026

On Saturday 2nd May 9.30am-3.30pm I'll be leading a Spring Birdwatching at Fingringhoe Wick Workshop for EWT. This will include a classroom session and a couple of guided walks to see how many birds we can find. For further information and bookings please contact the Centre team on 01206 729678.

03/05/2026

On Sunday 3rd May (5.15-7.30am followed by breakfast) I'll be leading a Dawn Chorus walk for EWT at The Naze. For further details and booking please contact the Centre Team on 01255 679379.

05/05/2026

Tuesday 5th May 10am – 12.30pm Wrabness EWT
(£15 per person). Meet in the reserve car park. TM167315. CO11 2TF. From the B1352 between Bradfield and Wrabness turn left into Wheatsheaf Lane, take the first left just past the bridge, and the car park is on your right (there is a height barrier). Most of the paths are tarmac/hard surface, with only one or two grassy areas.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: sand martin, nightingale, turtle dove, cuckoo, song thrush, linnet, whitethroat, lesser whitethroat, blackcap, common buzzard, yellowhammer.
Booking in advance is essential please.

07/05/2026

Thursday 7th May 6 – 8.30am Dawn Chorus at Cockaynes Wood
(£15 per person). Maybe more “Early Morning Chorus” rather than strictly “Dawn Chorus”?! Access is off Alresford Road, between Wivenhoe and Alresford – park and meet in the lane just north of the railway leading east. CO7 9JX. TM052216. (Alternative parking round the corner just south of the railway at the turning to Brett Aggregates.) This reserve is jointly managed by Essex Wildlife Trust and Cockaynes Wood Trust and has a mix of habitats – heath, grassland, woodland and ponds.
Species we’ll be hoping to see/hear include: mistle thrush, nightingale, great spotted woodpecker, treecreeper, linnet, yellowhammer, common tern, great crested grebe; butterflies (eg green hairstreak, orange tip); bluebells.
Booking in advance is essential please.

09/05/2026

On Saturday 9th May 9.30am - 12.30pm I'm leading a Bird Song Workshop at The Naze for EWT. This will include a classroom session followed by a guided walk round the nature reserve. For further details and booking please contact the Centre Team on 01255 679379.

14/05/2026

Thursday 14th May 10am – 12.30pm Martlesham Wilds SWT
(£15 per person). Meet in the small car park near St Marys Church off Church Lane, Woodbridge IP12 4PQ (TM260469). A chance to explore this former organic farm on the banks of the River Deben which is in the process of being transformed into a nature reserve by Suffolk Wildlife Trust.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: warblers (chiffchaff, blackcap, sedge, reed, Cetti’s), reed bunting, yellowhammer, skylark, woodlark, common tern, redshank, common buzzard.
Booking in advance is essential please.

15/05/2026

On Friday 15th May 9.30am - 12.30pm I'm leading a Bird Song Workshop at Fingringhoe Wick for EWT. This will include a classroom session followed by a guided walk round the nature reserve. For further details and booking please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.

20/05/2026

Wednesday 20th May 9.30am – 4pm Minsmere RSPB
(£30 per person + £10 reserve entry or bring RSPB membership card). Meet in the reserve car park. TM473672. IP17 3BY. The plan is to do the coast circuit (c2 miles), have lunch in the car park, and then do the Island Mere circuit (c2 miles). Please bring a packed lunch.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: marsh harrier, bittern, avocet, terns, kittiwake, sand martin, Mediterranean gull, barnacle goose, nightingale, marsh tit, hobby, bearded tit, warblers, common crane.
Booking in advance is essential please.

28/05/2026

Thursday 28th May 10am – 4pm Carlton Marshes SWT
(£30 per person). Meet in the Suffolk Wildlife Trust car park in Burnt Hill Lane, Lowestoft NR33 8HU (TM508920) (£3 parking donation). Please bring a packed lunch.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: marsh harrier, hobby, bittern, warblers (grasshopper, reed, sedge), avocet, little ringed plover, common tern, bearded tit; Chinese water deer; dragonflies.
Booking in advance is essential please.

02/06/2026

Tuesday 2nd June 7.30 – 10pm Upper Hollesley Common
(£15 per person). Meet at 7.30pm in Upper Hollesley Common car park in Heath Road, IP12 3HU. From Melton take the B1083; then left onto Heath Road (signed to Hollesley and Sutton Heath); drive through Sutton Heath; the car park is on the left almost opposite Red Lodge. We’ll take a walk round the heath and then wait for nightjars to emerge at dusk. Insect repellent and a torch advisable.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: woodlark, yellowhammer, coal tit, stonechat, Dartford warbler, redstart, hobby, nightjar, woodcock & fallow deer possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

05/06/2026

On Friday 5th June 1.30 - 4.30pm I'm leading a Dragonfly ID Workshop at Fingringhoe Wick for EWT. This will include a classroom session followed by a guided walk round the nature reserve. For further details and booking please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.

05/06/2026

On Friday 5th June 9.30am - 12.30pm I'm leading a Butterfly ID Workshop at Fingringhoe Wick for EWT. This will include a classroom session followed by a guided walk round the nature reserve. For further details and booking please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.

08/06/2026

Monday 8th June 10am – 4pm Lakenheath Fen RSPB
(£30 per person + £4 reserve entry or bring RSPB membership card). Meet in the RSPB car park in Station Road (B1112), Lakenheath, IP27 9AD. TL724865. There is a visitor centre with toilets. The main circular trail is approx 3 miles. Please bring a packed lunch, which we’ll take out with us and have part way round.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: marsh harrier, bittern, bearded tit, common crane, kingfisher, water rail, common tern, sedge warbler, grasshopper warbler, hobby; dragonflies.
Booking in advance is essential please.

26/06/2026

Friday 26th June 10am – 12.30pm Blue House Farm EWT
(£15 per person). Meet in the reserve car park in Blue House Farm Chase, North Fambridge CM3 6GU. TQ 857969. Following completion of a 40 hectare wetland creation project, this site is looking very promising. It’s a linear walk over rough ground to the banks of the River Crouch; and there are 3 hides overlooking pools.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: marsh harrier, skylark, barnacle goose, reed bunting, waders (eg black tailed godwit, avocet, & scarcer species possible), bearded tit, cuckoo, yellow wagtail, common tern; butterflies (eg small heath, wall brown); dragonflies (eg ruddy darter, southern migrant hawker).
Booking in advance is essential please.

27/06/2026

Saturday 27th June 10.15am wildlife boat trip
(£21 per person). We’ll be joining Tony Haggis for a 2-2½ hour boat trip around the beautiful Walton Backwaters. Meet in the car park at Titchmarsh Marina in Walton on the Naze CO14 8SL at 10.15am (for 10.30am boat trip). From Kirby Road (B1024) turn into Coles Lane (signed for Titchmarsh Marina and Harbour Lights restaurant) and drive to the boatyard car park at the far end (it’s a long narrow lane with speed bumps!). Maximum 11 places (plus me!) so please book early to avoid disappointment. Please bring weatherproof clothing and sensible footwear!
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: terns (sandwich, common & little), Mediterranean gull, marsh harrier, common buzzard, avocet, ringed plover, oystercatcher; common seals with pups.
Booking in advance is essential please.

30/06/2026

Tuesday 30th June 10am – 4pm Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
(£30 per person + £4.50 reserve entry or bring RSPB membership card). Meet in the RSPB car park in Low Road, Strumpshaw, NR13 4HS, TG341065 (about 6 miles east of Norwich). We’ll take two circular walks – c1½ miles in the morning, and c2½ miles after lunch. Please bring a packed lunch.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: marsh harrier, bittern, hobby, kingfisher; butterflies (eg swallowtail); dragonflies (eg Norfolk hawker); Chinese water deer, otter; orchids.
Booking in advance is essential please.

03/07/2026

Friday 3rd July 2.00 – 10pm Minsmere RSPB & Westleton Heath
(£30 per person + £10 reserve entry or bring RSPB membership card). Meet in the reserve car park at 2pm. TM473672. IP17 3BY. The plan is to walk round the reserve (c2½ miles), and then drive, via a stop-off for stone curlew, to Westleton Heath car park to search for heathland species and nightjar. Please bring a packed tea.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: marsh harrier, bittern, avocet, terns, sand martin, Mediterranean gull, warblers, common crane; stone curlew, Dartford warbler, stonechat, woodlark, nightjar.
Booking in advance is essential please.

09/07/2026

Thursday 9th July 10am – 12.30pm Gt Holland Pits EWT
(£15 per person). Meet in the small reserve car park. TM204190. CO13 0EU for satnav. It's not easy to find!! Travelling from Kirby Cross towards Clacton, at the end of Gt Holland turn right at the mini roundabout (by the old Lions Den pub) onto Little Clacton Road. It is on your right after about ½ mile just after a lefthand bend - the track is to the left of a white house called "Seawinds". If you get as far as Dairy House Farm you've missed it!
Species we'll be hoping to see include: common woodland birds, long tailed tit, chiffchaff, great spotted and green woodpeckers, jay, bullfinch, common buzzard; butterflies - white letter hairstreak, purple hairstreak, white admiral, small heath, common blue, wall brown, purple emperor possible; dragonflies – southern hawker, ruddy darter, emerald damselfly
Booking in advance is essential please.

15/07/2026

Wednesday 15th July 10am – 1pm Fingringhoe Wick EWT
(£15 per person + site entry donation or bring EWT membership card). Meet in the reserve car park. TM041195. CO5 7DN. Access is via South Green Road or Furneaux Lane (both quite narrow!) in Fingringhoe village. There’s the option to stay on for lunch in the visitor centre.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: swallow, garden warbler, common tern, black tailed godwit, greenshank, marsh harrier, common buzzard; butterflies (eg white admiral, silver washed fritillary, purple hairstreak, gatekeeper, purple emperor possible); dragonflies (eg small red eyed damselfly, emperor, ruddy darter, brown hawker, southern migrant hawker possible); beewolf.
Booking in advance is essential please.

18/07/2026

On Saturday 18th July 1.30 - 4.30pm I'm leading a Butterfly ID Workshop at Fingringhoe Wick for EWT. This will include a classroom session followed by a guided walk round the nature reserve. For further details and booking please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.

18/07/2026

On Saturday 18th July 9.30am - 12.30pm I'm leading a Dragonfly ID Workshop at Fingringhoe Wick for EWT. This will include a classroom session followed by a guided walk round the nature reserve. For further details and booking please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.

21/07/2026

Tuesday 21st July 10am – 12.30pm Elmstead Woods
(£15 per person). Meet in the village car park in Clacton Road (A133), Elmstead Market (CO7 7DA) (between the traffic lights and Beth Chatto Gardens, near the junction with Bromley Road, car park entrance next to Market Close). The walk will be approximately 2 miles, but please note that we’ll go through a cattle field where the ground is trampled and very uneven. The site includes new woodland, old woodland and a section of the Tenpenny Brook.
Species we’ll be hoping to find include: common buzzard, warblers (eg whitethroat, willow warbler and blackcap), green woodpecker, yellowhammer, house martin; butterflies & dragonflies (eg banded demoiselle).
Booking in advance is essential please.

24/07/2026

Friday 24th July 10am – 12.30pm Chalkney Wood
(£15 per person). Meet in the Forestry Commission car park in Tey Road at TL872279. I think the nearest postcode is CO6 2LQ. From the A1124 between White Colne and Earls Colne take Tey Road south for 1/2 mile or so. The car park is signed to the left on a sharp right-hand bend and is c200m down a dirt track.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: treecreeper, common buzzard, great spotted woodpecker, grey wagtail, kingfisher and nuthatch possible; butterflies (eg purple emperor, purple hairstreak, white admiral, silver washed fritillary); dragonflies (eg banded demoiselle, migrant hawker, brown hawker).
Booking in advance is essential please.

30/07/2026

Thursday 30th July 10am – 1pm Old Hall Marshes RSPB
(£15 per person). Meet in the reserve car park at the far end of Old Hall Lane, Tolleshunt D’Arcy CM9 8TP. TL959122. From the B1026 take Chapel Road/Back Road and turn in to Old Hall Lane, which is quite a narrow lane. Drive to the far end, over the speed bumps round the gardens/cottages, through the metal gates, over the cattle grid and follow signs to the car park (open 9am-5pm Mon-Fri). The walk is approx 3 miles (the short circuit!) over uneven ground, including the seawall.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: marsh harrier, hobby, common tern, waders (eg avocet, black tailed godwit, ruff, golden plover, spotted redshank, greenshank, little stint, wood sandpiper (and maybe a rarity or two), bearded tit, cattle egret and spoonbill possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

08/08/2026

On Saturday 8th August 9.30am - 12.30pm I'm leading a New to Birdwatching Workshop at Fingringhoe Wick for EWT. This will include a classroom session followed by a guided walk round the nature reserve. For further details and booking please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.

10/09/2026

On Thursday 10th September 9.30am - 12.30pm I'm leading a Bird Migration Workshop at Fingringhoe Wick for EWT. This will include a classroom session followed by a guided walk round the nature reserve. For further details and booking please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.

10/10/2026

On Saturday 10th October 9.30am - 12.30pm I'm leading a Wader ID Workshop at Fingringhoe Wick for EWT. This will include a classroom session followed by a guided walk round the nature reserve. For further details and booking please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.

07/11/2026

On Saturday 7th November 9.30am - 12.30pm I'm leading a Raptor ID Workshop at Fingringhoe Wick for EWT. This will include a classroom session followed by a guided walk round the nature reserve. For further details and booking please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.

05/12/2026

On Saturday 5th December 9.30am - 12.30pm I'm leading a Duck ID Workshop at Fingringhoe Wick for EWT. This will include a classroom session followed by a guided walk round the nature reserve. For further details and booking please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.