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The Wild side of Essex - 'Exploring the Essex Alps' (Day Trip)
Tour Code: GBR334A day spent exploring the full range of wildlife to be found in the ring of nature reserves surrounding Danbury, at the peak of the ‘Essex Alps’.
£60 (Inc flights)
£
Highlights
Summary
Join all-round naturalist Chris Gibson for an exploration of the Danbury Ridge, the major topographical feature of inland Essex, comprising a ridge of London Clay, capped with sands and gravels. At its peak (107 metres!), the small town of Danbury is almost surrounded by nature reserves, especially managed by Essex Wildlife Trust and the National Trust. There are ancient woods, lowland heaths and meadows, re-wilded gravel pits and secondary woodland, ponds, marshes and even small bogs. All of these habitats mean there is always wildlife to be found, from birds to butterflies to flowers to fungi, accessible via an extensive network of paths. The range of conditions from damp to dry and open to shady means we will have chance to explore a wide diversity of wildlife, both common and scarce.
The spring walks are likely to feature singing Nightingales, basking Adders, woodland flowers, Green-winged Orchids and Green Hairstreaks. In August, it will be more the purple glow of Heather on the heaths, all manner of insects, the start of the fungal season and the chance of Autumn Lady’s-tresses, as well as the commoner woodland and heathland birds.
Carry your lunch, be prepared for mud especially after rainy spells and always check for ticks after the walk. Other than that, look forward to a day filled with all kinds of everything in the Wild Side of the heart of Essex.
- Spring butterflies, including Green Hairstreak
- Green-winged Orchid and possibly Autumn Lady’s-tresses in season (spring and late summer respectively
- Singing Nightingales and basking Adders in spring
- The purple haze of late-summer Heather
- Wide diversity of all sorts of wildlife
- Extensive views from the ‘roof of Essex’
Dates & Prices
2025
Tour Leader: Chris Gibson
Chris is an experienced and enthusiastic all-round naturalist, based in Essex, though still a Yorkshireman at heart. He recently retired (early!) from a long career with Natural England, during which he worked on such varied projects as the notification of SSSIs in Essex, offshore wind developments and the issues surrounding the potential reintroduction of Eurasian Lynx to the UK. Although a conservationist by profession, and an ecologist by training, everything Chris have done has been linked to his life-long passion for natural history. In 2009 he was lucky enough to receive the David Bellamy Award of the British Naturalists’ Association, recognising ‘a naturalist of distinction’. He’s also written and co-written many books and articles. Now he has the time and opportunity to return to his roots as a naturalist, and to do what he does best – trying to enthuse others about the natural world.
Tour Leader: Chris Gibson
Chris is an experienced and enthusiastic all-round naturalist, based in Essex, though still a Yorkshireman at heart. He recently retired (early!) from a long career with Natural England, during which he worked on such varied projects as the notification of SSSIs in Essex, offshore wind developments and the issues surrounding the potential reintroduction of Eurasian Lynx to the UK. Although a conservationist by profession, and an ecologist by training, everything Chris have done has been linked to his life-long passion for natural history. In 2009 he was lucky enough to receive the David Bellamy Award of the British Naturalists’ Association, recognising ‘a naturalist of distinction’. He’s also written and co-written many books and articles. Now he has the time and opportunity to return to his roots as a naturalist, and to do what he does best – trying to enthuse others about the natural world.
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
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