Colne Point Nature Reserve - Essex Wildlife Trust
This large, 652 acre, reserve at the mouth of the Colne Estuary and at the south-western end of the Tendring peninsula consists of a shingle ridge enclosing a considerable area of saltmarsh, through which Ray Creek flows. The shingle and sand is nearly all that remains of a much larger area between Walton-on-the-Naze and St Osyth that existed at the end of the 19th century but has now mostly been developed by the seaside holiday industry.
The reserve, at the mouth of the Colne Estuary and at the south-western end of the Tendring peninsula, is rich in plants and animals, including many nationally, or locally, rare species. Nationally scarce species include sea heath, dune fescue, curved hard-grass, sea barley and rock sea-lavender.
Birds: Colne Point is on a major migration route for finches, chats, pipits and skylarks. Birds of prey are also frequently seen, particularly at passage times. Other breeding birds include redshank, skylark, reed bunting and linnet.
Insects: The reserve has good numbers of spiders, beetles and moths plus a variety of solitary bees and wasps find it ideal for nesting.
Access: Access is by day permit only, available from Essex Wildlife Trust Trust HQ (01206 729678), except for Essex Wildlife Trust members
Location: Sited at the mouth of the River Colne, next to Lee-over-Sands. Access is via the road running to Lee Wick Farm from St Osyth. A car parking space is provided just inside the reserve on the seaward side of the sea wall, but is liable to flood at very high tides.
Managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust
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