Find out more about the county's birdlife from the RSPB each month...

More to discover at the RSPB’s

South Essex Visitor Centre

Changes are afoot in the RSPB South Essex Visitor Centre this spring as the RSPB introduces two new displays. A new freshwater habitat aquarium will provide visitors with an up-close experience of underwater life giving families the chance to marvel at native wildlife and discover the secrets of the county’s wetland reserves.

After that, why not check out the giant wormerie? Visitors can watch nature’s best recyclers as the tunnel through the earth and decompose all organic waste. There will also be the usual packed programme of wildlife family days, events, walks and talks. For more information, call 01268 498623.

On the hunt at Little Owls Club

As spring arrives, it is a great time for youngsters to join the RSPB for Little Owls Club. Running every second Wednesday of the month, Little Owls is especially aimed at getting under fives out and about in nature.

Hannah Chisholm, an RSPB education officer, explains: ‘The early years are the best time to get children enthusiastic about wildlife and the great outdoors. Little Owls Club is a great chance to introduce children to things that wiggle, crawl and fly. Whatever the weather, we make sure we spend time outside in the wildlife garden exploring and getting hands on.’

Little Owls Club runs from 10am to noon and as well as outdoor exploration includes lots of wildlife arts and crafts, storytelling and nature trails.

Each session costs just �2 per child at the RSPB South Essex Discovery Zone in Wat Tyler Country Park in Basildon. For more information, call 01268 498629.

Congratulations to RSPB Chelmsford

Since its formation in 1975, the RSPB Chelmsford and Central Essex Group has raised the incredible sum of �306,800 for the organisation. All this money goes directly towards helping the RSPB conserve birds and wildlife throughout the UK with �96,040 of this sum going to RSPB nature reserves in Essex.

Local groups consist of volunteers who fundraise to help support the activities of the RSPB. Mike Logan Wood, the group leader for RSPB Chelmsford, said: ‘We are tremendously grateful for the generosity of the RSPB members in our area and for the support of the general public, without which we could not have achieved this amazing feat.’

The group is always happy to except new members and from April is looking to fill vacancies of a new group leader, a newsletter editor, a talks organiser and a group secretary.

Why not join in at Warden Week?

This March the RSPB South Essex Marshes sees the return of Warden Week – a conservation project run by teenagers, for teenagers.

Offering a week-long range of activates out on local RSPB reserves, young people get to experience life as a warden surveying wildlife, creating habitats and protecting the environment.

Brennan Briggs, one of the young organisers of Warden Week, commented: ‘I’ve loved every moment of volunteering for the RSPB and wanted to share my experience with other people my age. The RSPB isn’t just about birds. We help conserve all types of wildlife and nature and create places for people to be able to get outside. Warden Week lets people see at first-hand what we do and to find out how important it is to maintain our natural environment.’

To find out more about RSPB in Essex, call 01268 559158 or visit www.rspb.org.uk