The Thames estuary and the Essex coast have appeared on these pages several times already.  The nature of this great estuary has survived in pockets and fragments alongside burgeoning human use and abuse of the place.

Robert Macfarlane’s evocation of the Wild Places of Essex on BBC 2’s Natural World last night will open eyes to a world that is waiting to be discovered (you can view it for a few days – and here’s a review).  Our nature reserve at Rainham Marshes (featured in the programme and pictured) is already a hit with visitors and there are other places to visit – so if you get the chance you can see the wild side of Essex too.

And we’re not finished either.  The Wallasea Island Wild Coast project aims to put a significant chunk of wild nature back – you can find out more about that here.

So, if you thought untamed Essex got no further than the throaty roar of a Ford Capri – it’s time to think again.