Bradwell Shell Bank

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This nature reserve on the Dengie peninsula consists of some 30 acres of shell bank, together with extensive saltmarsh. The shell bank is continuous between Tip Head and Gunner's Creek, but further south consists of a series of small cockle spits, many of which are separated by deep creeks and gullies. The adjoining saltmarsh in some places is several hundred metres wide.

The reserve is run jointly by Essex Wildlife Trust and the Essex Birdwatching Society. The latter also operates Bradwell Bird Observatory, situated in the grounds of Linnett's Cottage on the edge of the reserve.

Ringed plovers and oystercatchers breed on the shell banks, and the saltmarsh supports a wide variety of species including redshank, yellow wagtail, meadow pipit, reed bunting and linnet. In autumn and winter large flocks of up to 20,000 waders roost on the reserve at high tide. Snow bunting, shorelark and lapland bunting are occasional winter visitors.

A wide range of raptors frequent the area, among them hen harrier, merlin, peregrine and short-eared owl in winter; marsh harrier, sparrowhawk and hobby at other seasons.

The more stable parts of the shell banks are rich in flowers, including yellow horned-poppy, narrow-leaved birdsfoot trefoil, grass-leaved orache, sea rocket, sea holly, marram grass and occasional clumps of the locally rare sea kale. A wide range of specialised species can be found on the saltmarsh.

The mud and sandflats to the east of the reserve, extending some 3km from the shore, are part of the Dengie National Nature Reserve. These are internationally important for overwintering waders, and notably for grey plover, knot and bar-tailed godwit. Sales Point is a good spot from which to watch waders feeding, ideally when the tide is rising to cover the mudflats. As well as the waders just mentioned, you may see dunlin, redshank, oystercatcher and curlew.

As you continue along the seawall you may also find turnstone, sanderling and ringed plover. Flocks of brent geese could be on the fields, the mud or the sea. The small thicket between the Bird Observatory and Sales Point is used as a refuge by many migrating birds.

The barges sunk just offshore are there to protect the saltmarsh and seawall from erosion.