Essex Wildlife Trust Gunners Park and Shoebury Ranges Nature Reserve

Essex Wildlife Trust Gunners Park and Shoebury Ranges Nature Reserve The Gunners Park nature reserve incorporates the Shoebury Old Ranges Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The Gunners Park nature reserve incorporates the Shoebury Old Ranges Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the Coastguard Station Grounds Local Wildlife Site, totalling 25 hectares.

Spotted flycatcher! A rare bird for the UK that is on the conservation red list. Good sign the habitat at Gunners is dra...
04/09/2026

Spotted flycatcher! A rare bird for the UK that is on the conservation red list.

Good sign the habitat at Gunners is drawing in species like this which need a lot of insects.

Well done to Peter Dolphin for the great photo.

Just days after installing emergency signs to help prevent wildfires at Gunners Park we're sad to see that some have bee...
28/08/2026

Just days after installing emergency signs to help prevent wildfires at Gunners Park we're sad to see that some have been deliberately damaged.

These signs share a vital safety message and we put them up to protect not only the reserve but our neighbors houses and all our visitors and their pets. We did this because as a naturally dry area with a lot of grassland and a strong coastal breeze even a small fire would spread extremely quickly.

As a wildlife charity we're facing a lot of challenges and we really don't need anti social behavior like this making this harder for us.

If you have witnessed any vandalism please come forward so we can report it to the police.

The Kingfisher is officially back at Gunners! Many thanks to Peter Dolphin for the great photo. Our Kingfishers are best...
21/08/2026

The Kingfisher is officially back at Gunners!

Many thanks to Peter Dolphin for the great photo.

Our Kingfishers are best seen from the bridge over the stream and if you want to give yourself the best chance of seeing it they have a very distinctive call which is worth looking up online and having a listen so you can tell which direction they are coming from.

Some lovely photos of wildlife seen in the park recently. Clouded yellow and comma butterflies, a sleepy squirrel, willo...
17/08/2026

Some lovely photos of wildlife seen in the park recently. Clouded yellow and comma butterflies, a sleepy squirrel, willow warbler and the purple sandpiper which has attracted quite a few photographers! Many thanks to Peter Dolphin for the photos.

Hi folks, we've had to add some new signage around Gunners and other nature reserves warning visitors about the wildfire...
14/08/2026

Hi folks, we've had to add some new signage around Gunners and other nature reserves warning visitors about the wildfire risk and reminding people that fire of any kind is not appropriate in wild places.

If you see any fires please call 999 and report as an out of control fire.

Please keep safe out there in the heat!

FIRE warning - help requested Hi folks Gunners is bone dry and with the strong coastal wind there is a very high risk of...
11/08/2026

FIRE warning - help requested

Hi folks Gunners is bone dry and with the strong coastal wind there is a very high risk of out of control fires posing a risk to people, homes and wildlife.

Just this week we've had several disposable bbq's left in the park and upsettingly a few of the signs we put up last year to warn people BBQS are NOT allowed have been vandalised and torn down.

If you see a fire of any sort please help by calling 999 immediately and reporting a out of control fire.

Please share this message to any local groups you may be in.

Thank you

07/08/2026

We are saddened to hear of the incident that took place at Gunners Park on Tuesday 4 August, when a police officer patrolling the nature reserve was assaulted.

We are supporting Essex Police with their enquiries and ask anyone who was in the area at the time, or who may have witnessed suspicious behaviour, to contact Essex Police quoting incident 1501 of 4 August.

More information for the police appeal 👉

https://www.essex.police.uk/news/essex/news/news/2026/august/shoebury-appeal-following-assault-on-police-officer/

Our nature reserves are places for people to connect with nature, enjoy the outdoors and feel safe. Incidents such as this have no place on our sites, and our thoughts are with the officer involved.

It's hot, dry and dusty out there but there is still some remarkable wildlife to be seen in the reserve. A clouded yello...
05/08/2026

It's hot, dry and dusty out there but there is still some remarkable wildlife to be seen in the reserve. A clouded yellow butterfly and purple sandpiper on the seawall are two rarities worth keeping an eye out for. Many thanks to Peter Dolphin for the photos.

Lots of waders have been returning to our shores in the last week. There's a lovely big flock of turnstone (the darker ...
24/07/2026

Lots of waders have been returning to our shores in the last week. There's a lovely big flock of turnstone (the darker more brown birds) with a few sanderling and dunlin sprinkled in that can be seen just over the seawall. Best viewed on an incoming tide. Thanks to Peter Dolphin for the photos.

FIRE WARNING & request for help Hi folks, Gunners nature reserve is bone dry and with the strong coastal wind the risk o...
17/07/2026

FIRE WARNING & request for help

Hi folks, Gunners nature reserve is bone dry and with the strong coastal wind the risk of an out of control fire is extremely high.

A fire would be devastating to wildlife and could pose a very serious danger to people and homes.

Please if you do see any fires being lit or bbq's in use etc please report to the fire dept and police immediately.

We need the help of our wonderful community to keep this special place safe so thank you in advance!

The pictures attached are from today 17/07 of a disposable bbq scorch mark in the middle of dry grassland and a burnt shirt in bunker woods.

Address

Gunners Park And Shoebury Ranges
Shoeburyness
SS39QN

Telephone

+447738458916

Website

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