Mark, who has been a member of the Essex Wildlife Trust (EWT) for many years, was shown around the centre by Ali Mann, the Education Manager, who explained to him that the Centre was built as a cooperative venture between Essex and Suffolk Water and the EWT as part of the project to expand the capacity at Abberton Reservoir.
The specially designed building has excellent views over the reservoir itself, as well as a viewing platform which allows bird watchers and other nature lovers to keep a close eye on wildlife using the reservoir. The Centre also has an outside area, in which the EWT have recently planted a large number of trees, plus an open area on which it is seeking to graze animals in the future.
Commenting on his visit to the brand new Wildlife Centre, Mark Francois said:
“I joined the Essex Wildlife Trust many years ago, as I have been impressed by the work that they do both to care for wildlife and to help protect our environment across the county. The new Visitor’s Centre at Abberton is a superb facility which is not just available to people from North Essex, but also to people from across the county and indeed much further afield as well. I am very pleased that the Essex Wildlife Trust have made this new facility available to the public and I hope that many people will be able to benefit from it, including some of my own constituents, in the months and years ahead”.