Field Studies

Fellowship Afloat's 150-acre saltmarsh is a part of the Essex Estuaries European marine site (part of the EU Natura 2000 series) and has national and international designations for its nature conservation value.

The neighbouring River Blackwater and Colne Estuaries are also of international significance for conservation and provide an example of a dynamic coastal estuarine system.

A wide range of coastal habitat types within easy reach of the centre include: successional saltmarsh communities, intertidal mud and sand flats, subtidal mixed sediments and associated fauna and flora, grazing marsh, associated wetlands and brackish lagoons. There are nearby demonstration sites, which feature coastal realignment and foreshore recharge.

Our centre provides comfortable accommodation, motor boat and dredging facilities and also has a shore-based classroom.