More People Can Visit Colne Point as Membership Fees Are Halved

The Essex Wildlife Trust has launched a limited-time membership drive that offers 50% off the first year for new members, making it cheaper for people in the Clacton-on-Sea area to gain access to some of its restricted coastal reserves. The promotional discount applies to the Trust’s minimum subscription rates for new joiners and is available only for the first 12 months.

New members can join for about half the usual cost for their first year — for example, the Trust’s minimum individual annual rate of £42 is reduced to approximately £21, and the family rate of £60 to about £30. The promotion is a short-term offer and, according to the Trust’s published terms, closes at midnight on 31 January 2026. The Trust’s membership pages state the promotion is intended to encourage new members to join.

Colne Point is a large coastal nature reserve near St Osyth that includes saltmarsh, shingle ridges and important bird habitat. It is designated a National Nature Reserve (NNR) and is subject to other statutory protections; access to Colne Point is limited to Wildlife Trust members or by prior consent to protect the sensitive environment and breeding birds.

Visitors are being reminded that the small car park provided inside the reserve is liable to flood at high tides and that parts of the reserve can be cut off by the tide. The Trust’s reserve guidance asks visitors to check tide times before visiting and to follow the site rules to avoid disturbing nesting birds.

Those interested in the discounted membership can sign up via the Essex Wildlife Trust website; the promotion applies to new joiners and is payable by Direct Debit under the terms shown on the Trust’s membership pages. The Trust has publicly flagged concerns about unmanaged access to fragile coastal habitats and urges new members to follow reserve guidance; if you need confirmation of any extra on-site monitoring arrangements, contact the Trust’s press office for a statement.