Bobbit's Hole proves a hit as nature reserve opens to public

Each year the society’s Bobbit’s Hole volunteers designate a particular Sunday when the nature reserve, in Dovercourt, becomes the focus of a fundraising event.

Entitled the ‘Bobbit’s Stroll’, visitors are asked to make a donation in return for the privilege of strolling around the beauty hotspot.

Family occasion - more than £600 was raised throughout the day

This year, more than £630 was raised for Hedgehog Haven Rescue – Essex, with a further donation of £50 going to the British Hedgehog Preservation Society.

Refreshments including an array of homemade cakes were enjoyed, as was the children’s hedgehog trail quiz which had youngsters searching the nature reserve for signs which accompanied each hedgehog-related question.

To add to the fun, one of the resident ducks spent the morning parading her four newly-hatched ducklings who quickly became a very popular attraction.

Mayoral approval - Harwich mayor Ivan Henderson explored the grounds

“We had hundreds of smiling visitors and, for the most part, the weather was kind,” said Harwich Society chairman Colin Farnell.

“Bobbit’s Hole is a lovely setting and it was a perfect day to see so many familiar faces along with a lot of new ones. Everyone was so generous and the volunteers ended the day very tired but very happy.”

Homestart Harwich was on hand to offer a wide range of activities for visiting children and the BBC Essex Sunday Quest also visited the event during which its presenter, Liana Bridges, officially unveiled the society’s Covid-19 memorial.

Creative touch - Glynis Zimmermann with grandchildren Freya and Caitlin

The sundial memorial was installed in memory of all those who lost someone during the pandemic but were not able to mark their passing in the manner they would have wished.

Mr Farnell added: “The memorial has received much approval throughout the community and we felt it was a fitting time for it to be officially unveiled.

“The past 18 months have been a very difficult time and the smiles on all the faces showed how much we have missed things we took for granted before the pandemic. I think that’s a lesson we all have to learn.”

Take in the view - families gathered to admire the wildlife

Bobbit’s Hole dates back to at least 1550 and was once part of a cements works with the water used to flush out the channel at Pattrick’s Wharf.

In 1906, the Pattrick estate was sold and the area fell into disuse.

In 1976, the Harwich Society made the site its project for the Silver Jubilee Year of 1977 and in 1993 purchased the reserve.