Tollesbury Wick Jan 2017 by Dave Watts

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About

Wildlife is abundant in the 600 acres of rough pasture, borrowdykes, sea walls, wet flushes, pools and saltmarsh.

Large areas of rough pasture suit small mammals such as field vole and pygmy shrew. In winter, they in turn attract hunting hen and marsh harriers and short-eared owls.

Dry grassland on the slopes of the sea walls supports a wide variety of insects, including butterflies, bush crickets and grasshoppers. In spring spiny restharrow, grass vetchling, slender hares-ear and many other wild flowers can be found in ungrazed areas.

Borrowdykes trace the inland edge of the sinuous seawall for its entire length. Common reed, sea clubrush and fennel pondweed are typical plants of these brackish areas where reed warbler and reed bunting nest in spring, and heron and little grebe search for food. Wet flushes, dykes and small pools in the pasture support aquatic plants such as water crowfoot, and breeding populations of dragonflies and other aquatic species.

Golden plover, lapwing, brent geese and wigeon feed or roost on the winter-wet grassland.

On the other side of the seawall, and within the reserve boundary, creeks, salt marsh and exposed mud support typical communities of coastal mud-dwelling invertebrates, coastal birds and salt marsh flora. Scattered shingle spits have yellow-horned poppy, and also a small breeding colony of little terns.

The main pillars of management are water level control and getting the right level of grazing to create suitable conditions for birds and other wildlife.

Facilities

Accessibility

  • Disabled access

Children

  • Children welcome

Parking

  • Free Parking

Property Facilities

  • Dogs Accepted
  • Public toilets

Target Markets

  • Accepts groups
  • Coach parties accepted

Map & Directions

Tollesbury Wick Marshes

Type:Nature Reserve

Off Mell Road, Tollesbury, Essex, CM9 8SE

Tel: 01621 862960

Opening Times

* Jan - Dec

What's Nearby

  1. Walkers along the sea wall at Tollesbury will be fascinated by the large red ship moored…

    0.31 miles away
  2. Tollesbury Congregational Church has served the village since 1803.

    0.54 miles away
  3. WhimbrelArt in Tollesbury is a gallery specialising in the work of local artists and…

    0.57 miles away
  1. Tollesbury War Memorial stands in the churchyard of St Mary the Virgin, a beautiful Grade…

    0.6 miles away
  2. St Mary the Virgin is a beautiful Grade II* Listed church in the village of Tollesbury.…

    0.6 miles away
  3. Tollesbury's little prison was opened in 1700 and was in operation for around a century…

    0.61 miles away
  4. This is a large, open site with good views across the Blackwater Estuary towards St…

    0.64 miles away
  5. An opportunity to see an abundance of coastal wetland bird species in their natural…

    1.23 miles away
  6. This is a large open site on the edge of the village with views to the south towards the…

    2.33 miles away
  7. Bradwell Marina, on the Blackwater Estuary is ideally situated for exploring the river,…

    2.41 miles away
  8. A blue plaque marks D'Arcy House as the home of famous novelist Margery Allingham who…

    2.41 miles away
  9. In the middle of the road junction in Tolleshunt D'Arcy stands the village maypole, one…

    2.42 miles away
  10. St Nicholas Church is Grade I listed. Its churchyard extension, a little way up the road,…

    2.46 miles away
  11. St Lawrence Bay, also known as Stone, is undoubtedly the most beautiful beach in the…

    2.85 miles away
  12. RAF Bradwell Bay is a former Royal Air Force station located on the Dengie Peninsular,…

    2.89 miles away
  13. This 12th century Grade II* Listed church is now owned by the nearby Orthodox Monastery…

    3.2 miles away
Previous Next

Number of results:

Number of results: 580

, currently showing 1 to 20.

  1. Address

    167 Station Road, Burnham, CM0 8HJ

    Telephone

    01621 770029

    Burnham

    Quayside Wines is a local off-license offering a large selection of beers, wines and spirits, including unusual gins and liqueurs.

  2. Address

    Goldsands Road, Southminster, Essex, CM0 7JW

    Telephone

    01621 772044

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    Brewery offering guided tours and Taproom and Kitchen serving our ales, ciders and lager with a full snack and main meals menu.

  3. Address

    The High Street, Bradwell-on-Sea, CM0 7QN

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    01621 776274

    Bradwell-on-Sea

    The shop is owned and run by members of the Bradwell-on-Sea community and stocks a wide range of products including fresh bread baked by Golden Platter of Mayland, The Secret Butcher meat and cheese (from Burnham), local honey, fresh organic produce…

  4. Address

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    Beeleigh Falls is home to a series of water falls, locks and weirs on the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation.

  5. Address

    Edwards Walk Shopping Arcade, 22 White Horse Lane, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5QP

    Telephone

    01621 488048

    Maldon

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  6. Address

    Church Road, North Fambridge, CM3 6LU

    Telephone

    01621 740370

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    Fambridge Yacht Haven at North Fambridge is a peaceful retreat for families, rallies and solo-travellers. From fine riverside walks to country pubs and plenty of children's attractions, there's so much to discover! With a direct train line to…

  7. Address

    Daisy Meadow car park, Basin Road, Heybridge, CM9 4RW

    Heybridge

    SALTMARSH COAST WALKING FESTIVAL - 3.58 miles. A slightly longer stroll in the Walk it Local collection, but worth the effort, taking in bustling Heybridge Basin with its boats, sea-lock, water birds and pubs, the seawall with estuary views back…

  8. Address

    Fambridge Road, Althorne, Essex, CM3 6BZ

    Althorne

    Crouch Ridge Vineyard overlooks the River Crouch. We produce and sell award winning single variety still and sparkling wines from grapes grown at the vineyard. Come for the wine and stay for the view

  9. Address

    Lauriston Farm Chase, Goldhanger, Goldhanger, CM9 8AH

    Telephone

    01621 788348

    Goldhanger

    Situated right on the Blackwater Estuary, just outside Goldhanger, Lauriston Farm is a certified biodynamic farm, using a gentle and chemical-free way of farming to grow seasonal vegetables, available through a doorstep-delivery vegetable bag scheme…

  10. Address

    Limebrook Way, Maldon, CM9 6GG

    Maldon

    Morrisons supermarket includes a petrol station and carwash, cafe, photo booth, dry cleaning, National Lottery, ATM bank machines, Coinstar machine, Rug Doctor hire and floristry department, and well as a huge range of groceries and essentials.

  11. Address

    Bradwell-on-Sea Village Hall, South Street, Bradwell-on-Sea, CM0 7QJ

    Bradwell-on-Sea

    SALTMARSH COAST WALKING FESTIVAL - 3 miles. This short walk around Bradwell-on-Sea and Bradwell Waterside, part of the Walk it Local collection, takes in traditional country pubs, a historic church, a thriving marina and the saltmarsh coast,…

  12. Address

    Burnham-on-Crouch station, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8BQ

    Burnham-on-Crouch

    SALTMARSH COAST WALKING FESTIVAL - 5.5 miles. This superb linear riverside walk starts from Burnham-on-Crouch railway station, taking you westward to Althorne where you can take a train to return.

  13. Address

    Outside All Saints Church, High Street, Maldon, CM9 5PF

    Maldon

    The war memorial in Maldon stands in the High Street outside All Saints Church and is a Grade II Listed white stone cross on a plinth and base, with bronze plaques set into the design. It was designed by Chelmsford Architect Wykeham Chancellor and…

  14. Address

    On the Latch, Burnham Road, Latchingdon, CM3 6BL

    Telephone

    07930 243225

    Latchingdon

    Dengie Petting Zoo is run by J&C Party Pets, owners of Maldon Promenade Zoo. This smaller venue, in the grounds of On The Latch restaurant, has around 20 species of animals, most of which are rescued. The playful meerkats are a particular favourite…

  15. Address

    1 High Street, Maldon, CM9 5PB

    Telephone

    020 8090 5048

    Maldon

    We have now opened our own unique gift shop on Maldon High Street, specialising in Star Wars as well as expanding our range to include iconic science fiction and fantasy from film, TV and gaming franchises. 

  16. Address

    Promenade Park, Park Drive, Maldon, CM9 5JQ

    Telephone

    01621 854477

    Maldon

    Millenium Wood is an extension of Promenade Park & is a wildlife area consisting of woodland plantation, scrub & rough grassland.

  17. Address

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    Telephone

    01621 843980

    Maldon

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  18. Address

    Church Lane, Little Totham, CM9 8LU

    Telephone

    07908 776750

    Little Totham

    This charming Grade I Listed church has a 12th century nave and 14th century chancel. There's a fine 17th century altar tomb monument and a 15th century font. In the churchyard are two Commonwealth War Graves.

  19. Address

    112 High Street, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5ET

    Telephone

    01621 843980

    Maldon

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  20. Address

    Junction of Main Road and Station Road, Althorne, CM3 6DB

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Related

Tollesbury marshes, Aerial EssexTollesbury Wick Marshes Walk - Self-Guided Walk No. 4.2 / 4.3, MaldonSALTMARSH COAST WALKING FESTIVAL - 5.8 or 8.9 miles. Tollesbury Wick Marshes is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Tollesbury is now renowned as a yachting centre; once upon a time the marshes were the haunt of smugglers.