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

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

    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
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Number of results:

Number of results: 583

, currently showing 1 to 20.

  1. Address

    Great Totham, Essex, CM9 8NN

    Great Totham

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  4. Address

    East End Road, Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex, CM0 7PW

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    This ancient Saxon chapel is the oldest church in England built by St Cedd in 654AD, it is one of the most restful and spiritual buildings in the country, a place to bring you peace and tranquillity. The old Saxon quote on the Chapel sign ‘In this…

  5. Address

    Rectory Road, Tolleshunt Knights, CM9 8HF

    Tolleshunt Knights

    This 12th century Grade II* Listed church is now owned by the nearby Orthodox Monastery of St John the Baptist. The churchyard has two Commonwealth War Graves.

  6. Address

    Abbey Turning, Maldon, Essex, CM9 6LL

    Telephone

    0345 603 7624

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    By appointment. Beeleigh mill was a large flour mill on the river Chelmer near Maldon, Essex. It had two water wheels driving 10 stones (later 12), to which was added a separate building which housed a steam-powered beam engine driving five…

  7. Address

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    Telephone

    01621 741395

    Mayland

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  8. Address

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    Maldon

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  9. Address

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    Telephone

    01621 862324

    Tolleshunt Knights

    Come along to relax and dine with us at Brasserie 1, one of the best restaurants in Essex. What can you expect from the menu? International food with a great British twist, including fish, grilled meats and steaks, salads and much more.

  10. Address

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    Telephone

    01621 783963

    Burnham-on-Crouch

    All Saints' Church at Creeksea lies in an idyllic setting with beautiful views over the River Crouch. The current church building dates from the 1870s although there has been a church on this site since the 13th century.

  11. Address

    Southfield Way, Southminster, Essex, CM0 7RE

    Telephone

    01621 854477

    Southminster

    Orchard Meadows consists of five adjoining meadows, each surrounded by hedges. The central meadow contains the remains of an old orchard with apple, pear, plum and walnut trees.

  12. Address

    Unit 3B, Bentalls Shopping Centre, Colchester Road, Maldon, CM9 4GD

    Telephone

    01621 850590

    Maldon

    The new Heybridge General Store and Post Office also offers stationery, books, news and magazines, essentials, snacks and an off-licence,

  13. Address

    2 High Street, Tollesbury, CM9 8RG

    Telephone

    01621 868684

    Tollesbury

    Convenience store selling groceries, confectionery, cards, wines and spirits, newspapers and more. Includes the Post Office, National Lottery and Cashpoint.

  14. Address

    1 Chandlers Quay, Maldon, Essex, CM9 4LF

    Telephone

    07801 364 135

    Maldon

    Marigold Charters offers sailing adventures on and around the river Blackwater. Their vessel Marigold is a Gravesend Bawley built upon the lines of the Lilliam in 1869.

  15. Address

    Springfield Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8UA

    Telephone

    01621 854477

    Burnham-on-Crouch

    This park is comprised of mown grassland with a large number of mature trees of different species and a play park.

  16. Address

    8 Devonshire Road, Burnham, CM0 8BH

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  17. Address

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    Telephone

    01245 373686

    Woodham Walter

    This is a steeply sloping site with a relatively flat area at the top of the site. The elevated position allows good views over the village of Woodham Walter and beyond to the Chelmer Valley. A new children's playground has recently been built and…

  18. Address

    Steeple, Essex, CM0 7JY

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    This attractive walk branches off St Peter’s Way, the long distance footpath, at the village of Steeple. It heads north to the Blackwater Estuary and follows the seawall anti-clockwise until it returns to the village.

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  20. Address

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    Telephone

    07970 605361

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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.