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Chigborough Lakes Nature Reserve

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About

This diverse site of 46 acres is managed by Essex Wildlife Trust. It consists of a series of flooded gravel pits giving a wide range of different habitats including open water, small ponds, marshy areas, grazed grassland and Blackthorn/Hawthorn scrub.
Strolling through the reserve, there are a number of interesting flowers to look out for, including Common Spotted and Bee Orchids, Heath Speedwell, Common Storks Bill and Wild Strawberry. The reserve has eleven varieties of willow, including Almond and Purple Willow and several recently pollarded Cricket Bat Willows.

Over 120 species of bird have been recorded, and more than 40 of these have bred at some time, including great crested and little grebes, kingfisher and water rail. Ruddy duck can be numerous when the water level is high. Sedge and reed warblers can be seen or heard in spring and summer, together with common whitethroat, reed bunting and willow warbler.

Recently signs of Otters have been found on the reserve and it is also home to a number of Grass Snakes.

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Map & Directions

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Chigborough Lakes Nature Reserve

Type:Nature Reserve

Chigborough Road, Heybridge, Essex, CM9 4RE

Website

Tel: 01621 862960

Opening Times

* Accessible at all times.

What's Nearby

  1. Chigborough Lakes

    An area of worked-out flooded gravel pits to the north of the River Blackwater. It has a…

    0 miles away
  2. Drapers Farm

    A large sports ground with associated sports pavilion and changing rooms. It is the home…

    0.82 miles away
  3. St George's Field & Playground

    Lying alongside the sea wall and to the north of the Heybridge Basin's built-up area is…

    0.86 miles away
  1. St George's Church

    The little church building behind the bus shelter in Heybridge Basin began life during…

    0.92 miles away
  2. Sir William Arnold Lifeboat Experience

    Now moored permanently in Heybridge Basin, Maldon, Essex, the Sir William Arnold lifeboat…

    1.12 miles away
  3. Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation Sea Lock

    Heybridge Basin's famous sea lock links the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation to the…

    1.14 miles away
  4. Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation

    This waterway runs through a largely unspoilt part of rural Essex and connects the county…

    1.16 miles away
  5. Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation Canal

    This waterway runs through a largely unspoilt part of rural Essex and connects the county…

    1.16 miles away
  6. All Saints' Church, Little Totham

    This charming Grade I Listed church has a 12th century nave and 14th century chancel.…

    1.16 miles away
  7. King George V Playing Field, Heybridge

    Located near to the centre of Heybridge, this site has good access from the surrounding…

    1.2 miles away
  8. Heybridge War Memorial & Cemetery

    Heybridge War Memorial is a Grade II Listed memorial made from creamy Portland limestone…

    1.23 miles away
  9. Northey Island

    Northey is an island in the Blackwater Estuary in Essex, connected to the mainland by a…

    1.43 miles away
  10. Goldhanger Parish Field

    Surrounded by mature trees, this attractive site has access to the adjacent sea wall…

    1.5 miles away
  11. St Andrew's Church

    A Grade I Listed building, this 12th century church was restored during the 15th century…

    1.51 miles away
  12. Statue of Byrhtnoth

    One of the highlights of a walk around Promenade Park is to walk along the extension,…

    1.54 miles away
  13. Heybridge Creek

    Heybridge Creek is a channel that forms part of the flood relief scheme for the Heybridge…

    1.55 miles away
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Number of results:

Number of results: 583

, currently showing 221 to 240.

  1. Braxted Bakery Miniature Railway

    Address

    Homefield House, Witham Road, Little Braxted, Essex, CM8 3ET

    Telephone

    07740117688

    thebraxtedbakery@hotmail.co.uk

    Little Braxted

    A recent addition to the charming Braxted Bakery is this quaint minitature railway which runs on site next the bakery!

    Started off as hobby by the bakery owners, the railway is now open to passengers and will be open alongside the bakery to…

  2. The Book Nook

    Address

    19 West Street, Tollesbury, Essex, CM9 8RJ

    book.nook.tollesbury@gmail.com

    Tollesbury

    An independent book shop in Tollesbury, built by the community for the community and providing new and used books.

    The shop, has a small tearoom, books and games for customers, free Wi-Fi, and remote working space. Local talks, author events, and…

  3. Amy Nails

    Address

    117 High Street, Maldon, CM9 5BS

    Telephone

    01621 843980

    amysnailsandspa_maldon@yahoo.co.uk

    Maldon

    Amy Nails offers professional nail care for men and women, along with semi-permanent make-up and aesthetic and beauty treatments.

  4. A Tale of Three Villages - Walk it Local

    Address

    Wickham Bishops Village Hall, Snows Corner, Wickham Bishops, CM8 3JZ

    Wickham Bishops

    2.96 miles. This walk explores three pretty villages in the north of the district - Wickham Bishops, Little Braxted and Great Totham. Taking in tree-lined lanes and footpaths, this gently undulating walk is a great introduction to this part of the…

  5. Hythe Quay

    Address

    Maldon, Essex, CM9 5HN

    Telephone

    01621 856503

    tic@maldon.gov.uk

    Maldon

    For well over a thousand years Hythe Quay has been the home to Maldon's maritime community and the gateway to Maldon for vessels arriving from the sea. From the award winning Promenade Park to the pubs, restaurants and shops of Maldon High Street,…

  6. The Dairy Store

    Address

    33 Main Road, St Lawrence, Maldon, CM0 7LY

    Telephone

    01621 779278

    thedairystore@outlook.com

    St Lawrence

    The Dairy Store in St Lawrence is a convenience store offering groceries, including fresh bread and milk, fresh fruti and vegetables, frozen foods and newspapers. Hot drinks are available to take away.

  7. LA NAILS

    Address

    36 Quest place, Maldon, Essex, CM95AG

    Telephone

    01621 855806

    lisala69@gmail.com

    Maldon

  8. Promenade Valley Play Area & Galleon

    Address

    Promenade Park, Park Drive, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5JQ

    Maldon

    Welcome to the Valley Play Area in Maldon's Promenade Park!

    Featuring the Galleon and Mini-Galleon play ships as well as a zip-line and interactive play equipment, this is the perfect destination for a family friendly and action packed visit all…

  9. Buggy Bootcamp

    Address

    Promenade Park, Park Drive, Maldon, CM9 5JQ

    Telephone

    07718135276

    Lianne@supermummafitness.co.uk

    Maldon

    From Friday 5 May. Enjoy a fun new fitness class for new mums at Maldon's beautiful Promenade Park with outdoor Buggy Bootcamp. Begin your postnatal fitness journey in a fun, friendly atmosphere with other mums and babies/toddlers. Classes taught by…

  10. Maldon Promenade Park Tennis Courts

    Address

    Park Drive, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5JQ

    Telephone

    07917 275 487

    info@btatennis.co.uk

    Maldon

    Welcome to Maldon Promenade Park Tennis Courts, situated in heart of Maldon's famous Promenade Park and offering four high quality, full size tennis courts available for hire, coaching and fun-filled tennis for people of all ages and abilities.

    The…

  11. Community Gaming Initiative

    Address

    Maldon Activity Centre, Carmelite Way, Maldon, CM9 5GF

    Telephone

    01621 851891

    Maldon

    The Community Gaming Initiative (CGI) is a project to use gaming as a social tool to bring young people together to socialise and develop skills.

  12. Maldon Mosaic

    Address

    Promenade Park, Park Drive, Maldon, CM9 5JQ

    Maldon

    Maldon Mosaic, which can be found close the sandy play area at the western end of the lake, was designed by Susan Mason and created with her friends at the Limebrook University of the Third Age to celebrate Maldon and the significant events of 2012,…

  13. Chelmer Cruises

    Address

    The Lock House, Heybridge Basin, CM9 4RY

    victoria@waterways.org.uk

    Heybridge Basin

    This waterway runs through a largely unspoilt part of rural Essex and connects the county town of Chelmsford with the tidal estuary of the River Blackwater at Heybridge Basin. It is 13.8 miles (22.1 km) long and has 13 locks.

  14. Maldon Prom junior parkrun

    Address

    Promenade Park, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5JQ

    maldonpromjuniors@parkrun.com

    Maldon

    A weekly free 2k timed running event for juniors.

  15. Paper Kisses

    Address

    Paper Kisses, 70d High Street, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5ET

    Telephone

    01621 858095

    Maldon

    Card Fair Ltd

  16. Forrester Park Golf Club

    Address

    Beckingham Road, Great Totham, Essex, CM9 8EA

    Telephone

    01621 891406

    info@forrester-park.co.uk

    Great Totham

    Parkland course and practice ground.

  17. Maldon Books

    Address

    23 High Street, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5PE

    Telephone

    01621854968

    maldonbooksltd@gmail.com

    Maldon

    Welcome to Maldon Books, an award-winning independent bookshop located in the heart of Maldon, Essex. We’re a family-run bookshop, nestled in at the top of the high street with a beautiful view of All Saint’s Church. We stock a wide range of titles…

  18. Elms Farm Park

    Address

    Heybridge Approach, Heybridge, Maldon, CM9 4PS

    Telephone

    01621 854477

    contact@maldon.gov.uk

    Heybridge

    Consists of meadow, rank vegetation, scrub trees, wet ditches and open water. A man-made lake and island make up about one third of the site. Facilities include all weather paths and a number of seats near the lake.

  19. The Cookery School at Braxted Park

    Address

    The Cookery School at Braxted Park, Braxted Park Estate, Great Braxted, Essex, CM8 3EN

    Telephone

    01621 890300

    info@braxtedparkcookery.co.uk

    Great Braxted

    The Cookery School at Braxted Park, based in Essex, combines a stunning location with award-winning chefs and a diverse range of courses to suit all abilities.

  20. The Chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall

    Address

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

    stpeterschapel@outlook.com

    Bradwell-on-Sea

    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…

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