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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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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 1 to 20.

  1. Sarah Green's Organics

    Address

    Mark Farm, The Hall Farm, North Street, Tillingham, Essex, CM0 7SP

    Telephone

    01621 778844

    Tillingham

    Sarah Green's Organics is situated in Tillingham on the east Essex coast, 50 miles east of London.

  2. D'Lux Aesthetic Spa

    Address

    58 High Street, Maldon, CM9 5PN

    Telephone

    01621 493694

    dlux.aestheticspa@gmail.com

    Maldon

    D'Lux Aesthetic Spa offers a wide range of cosmetic treatments from nails and waxing to permanent make-up and body contouring treatment.

  3. Tillingham Village & Fields - Walk it Local

    Address

    West Field car park, North Street, Tillingham, CM0 7TP

    Tillingham

    2.73 miles. This gentle walk lets you explore Tillingham, with its pretty village green lined with weatherboarded cottages, and the wide-open expanses of the surrounding Dengie farmland. There's a historic church to investigate, and two historic…

  4. Quidvis Universum - Star Wars Universe

    Address

    1 High Street, Maldon, CM9 5PB

    Telephone

    020 8090 5048

    sales@starwarsuniverse.shop

    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. 

  5. Just the Gift

    Address

    135 High Street, Maldon, CM9 5BS

    Amy@justthegift.uk

    Maldon

    New Maldon gift ship with a wide range of fun and novelty gifts (including some saucy mugs - parents beware!)

  6. Museum of Power

    Address

    Steam Pumping Station, Hatfield Road, Langford, Essex, CM9 6QA

    Telephone

    01621 843183

    enquiries@museumofpower.org.uk

    Langford

    Housed in a former water pumping station, the museum has a fascinating collection of power related exhibits, a tea room and picnic area, a miniature railway all set in attractive riverside grounds.

  7. Stow Maries Halt

    Address

    Stow Maries, Essex, CM3 6SJ

    Telephone

    01621 862960

    Stow Maries

    This 5.5 acre reserve consists of the former Stow Maries Halt on the disused Maldon to South Woodham Ferrers railway line, along with an adjoining four-acre meadow acquired later.

  8. Marigold Charters

    Address

    1 Chandlers Quay, Maldon, Essex, CM9 4LF

    Telephone

    07801 364 135

    info@marigoldcharters.co.uk

    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.

  9. On the Wall Distillery

    Address

    Hockley Meadows, Hockley Lane, Bradwell-on-Sea, CM0 7PZ

    Telephone

    01621 776074

    onthewalldistillery@gmail.com

    Bradwell-on-Sea

    A new craft gin distillery in Bradwell-on-Sea is creating fine gins with a selection of the best botanicals, including juniper berries from Italy and angelica root, lemon, orange and rose petals. On The Wall Distillery is home to the N653 gin with…

  10. Millbeach Marine Club

    Address

    Goldhanger Rd, Maldon, Essex, CM9 4RA

    Telephone

    01621 874745

    Maldon

    Millbeach Marine Club

  11. Chandlers Hair Studio

    Address

    48 Station Road, Burnham, CM0 8BQ

    Telephone

    01621 782288

    enquiries@chandlershairstudio.com

    Burnham

    Hair salon offering a full range of services for men, women and children, including colouring, foils, perms, and hair straightening. Run by Paul Chandler-Elkins who has styled celebrities including Sir Cliff Richard, Cparice and Justin Hayward.

  12. Sir William Arnold Lifeboat Experience

    Address

    Lock Hill, Heybridge Basin, CM9 4RX

    Telephone

    020 8168 5202

    lifeboat5202@gmail.com

    Heybridge Basin

    Now moored permanently in Heybridge Basin, Maldon, Essex, the Sir William Arnold lifeboat is a 52ft Arun class lifeboat that was built in 1973 and served all her lifesaving career at St Peter Port in Guernsey. During her career, the lifeboat went on…

  13. Royal Burnham Yacht Club

    Address

    The Quay, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8AU

    Telephone

    01621 782044

    info@rbyc.org.uk

    Burnham-on-Crouch

    This prestigious yacht club overlooks the River Crouch and is open all year 7 days a week. It has an active junior section, an affiliated rowing club and visiting yachtsmen are always welcome.

  14. North Fambridge Recreation Ground

    Address

    Fambridge Road, North Fambridge, Essex, CM3 6NB

    Telephone

    01621 828244

    nfampc3@gmail.com

    North Fambridge

    Facilities include a car park, football pitch, children's play site, and basketball net. Visitors should take care on leaving the site as visibility is restricted.

  15. Great Braxted Farm Shop

    Address

    Maldon Road junction with Braxted Park Road, Great Braxted, CO5 0QA

    Telephone

    01621 816464

    Greatbraxtedfarmshop@hotmail.com

    Great Braxted

    Family run farm shopping selling a wide range of fruit and vegetables, mainly grown in the surrounding area, including a seasonal range of locally grown apples. You will also find preserves, local honey, fresh flowers, speciality cheeses, breads and…

  16. Light & Shade

    Address

    84 High Street, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5ET

    Telephone

    01621 855566

    lightshademaldon@outlook.com

    Maldon

    A small Independant lighting store but with a lot crammed in! A huge range of domestic lighting available, come and stare at the ceiling or browse through the catalogues - plus many hard to find bulbs and lots of shades in stock or made to order to…

  17. Saltmarsh Spa and Fitness

    Address

    Creeksea Place Barns, Ferry Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8PJ

    Telephone

    01621 786503

    info@saltmarshgym.co.uk

    Burnham-on-Crouch

    Our modern fully air conditioned gym and spa has beautiful views of the field and river and offers members on-site parking, free wi-fi, toilets, showers, changing rooms and lockable storage.

  18. Maldon Prom parkrun

    Address

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

    maldonprom@parkrun.com

    Maldon

    A free, fun, and friendly weekly 5k community event. Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate – it's up to you!

  19. Bluebell Boutique

    Address

    81 High Street, Maldon, CM9 5EP

    Telephone

    01621 858515

    bluebellmaldon@gmail.com

    Maldon

    An established independent family-run business that opened its first shop in Maldon of spring of 2012  followed by a second store in Witham. Online shopping is also available. Specialising in women's fashion, classic clothing and accessories,…

  20. Maldon & District Cycling Club

    Address

    Maldon

    Telephone

    07729 372106

    membership@madcc.org.uk

    Maldon

    Maldon & District Cycling Club (MAD CC) was founded in 1953 as Crouch CC. It is based in Maldon, Essex and caters for cyclists of all abilities, ages and cycling interests.
    Current membership stands at approximately 120 members, across a wide age…

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Frangipani Stand Up PaddleboardingFrangipani SUP, MaldonFrangipani SUP is a friendly, family run Stand Up Paddle (SUP) board school based in Maldon, Essex. We operate in various locations in Essex including Maldon, Chelmsford and surrounding areas.

Exterior of The Farm Cafe by Black PigThe Farm Cafe by Black Pig Chigborough, MaldonBlack Pig Catering is coming to the streets of Essex and will be serving up proper British grub. We pride ourselves on great quality, authentic produce sourced directly from the best farms and fisherman.

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A person making pottery.Chigborough Pottery Painting Studio, MaldonPottery Painting Studio available for single family bookings only. Please text 07702244440 if you would like to book.

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A piece of smoked salmon.Lambton and Jackson Smokehouse Chigborough, MaldonLambton and Jackson Smokehouse serving delicious hot and cold smoked salmon and cheeses. Please order by calling 01621 853710.

A sign pointing towards a lodge.The Fishery Lodge Chigborough, MaldonThe Fishery Lodge, surrounding area and campsite is available for hire for weddings and functions. The lodge features a kitchen, toilets, and seating area inside and out. Please email chigboroughfarm@gmail.com if you are interested in hiring the lodge.

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A line up of pedalos on the water.Rowing and Pedalo's at Chigborough, MaldonRowing and Pedalo hire for days out in the summer on the picturesque lake at Chigborough Fisheries. Life jackets must be worn at all times on board.

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