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.

Map & Directions

Chigborough Lakes Nature Reserve

Type:Nature Reserve

Chigborough Road, Heybridge, Essex, CM9 4RE

Tel: 01621 862960

Opening Times

* Accessible at all times.

What's Nearby

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

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

    0.82 miles away
  3. Lying alongside the sea wall and to the north of the Heybridge Basin's built-up area is…

    0.86 miles away
  1. The little church building behind the bus shelter in Heybridge Basin began life during…

    0.92 miles away
  2. Now moored permanently in Heybridge Basin, Maldon, Essex, the Sir William Arnold lifeboat…

    1.12 miles away
  3. Heybridge Basin's famous sea lock links the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation to the…

    1.14 miles away
  4. This waterway runs through a largely unspoilt part of rural Essex and connects the county…

    1.16 miles away
  5. This waterway runs through a largely unspoilt part of rural Essex and connects the county…

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

    1.16 miles away
  7. Located near to the centre of Heybridge, this site has good access from the surrounding…

    1.2 miles away
  8. Heybridge War Memorial is a Grade II Listed memorial made from creamy Portland limestone…

    1.23 miles away
  9. Northey is an island in the Blackwater Estuary in Essex, connected to the mainland by a…

    1.43 miles away
  10. Surrounded by mature trees, this attractive site has access to the adjacent sea wall…

    1.5 miles away
  11. A Grade I Listed building, this 12th century church was restored during the 15th century…

    1.51 miles away
  12. One of the highlights of a walk around Promenade Park is to walk along the extension,…

    1.54 miles away
  13. 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: 459

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  1. Address

    63D Brights Path, Maldon, CM9 5EP

    Telephone

    07976 365472

    Maldon

    Katie's Therapies offers a way to manage stress and tension, putting clients more in control, to promote their wellbeing through massage, reflexology, far infrared light therapy and Reiki. Katie's massages can be a way to manage stress. All are…

  2. Address

    East End Road/High Street, Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex, CM0 7PY

    Telephone

    01621 779620

    Bradwell-on-Sea

    Grade II Listed church dating from the 14th century, with the parish War Memorial inside and Commonwealth War Graves and a Roll of Honour memorial in its grounds. The church has a medieval timber porch, parish cage and peal of bells.

  3. Address

    Chelmsford Road, Purleigh, Essex, CM3 6PN

    Telephone

    01621 828343

    Purleigh

    The Cellar Shop offers a wide range of wines made from New Hall grapes, starting from £13.50 a bottle. These include Barons Lane White, a crisp, dry, fruit-driven white wine; Barons Lane Red, full of black cherry and bramble fruit and Barons Rose,…

  4. Address

    Chic, 98 High Street, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5ET

    Telephone

    01621 856301

    Maldon

    Chic

  5. Address

    Hillside, Market Hill, Maldon, CM9 4QL

    Maldon

    As you walk up or down Market Hill, among the many historic buildings is a collection of Listed townhouses opposite the Market Hill Garden, just below Cromwell Lane. Now elegant, private homes, these buildings were once a single institution,…

  6. Address

    Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex, CM0 7PW

    Bradwell-on-Sea

    The St Peter’s Way is a 45 mile walk meandering through the countryside of Essex, from Chipping Ongar to the ancient chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall at Bradwell on Sea.

  7. Address

    Fish Street, Goldhanger, Essex, CM9 8AX

    Telephone

    01621 788145

    Goldhanger

    Goldhanger Sailing Club

  8. Address

    Promenade Park, Park Drive, CM9 5JQ

    The Twinning Link sculpture was placed in Promenade Park in 1991 to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of the twinning of Maldon with Cuijk in The Netherlands. In the shape of giant intertwined links, the 1.5m high cast iron sculpture was designed by…

  9. 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…

  10. Address

    The Street, Woodham Walter, Essex, CM9 6SA

    Woodham Walter

    This walk starts and finishes in the ancient and attractive village of Woodham Walter. The views across rural Essex are lovely. The terrain is varied, with arable fields, horse paddocks, a nature reserve and woodland.

  11. Address

    Five Lakes Resort, Colchester Road, Tolleshunt Knights, Essex, CM9 8HX

    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.

  12. Address

    165 Station Road, Burnham, CM0 8HJ

    Telephone

    01621 785103

    Burnham

    Manythings is a family run business started in June 2005. We strive to find interesting and unusual gifts at competitive prices. We have a wide selection of items, including occasional furniture and homeware.

  13. Address

    Tollesbury, Essex, CM9 8QU

    Tollesbury

    SALTMARSH COAST WALKING FESTIVAL - 6.4 or 10.2 miles. A fascinating walk around Tollesbury and the surrounding marshes. This walk has plenty of stunning views, historic sites and bird-watching opportunities! Tollesbury nowadays is a renowned sailing…

  14. Address

    Butt Lane, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5HD

    Telephone

    07768 086248

    Maldon

    We are a friendly bunch of people who take seriously our responsibility to seek first the Kingdom of God.

  15. Address

    Keelings Road, Dengie, Essex, CM0 7UH

    Telephone

    01621 779620

    Dengie

    St James, Dengie is a small parish church serving the rural villages of Asheldham and Dengie. The Grade II listed church building dates back to the 14th century, but the Nave walls may be even earlier from Saxon times, and remains of Roman bricks…

  16. Address

    40 Chapel Rd, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8JA

    Telephone

    01621 852259

    Burnham-on-Crouch

    Burnham's Roman Catholic church of St Cuthbert was built in 1911 in the Early English style in red brick, comprised a small, aisle-less nave and chancel.

  17. Address

    Little Braxted Lane, Little Braxted, Essex, CM8 3EU

    Little Braxted

    St. Nicholas in Little Braxted is one of the smallest churches in Essex and was built in the early 12th century. It is richly and beautifully decorated throughout.

  18. Address

    The Causeway, Heybridge, Maldon, CM9 5FA

    Telephone

    01621 854477

    Heybridge

    Heybridge Creek is a channel that forms part of the flood relief scheme for the Heybridge area. The still, shallow water has led to the formation of a significant reedbed - in spring it is home to many breeding warblers.

  19. Address

    Promenade Park, Park Drive, Maldon, CM9 5JQ

    Telephone

    07718135276

    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…

  20. Address

    Chigborough Road, Heybridge, Essex, CM9 4RE

    Telephone

    01621 857368

    Heybridge

    Welcome to Chigborough Fisheries, we are a 53 acre complex of lakes catering for both Trout and Coarse Anglers situated just 40 Miles from London.

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