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

, currently showing 421 to 440.

  1. Address

    6-8 Station Road, Burnham, CM0 8BG

    Telephone

    01621 786140

    Burnham

    Convenience store selling groceries, confectionery, cards, wines and spirits, newspapers and more.

  2. Address

    Bates Road, Heybridge, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5FA

    Telephone

    01621212606

    Maldon

    We’re more than your typical Essex scaffolding team. Driven, experienced, and professional, we provide thorough end-to-end scaffolding solutions in Essex. Whether your needs are domestic, commercial, or industrial, Maldon Scaffolding Essex is here…

  3. Address

    Church Road, Tolleshunt Major, Essex, CM9 8EH

    Tolleshunt Major

    Grade I Listed St Nicholas church dates from the 12th century and has expansive views from the churchyard, which also contains a Commonwealth War Grave.

  4. Address

    Totham Plains, The Street, Little Totham, CM9 8JQ

    Little Totham

    Little Totham's moving modern war memorial was only built in 2019 and commemorates Private Ernest Albert Belcher who died in 1917 and Private Charles Chaplin who died in 1920. The memorial, next to the village sign, comprises three steel Tommy…

  5. Address

    Church Street, Goldhanger, Essex, CM9 8AS

    Goldhanger

    SALTMARSH COAST WALKING FESTIVAL - 2.8 miles. Explore the charming village of Goldhanger where you can see remains from Iron Age, Saxon and Roman times, an 11th century church and a 100-year-old village pump. Along the seawall you will see a host of…

  6. Address

    Braxted Park Road, Great Braxted, CO5 0QB

    Telephone

    07980 768616

    Great Braxted

    Sculpt Gallery is one of only a handful of art galleries in the UK specialising in contemporary British sculpture and studio ceramics. Founded in 2012 by Debra Blik, the gallery programme showcases work by a select stable of established and emerging…

  7. Address

    17 Wantz Road, Maldon, CM9 5DB

    Telephone

    07940 830855

    Maldon

    Maldon's Elim Pentecostal Church is the home of the Maldon Food Pantry food bank as well as a centre for worship. Normal Sunday services are at 11:00 and all are very welcome.

  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

    Maldon Library, Carmelite House, White Horse Lane, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5FW

    Telephone

    0345 603 7628

    White Horse Lane , Maldon

    Tuesdays. A fun brick building club for children of all ages at Maldon Library - FREE to take part. All materials are provided and the activity is available on Tuesdays from 3:45 to 4:30pm.

  10. Address

    Friends Meeting House (Quaker Church), Butt Lane, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5HD

    Telephone

    01621 854056

    Maldon

    Maldon’s Quaker Meeting House was built in 1821. It comprises two separate rooms; originally one for women and one for men, but now everyone worships together. The Georgian benches and tiered elders’ benches remain.

  11. Address

    52 Prince of Wales Road, Great Totham, Essex, CM9 8PX

    Telephone

    01621 893085

    Great Totham

    Totham Barn Chapel Evangelical Free Church is a grade II listed building. It has a small but active fellowship and regular meetings.

  12. Address

    Fish Street, Goldhanger, Maldon, CM9 8AU

    Telephone

    01621 860265

    Goldhanger

    Surrounded by mature trees, this attractive site has access to the adjacent sea wall footpath and good views over the Blackwater estuary. Childrens play site, football pitch and benches.

  13. 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.

  14. Address

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

    Telephone

    07740117688

    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…

  15. 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…

  16. Address

    Burnham Road , Latchingdon, Essex, CM3 6EU

    Telephone

    01621 773183

    Latchingdon

    This is a large well equipped rec ground with good access from the surrounding area. Car park, village hall/pavilion, children's play equipment, full size & mini football pitch, youth shelter, small woodland area & dog walking area.

  17. 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.

  18. Address

    Off London Road, Beeleigh, Maldon, Essex, CM9 6LL

    Maldon

    Three acres of riverside gardens in a picturesque and historic setting dating from the 13th century.

  19. Address

    Southminster Road, Burnham-On-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8QB

    Telephone

    01621 785865

    Burnham-On-Crouch

    The Limes has been trading in Burnham for over 25 years. Our popular farm shop sells fruit and veg in season, while our nursery is stocked all year round with a wide variety of plants, especially herbacious during the spring.

  20. Address

    St Peter's Hospital, Spital Rd, Maldon, Essex, CM9 6EG

    Maldon

    Today, St Peter's Hospital in Spital Road is a valuable NHS centre, but the grand buildings have an interesting history. Built in 1872 to replace the smaller workhouse on Market Hill, the new Union Workhouse could hold up to 450 inmates and had its…

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