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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: 459

, currently showing 121 to 140.

  1. Tolleshunt Major Recreation Ground

    Address

    Tolleshunt D'Arcy Road, Tolleshunt Major, Maldon, CM9 8LN

    Telephone

    01621 860265

    vysian.banyard@hotmail.com

    Tolleshunt Major

    An attractive site on the edge of the village with areas of long grass, hedgerows and mature oak trees. Car park, football pitch, 5 a side goals, basketball hoop, children's play site, dog walk area, teen shelter and seating.

  2. The Quaker Hall

    Address

    Butt Lane, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5HD

    contact@midessexquakers.org.uk

    Maldon

    The Quaker Hall

  3. St Nicholas Tillingham; including War Memorial & Commonwealth War Graves

    Address

    The Square, Tillingham, Essex, CM07SU

    Telephone

    01621 779620

    Tillingham

    This Grade II listed parish church has a beautiful setting in the village square in Tillingham, surrounded by white weatherboarded cottages. It is also home to the village's war memorials.

  4. Fullbridge Church

    Address

    27 Fullbridge, Heybridge, CM9 4LE

    Telephone

    01621 852284

    hello@fullbridgechurch.org.uk

    Heybridge

    Fullbridge Evangelical Church has been on its present site since 1937, and has its origins in the Brethren movement which started around 1830. It has a wide range of activities and community outreach.

  5. St Mary the Virgin church Tollesbury

    Address

    Church Street, Tollesbury, CM9 8QJ

    Telephone

    07908 776750

    office.blackwaterbenefice@gmail.com

    Tollesbury

    St Mary the Virgin is a beautiful Grade II* Listed church in the village of Tollesbury. The nave and part of the tower date back to the 11th century and incorporate reused Roman bricks and tiles. Inside there is an interesting font and brass and the…

  6. Essex Waterways Limited

    Address

    Papermill Lock, North Road, Little Baddow, Maldon, Please select a region, state or province., CM3 4BS

    Telephone

    01245226245

    Essex @waterways.org.uk

    Little Baddow, Maldon

    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.

  7. Templeman Galleries

    Address

    54 High Street, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8AA

    Telephone

    01621 786243

    templemangalleries@uwclub.net

    Burnham-on-Crouch

    Templeman Galleries specializes in original pictures and also provides a bespoke picture framing service. The gallery stocks a large selection of unusual gifts, objects d’art and jewellery.

  8. Chigborough Yoga Session

    Address

    Chigborough Road, Heybridge, Essex, CM9 4RE

    Telephone

    07903827736

    chigboroughfarm@gmail.com

    Heybridge

    One-to-one and family group yoga sessions available. Please book in advance by texting 07903827736.

  9. Madison Heights - Family Entertainment & Party Centre

    Address

    Madison Heights, Park Drive, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5JQ

    Telephone

    01621 850222

    info@madisonheights.info

    Maldon

    Madison Heights in Maldon offers 60,000 sq ft of family fun. Here you will find 12 Ten Pin Bowling lanes, a games arcade with ticket machines to win prizes,, Pool tables, Henri's Bar & Grill, Monkey Puzzle Soft Play Centre with its own coffee shop…

  10. 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,…

  11. Maldon Carers Support Group

    Address

    West Maldon Community Centre, Sunbury Way, Maldon, Essex, CM9 6YH

    Telephone

    0300 303 1555

    midessex@carersfirst.org.uk

    Maldon

    First Monday of the month. This group is a social get together for unpaid adult carers across the Maldon District. This group is also where carers can come along and speak to a experienced Carers Support Adviser to find out information, advice and…

  12. Paul J King Funeral Dir

    Address

    10 Station Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, CM0 8BG

    Telephone

    01621 784884

    enquiries@pauljking.com

    Burnham-on-Crouch

    Founded in 1990, we are an independent family funeral firm. Providing a caring, professional and worry-free service is our vocation, not just our business.

  13. Totham Hill Recreation Ground

    Address

    Braxted Lane, Great Totham, Maldon, CM9 8DD

    Telephone

    01621 891474

    greattothamparishcouncil@btinternet.com

    Great Totham

    A pleasant, undulating site, approximately half woodland and half grassland with some large oak trees. Childrens play site, basketball net and kickabout area.

  14. Maylandsea Meander - Walk it Local

    Address

    Bakersfield car park, The Drive, Maylandsea, CM3 6GT

    Maylandsea

    3 miles. Explore a tucked-away nature reserve that's famous for its butterflies and take in the lovely views from the seawall of Lawling Creek, with its yachts, barges and birdlife.

  15. WhimbrelArt gallery

    Address

    2 East Street, Tollesbury, CM9 8QD

    jrw@johnwoodwark.com

    Tollesbury

    WhimbrelArt in Tollesbury is a gallery specialising in the work of local artists and craftspeople, along with special occasion gifts and jewellery. Work is exhibited by artists including local watercolour painters Mike Lang and Jonathan Smith, mixed…

  16. Maldon Gig Rowing Club

    Address

    Hythe Quay, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5HN

    info@maldongigclub.org.uk

    Maldon

    Maldon Gig Rowing Club has 2 Harker's Yard gigs and arrange club rowing, adventure rowing and race training to club members.

  17. Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation Sea Lock

    Address

    Lock Hill, Heybridge Basin, CM9 4RX

    Heybridge Basin

    Heybridge Basin's famous sea lock links the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation to the Blackwater Estuary and would once have enabled smaller boats to enter and exit the canal and travel around the coastline. Today it is can still be used by suitable…

  18. 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…

  19. Dog Friendly Fridays - Wildlife Walk

    Address

    Hackman's Lane, Purleigh, CM3 6RN

    Telephone

    01245 329358

    info@stowmaries.org.uk

    Purleigh

    Every Friday. Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome is opening up its peaceful wildlife walk for well-behaved dogs and their owners every Friday. There is free entry to the walk and visitors and their four-legged friends are welcome to buy lunch or other…

  20. Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation Heritage Walk - Self-Guided Walk No. 1.4

    Address

    Maldon, Essex, CM9 4LE

    Maldon

    SALTMARSH COAST WALKING FESTIVAL - 4.9 miles. This beautiful walk takes in a varied section of the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation, as it meanders through Heybridge, passing industrial areas and then emerging into the countryside

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