Chigborough Lakes

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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. There are 2 km of circular trails to enjoy with benches to stop at, enjoy the views and listen to the wildlife.

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.

Accessible at all year, although some footpaths will be muddy during winter. 

Map & Directions

Chigborough Lakes

Type:Nature Reserve

Chigborough Road, Heybridge, Maldon, Essex, CM9 4RD

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 1 to 20.

  1. Address

    Chigborough Road, Heybridge, Essex, CM9 4RE

    Telephone

    07702244440

    Heybridge

    The Chigborough Maze is located next to the campsite and is available for guests to use. It can be hired exclusively for events between October and May.

  2. Address

    End of Main Road, St Lawrence, CM0 7NA

    St Lawrence

    St Lawrence Bay, also known as Stone, is undoubtedly the most beautiful beach in the Maldon District, and the broad sweep of shingle and sand is worth the effort to get to. If you travel by car you will need to park at Jubilee Field car park as you…

  3. Address

    Garden Fields, Steeple, Essex, CM0 7JY

    Telephone

    01621 868352

    Steeple

    This site consists of a large area of grass surrounded by hedges. Football pitch, unfenced children's play site and basketball net

  4. Address

    Burnham-on-Crouch station, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8BQ

    Burnham-on-Crouch

    SALTMARSH COAST WALKING FESTIVAL - 7.2 miles. This attractive linear pub walk takes you from the charming riverside town of Burnham-on-Crouch in a steady climb across the final outlier of the rolling farmland of central Essex, before reaching…

  5. Address

    31 High Street, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8HJ

    Telephone

    01621 929314

    Burnham-on-Crouch

    The Rio Cinema is independently owned and was built in 1931, offering 2 screens showing current films at historically low prices! The Rio is a must for residents, visitors and cinema enthusiasts alike.

  6. Address

    West Chase, Maldon, CM9 6HN

    Maldon

    This Grade II Listed private home (not open to the public) was built in 1880 as a mansion for John Granger Sadd of the famous Maldon Sadd family. His daughter, suffragette and women's rights activist Myra Sadd Brown lived there and is commemorated…

  7. Address

    99 Station Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8HR

    Telephone

    01621 778537

    Burnham-on-Crouch

    Offering the opportunity to play bowls in Burnham-on-Crouch, Burnham Hillside Bowls Club welcomes applications from new members to join.

  8. Address

    Common Lane, Woodham Walter, Essex, CM9 6NF

    Woodham Walter

    This site is part of a large network of nature reserves that make up the Danbury Ridge Complex. Woodham Walter Common is mainly secondary woodland with a few open areas where heather grows.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. Address

    North Fambridge Station, Station Road, North Fambridge, CM3 6NP

    North Fambridge

    SALTMARSH COAST WALKING FESTIVAL - 10.2 miles. This is a long and challenging, linear walk along the scenic River Crouch, using the train service to return to the start. The views of the river and landscape are breathtaking and Butts Cliff is an…

  12. Address

    Stow Road, Cold Norton, Essex, CM3 6RR

    Telephone

    01621 828631

    Cold Norton

    The Kings & Jubilee courses offer a great variety and challenge. Constructed to USGA specifications to provide an unrivalled quality of playing surface year round.

  13. Address

    Burnham-on-Crouch Library, Station Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8HQ

    Burnham-on-Crouch

    SALTMARSH COAST WALKING FESTIVAL - 4.6 miles. This largely mud-free stroll follows an easy circuit of the riverside yachting centre giving visitors the opportunity to explore some lesser-visited parts of the town.

  14. Address

    Maldon Road, Langford, CM9 4SS

    Langford

    St Giles' is a unique Grade II* Listed parish church dating from the late 11th century, with an unusual apse at the western end.

  15. Address

    Park Drive, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5JQ

    Telephone

    01621 854477

    Maldon

    This 100 year old Edwardian park encompasses an ornamental lake, a large water Splash Park, beach huts for hire, sandpits, a galleon play ship & aerial zip-wire & several picnic areas.

  16. Address

    9-10 Mildmay House, Foundry Lane, Burnham, CM0 8BL

    Telephone

    01621 786688

    Burnham

    Beauty salon offering a range of treatments including nail art, eyebrow and lash tints, anti-wrinkle injections and fillers, needle-free Collagen Lift for face and body, microdermabrasion and facials.

  17. Address

    Althorne, Essex, CM9 6DG

    Althorne

    A pleasant 5.02 mile circular walk around the village of Althorne. The walk includes a short stretch along the River Crouch before turning inland through the fields and over the railway line before arriving in Althorne.

  18. Address

    Cherry Blossom Lane, Cold Norton, Essex, CM3 6JQ

    Telephone

    01621 829566

    Cold Norton

    Well equipped and maintained site in a pleasant setting with views to the north west towards the Blackwater estuary. Village hall, car park, football pitch, basketball court, skateboard ramps, childrens play site, wildflower meadow & copse.

  19. Address

    Downs Road, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5HG

    Telephone

    01621 854477

    Maldon

    An area of grassland and trees which slopes gently down to saltmarsh at the edge of the River Blackwater. At the top of the site near the road is a tarmac path and a number of benches.

  20. Address

    Promenade Park, Park Drive, Maldon, CM9 5JQ

    Maldon

    One of the highlights of a walk around Promenade Park is to walk along the extension, which stretches out into the water (or the mud) and leads to a seating area at the end. There you can also see at close hand the statue of famous Saxon…