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…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  13. Heybridge Creek is a channel that forms part of the flood relief scheme for the Heybridge…

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