Tollesbury Wick Jan 2017 by Dave Watts

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About

Wildlife is abundant in the 600 acres of rough pasture, borrowdykes, sea walls, wet flushes, pools and saltmarsh.

Large areas of rough pasture suit small mammals such as field vole and pygmy shrew. In winter, they in turn attract hunting hen and marsh harriers and short-eared owls.

Dry grassland on the slopes of the sea walls supports a wide variety of insects, including butterflies, bush crickets and grasshoppers. In spring spiny restharrow, grass vetchling, slender hares-ear and many other wild flowers can be found in ungrazed areas.

Borrowdykes trace the inland edge of the sinuous seawall for its entire length. Common reed, sea clubrush and fennel pondweed are typical plants of these brackish areas where reed warbler and reed bunting nest in spring, and heron and little grebe search for food. Wet flushes, dykes and small pools in the pasture support aquatic plants such as water crowfoot, and breeding populations of dragonflies and other aquatic species.

Golden plover, lapwing, brent geese and wigeon feed or roost on the winter-wet grassland.

On the other side of the seawall, and within the reserve boundary, creeks, salt marsh and exposed mud support typical communities of coastal mud-dwelling invertebrates, coastal birds and salt marsh flora. Scattered shingle spits have yellow-horned poppy, and also a small breeding colony of little terns.

The main pillars of management are water level control and getting the right level of grazing to create suitable conditions for birds and other wildlife.

Facilities

Accessibility

  • Disabled access

Children

  • Children welcome

Parking

  • Free Parking

Property Facilities

  • Dogs Accepted
  • Public toilets

Target Markets

  • Accepts groups
  • Coach parties accepted

Map & Directions

Tollesbury Wick Marshes

Type:Nature Reserve

Off Mell Road, Tollesbury, Essex, CM9 8SE

Tel: 01621 862960

Opening Times

* Jan - Dec

What's Nearby

  1. Walkers along the sea wall at Tollesbury will be fascinated by the large red ship moored…

    0.31 miles away
  2. Tollesbury Congregational Church has served the village since 1803.

    0.54 miles away
  3. WhimbrelArt in Tollesbury is a gallery specialising in the work of local artists and…

    0.57 miles away
  1. St Mary the Virgin is a beautiful Grade II* Listed church in the village of Tollesbury.…

    0.6 miles away
  2. Tollesbury War Memorial stands in the churchyard of St Mary the Virgin, a beautiful Grade…

    0.6 miles away
  3. Tollesbury's little prison was opened in 1700 and was in operation for around a century…

    0.61 miles away
  4. This is a large, open site with good views across the Blackwater Estuary towards St…

    0.64 miles away
  5. An opportunity to see an abundance of coastal wetland bird species in their natural…

    1.23 miles away
  6. This is a large open site on the edge of the village with views to the south towards the…

    2.33 miles away
  7. Bradwell Marina, on the Blackwater Estuary is ideally situated for exploring the river,…

    2.41 miles away
  8. A blue plaque marks D'Arcy House as the home of famous novelist Margery Allingham who…

    2.41 miles away
  9. In the middle of the road junction in Tolleshunt D'Arcy stands the village maypole, one…

    2.42 miles away
  10. St Nicholas Church is Grade I listed. Its churchyard extension, a little way up the road,…

    2.46 miles away
  11. St Lawrence Bay, also known as Stone, is undoubtedly the most beautiful beach in the…

    2.85 miles away
  12. RAF Bradwell Bay is a former Royal Air Force station located on the Dengie Peninsular,…

    2.89 miles away
  13. This 12th century Grade II* Listed church is now owned by the nearby Orthodox Monastery…

    3.2 miles away
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Number of results:

Number of results: 459

, currently showing 1 to 20.

  1. Address

    New Moor Farm, Tillingham Road, Southminster, Essex, CM0 7DS

    Telephone

    07703 577523

    Southminster

    Thorogood's asparagus has a reputation for being some of the most delicious in the country, and each year there's a short season when you can buy the freshest possible asparagus straight from the farm.

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

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    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…

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    01621 857368

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  4. Address

    The Square, Church Street, Tollesbury, CM9 8QJ

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    Tollesbury's little prison was opened in 1700 and was in operation for around a century as a holding cell for accused prisoners and as a lock-up for drunken locals. Sometimes called The Cage, the tiny building can be found by the churchyard wall of…

  5. Address

    Upper Plume school artificial pitch, Fambridge Road, Maldon, Essex, CM9 6AB

    Telephone

    01621854477

    Maldon

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    Each session aims to encourage people over the age of 50 to get back into football, currently we…

  6. Address

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

    Telephone

    01621 856301

    Maldon

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    18 Regents Court Kings Road, Burnham-On-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8PP

    Telephone

    07831686741

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    Telephone

    01621 852471

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    Located near to the centre of Heybridge, this site has good access from the surrounding area. Large car park, modern hall, enclosed children's play site and football pitch.Also know locally as the 'Planny' after Plantation Hall.

  9. Address

    East St, Tollesbury, Maldon, CM9 8QD

    Telephone

    01621 869230

    Tollesbury

    Tollesbury Congregational Church has served the village since 1803.

  10. Address

    Maldon, Essex, CM9 5HN

    Telephone

    01621 856503

    Maldon

    For well over a thousand years Hythe Quay has been the home to Maldon's maritime community and the gateway to Maldon for vessels arriving from the sea. From the award winning Promenade Park to the pubs, restaurants and shops of Maldon High Street,…

  11. Address

    South Street, Bradwell-On-Sea, Southminster, CM0 7QJ

    Telephone

    01621 773183

    Bradwell-On-Sea

    Attractive site, surrounded by hedgerows and with a number of mature oak trees. Village hall, car park, enclosed children's play area, basketball net, football pitch, picnic benches, youth shelter, BMX skills ramp.

  12. Address

    Stow Maries, Essex, CM3 6SJ

    Telephone

    01621 862960

    Stow Maries

    This 5.5 acre reserve consists of the former Stow Maries Halt on the disused Maldon to South Woodham Ferrers railway line, along with an adjoining four-acre meadow acquired later.

  13. Address

    5 High Street, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5PB

    Telephone

    01621 853151

    Maldon

    Master butchers in Maldon High St since 1928, Ansell & Sons is a meat and game specialist. Its meat, game and poultry produce ranges are primarily locally sourced from Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk farms, as well as direct from Smithfield Market…

  14. Address

    Corner of Chapel Road and High Street, Burnham-on-Crouch, CM0 8AA

    Burnham-on-Crouch

    Burnham’s Memorial Garden, known locally as the Tommy Garden, is a little haven of peace and quiet dedicated to the memories of soldiers who died in the First World War. On the corner of Chapel Road, within sight of the main war memorial, the garden…

  15. Address

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    Telephone

    01621 892821

    Great Braxted

    This attractive hilltop site, surrounded by hedges and mature oak trees, offers views towards Witham and the central Essex plain and is now the site of a new playground. Play equipment includes imaginative and accessible play equipment, including…

  16. 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.

  17. Address

    Bath Place Wharf, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5GU

    Telephone

    07597 094233

    Maldon

    Frangipani SUP is a friendly, family run Stand Up Paddle (SUP) board school based in Maldon, Essex. We operate in various locations in Essex including Maldon, Chelmsford and surrounding areas.

  18. Address

    The Lock House, Heybridge Basin, CM9 4RY

    Telephone

    +44 (0)7712 079764

    Heybridge Basin

    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.

  19. Address

    Goldsands Road, Southminster, Essex, CM0 7JW

    Telephone

    01621 772044

    Southminster

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  20. Address

    70 High Street, Maldon, CM9 5ET

    Telephone

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    Maldon

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Related

Tollesbury marshes, Aerial EssexTollesbury Wick Marshes Walk - Self-Guided Walk No. 4.2 / 4.3, MaldonSALTMARSH COAST WALKING FESTIVAL - 5.8 or 8.9 miles. Tollesbury Wick Marshes is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Tollesbury is now renowned as a yachting centre; once upon a time the marshes were the haunt of smugglers.