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River Crouch
A narrow river between Dengie Marshes and
Foulness Island. The adjacent land is very
marshy and large numbers of wintering wildfowl
and waders may be found. The river itself is
a good place for merganser and grebes.
B.R. Station Burnham on Crouch, Althorne,
Fambridge, Woodham Ferrers (change at Wickford
on Liverpool Street Line); Hockley (Liverpool
Street Line) .
Walking time: It is a short distance from all
stations apart from Hockley, when a 40 minute
walk is required (though a good part of this is
through farmland). O.S. Maps 168 and 178
(The River Roach is very similar and may be
reached from Rochford Station (Liverpool Street
Line), 10 minute walk. O.S. Map 178.
River Thames
This area is well serviced by trains from
Fenchurch Street Station. Rainham, East Tilbury
and Stanford Le Hope are on a branch line, so be
careful to get the correct train. O.S. Map 178.
Leigh Station From here it is only 15 minutes'
walk to Two Tree Island Nature Reserve, off
which large numbers of wild fowl, especially
Brent Geese, winter. It originated as a rubbish
tip, but that has been largely grown over. The
main attraction for the wildfowl are lush pastures
of eel grass beyond the salt marsh.
Benfleet Station From here Benfleet Downs can
be reached in a few minutes. These downs are
covered in mixed woodland in which a variety of
birds breed and many interesting ones pass through
on passage. The downs end in marshy meadows
where the marbled white butterfly may be found.
Stanford Le Hope Station A 10 minute walk brings
you to a series of gravel pits where there is a