Interesting Places
Here are some random sample locations of interest in Essex. Also take a look at sites shown on our sites map, geology site map and brownfield site map, with the site account and locate site facility.
locate Bradwell-on-Sea Cockle Spit Reserve
An important area of shell shingle spits with an important invertebrate fauna.
locate Hylands Park
Hylands House is a stunning Grade II* listed property, spectacularly restored to its former glory situated in 574 acres of historic landscaped parkland. It has been shown to have an important flora and fauna, including many saproxylic (dead wood) species (see Essex Parks, an Essex Field Club publication).
locate Wanstead Flats
An area with acid grassland amd relic heather in the southern part of Epping Forest, which remains an important site in London and south-west Essex.
locate Rowney Woods
Plantation ancient woodland in process of reverting to original oak-hornbeam woodland. Well known as an oxlip wet woodland.
locate Northey Island
An island in the Blackwater estuary reached by a causeway and managed as a nature reserve by the National Trust.
locate Swaines Green
Area of four former agriculture fields unused since 1980s, now owned and managed as a nature reserve and Epping Forest buffer land by City of London Conservators and by Epping Town Council. Free public access.
locate Chigborough Lakes nature reserve
One of a number of worked-out mineral extraction sites on terrace sands to the north of the River Blackwater.
locate Jills field
Area is a narrow triangle, above the A13. It has original Thames Terraces sandy soil, never been much disturbed. It is mostly open ground, with scrub Birch encroaching. On the cutting bank of the A13 is a geological exposure that is a SSSI. However, this does not protect the field on top.