Wildlife reserves · East of England
Chigborough Lakes
In or near Mundon.
Chigborough Lakes — Essex Wildlife Trust Nature reserve.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 2 h–4 h
- Best time of year
- Autumn & winter (migration & wildfowl)
- Nearest railway station
- Witham · 8.6 km
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
- Dog-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
Chigborough Lakes is located in Maldon, Essex, with the postcode CM9 4RB. The nearest railway station is Witham, which is 8.6 km away. Entry to the reserve is free, but wheelchair accessibility is limited.
About
Chigborough Lakes is a wildlife reserve in the United Kingdom. It covers approximately 19 km². Managed by Essex Wildlife Trust. Wikidata describes it as: "Essex Wildlife Trust Nature reserve". Coordinates: 51.7450°, 0.7170°.
Photo gallery
Summary from the official site
Chigborough Lakes is a nature reserve that was transformed from gravel pits into a wildlife haven. Visitors can explore a variety of habitats along a 2 km circular trail, where over 120 bird species and diverse flora can be observed.
Read more on the official property page.
Protected designations
- Site of Special Scientific Interest: Blackwater Estuary SSSI
- Ramsar wetland: Blackwater Estuary (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 4)
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
Chigborough Lakes is an 18.6-hectare (46-acre) nature reserve in Maldon in Essex. It is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust. This area of former gravel pits has diverse habitats, lakes, marshes, willow carr, grazed grassland and scrub. More than 120 species of bird have been recorded, out of which over 40 have bred, including great crested grebes, grey herons and little egrets. There are eleven species of willow and several of orchid. Access to the site is from Chigborough Road.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
- Coordinates
- 51.7450, 0.7170
- County
- Essex
- District
- Maldon
- Parish
- Little Totham
- Postcode
- CM9 4RB
- Parliamentary constituency
- Witham
- Nearest railway station
- Witham — 8.6 km
- Opening
- Accessible at all times
- Official site
- www.essexwt.org.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q28404656 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Chigborough Lakes (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Main Lake - geograph.org.uk - 1323776.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
Chigborough Farm
Campsites · 0.3 km
Chigborough Lakes Nature Reserve
Forests & woodlands · 0.4 km
Happy Days Caravan Park
Caravan parks · 0.8 km
Barrow Marsh Caravan Park
Caravan parks · 0.8 km
Vaulty Manor
Manor houses · 1.1 km
Mill Beach Caravan Park
Caravan parks · 1.2 km
Mill Beach
Beaches · 1.4 km
Osea Leisure Park
Campsites · 1.4 km
Osea Leisure Park
Caravan parks · 1.7 km
Heybridge War Memorial
Memorials & monuments · 1.7 km
Le Bouchon
Restaurants · 2.3 km
Heybridge
Villages · 2.3 km
Nearby
📷 5📷 5Forests & woodlands · East of England
Chigborough Lakes Nature Reserve
Chigborough Lakes Nature Reserve is a forest or woodland in the United Kingdom.
📷 5Caravan parks · East of England
Happy Days Caravan Park
Happy Days Caravan Park — a caravan park in england east.
📷 5Caravan parks · East of England
Barrow Marsh Caravan Park
Barrow Marsh Caravan Park — a caravan park in england east.
📷 3Manor houses · East of England
Vaulty Manor
Vaulty Manor — Grade II listed building-listed manor in england-east, United Kingdom.
📷 5Caravan parks · East of England
Mill Beach Caravan Park
Mill Beach Caravan Park — a caravan park in england east.
Where to eat & stay near Chigborough Lakes
Places to stay
📷 5📷 5Caravan parks · East of England
Happy Days Caravan Park
Happy Days Caravan Park — a caravan park in england east.
📷 5Caravan parks · East of England
Barrow Marsh Caravan Park
Barrow Marsh Caravan Park — a caravan park in england east.
📷 5Caravan parks · East of England
Mill Beach Caravan Park
Mill Beach Caravan Park — a caravan park in england east.
📷 5📷 5Caravan parks · East of England
Osea Leisure Park
Osea Leisure Park — a caravan park in england east.
Places to eat & drink
📷 5
📷 5Cafés · East of England
The Riverside Café
The Riverside Café — a café in england east.
📷 7
📷 7
📷 7Cafés · East of England
Saffron Tea Rooms
Saffron Tea Rooms — a café in england east.
📷 5Historic pubs · East of England
The Hurdlemarker's Arms
The Hurdlemarker's Arms in England East, United Kingdom.
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More places in this region
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Aubrey Buxton Nature Reserve
Aubrey Buxton Nature Reserve — Essex Wildlife Trust Nature reserve.
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Canvey Wick
Canvey Wick — nature reserve in Essex, United Kingdom.
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Crowsheath Wood
Crowsheath Wood — Essex Wildlife Trust Nature reserve.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Chigborough Lakes?
- Chigborough Lakes is in Essex, East of England, United Kingdom (postcode CM9 4RB), in the parish of Little Totham.
- What is Chigborough Lakes?
- Chigborough Lakes — Essex Wildlife Trust Nature reserve.
- How do I get to Chigborough Lakes?
- The nearest railway station is Witham, about 8.6 km away. Drivers can use postcode CM9 4RB.
- Who runs Chigborough Lakes?
- Chigborough Lakes is operated by Essex Wildlife Trust.
- Is Chigborough Lakes a protected site?
- Yes — Chigborough Lakes is part of the Blackwater Estuary SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Blackwater Estuary (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 4) Ramsar wetland.
- Is Chigborough Lakes free to visit?
- Yes, Chigborough Lakes is free to enter.
- How do I get to Chigborough Lakes?
- Drivers can navigate to postcode CM9 4RB. It sits within the Witham parliamentary constituency.
- Are dogs allowed at Chigborough Lakes?
- Most wildlife reserves allow dogs on lead only, with restrictions during ground-nesting bird season (March-July). Check signage at the reserve.