Local Nature Places to Visit
Hatfield Forest, Bush End Road, Takeley, Bishop’s Stortford, Essex, CM22 6NE – one of the best‑preserved medieval royal hunting forests in England, offering ancient woodland, open pasture, a tranquil lake, and miles of peaceful walking routes. Managed by the National Trust.
View Website : www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Marks Hall Arboretum, Markshall Estate, Coggeshall, Essex, CO6 1TG – a beautifully curated 200‑acre landscape featuring trees from around the world, sweeping lakeside views, and peaceful woodland walks that change character with every season. Visitors can explore the striking walled garden, enjoy long borders filled with colour, and wander through themed planting areas that reflect different global regions. Café and restaurant on site.
View Website : www.markshall.org.uk
Maldon – sitting at the head of the Blackwater Estuary, a vast and ecologically rich landscape shaped by tidal mudflats, saltmarsh, and centuries of maritime history. The Blackwater Estuary National Nature Reserve stretches between Maldon and West Mersea, forming one of the most important wetland habitats in Essex, recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Ramsar Wetland of international importance. It’s a haven for birdlife, with species such as little terns, ringed plovers, avocets, and wintering brent geese thriving across its 5,500‑plus hectares. The area’s mix of wildlife, wide skies, and coastal heritage makes it a striking place for walking and birdwatching. Short boating excursions are also available on the Viking Saga and Thames sailing barges.
View Website : www.visitmaldon.co.uk
RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Creephedge Lane, Rettendon Common, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 8ET – set in a landscape of rolling hills and with beatific panoramic views, Hyde Hall is an oasis of peace and tranquillity. Café, restaurant, shop, plant centre, woodland walks.
View Website : www.rhs.org.uk
Spains Hall Estate, Spains Hall Road, Finchingfield, Essex, CM7 4NL – home to Jamie Oliver and to the first beavers to return to Essex in over 400 years, where they’ve been reintroduced to help restore natural habitats and demonstrate how these remarkable ecosystem engineers can support flood management and biodiversity. Visitors can learn about the project through guided tours and educational experiences set within the estate’s beautiful landscape.
View Website : www.spainshallestate.co.uk
Discovery Seal Trips, Wallasea – did you know you can see a seal up close in Essex? Discovery Charters, run seal trips from Essex Marina on Wallasea Island and Burnham Town Quay.
View Website : www.charterdiscovery.co.uk
Colchester Zoo, Maldon Road, Stanway, Colchester CO3 0SL – home to over 150 species and set in 60 acres of parkland and lakes. Giraffe feeding sessions let small groups hand‑feed the herd — a close‑up moment with the zoo’s tallest residents.
View Website : www.colchesterzoologicalsociety.com
Barleylands, Barleylands Road, Billericay, Essex CM11 2UD – home to a range of farm animals, reptiles, birds of prey, craft studios, services and restaurants.
View Website : www.barleylands.co.uk