WICKFORD WILDLIFE SOCIETY

Home What and Who We Are Our Nature Reserves Full Programme 2012 Indoor Meetings 2012 Outdoor Meetings 2012 Venue Maps Trip Reports 2012 Contact Us Links to Local Sites Members Photos

Our Nature Reserves

The Wickford Wildlife Society manages 2 local nature reserves at Shotgate Thickets and Crowsheath Wood, on behalf of the Essex Wildlife Trust, and liaises with Basildon Council in respect of the management of Giddings Copse. In addition to being involved in the management of these reserves, regular work parties are organised, largely made up of society members, to carry out essential maintenance tasks. Our work parties are on Sunday mornings, every fortnight between September and the end of March. If you wish to join one of the work parties please email us to find out when and where the next one will be held.

Details of both of our reserves are below if you wish to visit or join one of the work parties.

Shotgate Thickets

and

Giddings Copse  

GR: TQ 765 939 5.5 acres

Crowsheath Wood

GR: TQ 724 965 19.88 acres
Shotgate Thickets form the northern part of this reserve, which is owned by the Essex Wildlife Trust. The southern part of the reserve is owned by Basildon Council and is named Giddings Copse, in memory of the co-founder and ex-Chairman of the Wickford Wildlife Society - Phil Giddings. The reserve is situated on both sides of the tidal River Crouch which is narrow at this point. It consists of a remnant of old oak woodland on the south side, and thorn thickets, rough grassland and large ponds on the north side. With the adjoining river banks and railway embankment this small area has a surprising diversity of habitats and, consequently, of wildlife. This reserve is owned by the Essex Wildlife Trust and comprises of 17 acres of ancient coppice woodland with 3 acres of adjoining open land. The many mature standard oak trees are an impressive feature of the wood. The coppice trees are mainly hornbeam, with a little ash, midland hawthorn, field maple and wild service.

Well over 100 plant species can be found, including golden dock and dyer's greenweed. More than 70 species of bird have been recorded, about half of which breed on or near the reserve. This includes all three species of woodpecker, and a good selection of finches and warblers.


The ponds teem with life and eleven species of dragonfly have been identified, including the emerald damselfly and black-tailed skimmer. Butterflies are numerous. Among the other insects Roesels bush-cricket is found in good numbers.

 

Maintaining mosaic of scrub, glades and ponds.

The ground flora is varied, and includes bluebell, wood anemone, primrose, pignut, ragged robin and goldilocks buttercup. Lesser spearwort is present in the ponds near the centre of the reserve.


Most of the bird species typical of lowland broadleaved woodland are present. Several species of warbler (including sedge warbler), woodpeckers, nuthatch and nightingale have been recorded.

Much of the western part of the wood has been coppiced in recent years, and some broadleaved trees have been replanted; coppicing is being extended to enhance wildlife interest.The open land is grazed by horses.Routine management consists of removing invading bramble and keeping the paths

Visiting

 Visiting
The reserve is half-mile north-east of Wickford. A railway bridge spans the river separating the two parts of the reserve, but cannot be used to cross it. The southern part can be reached via Beauchamps Drive and Royal Oak Drive, or by following the course of the river through the Memorial Park. Access to the northern part is either through Southlands farm (parking at far end of the farm road) or west along the river bank from Battlesbridge, starting close to the Hawk public house.

Note. As you first enter Southlands Farm road there is a gate which is often closed because of horses stabled there. If visiting the reserve and the gate is closed please ensure that you re-close the gate after entry and exit.

The reserve is less than 800m south of Hanningfield Water in the parish of South Hanningfield. Access is from Crowsheath Lane, which runs south from the road causeway across Hanningfield Reservoir towards Downham.

Buses from Ramsden Heath to Wickford via Downham stop at the southern end of the lane.
Accessible at all times. It is not easy to see all of this small reserve in one visit because the River Crouch bisects it and cannot be crossed. For a single visit the north side is recommended. Accessible at all times.
At its best in mid-to-late spring when scrub and wood resound with birdsong. Spring for flowers and visiting birds; autumn for a good selection of fungi.
The large pond on the north side has steep banks and deep water. Please note that the wood is marked as Thrift Wood on many maps – the Trust elected to adopt a local name to avoid confusion with its Thrift Wood reserve at Bicknacre.