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Danbury Common is a good illustration of the way commons were formed, criss-crossed by roads, tracks and paths, with long straggling boundaries funnelling out along the roads, and with houses in enclaves. The southern part is still typical of a traditional open common, but the northern part has seen natural progression to woodland.
Grazing by stock kept the commons open from Saxon times until the early 1900s but today, as it is difficult to protect animals on common land, often the best that can be done is to simulate grazing by mowing at different heights and times throughout the year and removing the clippings.
Visiting
The common is on both sides of the road running south from Danbury to Bicknacre.
Get off the Chelmsford–Maldon bus (Eastern National no. 31) at Eve's Corner, and take the road signposted Danbury Common and Bicknacre. The common is about 200 metres from the junction. The Chelmsford–South Woodham Ferrers bus (no. 36) passes the common.
Accessible at all times.
May for birdsong; July–September for heathland plants; October for fungi and leaf colours.
Waymarked nature trails have been set up both round the main part of the common and round The Backwarden.
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