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Despite its name, this Essex Wildlife Trust reserve consists of two flower-rich meadows, the larger one almost completely surrounded by wide luxuriant hedgerows with a number of mature oaks and other trees.
A large colony of green-winged orchids is scattered across the meadows, and adders-tongue fern is perhaps more numerous here than anywhere else in Essex.
The meadows support the commoner grassland butterflies, and the hedgerows provide nesting sites for a variety of birds, notably the lesser whitethroat.
Visiting
From the A12 take the B1023 towards Tiptree, continuing through Tiptree village and down Factory Hill to a Y-junction, where you take the left fork (Brook Road, becoming Barnhall Road) towards Mersea. Turn down Park Lane (first turning on left after telephone box) and reserve entrance is second opening on left. Limited parking on the grassed area at the front of the reserve when conditions allow.
Regular Colchester-Maldon buses to Tiptree: the reserve is about 1 mile distant along footpaths.
Accessible at all times.
From late March up to the hay cut in mid-July; the orchids are usually in flower in April/May.
Please keep dogs on leads when there is livestock on the reserve.
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