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A fragment of traditional river valley landscape. The Roman River is a narrow stream at this point, and meanders through marsh and woodland, mostly old.
The marsh is fed by springs filtering out of glacial gravels, and is full of aquatic plants including one that is unusual – the small teasel, which has globular white flowers in late summer.
The woodland is part of Needle Eye Wood, and has a variety of trees including standard oaks, coppiced hornbeam and several old yews. Its flowering plants include yellow archangel and moschatel.
Birdlife includes most of the common woodland species and occasionally nightingales. Like most wetland sites it has a rich insect life as well.
Visiting
Entrance on the west side of the B1026 (Colchester–Layer) just north of Kingsford Bridge, north of Layer-de-la-Haye.
Bus services from Colchester to Layer and Maldon pass the entrance.
Accessible at all times.
April–May for birdsong and early flowers; July for dragonflies and other insects.
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