Interesting Places
Here are some random sample locations of interest in Essex. Also take a look at sites shown on our sites map, geology site map and brownfield site map, with the site account and locate site facility.
locate Clacton Cliffs
Foreshore and cliff exposures and excavations in the Clacton district are one of the most important Pleistocene interglacial deposits in Britain.
locate Wanstead Flats
An area with acid grassland amd relic heather in the southern part of Epping Forest, which remains an important site in London and south-west Essex.
locate Flitch Way
A disused railway line with a variety of interesting wildlife habitats along its length forming a linear nature reserve. See also The Friends of Flitch Way website.
locate Goshems Farm, Tilbury
This is the site of a very old landfill site dating back to Victorian times. It is highly probable that tipping ceased in 1958 when a change in ownership occurred. There was a long continuity of cattle grazing until at least 1997, as indicated by the presence of an important population of the UKBAP Hornet Robber Fly, discovered in the mid 1990s. The sandy shoreline is unprecedented as a habitat in the Thames estuary, together with a section of low chalky cliff.
locate Springfields or Orsett Camp Quarry
Old sand pit with excellent acid grassland/heathland regeneration
locate Tiptree Heath
Best surviving heathland in Essex, an outlier of the 18th century Heath and a remnant of a much larger vast tract to be found in the 15th century. The heath has suffered from succession to scrub and woodland, but recent efforts have returned more areas to open heath.
locate Frairs Grove Wood and Plantation
This site consists of an ancient woodland and a relatively new plantation which is part of Highwoods Country Park.
locate Backwarden, Danbury
An important part of the Danbury ridge with small surviving heather areas and associated invertebrates.