Cranham Marsh is a special place within Cranham Conservation Area. It is designated by the Greater London Authority as a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation which recognises the value of its wildlife interest.
The site comprises a fantastic mixture of semi-natural habitats including marsh, sedge fen, damp meadow and wet woodland (believed to be ancient). The site is a great place to visit to get away from the town centre.
There is enough here to keep you interested for a leisurely stroll around or it has links to a wider network of Public Rights of Way for a longer walk. The woodland is in three parts and contains some of the most magnificent and possibly the largest ash trees in the whole of Essex. The marsh and meadows contain an amazing diversity of wildflowers - some of which are extremely rare in London and south Essex. The site is managed by the hard work and support of volunteers from Essex Wildlife Trust. Practical habitat management is undertaken over the winter including coppicing, maintaining ditches, dams and ponds, hedge laying and scrub clearance.
Location
Special plants and animals
Southern marsh orchid, fine-leaved water-dropwort, golden dock, fen bedstraw, yellow loosestrife, small sweet-grass, reptiles, great crested newt, water vole. The site is 13 hectares.
Access
The site is not wheelchair accessible. There is an informal pathway around the site.
Parking
There is no car park for the site.
Contact
Essex Wildlife Trust
Joan Elliot Visitor Centre at Abbotts Hall Farm
Great Wigborough
Colchester
Essex
CO5 7RZ
Tel: 01621 862960
