Rushy Mead Nature Reserve
Once a pumping station for a sewage works, this nature reserve is now a haven for reedbed species and provides a home to the UK's most endangered mammal, the Water Vole
Know before you go
Dogs
When to visit
Opening times
Accessible at all timesBest time to visit
April to JulyAbout the reserve
Listen to beautiful Sedge and Reed warblers sheltering in the dense reedbeds during the summer, whilst secretive Snipe and Water Rail are found silently walk along the edges over winter. Lined with bright Marsh Marigold flowers, the ditches have allowed Water Voles to establish in good numbers, and a number of Dragonflies and water beetles are seen here in the summer months.
The northern end of the reserve has developed into a mature woodland that is a particularly good area for birds, including sightings of the rare Willow Tit. There are also areas of chalky grassland that support a variety of wildflowers including Bee Orchids and Wild Carrot.
Species
Habitat
Contact us
Essex Wildlife Trust
Contact email: enquiries@essexwt.org.uk
Environmental designation
Local Wildlife Site (LWS)
Did you know?
The name Rushy Mead comes from an old tithe map showing the site as riverside meadows