Blackwater is the largest estuary in Essex and a great place to get a real sense of coastal wilderness. The reserve is split into 3 main areas: Old Hall Marshes, Tollesbury Flats and Salcott Flats. Access to Old Hall Marshes is free, but donations are welcomed and opening times are from 9 am to 5 pm or dusk, if sooner. The Tollesbury and Salcott flats are intertidal mud and sand flats, which are exposed at low water. This part of the reserve is closed to the public as it is a sensitive intertidal zone but you can view the mudflats from the adjacent sea wall. Main habitats: mudflats, salt marsh, grazing marsh, reedbeds, fresh water, intertidal mud and sand Area: 1031 hectares Management: Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB) and Natural England Features of interest Old Hall Marshes are home to a range of breeding and over-wintering waterfowl. It is estimated that 4000 Brent geese feed on the marshes in winter, along with other waterfowl such as teal and shelduck. A population of bearded tits enjoys areas of reedbed. The site also supports a number of nationally important plant and invertebrate species, including 24 species of butterfly, along with dragon and damselflies, most notably the scarce emerald damselfly. A recent survey showed the Tollesbury Flats to be the richest area of the Blackwater for its diverse invertebrate populations. In particular, these mudflats are a very important area for native oysters, which explains why it is also a good place to spot the striking red-beaked oystercatchers. As well as oystercatchers, the tidal mudflats of both Salcott and Tollesbury are excellent feeding grounds for other waders, such as redshank, dunlin, curlew and greenshank, and waterfowl such as wigeon and goldeneye. In winter time, these are great areas for spotting migrants from northern Europe, such as grey plover, ruff and birds of prey such as hen harriers. View maps:
Old Hall Marshes (207KB)
Tollesbury Flats (159KB)
Directions Tollesbury and Salcott sites can be viewed from the adjacent sea wall (running south from the village of Tollesbury along the coast to Maldon). Old Hall Marsh has a public footpath on the sea wall around the whole site (walk approximately 4 kilometres north of the village of Tollesbury). You no longer need a visitor permit for Old Hall Marshes. The sea wall that runs from north and south of the village of Tollesbury provides good views of the reserve. The wall runs south from Tollesbury to Maldon, passing the Tollesbury Flats part of the nature reserve, and runs north past the Old Hall Marshes section of the reserve. The nearest train station is Kelvedon, from where you can catch a bus to Tollesbury or cycle. There are bus services to Tollesbury or to Maldon. From the A12, take the B1023 to Tolleshunt D’Arcy. Turn left at the village maypole, right down Chapel Road, then after 1.6 kilometres turn left into Old Hall Lane. For visiting the Tollesbury Flats and Salcott Flats, there is public parking in the village of Tollesbury from where you can walk along the sea wall. Contact Email enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk
Telephone: 0300 060 3900