Essex Wildlife Trust, Abbotts Hall Farm, Gt Wigborough, Colchester, Essex CO5 7RZ
Langdon Visitor Centre
Telephone: 01268 419103
Email: click here
Address: 3rd Avenue, Lower Dunton Road, Basildon, Essex SS16 6EB
Grid ref: TQ 659 875 (click for O/S map)
Gateway to 461 acres of woodland, meadows and abandoned Plotland gardens, the Langdon Visitor Centre has a display room, gift and bookshop, and refreshments. A full schools programme is available. Toilet facilities, including disabled. Nearby is The Haven Plotland Museum, a 1930's bungalow, ideal for a trip down memory lane. On Lower Dunton Road, 2 miles south of A127, west of Basildon Town Centre. Bus services operate from Basildon town centre to Laindon BR station (on the Fenchurch Street to Southend line) less than 1/2 mile from the reserve and to Langdon Hills. Open 9 am to 5 pm, Tuesday to Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays. 01268 419103
For more about the nature reserve click here
Open:
Optics Days Each month we hold an optics day when you have the chance to try out our range of binoculars, telescopes and monoculars. Langdon Nature Reserve offers the perfect environment to try out these optics. Expert advice on hand. Call or look on the web site for our next date! All events take place at the Langdon Nature Reserve Visitor Centre , Third Avenue, Lower Dunton Road, Basildon Essex SS16 6EB unless stated. Please aim to attend 10 15 mins before the stated start time in order to book in/register. Longer may be required for running/walking events. The natural aspect of the reserve does mean that it is hilly and may be unsuitable for wheelchairs and buggies. All children must be accompanied by a paying adult. Please wear suitable footwear and clothing.
Booking essential for all except free events: phone 01268 419103
Tue 29 Jul 10am-12pm Family Nature Day: Art in the Woods
A fun morning of arts and crafts under the trees
Donation: £4 per child
Tue 29 Jul 1.30-3.30pm Family Nature Day: Go Quackers
Meet the dabbling ducks on the lake, play duck games and make a 'quacking' mask to take home.
Donation: £4 per child
Wed 30 Jul 10am-12pm Family Nature Day: The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Follow the story trail through the woods, play games and see if your caterpillar turns into a beautiful butterfly
Donation: £4 per child
Wed 30 Jul 1.30-3.30pm Family Nature Day: Pond Dipping
Discover the amazing watery world of the pond and the creatures that live there.
Donation: £4 per child
Fri 1 Aug 10.30am-3pm Wildlife Discovery Day: WOODLAND SAFARI
Brave the woodland jungle to discover who eats who! Back at the Visitor Centre create your own woodland mobile. Please wear old clothes and don't forget to bring a packed lunch. Booking advised.
Donation: £8
Tue 5 Aug 10am-12pm Family Nature Day: Bug Safari
Join us on a 'small game' safari! Explore the meadows in search of some cunning creepy crawlies
Donation: £4 per child
Wed 6 Aug 10am-12pm Family Nature Day: Teddy Bears Picnic
Bring your favourite teddy for an adventure in the woods with games and crafts
Donation: £4 per child
Thu 7 Aug 10.30am-3pm Wildlife Discovery Day: FROG FACE
Follow David Attenborough's lead and discover how many cold blooded amphibians and reptiles we have at Langdon. Back at the Visitor Centre make a Frog Mask to take home.
Donation: £8
Tue 12 Aug 10am-12pm Family Nature Day: Pond Dipping
Discover the amazing watery world of the pond and the creatures that live there.
Donation: £4 per child
Tue 12 Aug 1.30-3.30pm Family Nature Day: Seashore Explorer
Go beach combing without getting your feet wet! Find out more about the wonderful wildlife of our coasts with games and crafts
Donation: £4 per child
Wed 13 Aug 10am-12pm Family Nature Day: Orienteering
Test your navigation skills with our orienteering course and discover how green you are on the way
Donation: £4 per child
Wed 13 Aug 1.30-3.30pm Family Nature Day: Arty Summer Fun
A fun afternoon of arts and crafts
Donation: £4 per child
Fri 15 Aug 10.30am-3pm Wildlife Discovery Day: BEAUTIFUL BEASTIE
Bugs and beetles can look very scary when magnified. Discover the 'Beasts of Langdon' then go on a scavenger hunt for natural materials to make a giant Beautiful Beastie Sculpture!
Donation: £8
Tue 19 Aug 7.30pm start Langdon 5K Summer Series
Join us for the third Tuesday in the months of May, June, July and August for our summer 5k series. A fantastic run all off road through woodland. Suitable for all levels of runners from beginners to advanced. Results service available, toilets and refreshments with waiting area for friends / family but no changing facilities.
Donation: £1.00 per person pay on night
Tue 19 Aug 10am-12pm Family Nature Day: The Very Busy Spider
Follow the story trail through the woods - can you make a very busy spider web?
Donation: £4 per child
Wed 20 Aug 10am-12pm Family Nature Day: Kite Making
Make a fantastic kite and take it out into the meadow to fly
Donation: £4 per child
Wed 20 Aug 1.30-3.30pm Family Nature Day: Bug Safari
Join us on a 'small game' safari! Explore the meadows in search of some cunning creep crawlies
Donation: £4 per child
Thu 21 Aug 10.30am-3pm Wildlife Discovery Day: BUTTERFLY MOSAIC MAKING
Have a wild time with your sweep nets to discover how many different butterflies exist in the meadows. Back at the Visitor Centre have fun creating a Butterfly Mosaic to decorate your bedroom.
Donation: £8
Tue 26 Aug 1.30-3.30pm Family Nature Day: Butterfly Ball
Go in search of our beautiful butterflies and make a butterfly mask to take home
Donation: £4 per child
Wed 27 Aug 10am-12pm Family Nature Day: Pond Dipping
Discover the amazing watery world of the pond and the creatures that live there
Donation: £4 per child
Fri 29 Aug 10.30am-3pm Wildlife Discovery Day: BUSHCRAFT
Learn how to survive in the wild. Work as a team to build a camp in the woods, filter water and forage for safe food.
Donation: £8
Fri 29 Aug 8pm - 10pm approx Bat Evening
Join us for a talk on bats followed by a walk out on the reserve using bat detectors to listen out for the different species on the reserve.
Donation: £6.00
Wed 10 Sep 10am-12pm Family Nature Day: Messy Play Morning
Wild Welly walk and art activities fro pre-schoolers
Donation: £4 per child
Sun 14 Sep 11.00am - 3.00pm Back in time day
Join us for a fantastic chance to take a journey back in histiory! But it's not all boring boards and displays on this day history comes to life. Have a chance to interact and take part as we go back to the time of the war. Learn what they eat, how they survived without runing water and electricity and what did the children do? Quizzes, games, refreshments and lots more.
Donation: £2.00 adult £1.00 child including admission in to the museum.
Wed 1 Oct 10am-12pm Family Nature Day: Messy Play Morning
Wild Welly walk and art activities for pre-schoolers
Donation: £4 per child
Sat 4 Oct 7-9pm Family Nature Day: Creatures of the Night
Discover the nocturnal visitors to the reserve with bat detectors, moth trap and lots more.
Donation: £5 per person
Tue 28 Oct 10am-12pm Family Nature Day: Tree-mendous
Discover the secret life of trees with a birds (or bugs) eye view of the woods. Collect seeds to grow your own tree at home.
Donation: £4 per child
Tue 28 Oct 1.30-3.30pm Family Nature Day: Help a Hedgehog
Find out more about these prickly mammals and how you can help them in your garden
Donation: £4
Wed 29 Oct 1.30-3.30pm Family Nature Day: Creepy Crafts
Get ready for Hallowe'en with some spooky arts and crafts.
Donation: £4 per child
Fri 31 Oct 6-8pm Family Nature Day: Hallowe'en Hi-Jinks
Feeling brave? Join us on All Hallows Eve and test your nerve on our ghoulish orienteering trail. Come in fancy dress. Not suitable for very young children
Donation: £5 per person
Fri 31 Oct 10.30am-3pm Wildlife Discovery Day: BATTY BATS & GHOULS
Have a hoot making a crazy bat puppet and a variety of ghoulish crafts to take home.
Donation: £8
Wed 5 Nov 10am-12pm Family Nature Day: Messy Play Morning
Free event
Wed 5 Nov 10am-12pm Family Nature Day: Messy Play Morning
Wild Welly walk and art activities for pre-schoolers
Donation: £4 per child
Sun 30 Nov 10.00am - 4.00pm Book Sale
Join us for our annual book sale - great prices and great range! Books are set out in categories and by author where possible so it makes it even easier for you to find your favourite reads.
Free event
Wed 10 Dec 10am-12pm Family Nature Day: Messy Play Morning
Wild Welly walk and art activities for pre-schoolers
Donation: £4 per child
Fri 12 Dec Christmas Carols at the Plotlands
Join us for a chance to get in to the Christmas spirit. Take a walk up to the Haven plotlands museum and join in the Christmas carols. Return to the centre for mulled wine, mince pies and a chance to browse and buy some unique gifts. Three sessions starting at 7.00pm 7.40pm and 8.20pm. Early booking essential as places very limited.
Donation: £5.00 adult, under 16's £3.00
Sat 13 Dec 10.00am - 12.00pm - 1.00pm - 3.00pm Santa at the Haven
Come along anytime between the times above and visit Santa in his special house in the woods. See the workshop where his elves can come to make toys and see the stable where the reindeer can stay if they visit. Santa may even give you a little gift!
Donation: £2.50 per child
Sun 14 Dec 10am-3pm Family Nature Day: Christmas Crafts
Drop in throughout the day to make festive cards and decorations using natural and recycled materials
Donation: £1 per craft
Sun 21 Dec 10.00am - 12.00pm - 1.00pm - 3.00pm Santa at the Haven
Come along anytime between the times above and visit Santa in his special house in the woods. See the workshop where his elves can come to make toys and see the stable where the reindeer can stay if they visit. Santa may even give you a little gift!
Donation: £2.50
Sun 21 Dec 10am-3pm Family Nature Day: Christmas Crafts
Drop in throughout the day to make festive cards and decorations using natural and recycled materials
Donation: £1 per craft