Cranham Marsh Nature Reserve

Wall Brown - Amy Lewis

Wall Brown - Amy Lewis

Kestrel - Jason Fox

Kestrel - Jason Fox

A woodland oasis located inside the M25, this relic marshland is a prime example of what the countryside would have looked like

Location

Cranham Marsh
Nature Reserve
Nr Upminster
Essex

OS Map Reference

TQ 567 856
A static map of Cranham Marsh Nature Reserve

Know before you go

Size
13 hectares

Grazing animals

Cows grazing from April-October

Walking trails

1.5 km of circular walking trails

Access

Accessible at all times but trails may be muddy in winter

Dogs

Under effective control

Please keep dogs on a lead near livestock

When to visit

Opening times

Accessible at all times

Best time to visit

April to July

About the reserve

Escape the surrounding urban environment and get away from it all on this old marshland with large areas of ancient woodland.

Purple Betony flowers and bright Yellow Loosestrife line the grassland whilst in wetter areas you might find a Southern Marsh Orchid, a purple-pink Ragged Robin and the bright gold of a Marsh Marigold. This reserve is fantastic for insects with 23 butterfly species recorded here. Look out for the Wall Brown butterfly basking on the warm ground on sunny days.

Look out for the magnificent sight of hunting Kestrels and Sparrowhawks, as they carry their prey back into the woodland where they nest. You are likely to hear the knocking sound of Great spotted woodpecker echoing from the woods and from dusk listen out for the hooting Tawny Owls calling to each other.

This nature reserve is an example of what the countryside would have looked like before the urban sprawl.

Environmental designation

Ancient Woodland
Local Nature Reserve (LNR)