Hanningfield Reservoir Visitor Centre

Providing panoramic views over the 870 acre reservoir. The visitor centre is set in mature woodland and has proved a popular bat roost, with a beautiful carpet of Bluebells in the spring.

Location

Hanningfield Reservoir Visitor Centre
Hawkswood Road, Downham

Billericay

CM11 1WT

Know before you go

Size

40 hectares

Parking information

Parking on site

Bicycle parking

Yes

Access

Various routes around the reserve, no watersports or cycles permitted on the reserve.

Dogs

No dogs permitted

No dogs allowed - dogs can be walked at the nearby Crowsheath Wood or Crowsheath Community Woodland.

Facilities

Visitor centre

Bird hides

Toilets

Shop

Cafe/refreshments

Picnic area

Disabled toilet

Baby changing facilities

Wifi

When to visit

Opening times

Open Daily 9am - 5pm (November, December & January 9am - 4pm) Closed Christmas Day & Boxing Day

Best time to visit

All year round

About the reserve

A warm welcome will always greet you at Hanningfield reservoir visitor centre.The visitor centre is set in mature woodland and offers superb views over the 870 acre Hanningfield Reservoir. It is an ideal place to view the wildlife within the nature reserve and to receive the latest sightings news. The centre has full disabled access as does the Lyster Bird hide that is a short distance away.

There are lots of gifts in the centre shop and a full range of binoculars and telescopes, as well as books and refreshments. So while you're enjoying a nice warming drink you can take time to enjoy the stunning view over the water and browse the display.

The nature reserve offers some beautiful walks through the woodland, taking in bird hides, ponds and views across the reservoir. The site is run in partnership with Essex & Suffolk Water and you can walk through the reserve to the Essex & Suffolk Water Fishing Lodge and the Cafe on the Water. The reservoir itself is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to the important numbers of wildfowl that use the reservoir in the autumn and winter, including Gadwall, Tufted Duck and Pochard.

The spectacle of thousands of Swifts, Swallows and Martins feeding over the water during peak fly hatches is one of the delights for the summer visitor. 30 acres of the woodland are ancient in origin and spring flowers include carpets of Bluebells and Stitchwort.

There are some really good nature trails on the reserve for all to enjoy and the new orienteering course is proving extremely popular. Advice is always on hand in the visitor centre, to help identify wildlife and to inform visitors of the best locations to see and experience wildlife.

A trail guide is available from the visitor centre to guide you around the reserve and wildlife activity bags can be hired for a small donation for the children to take out on the reserve.