| Abbotts Hall Farm | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
| |
| Type | Nature reserve |
| Location | Great Wigborough, Essex |
| OS grid | TL 963 146 |
| Area | 282 hectares |
| Managed by | Essex Wildlife Trust |
Abbotts Hall Farm is a 282 hectare nature reserve in Great Wigborough in Essex. It is the head office of the Essex Wildlife Trust, which manages the site. [1] It is also part of the Blackwater Estuary National Nature Reserve, [2] Site of Special Scientific Interest, [3] [4] Ramsar site, [5] Special Protection Area [6] and Special Area of Conservation, [7] It is an important archaeological site, [8] and includes a Scheduled Monument, Great Wigborough henge. [9]
This is a working farm which is managed to encourage wildlife. Seawalls have been breached to create marshland, which has many fish, insects, invertebrates and plants which provide food for migrating birds. A new lake has also been constructed, and fields provide additional habitats for fauna such as skylarks. [1]
There is access to some areas and footpaths across others. [1]
References
- ^ a b c "Abbotts Hall Farm". Essex Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ^ "Essex's National Nature Reserves". Natural England. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
- ^ "Blackwater Estuary citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
- ^ "Map of Blackwater Estuary". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
- ^ "Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS): Blackwater Estuary (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 4)" (PDF). Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
- ^ "Blackwater Estuary (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 4)". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
- ^ "Essex Estuaries". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
- ^ "Abbotts Hall Farm: Archaeology" (PDF). Essex Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
- ^ "Great Wigborough henge". Historic England. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
