Name: Danbury Commons and Blakes Wood
Rating: 5.0

Danbury Commons and Blakes Wood

National Trust - Danbury Commons and Blakes Wood, Penny Royal Road, Danbury, Chelmsford, UK

1-99 Years

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Description

Danbury Commons and Blakes Wood lose yourself in 214 acres of heath, gorse and coppice encompassing a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), ancient woodland and military defences designed to give Napoleon a run for his money. The woodlands of Danbury and Lingwood Commons hide their 107 metre high ridge-top location on one of Essex's highest hills.

For centuries, self-sufficient commoners under the Lord of the Manor's watchful eye came here to graze their domestic animals, cutting down scrub and trees for fuel and creating an open landscape. Today we carefully manage the commons in a similar way using simulated grazing by tractor to encourage the growth of rare flora and fauna.

If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Free
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Danbury Common: Lowland heath and ancient woodland, rich in wildlife with views from Danbury ridge, the highest point in Essex.
Blakes Wood: An ancient working coppiced woodland on Danbury ridge, with seasonal woodland floor and wildflowers.
Lingwood Common: Lowland heath and ancient woodland rich in wildlife with views from Danbury ridge, the highest point in Essex.
Backwarden: Lowland heath with numerous wildlife-rich ponds and hornbeam ancient woodland coppice. There is also an ancient earthworks.
Wildlife: Across these sites you'll find adders, nightingales in spring, harebells, dormice and seasonal carpets of woodland flowers.
Things to see and do at Danbury Commons and Blakes Wood: The Danbury Commons and Blakes Wood offer a diverse natural environment in which wildlife can live and flourish. The rangers work all year round to manage this land and encourage mammals, birds, reptiles and other animals to stay or return.
Lingwood Common to Blakes Wood walk: Explore the mix of environments between Lingwood Common and Blake's Wood on this short circular walk. The woodland of Lingwood is mainly oak, with birches to the west and aspen and willow down the stream valleys. This is one of three walking routes linking Danbury Common, Lingwood Common and Blakes Wood, and it's ideal for families.
Danbury Common to Lingwood Common walk: Take a bracing walk from Danbury Common to Lingwood Common along a waymarked route. Discover open heathland, wooded glades, wetlands and look out for the wildlife that thrives in this wide variety of habitats. This easy, 1.5 mile walk is ideal for families.

Facilities

Food & Drinks: The closest pub to Danbury Common car park is: The Cricketers Arms, Penny Royal Rd, Danbury Common, Danbury, Chelmsford CM3 4ED
Dogs allowed: Please be aware that there are reptiles, including adders on site so we'd advise you keep your dogs under close control.

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Price

Price: Free

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Countryside: 09:00 - 16:00

Address: National Trust - Danbury Commons and Blakes Wood, Penny Royal Road, Danbury, Chelmsford, UK

Post Code: CM3 4ED

Council: Chelmsford

County: Essex

By road: From M25 take J18, 2 miles from A12 along A414 towards Maldon. Danbury Common car park 1 mile south from Danbury village centre along B1418.Blake's Wood car park 2 miles north from Danbury village centre towards Lt Baddow, then left into Rifhams Chase.
By train: Main line train station at Chelmsford, 6 miles. Chelmsford Bus Station opposite train station.
By bus: 336 – The Common stop along Bicknacre Road. (Service runs from Chelmsford Bus Station to South Woodham Ferrers) 31/331/332/336 – The Bell stop along Bell Hill is a short walk from Blakes Wood via Riffhams Lane. The 31/331/332 runs from Chelmsford Bus Station to Burnham-on-Crouch via Maldon, 336 runs from Chelmsford Bus Station to South Woodham Ferrers.
Cycling: National Cycle Network Route 1 is open between Harlow and Maldon, via Chelmsford. It passes by the edge of Blake's Wood and Danbury and Lingwood Commons.