Mill Meadows Nature Reserve (Billericay)

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Mill Meadows, Billericay, is a 90-acre Local Nature Reserve and one of the finest ancient meadow systems in Essex. Centuries of grazing have created the ideal conditions for a wonderful diversity of wild flowers, fungi, insects and invertebrates, many of which are rare. It contains an area of 16.63 acres (6.73 ha) declared as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its unimproved neutral grassland.

The site is protected from development by green belt planning legislation and by a covenant lasting until the year 2070 restricting use to outdoor recreation and social activities. The owner of the site, Basildon Council, is working with Natural England DEFRA to maintain and enhance the rural character and natural history of the meadows while still allowing visitors access for quiet recreation.

The whole of the site, close to the south east of the town centre, was formerly farmland, most of which was grazed. Some fields were converted temporarily to arable use during WW2. By the 20th century two farms remained, Hurlocks and Greens, the latter until 1980. Occasional grazing did continue up to 1991 on some of the fields. Many ancient hedgerows exist but, with the exception of the SSSI where grazing persisted longest, there have been incursions of scrub and developing woodland. There is thus a diversity of habitat types, important for flora and fauna.

The SSSI is comprised of five adjoining grassland units that overlie Claygate beds (sandy clay or loam) and London Clay, sloping to the north and separated by old hedge lines and some by ditches. The site boundaries include housing of various ages, roads, a stream, semi-natural grassland, scrub and secondary woodland.

The site has rare species and supports a characteristic flora of a grassland type that is very much reduced within the Essex landscape, due to development and agricultural improvement.

Dogs, kept under control, are allowed on the reserve. Please pick up dog litter. Bins are provided for disposal.

Cattle sometimes graze on the reserve during the spring and summer months. This grazing encourages the growth of flora. The cattle are indifferent to people and dogs provided that they are not harassed in any way.

www.millmeadows.org.uk/index.aspx