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Group Visits at Hanningfield Reservoir Visitor Centre
Animals and Wildlife
Address
Hawkswood Road,
Downham,
Billericay,
Essex,
CM11 1WT
Also at this Venue
Details
Hanningfield Reservoir visitor centre is nestled in a100-acre mature woodland reserve overlooking the 870 acre Hanningfield Reservoir.
It is a wonderful haven for nature and an ideal place to view the wildlife, it is amongst one of the top places in the country to watch both woodland and wetland birds. The site is run by Essex Wildlife Trust in partnership with Essex & Suffolk water and you can walk through the reserve to the Essex & Suffolk Fishing Lodge and the café on the water.
The centre is open daily 9am - 5pm except Christmas day and Boxing Day and offers events, courses and activities for children and adults all year round.
There are lots of gifts in the centre shop: binoculars and telescopes, books, greetings cards, a huge range of wild bird care and wildlife gardening products.
Refreshments, seating and toilets are available and the centre has full disabled access. Dogs and cycles are not permitted on the reserve.
Essex Wildlife Trust is a charity and relies on donations to carry out its work for the wildlife and people of Essex. There is Suggested Entry donation of £2 for Adults £1 for children and £5 Family. Group visits are welcome for which booking is required. With easy accessibility by road, free parking for cars and coaches, picnic areas, woodland walks, leisure facilities and breath taking scenery the Essex Wildlife Trust Hanningfield Reservoir visitor Centre makes a great day out!
Coach park: Coach parking located next to visitor centre (room for 2-3 coaches)
Drop off: Outside visitor centre
Driver: Visitor centre facilities
Visit hrs: 9
Prices
Full day hire 9am -4.30pm - £100
Half day hire 9am-12.30pm or 1pm-4.30pm - £50
Hourly hire - £15
Directions
Map reference: TQ 725970 Lat: 51.64609 Long: 0.49228
By Road:
From the A12, turn off at Chelmsford and take the A1245 through Howe Green. Continue for approx 4 miles until you reach 'The Bell' pub in a dip and turn in South Hanningfield Road. Go to end of South Hanningfield Road, then turn right. Visitor centre is a few hundred yards on right hand side.
Parking: free
Accessible by Public Transport: 3 miles from Wickford station
Nearby
Facilities
Baby changing facilities
Coach parties accepted
Credit cards accepted (no fee)
Disabled toilets
Education/study area
Facilities for groups
Facilities for educational visits
Gift shop
On-site light refreshments
Picnic site
Public toilets
Wheelchairs available
Accepts groups
Facilities for conferencing
Facilities for corporate hospitality
Disabled access
Self-Assessed Accessibility Details
Parking
Designated parking for guests with disabilities
Within 50 metres approx. of entrance
- The surface of the car park and pathway leading to entrance:
is solid
Drop-off point for guests outside entrance
- The route from the parking area to the entrance:
Is flat (i.e. without steps)
Public Areas
- Level access (no steps/thresholds) or access by ramp or lift:
From the entrance to reception / ticket area
To a specially adapted public toilet suitable for wheelchair users
To the gift shop
Good contrast between the floor and walls
Contrast markings on clear surfaces such as glass doors
Baby changing facilities
Visitor information available in large print (14pt and over)
General
Seating available for visitors with limited mobility
Clear signage
Effective lighting for visually impaired visitors
Good colour/tonal contrast for visually impaired visitors
Wheelchairs provided
Free
Routes/pathways suitable for wheelchair users or visitors with limited mobility
Displays at suitable height for wheelchair users / children
Audible alarm system
Entrance
Entrance is well lit
Food
Good contrast between the floor and walls
Seating suitable for wheelchair users, ie moveable and good height for person sitting in a wheelchair