Although well used by some, not everyone will be aware of the variety of nature reserves that exist within a short distance of Billericay town centre.

Norsey Wood, in Outwood Common Road is 70 hectares (175 acres) of ancient woodland, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. It has a long history, with prehistoric and roman burial sites, and several wood banks indicate that the wood was used for different purposes from the medieval period onwards. The wood was once a deer park but has been more recently been coppiced as a source of wood. This traditional system is responsible for the creation of the types of habitat to which many of our plants and animals have become adapted and the current conservation management aims to continue this to promote habitats suitable for these species. The trees in the wood are mainly Sweet Chestnut, but other species like Hornbeam, Birch, Oak and Alder also exist. Areas of the wood are coppiced (cut down) in rotation to promote re-growth, different ages of trees, with their associated plants and animals, and a new source of woodland products.

 Mill Meadows is an area of unspoilt grassland with woodland and scrub, between Greens Farm Lane and Southend Road. The main claim to fame of Mill Meadows is its grassland Site of Special Scientific Interest. A large amount of the traditional grassland of Essex has been lost to other uses such as conversion to arable land, but Mill Meadows has escaped. Grazing by cattle has recently been reintroduced to control vigorous plants, allowing a greater variety of wild flowers to develop. A visit to Mill Meadows in spring and summer will be rewarded with views of Common Spotted Orchid, Birdsfoot, Trefoil, Harebell, Tormentil and Burnet Saxifrage amongst others.

 Queens Park Country Park, with a small car park off Rosebay Avenue, consists of three fairly well defined areas. The main meadow was once subject to frequent mowing, but this been reduced over the past few years to an annual hay cut in order to promote more wild flowers. The area to the west of this is mainly bramble and other scrub species, and is home to birds like Linnets, Skylarks and a variety of warblers. Further to the west is an area of woodland planted in 1995. On the boundaries of these areas are old well-established hedgerows important for declining farmland birds like Bullfinch.

 All of these reserves are well worth a visit and I hold work parties at each of them for those interested in doing some outdoor work – nothing too strenuous! If you are interested or have any questions or comments about them I can be contacted at the Norsey Wood Information Centre on 01277 624553.

For the past three years Chris Huggins has been the Countryside Ranger employed by Basildon District Council with responsibility for the three nature reserves. Although he has always had an interest in nature he was at one time employed by BT where he worked in the Accounts Department. The call of the wild gripped him and he decided that it was time for a career change. He left BT to study Conservation and Environment at Writtle College where he qualified with a B Sc degree. Now he spends his time enjoying the wild life