Hampshire Guide Visiting the Essex Countryside
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Visiting the Essex countryside This guide represents the seventh in a series of local guides designed to help parents, carers and teachers to engage children with autism and related disabilities with the natural environment. It should also prove useful to those living and working with adults with autism. It begins by introducing the benefits of visiting the countryside, considering why such experiences are valuable for children with autism. This is followed by a guide to ‘natural’ places to visit in the Essex countryside, featuring twenty-five places that the authors believe many children with autism might enjoy. The guide concludes with a series of case stories set in natural places in Essex, that describe visits by children from local special schools. Supported by ISBN: a guide for parents, carers and 978-0-9934710-4-9 Published by teachers of children with autism David Blakesley and Tharada Blakesley Visiting the Essex countryside a guide for parents, carers and teachers of children with autism David Blakesley and Tharada Blakesley Foreword by Lindsey Chapman i Citation For bibliographic purposes, this book should be referred to as Blakesley, D. and Blakesley, T. 2017. Visiting the Essex countryside: a guide for parents, carers and teachers of children with autism. Autism and Nature, Kent. The rights of David Blakesley and Tharada Blakesley to be identified as the Authors of this work have been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Copyright © rests with the authors Illustrations © Tharada Blakesley; photographs © David Blakesley, unless stated in the text All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior permission of the authors. First published 2017 British-Library-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Cover photograph: Well Wood, Hanningfield Reservoir Designed by Pisces Publications Published by Autism and Nature Printed by Gomer Press ISBN 978-0-9934710-4-9 All reasonable efforts have been made by the authors to trace the copyright owners of the material quoted in this book and any images reproduced in this book. In the event that the authors or publishers are notified of any mistakes or omissions by copyright owners after publication of this book, the authors and the publishers will endeavour to rectify the position accordingly for any subsequent printing. David Blakesley (Autism and Nature) is a writer and naturalist. Tharada Blakesley (Autism and Nature) is a writer and illustrator. www.autismandnature.org.uk Disclaimer The information presented in this book on behalf of the authors is believed to be accurate and correct at the time of publication, but this cannot be guaranteed. We cannot be held responsible for any changes in access, or any damage which might result from visitors trespassing on private property. We recommend visitors to obtain maps of the areas, and to seek up to date information from the websites of the various landowners. Readers must take all appropriate steps to ensure health and safety of all users, and to follow their own health and safety policy. Neither the publisher nor the authors can be held responsible for any consequences arising from the use of the information contained herein, including accidents or damage as a result of its use or the implementation of any of the recommendations within this book. ii Contents Foreword ............................................................................... iv Acknowledgements .................................................................. v Preface .................................................................................... vi Part 1 Introduction .................................................................1 Part 2 Natural places to visit in Essex ........................................5 Bridge End Garden ................................................................6 Hatfield Forest .....................................................................8 Marks Hall Gardens and Arboretum ........................................ 10 Cudmore Grove Country Park ................................................ 12 Phyllis Currie Nature Reserve ............................................... 13 Abbotts Hall Farm .............................................................. 14 Fingringhoe Wick ................................................................ 16 Green Island Gardens .......................................................... 18 Stour Estuary Nature Reserve ............................................... 20 The Naze ........................................................................... 22 Abberton Reservoir ............................................................. 24 Belfairs Park Wood and Belfairs Nature Reserve ...................... 26 RHS Garden Hyde Hall ......................................................... 28 Marsh Farm Country Park ..................................................... 30 Danbury Common ............................................................... 32 Blake’s Wood ...................................................................... 33 Weald Country Park ............................................................. 34 Hanningfield Reservoir ........................................................ 36 Norsey Wood ...................................................................... 38 South Essex Wildlife Garden ................................................. 40 Langdon Nature Reserve ...................................................... 41 Rainham Marshes ................................................................ 42 Hainault Forest .................................................................. 44 Epping Forest ..................................................................... 46 Chafford Gorges Nature Park ................................................ 48 Part 3 Case stories ................................................................... 49 Further reading ..................................................................... 62 iii Foreword Many of us will have an enduring childhood memory that connects us with the natural world. It could be anything, Rich P Blake from spotting pigeons in the playground to splashing in newly created puddles following a deluge of rain. For me, it was the springtime joy of counting ducklings on the small stream near our house. Watching these little balls of brown and yellow fluff navigate the rippling waters and grassy banks of the beck was endlessly fascinating and sparked an enthusiasm for wildlife and nature that has never waned. These early experiences endure into our adult lives and help shape our relationship with the world around us. Giving children (and indeed adults) the opportunity to create these moments and memories is what this book is all about. Essex has many wild and natural places to explore – from forests and woodlands to waterways, wetlands and coastal nature reserves; from walled gardens to butterfly-rich meadows. The pages of this guide not only offer ideas and insight into where to go but, importantly, they give detailed information on how to get there and what to expect from your trip. This will hopefully allow parents, carers and teachers of children with autism and special educational needs to plan outings that will be enjoyable, educational and attainable. Taking in the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and touch of the natural world can be both soothing and invigorating. Playing games outdoors improves health, develops social interaction and encourages learning which in turn instils a deep awareness and affinity with our wild places for the future. I hope this book helps you enjoy the very best that the Essex countryside has to offer. You don’t have to be an expert – the natural world is for everyone. Go outside, enjoy the moment and make some memories. Lindsey Chapman Broadcaster and Nature Enthusiast February 2017 iv Acknowledgements This guide has been generously funded by Essex County Council Short Breaks for Disabled Children and Young People; Big Lottery Fund; Bartella Charitable Fund and Rickard Luckin Community Fund (c/o Essex Community Foundation); Nineveh Charitable Trust; and Woodlands.co.uk. We are particularly grateful to Jo Mason and Andrea Pittock for their help in the development of this project. We would also like to thank Lindsey Chapman for writing such an inspiring Foreword. We must thank Lizzie Holt (Essex Wildlife Trust) and Betty Sinclair, Charlotte Banks, Chris Laing and their colleagues (RHS Garden Hyde Hall) for hosting the countryside visits for schools featured in Part 3. We are indebted to the teachers and teaching assistants who took part in the countryside visits, and provided helpful comments and feedback. They include: Alexandra Cretu and her colleagues from Doucecroft School; Carley Knowles, Mick Joannou, Susan Bainbridge, Jessica Cameron and their colleagues from Pioneer School. We would especially like to thank the children who participated in the various trips and the parents and carers who allowed their children to be photographed for this guide. We must also thank Mary Draffin and Simon Payne for their contribution to the Introduction. We would also like to thank all the organisations who own and/or manage the natural places featured in this guide, for kindly providing comments on our descriptions of their sites. We are grateful to Andrew Powling and Peter Buckley for reviewing early drafts of this guide. We are indebted to