The weather forecast for the day was a mixture of showers and cloudy skies, but we did not get at all wet during the walk round the reserve. It was also quite mild which was also a blessing.

The group included 3 new members, who, I am told, enjoyed the walk and intend to return.

Part of the walk took us passed the site of the Plotlands. This was an area of land that was sold to Londoners in the early 1900’s as plots, and were intended as holiday homes or weekend retreats. Each plot could have a building on it built by the owner, so there were many different styles of building, but there is only one remaining, The Haven, which is now a museum. The plots were eventually compulsorily purchased by Basildon Council in the 1980’s to make was for housing, although that decision was changed and it was then decided to keep it as a green space.

During the walk we saw or heard a number of birds calling, and we were lucky enough to see a Redwing, which is one of the winter visitors to Britain.