In early September Foxearth Meadows hosted a party of some 30 undergraduate students from Westmont College, a liberal arts college...
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A Rocha UK’s Foxearth Meadows Nature Reserve is a great place for people and planet. Take a leisurely walk, spot dragonflies and damselflies and experience the beauty of this peaceful refuge for wildlife.
Foxearth Meadows Nature Reserve sits on the River Stour floodplain, in a quiet corner of Essex on the border with Suffolk.
The eleven-acre site has a variety of habitats including the river and riverbank, wetlands and woodland, an ancient field boundary, a series of ponds and marshy flower-rich grassland.
Managed especially for dragonflies and damselflies, it is also home to a wealth of wildlife including otter, kingfisher, harvest mouse, common lizard, grass snake and common toad.
It has been owned and managed by A Rocha UK since 2015.
Kingfisher by Albert Butcher
Come along and enjoy the wonder
A number of paths are maintained to help visitors to explore the reserve all year round.
The boardwalk follows the right of way across the wetland enabling visitors to observe the different habitats.
Public footpaths are open all year. The car park and eco toilet are open most days. Bike racks are available.
Get even more out of your visit by completing our:
"Habitat loss and climate change mean Foxearth Meadows is already a refuge for depleted wildlife. Places like this will enable our countryside to return to a richer natural environment."
Norfolk Hawker by Albert Butcher
Join our volunteer team
Our Reserve Manager is supported by a group of volunteers helping with our practical conservation work, public events, data collection and scientific research.
Our volunteers help Foxearth Meadows thrive. We welcome people of all faiths and none and offer a wide range of volunteering opportunities to suit all abilities.
Join us at our weekly work parties to learn new skills in the fresh air and exercise as part of a friendly team.
Events
We offer a full programme of free, public events for all ages. These include both morning dawn chorus and evening bat walks, bird and dragonfly identification guided walks, outdoor services and a celebration of National Meadows Day. Our ‘FoxeARTh’ days invite artists of all levels to get creative outdoors.
To help us with planning of materials and refreshments it is helpful to let us know if you are coming.
We also welcome pre-booked organised group visits including leisure, community, church, youth and school groups. Churches have found the reserve an inspiring venue for outdoor worship.
Bringing the classroom outdoors
The reserve is an ideal place for learning activities and inspiring children and young people to engage with nature. Environmental education activities include pond-dipping, sweep-netting, quiz trail, craft sessions and nature walks.
We welcome schools, youth clubs, home school students, Scouts, Guides, church and community groups.
Contact us to arrange your visit.
Sign up to our quarterly Foxearth Meadows news and prayer email to hear more about what's going on at the reserve and you can get involved.
Reserve visits
FortKnights are local social groups for young adults with learning disabilities aged between 17 and 24. The groups, held in Sudbury and Bury...
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A perfect weather day set the scene for our gathering in Nightingale Corner. Under and around two gazebos, on picnic...
Read moreDetailsHow to find us
- The reserve is about a mile north of Foxearth village, between the River Stour and the lane north-west of Constable’s Farm and Constable’s Barn (private dwellings with postcode CO10 7HZ).
- From Long Melford travelling west towards Clare (A1092), turn first left after GCB Cocoa (formerly Philips Avent) signposted Pentlow Road, then take the next left signposted Liston. The reserve is about 200 metres on the left.
- Follow ‘what3words’: charm.dragonfly.townhouse
- Grid reference for the entrance to the reserve: TL 8331 4598
Contact us
For bookings and other enquiries, please email our Reserve Manager, Sarah Leedham.