The Mill Meadows Society You are visitor number 39819

Mill Meadows

Mill Meadows, Billericay, is a 90-acre Local Nature Reserve and one of the finest ancient meadow systems in Essex. Centuries of grazing have created the ideal conditions for a wonderful diversity of wild flowers, fungi, insects and invertebrates, many of which are rare. It contains an area of 16.63 acres (6.73 ha) declared as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its unimproved neutral grassland.

The site is protected from development by green belt planning legislation and by a covenant lasting until the year 2070 restricting use to outdoor recreation and social activities. The owner of the site, Basildon Council, is working with Natural England DEFRA to maintain and enhance the rural character and natural history of the meadows while still allowing visitors access for quiet recreation.

Cattle sometimes graze on the reserve during the spring and summer months. This grazing encourages the growth of flora. The cattle are indifferent to people and dogs provided that they are not harassed in any way.

Dogs, kept under control, are allowed on the reserve. Please pick up dog litter. Bins are provided for disposal.

Upcoming Events

Saturday 11th September 2010
Conservation Work Party
meet at The Scouts Hall
10.30 am - 12 .30 pm. Just come along, tools provided 		Wednesday 15th September 2010
Dormouse Monitoring Survey
Norsey Wood Information Centre
Starts at 9am, and usually last most of the morning. Please let the Ranger at Norsey Wood know if you're planning to go so he can get an idea of numbers 		Sunday 26th September 2010
Norsey Wood Open Day
Norsey Wood
Many side-stalls and activities: more details to follow. from 11 am until 4 pm. Car parking is limited so why not make your way on foot and enjoy a stroll through Norsey Wood? 		Saturday 9th October 2010
Conservation Work Party
meet at The Scout Hall, Greens Farn Lane
10.30 am - 12 .30 pm. Just come along, tools provided 		Tuesday 19th October 2010
Dormouse Monitoring Survey
Norsey Wood Information Centre
Starts at 9am, and usually last most of the morning. Please let the Ranger at Norsey Wood know if you're planning to go so he can get an idea of numbers 		Saturday 30th October 2010
Fungus Foray
meet at Greens Farm Lane
10.30 until approx 12 noon. The very popular annual hunt for waxcaps and other fungi. A local expert will be on hand to help with identification.

The whole of the site, close to the south east of the town centre, was formerly farmland, most of which was grazed. Some fields were converted temporarily to arable use during WW2. By the 20th century two farms remained, Hurlocks and Greens, the latter until 1980. Occasional grazing did continue up to 1991 on some of the fields. Many ancient hedgerows exist but, with the exception of the SSSI where grazing persisted longest, there have been incursions of scrub and developing woodland. There is thus a diversity of habitat types, important for flora and fauna.

The SSSI is comprised of five adjoining grassland units that overlie Claygate beds (sandy clay or loam) and London Clay, sloping to the north and separated by old hedge lines and some by ditches. The site boundaries include housing of various ages, roads, a stream, semi-natural grassland, scrub and secondary woodland.

The site has rare species and supports a characteristic flora of a grassland type that is very much reduced within the Essex landscape, due to development and agricultural improvement.

The Mill Meadows Society exists to participate with the Basildon District Council in the management and conservation of Mill Meadows, Billericay, by: