Langdon Lake and Meadow

Region: South East

This little gem of a nature reserve, spanning 16-hectares, is a popular countryside retreat within a mainly urban area. The contrast of open meadow, woodland and lake make the park popular with both people and nature.

The Present and the Future

On the meadow area in summertime the Grizzled skipper and other butterflies can be seen fluttering in the breeze, while the lake is a popular fishing venue, managed by a local fishing group, which attracts a variety of wildfowl.

The lake and meadow is owned by the Land Trust, and is also part of Essex Wildlife Trust (EWT)’s Langdon Nature Reserve. EWT provide a wide variety of volunteer opportunities that allows people to get involved in the conservation and improvement of the park

Langdon Lake and Meadow Contact


The site contact for our Langdon Lake and Meadow space is the Land Trust Tel: 01925852005

This space is managed in partnership with Essex Wildlife Trust

Visitor Information

Opening Hours

9.00am - 5.00pm

Car Parking

At the EWT Visitor Centre

Toilets

Yes
(click here to find the nearest public toilets)

Café

Yes

Entrance cost

Free

Accessibility

One level surfaced path (car park to lake and back) suitable for wheelchairs and buggys, with resting points at approx. 50m intervals. There are kissing gates on this route. Other paths may not be suitable.

Footpaths

Yes

Dogs

Yes

Things to do

Feed the ducks (duck food available at EWT visitor centre). Various events and activities for kids are run through the EWT Langdon visitor centre (see website or leaflet for details). For fishing enquiries, please email duntonreserve@outlook.com.

Other nearby attractions

EWT Langdon Reserve, EWT Thurrock Thameside Nature Park, EWT Chafford Gorges

Location

Lower Dunton Road, Basildon, SS16 6Eb

Site size: 16 hectares

Events

There are currently no events relating to this space.

View all events

History

Langdon Lake and Meadows is a classic case of how a neglected green space can become a public liability. However this former problem space which attracted anti-social behaviour has been transformed into a thriving community asset. The space is now supporting activities which benefit health, education, employment and community cohesion. Conversely the anti social behaviour that once blighted the site is all but gone.

This park clearly demonstrates that if land is managed effectively at a local level problems can be overcome and massive benefits delivered. However the key to enabling successful local delivery is provided by the Land Trust because we provide a funding structure, management plan and accept the liabilities. This allows the local wildlife trust the freedom to work with local people to deliver a space that meets their needs.

The Trust provided the land owner, the local authority, with an exit from the problem space, which removed an increasing liability from their books and allowed a locally based organisation to implement a sustainable long term management programme.

Development

The Land Trust identified and secured funding from the Thames Gateway Delivery Unit of the Department of Communities and Local Government. This allowed some capital improvement works to take place but more importantly provided an endowment to cover all future management cost in perpetuity.

Land Trust Contact

To contact the Land Trust about this site or how we could help manage your space please email our Estates Manager Lauren Hull or call 07500 578476.

To enquire about holding an event on a Land Trust site, please click here.

Downloads

Download Langdon Lake and Meadow Case Study

Our other spaces in the South East

How you can help

We are always on the look out for enthusiastic, committed people who want to make a real and lasting difference in their local community.

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