Home Mead Local Nature Reserve

Size: 1.82 Hectares

Owners: Epping Forest District Council.

Grid Reference: TQ 43852 97839

LNR Declaration: 23 December 2004

Access: The reserve is reached from the main entrance situated off England's Lane, Loughton. There is no formal parking so please park sympathetically in the neighbouring streets.

Site Description: Home Mead LNR is situated to the north of Loughton and at just under 2 hectares is a relatively small site. However, it still contains an interesting mosaic of woodland, scrub and acid grassland. It also has a small pond that was created in 2004. In December 2004 the site was declared a Local Nature Reserve in acknowledgment of it special wildlife value.

The woodland that is developing on the site is only young, less than 30 years old and has  spread by natural regeneration into the once open grassland. There is still an area of heather on the eastern side of the reserve, which possibly gives a clue to the once larger heathland community that existed. Areas of scrub now form an interface between the open grassland areas and the woodland.

Management of the reserve. Countrycare took over management of the site in 1999 and since that time the scrub has being managed in a coppice rotation to maximise its value for both insects and birds. The floral communities compose an interesting mixture of plants ranging from those commonly associated with woodland including Wood Dock, Wood Avens and Bugle to plants of open meadows such as Red Clover, Tormentil, Common Bird's-foot Trefoil and Ragged Robin.

In October 2004 a 360 metre hardened pathway was created around the reserve with funding from the Essex Environment Trust.

All the work on the nature reserve is undertaken by Countrycare staff and a dedicated team of volunteers. For more information about how to get involved see the latest news - walks, talks, events and volunteering.

In November 2005 a major outdoor event called “Birdsong” was held on the nature reserve to introduce the site to the local community. This nighttime event was coordinated with partners Epping Forest Arts and involved a performance of story telling, music and dance. The whole reserve was sympathetically lit with lanterns as the audience enjoyed storytelling, music and dance from young people from Davenants Secondary School.

A good time to visit the reserve is in the spring as the first flowers emerge. Visit in the early morning and you should be treated to a wonderful dawn chorus and the site is especially good for birds.

next »