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Town ditch

2 ha

📷 Adrian Dust · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsInsects
Free entryDogs welcome2 ha

Getting here

51.89274, 0.90647

Open directionsv
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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
  • ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
  • 🧺Picnic area on site — summer afternoons here are an easy, low-cost day out

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome
Bike parkingParking· PaidPicnic spotPlaygroundToilets

Best for

5 activities

Wildlife

Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Mute Swan, Magpie, Woodpigeon +69 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Mute Swan, Magpie, Woodpigeon +69 more · last seen 2026

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Azure Damselfly, Firebug, Emperor Dragonfly +91 more · last seen 2026; Insects — Azure Damselfly, Firebug, Emperor Dragonfly +91 more · last seen 2026

Free

Heritage

Historic site

Free

Easy access

parking, toilets

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

16 signed routes nearby · 22 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Colchester Orbital West BWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Colchester Orbital West AWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Colchester Orbital Spoke (North)Walking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Colchester Orbital Spoke (West)Walking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Colchester Orbital Spoke (South)Walking route
Named routeLocal walking route
St Nicholas Passagepublic footpath · 57 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 57 mPath type: pedestrian
Quakers Alleypublic footpath · 65 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 65 mSurface pavedPath type: footway
Land Lanepublic footpath · 114 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 114 mSurface asphaltPath type: residential
🚴

Cycling

154 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
NCN 51Cycling route
Named routeRef 51National Cycle Network
Greenstead to North StationCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
EuroVelo 2 - Capitals Route - part United Kingdom 8Cycling route
Named routeRef EV2International cycle route
Colchester Orbital CycleCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Colchester Orbital Cycle Spoke (South-East)Cycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Colchester Orbital Cycle Spoke (North East)Cycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Ordnance Survey Cut Mark

📷 Adrian Dust · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Ordnance Survey Cut Mark

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Castle ParkUrban park200 m→🌱Lower Castle ParkUrban park200 m→✦COLCHESTER CASTLE PARKHistoric site200 m→🌱Sunken GardenUrban park300 m→🌱Sensory GardenUrban park300 m→🌱Victorian Shrub GardenUrban park300 m→

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