Noakes Grove, Sewards End

Noakes Grove is the reserve we acquired first and the only one we own outright. It has four main habitat types three of which appear on a 1758 map in exactly the positions they are now. The then woodland area gives its name to the whole reserve and has lasted 600 years since a Mr Nokes was given permission to create a small-holding by clearing a virgate of forest belonging to the monks at what is now Audley End.

The wood has some very big oak trees and a good showing of bluebells in the Spring. The ancient hedge has a great variety of shrubs as is normal for very old hedges. The pasture land has been used over the years for a variety of agricultural uses but is now grazed by our small flock of Wiltshire Horn sheep. The sheep are moved to a new quarter of the pasture every few weeks and the parts that have not been grazed for some time have a wonderful range of wildlowers. The pyramidal orchids are espially abundant.

The scrub area only developed when the Reeve brothers (the farmers of the area for most of the 20th century) abandoned grazing the area sometime around 1970. It is the habitat of a large population of Wild Liquorice - a very rare and local plant in East Anglia.

Scotch Patch, Ellis Green, Wimbish

While children are always welcome as part of family groups visiting any of our reserves, we put great effort into providing special activities for children.

Wild Child is an open-air club, mainly at Noakes Grove, for home-educated 6 - 11-year olds who study willdife, have fun and sometimes camp out. The club meets once a fortnight year round. There is no charge for Wild Child but donations are welcome.

We also organise open-air wildlife orientated birthday parties.

There are also children's activities that use our reserves to provide other activities: a forest school for Bell Nursery (2-3 year olds) and mindfulness or relaxation training on a one-to-one basis for children of any age.