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Educational Offer
Enhance your visit to the forest with our free lesson plans, activity ideas and games
Select from a range of materials to help enhance your visit to the forest. Activity ideas, lesson plans linked to the curriculum and more are all free to download so you can create a fun and informative learning experience to suit your needs.
This is the link to our learning web page, and downloadable resources,
https://www.forestryengland.uk/learning-resources
Site Contact Details
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Please contact: Simon Elgar
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Email: simon.elgar@forestryengland.uk
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Tel: 01708642964
Location
South Ockendon RM15 6BD, UK
Site Summary
- 27 hectares (66.7 acres)
- Amongst the oldest surviving woods in Essex, Mardyke Woods was already well established when the Romans first arrived here in 54BC.
- Composed of three ancient woods: Brannett’s Wood, Millard’s Garden and Low Wells Wood.
- Official status as an Ancient Semi Natural Woodland!
- Convenient for the nearby Mardyke Way riverside walk, where you can connect up with the Davy Down Urban Riverside Park.
Site History
Mardyke is composed of three separate ancient woods: Brannett’s Wood, Millard’s Garden and Low Wells Wood.
Dating from 1339 is Brannett’s Wood, the second oldest recorded Essex woodland and was then called Brendewode.
Millard’s Garden is first mentioned shortly after in 1397 as Maynwares Garden whilst Low Wells Wood is documented in 1619 as Hanginge Wood. Traces of medieval woodbanks dividing these three woods can still be found today.
All three woods were incorporated into the Belhus Park Estate and were probably coppiced and used to supply woodland products. However, by 1880 all had fallen into neglect,
The Forestry Commission is now reintroducing management practices that will restore the woods’ quality.
Land of the Fanns Teacher Briefing
Some sites have a Teacher Briefing available at the top of the page, but the following download is a general Teacher Briefing for The Land of the Fanns. We recommend you download this briefing before visiting any of the sites listed on this resource.
Download Teacher BriefingLandscape and Habitat
- Ancient woodland
