Forest bathing at Hockley Woods

Hockley Woods covers more than 130 hectares near Hockley and is the largest surviving area of the wildwood that covered Essex after the last Ice Age. The trees change with the ground: oak and sweet chestnut on the higher land, birch on the most acid soils, hornbeam on the wet clays, and willow, hazel and ash along the streams. Plants such as wild service tree and wood anemone, which only grow on undisturbed old woodland soils, are found here. The woods are still managed by coppicing, and the cleared areas suit the heath fritillary butterfly.

The car park is off Main Road, next to The Bull pub, with a large play area beside it. Two waymarked walks lead from here into the woods; a leaflet is available from the council. The gates open in the morning and close in the early evening, so plan to be back in good time. The play area keeps the ground near the car park busy at times, so walk on into the woods for quieter paths.