Paul Golder writes for the Brentwood Gazette
We welcomed Mick Hedges into the studio this week.
Mick came in to talk on Patrick Sherring’s Friday lunchtime show, One 2 Three. He has been volunteer warden of Warley Place Nature Reserve for 18 years.
Mick gave a very interesting rundown on what you can expect to see there – and when. He said the best time to visit is between February and June, but the 25 acre site is open every day during daylight hours. It is particularly notable for spring flowers including snowdrops, daffodils, bluebells, foxgloves and rhododendrons.
The nature reserve has an interesting history too. The Wilmott family bought a house on the site in 1870. When their daughter Elizabeth inherited the house, she followed her passion to develop the gardens – at one point employing 100 gardeners.
Many plants were cultivated at gardens with species containing either Wilmott or Warley in the name. Elizabeth even employed a plant hunter to bring back exotic species for cultivation.
Sadly, Elizabeth went bankrupt and and died in 1934 – she was buried in Bentwood Cathedral. The house was sold to developers and demolished just before the outbreak of World War II. The walls of the conservatory still stand.
After the war, Brentwood Council prevented development and Paul Carter asked the Essex Wildlife Trust to maintain the site.
You can hear Mick’s interview at phoenixfm.com, and to find out more about the reserve visit www.essexwt.org.uk/nature-reserves/warley-place.
