Natural Heritage

Halstead is set in enviable verdant and undulating landscapes.  Our green spaces not only look beautiful but contribute to carbon mitigation, provide wildlife habitats and foster biodiversity – and they do us good too.  Scientists have shown that people enjoy better health when they have access to the natural environment and Halstead has several attractive possibilities.

View across Box Mill water meadows - St Andrew's Church tower glimpsed through the trees

Halstead River Walk - Link to the River Walk Map

The River Colne can be enjoyed along Halstead River Walk, a linear path that passes from the bridge on Box Mill Lane to the Colchester Road. For more energetic nature lovers, the ancient woodland of Broaks Wood is just over the parish border between the roads to Gosfield and Hedingham. And there's always our own lovely Halstead Public Gardens, a green space that was created as a park in 1901 for the benefit of the people of Halstead.

Broaks Wood

Halstead Public Gardens

Halstead has lots more besides. The gorgeous commanding views from some of our Public Rights of Way show how just how priceless our landscapes are.  Yet it’s these routes that also highlight the risk posed to our natural environment by large scale developments on the edge of town. 

So whether it’s Local Wildlife Sites, footpaths, play spaces, trees, fine views or insects – they’re all important to us.