Drought tolerant plants furnish the gravel garden throughout the year. There is a dappled wood garden and a water garden. The gardens have been developed over the past 40 years beginning with an overgrown wilderness. With conditions ranging from dust dry gravel to soggy boggy hollow, these problem areas have been transformed by choosing plants, trees and shrubs adapted by nature to a wide range of conditions.

Brightlingsea on the River Colne is rich in seafaring history and is one of the Cinque Ports. The town is a haven for yachting and hosts national and international sailing events annually. Sailing barges offer pleasure trips to visitors. Its sandy beach runs along Western Promenade next to Bateman's Tower, a historic local landmark. A parade of beach huts line an enjoyable waterside walk where you can join the nature trail along the site of an old railway line to Alresford Creek. A range of sport and leisure activities are available along the promenade.

The maritime and social history museum of Brightlingsea (a limb of the Cinque Port of Sandwich) showing collections relating to the town's Cinque Port connections. It also shows the history of fishing, yachting, stowboating and oystering in the local area and the one-time rail link with Colchester.

A vibrant and modern zoo, Colchester Zoo is constantly evolving to ensure our world class level of commitment to our animals.

Beautiful Constable Country is located on the Suffolk and Essex border. This enchanting part of England was the birthplace of renowned artist John Constable and has become very popular with visitors. There are many things to see and do in Constable Country, whether visiting for the day, or staying a little longer. We hope you will enjoy our website and be inspired to visit this lovely corner of East Anglia sometime soon.

Situated next to the entrance of the Colne estuary, the park consists of grassland and a sandy beach ideally suited to walking, picnics, informal games and wildlife watching. The park is 14 hectares with a car park, toilets and information room. Erosion by the sea has exposed a geologically important sandy cliff. Adjoining the park is a further 28 hectares of nature reserve comprising saltmarsh and grazing fields managed for waders and wildfowl. There is a wildlife observation hide which overlooks some of this land.

An exhibition of aircraft parts from local recoveries. There are also displays from World War I up to the late 1940s housed in a 19thC Martello tower. The museum is centred around an American P51 Mustang fighter aircraft which was recovered from the sea off Clacton-on-Sea in 1987. This is on show alongside the pilot's memorabilia. Also covers World War I, US Forces, Home Front, Army, Navy and much more.

One hundred and twenty five acres of woodland, lakes and saltmarsh on the Colne estuary. Three hundred and fifty species of wild flowers, 20 species of butterfly and birds, nightingales, avocets, brent geese and other wildfowl. The centre has an observation room and tower, gift and book shop and toilets. There are colour-marked nature trails on the reserve and 8 hides. Facilities for the disabled including nature trail and hides. There are regular activities for children, guided walks and courses for adults.

Working vineyard established in 1985 on land only just above sea level. The site extends to some 10 acres overlooking the Blackwater and Colne estuaries. Wine shop open for off sales. Vineyard tours and wine tastings with suppers available for pre-booked groups of 15-40 people. For smaller groups there is a schedule of monthly pre-arranged tasting evenings from Apr-Sep.

Captain Arthur Wenlock had bequeathed Springmead house and garden to the people of Brightlingsea in 1927. Although the house had been put to use the garden had lain neglected and derelict until 2003 when work started to transform it into a quiet and tranquil oasis for all to enjoy. The garden lies in a sheltered dell with a natural spring-fed stream running through the heart of it. In fact as one of the few original sources of water for the town the spring may justly be described as the birthplace of Brightlingsea.

An early 19thC tidal watermill restored by Essex County Council. Visitors may climb to the top of the mill. Thorrington Tidemill was built on an ancient site. The water wheel and associated machinery are in full working order.

The University of Essex, based at Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, received its Royal Charter in 1965. It is one of the UK's leading academic institutions and has an international reputation for the quality of its research and teaching. The University has 19 departments spanning the Humanities, Social Sciences and Science and Engineering.