The area known as The Fleet lies north of Great Wakering and East of Barling. This area is your web authors favourite local 'patch' not least because this was where his first Merlin was seen but also because very few people walk The Fleet even though it is only four miles from the centre of Southend and totally unspoilt.

A circular walk of The Fleet is approximately three miles and takes the walker through grazed and cultivated farmland, marsh, gorse, reedbeds, saltings and up on to the sea wall which then provides wonderful views all year round of the waders and wildlife to be seen in Little Wakering Creek, Barlinghall Creek and Potton Creek.

Directions

From the main Southend road the A127 follow signs for Great Wakering Village. Proceed down the B1017 until you get to Wakering Church at the end of the high street. At the mini roundabout take the left fork and drive for one mile until you come to the M.O.D private road - park your car just here. Please note that the car park on the left is private and should not be used. Take either the M.O.D road or the public footpath to the left and this will take you to the sea wall overlooking Little Wakering Creek. You can accomplish the circular walk taking either of these paths. Note that you cannot drive on the M.O.D road.

The entrance to both footpaths at the start of the Fleet The walk - taking the left path leading to the sea wall. Watch out for cows! The view just before the sea wall looking east towards Foulness Island - at least 30 Shelduck were counted this day First look over the sea wall into Little Wakering Creek, the spire of Barling Church can be seen on the left On the sea wall looking north A little further on and we are overlooking Barlinghall Creek with the Barling Marsh landfill site on the far bank Due to the landfill site, Barlinghall Creek has one of the largest all year round Gull populations of anywhere in Southend Further round, looking north to Burnham. In the distance, Barlinghall Creek meets the Violet. Potton Island is on the right The circular route almost complete we can observe the reed beds from the M.O.D road. The bush to the right was where 100 Corn Buntings were seen.

Species to Look Out For:

Avocet
Bar Tailed Godwit
Common Sandpiper
Corn Bunting (over 100 seen in one bush in October 1999)
Fieldfare
Grey Heron
Hen Harrier
Kingfisher
Lapwing
Little Grebe
Marsh Harrier
Meadow Pipit
Merlin
Mute Swan
Peregrine Falcon
Pied and Grey Wagtail
Pintail Duck
Red Legged Partridge
Redwing
Reed Bunting
Shelduck
Short Eared Owl
Sparrowhawk
Teal

Copyright 19882000 Microsoft Corp. and/or its suppliers. All rights reserved. http://www.microsoft.com/autoroute 1999 Navigation Technologies B.V. and its suppliers. All rights reserved. Selected Road Maps Copyright 1999 by AND International Publishers N.V. All rights reserved. Crown Copyright 1999. All rights reserved.