June’s Park of the Month spotlights Galleywood Common Local Nature Reserve (LNR) – a gem within the city, hosting a range of natural beauty and local history.

Galleywood Common LNR offers 47 hectares of green space for Chelmsford residents and visitors to visit and explore. As you walk across this Local Nature Reserve, you’ll encounter a mosaic of habitats, including woodlands, meadows, ponds, and lowland heath. In early summer, the heathland comes alive with vibrant, seasonal heather. During your walk, keep an eye out for a host of pollinators and insects such as grasshoppers, butterflies, moths, and more.

Galleywood Comon LNR is registered as Common Land and managed by Chelmsford City Council. While exploring the landscape, why not soak in the centuries of site history; from large ancient forest, parts of which can still be explored, to earthworks left over from the massive artillery fort built during the Napoleonic wars.

From 1759 until 1935, the site was part of the historic Galleywood Racecourse. The area housed horses, jockeys and equipment. After the racecourse closed in 1935, the remaining buildings were repurposed for storage and equipment maintenance. White fence rails still mark parts of the old gallops, elsewhere, sections of the finishing post fence and gates, and a base of the judges box can still be found with a bit of detective work. A more detailed history can be found on the Galleywood Common Association website: A Short History of Galleywood Common – Galleywood Common Association .

After exploring the common, the Galleywood Heritage Centre, nestled beside the common and woodland, is a must visit for tea and cake or a light lunch. In recent years, the Galleywood Heritage Centre has become a hub for the local community, with a thriving café, entertaining fundraising events and spaces available for hire.

Marie Hyland, Centre Manager, spoke to us and was thrilled with the progress of the heritage centre and the events they have been able to host. Marie is one of five members of staff who work alongside volunteers who dedicate their time to the centre. The ages of the volunteers range from 9 years old to 91! Showing just how important this site is for the community and bringing people together.

I love it because I love giving something to the community and when people come along they have a good time. Some visitors to the tearoom can be lonely, after their visit they express how they wouldn’t have anything to do or anyone to see if the tearoom wasn’t open. ” – Marie Hyland, Centre Manager

The tearoom, which now offers hot lunches alongside their delicious homemade cakes and hot drinks, saw a significant increase in visits during and since lockdown because local visitors wanted to escape city life or those who lived alone wanted to get out and make connections.

Whatever your reasons to visit, the Heritage Centre café is a great community venue to meet other people, chat and enjoy a slice of cake. Or just to sit and enjoy your tea surrounded by the garden and the Local Nature Reserve.

Local groups use the venue for their meetings, like the dementia carers group (Fundangles) which is a support network for those caring with family or friends with dementia. Providing a peaceful garden setting is extremely important for groups such as this to reconnect not only with others but with nature.

The Heritage Room* within the centre details local history and even for long-term residents, can be insightful and informative as the history of this area is bountiful.

The Galleywood Heritage Centre Café opening hours are:

• Tuesdays 1pm-4pm
• Thursday 1pm-4pm
• Friday 10am-2pm
• Sunday 10am-4pm

(Opening times may change as the centre and café sometimes hold events. Please check The Heritage Centre website before visiting or to see what exciting events are coming up.)

* The Heritage Room is open to visitors on Tuesdays 1.30 – 3.30pm and on Sundays for special events or by prior appointment.

Click here to find out more about the Galleywood heritage centre, what’s on, how to hire the space, or get involved in volunteering at the centre (from gardening to supporting the café or events): https://www.galleywoodheritagecentre.org.uk/

If you are interested in conservation volunteering on the wider Galleywood Common Local Nature Reserve, you can find out more and contact the City Parks service here.