Gunners Park and Shoebury Ranges

Gunners Park and Shoebury Ranges is a coastal nature reserve in Essex featuring grassland, sand dunes, ponds, and buildings from different periods. The site covers multiple habitat types across its grounds, each supporting different plants and animals.

The site saw long military use before transitioning into a nature reserve open to the public. At its eastern end stands an Iron Age archaeological site that holds protected monument status.

The site blends former military grounds with nature conservation, creating a space where visitors can observe wildlife and plants in a working landscape. People come here to walk, watch birds, and experience how nature reclaims old structures.

The reserve can be explored on several paved and gravel paths suitable for different abilities and fitness levels. Free parking is available to make access straightforward for most visitors.

The site harbors rare beetle species and specialized plants found nowhere else in the region. Historic buildings on the grounds serve as nesting spots for swallows and other birds.