John Shennan Field marks new Local Nature Reserve status

John Shennan Field’s new status as a Local Nature Reserve has been celebrated at a community event. The Mayor of Chelmsford, Cllr Janette Potter, met volunteers, local groups and the council’s parks staff to mark the achievement, which recognises places for people and wildlife with a special local interest.

John Shennan Field was declared a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) in late 2024, backed by Natural England and following a local consultation. The district’s newest nature reserve, situated in Moulsham Lodge, is a key green space for the nearby community, with thousands of monthly visits by residents, volunteers and local schools.

A key green space for Moulsham Lodge

The 15.5-acre site is a peaceful area to escape urban life and a location for all ages to experience being outdoors. Regular volunteering sessions take place to manage the site for wildlife, improve habitats and carry out practical maintenance. Local schools also take part in hands-on sessions at John Shennan Field, led by the council’s parks and conservation team.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Chelmsford heard first hand from volunteers about the value of working together to nurture this site, with many opportunities to enjoy and learn about nature. Volunteers also took part in a session to cut back and plant Standard trees and built a shelter for wildlife called a hibernaculum.

Councillor Rose Moore, the council’s Cabinet Member for a Greener Chelmsford, paid tribute to the contribution volunteers past and present have made in shaping this green space.

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“John Shennan Field is primarily managed as part of our parks volunteer programme, by volunteers who contribute so much to our district. Chatting with people here today has made it abundantly clear that this green space is loved and valued and talked about with great affection.

“Without our parks volunteers it would not have been possible for John Shennan Field to start its journey as a Local Nature Reserve. Thank you for all you do. John Shennan, the park keeper and guardian of this space after whom it is named, would undoubtedly be proud of all the caretakers here with us today.”

Cllr Rose Moore, Cabinet Member for a Greener Chelmsford

Becoming a Local Nature Reserve

Local Nature Reserves are protected areas of land, designated because of their special contribution to communities and England’s biodiversity. John Shennan Field will now be registered with Natural England on its database of national Local Nature Reserves. This change of status doesn’t change the public’s continued use of this green space but seeks to make a positive impact on the local environment and enhance and preserve it for the future. 

John Shennan Field is the sixth green space to be designated a Local Nature Reserve in Chelmsford. Over the last two decades, the site has evolved from a closely cropped sports field into a more diverse and interesting ecological space, thanks to a dedicated management plan and the hard work of volunteers. Today, John Shennan Field is mainly grassland, with fenced areas of young tree planting, wildflower grassland and informal footpaths. Winter shelters have been introduced for reptiles and amphibians to help them to survive freezing temperatures and bat boxes have been added to increase biodiversity.

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“We regularly survey species on site, and at the start when the site was quite open and barren, there were hardly any birds – just the odd garden species because of the short grass. Today, as you can hear, we have many birds! This is due to an increase in trees, and in insects thanks to careful species-rich grassland management.

“The parks team continues to review the species present and adjust the grassland, so it works as a recreational space in balance with its habitats. With careful monitoring of that balance, we can seek to bring even more species to thrive within this urban local nature reserve and we hope to see varied species of bats and Swifts visiting in future seasons. All this should mean the site becomes an even richer and more biodiverse place, bringing nature into urban spaces that are shared by us.”

Cllr Rose Moore, Cabinet Member for a Greener Chelmsford

Parks staff and volunteers created a hibernaculum to help reptiles and amphibians keep warm in winter

Helping neighbourhood nature networks

Connectivity with other nearby sites is also helping to make John Shennan a richer area for wildlife. A reptile survey undertaken in 2023 found evidence that slow worms were using a link to neighbouring allotments and that numbers were growing thanks to a more relaxed mowing schedule. It’s hoped birds and hedgehogs using the site will also benefit from connections to both the allotments and nearby gardens in future. The site will also provide other animals, like bats and pollinators, with a vital feeding point as part of a wider network of green spaces from humble verges to large parks.

Ensuring John Shennan remains a space for informal recreation is also an important aspect of being a nature reserve. The area is much used by dog walkers and local families and its play area is due for refurbishment in early 2025. More seating is also planned for the site, in consultation with residents.

Find out more about all of Chelmsford’s green spaces on the Love Your Chelmsford website.