Recreation in Ashingdon
Recreation in Ashingdon is mainly rural and outdoor activities and includes : horse riding and show jumping, cycling, walking, rambling, shooting, fishing, bird watching, dog training and during the season, game hunting. Dog owners find many beautiful routes to walk their dogs. Fox hunting took place at regular intervals nearby until the law was changed in 2005 and the hunt used to go on tour. A great number of horse riders go for rides along the lanes, bridleways and tracks in Ashingdon. A few people drive various types of two and four wheeled horse drawn carriages.
ALLOTMENTS
Allotments for those fond of gardening are available in Rochford District and in Southend on Sea Borough. Ashingdon Parish has no allotments, but they exist in Rochford Parish, Hawkwell, Hockley, Hullbridge and other parishes. Allotments are administered by the Parish Councils. If you are interested, you should contact the other parishes to see if there are any vacant plots available, or to put your name on their waiting lists. Rochford District: Rochford Parish 01702 540722, Rayleigh Town 01268 741880, Canewdon Parish 01702 258609, Hawkwell Parish 01702 207710, Hockley Parish 01702 207707, Hullbridge Parish 01702 232038, Great Stambridge Parish 01702 555347. Also try: Southend on Sea 01702 215625, Leigh on Sea 01702 716288.
ARTHRITIS CARE
Arthritis Care sessions are held in The Ashingdon and East Hawkwell Memorial Hall on the 4th Thursday of every month, except November and December, at 2pm in the afternoon. Tel. 01702 547519 or 546966.
BINGO
Bingo sessions are held in The Ashingdon and East Hawkwell Memorial Hall every Wednesday night, at 8pm to 10pm.
BLUEBELL WOODS
There are 2 Bluebell Woods in Ashingdon – Beckney Wood with public access and the private Trinity Wood which is visible from the adjacent Footpath 8.
There are several other beautiful woods in Ashingdon Parish and other woods in neighbouring parishes very near to ours. The main ones are : In Hockley - Plumberow Mount, Marylands Wood, Crabtree Wood, Hockleyhall Wood and the Great Bull Wood and Beeches Wood in the Hockley part of "Hockley Woods"; In Hawkwell - Magnolia Park, Belchamps Wood and the southern half of "Hockley Woods". Part of Hawkwell's Magnolia Park is inside our Parish.
CADETS
Boys and girls who want to take part in the Air Training Corps, Sea Cadets and Army Cadets can go to Southend Airport, Southend on Sea and Rayleigh where all types of military cadet activities are provided. There are also Venture Scout groups in the area and The Boys Brigade and The Girls Brigade.
CARNIVAL
The Ashingdon Carnival Court with their queen, princesses and assistants are elected and go on tour far and wide throughout the Summer including to the Southend on Sea Illuminated Carnival. The Ashingdon Carnival used to serve as Rochford’s carnival. It now starts in Ashingdon village and follows a new route via Clifton Road, Rectory Avenue, Harewood Avenue, past Golden Cross and back to Ashingdon to finish in The King George's Field where there is a fair, attractions, stalls, music, fun and games for all.
CRICKET
Village cricket teams can play every week during the summer. The Ashingdon Cricket Club is currently playing at Belfairs Park, Leigh on Sea.
CYCLING
Ashingdon Parish has many roads, lanes and bridleways where cyclists can ride over quite undulating terrain with a mixture of busy highway, country lanes, quiet roads, green lanes, bridleways, byways and several with steep uphills and downhills to add to the enjoyment of exercise and energy using potential.
DANCING
One can take dancing lessons with several dance groups and guitar, piano and singing lessons can be taken in the village.
Monday afternoons, 2pm to 4pm - Ashingdon Dance Club - Sequence Dancing sessions are held in The Ashingdon and East Hawkwell Memorial Hall.
Monday evenings, 8.30pm to 10pm - Come Dancing - Rumba dancing for experienced dancers and beginners. Sessions are held in The Ashingdon and East Hawkwell Memorial Hall. Tel. 01702 546219 and 346840.
Tuesday afternoons, 2pm to 4pm - Social Tea Dance - Ballroom, Latin and Sequence dancing. Sessions are held in The Ashingdon and East Hawkwell Memorial Hall. Tel. 01702 230480.
Tuesday evenings, 8.30pm to 10.30pm - Dancing Class with instruction - Ballroom, Latin and Sequence dancing. Sessions are held in The Ashingdon and East Hawkwell Memorial Hall. Tel. 01702 546219 and 346840.
Thursday evenings, 8.30pm to 10.45pm - Social Tea Dance - Ballroom and Latin dancing. Sessions are held in The Ashingdon and East Hawkwell Memorial Hall. Tel. 01702 230480.
Friday evenings, 8.30pm to 10.30pm - Social and Practice dancing. Sessions are held in The Ashingdon and East Hawkwell Memorial Hall. Tel. 01702 546219 and 346840.
FISHING
There are many anglers who can fish in the tidal salt water River Crouch and River Roach. The former is in our Parish. Or, nearby at : Doggetts Farm, Great Stambridge Lakes, Leigh on Sea, Priory Park, Rochford Lake, Southend on Sea, Southend Pier, South Hanningfield Reservoir, Stambridge Mill, The Bobbin. Local fresh water fish include : Carp, Chubb, Eels, Perch, Roach, Trout.
FOOTBALL
There are several football teams for men, women, boys and girls. Adult football teams play in the village and Ashingdon Youth Football club is one of the largest in the region and has many teams for all ages for boys and girls up to 17. They have their own large grounds now with several pitches in Cherry Orchard Lane, Rochford and also play in Ashingdon. The girls and ladies have Assandun Vikings Football Club and play in the village.
HORSE RIDING
There is 1 Riding Stables in Canewdon Road which provides riding lessons and several other private stables providing livery and grazing, including a new stables using converted buildings at the pig farm – The Mink Farm.
KITES
Many children and adults take advantage of the open spaces and good coastal winds to fly gliders, single line kites, stunt kites and power kite foils some of which look like wings.
LUNCH MEETINGS
"The Lunch Bunch" meet for friendly chats, talks and lunch for people to get to know each other and meet new friends. The sessions are held in The Ashingdon and East Hawkwell Memorial Hall on the 1st Wednesday of every month at 12 noon. Tel. 01702 547609.
PHOTOGRAPHY
There are many charming areas in and around our Parish where one can see and photograph very beautiful scenes, terrain, wildlife, birds, butterflies and wild mammals. Several years ago, I saw some of the very rare Large Tortoiseshell butterflies which is often said to have been extinct for decades in the UK.
PLANE SPOTTING
Being only three miles from Southend Airport and at about 170 feet (50 m), many types of aircraft can be seen flying over or near Ashingdon en route to the airport, especially during the Southend Air Show weekend every year in May. All are quiet enough to make little effect on residents. Private flying is popular at Southend Airport 3 miles away where there are four or five flying clubs where one can learn to fly fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. Many new pilots take their training further to go on to : night flying, instrument rating, twin engine flying, instructor's rating and some ultimately proceed to train and become commercial pilots. Some of the aircraft taking off from Southend are the very light, long slender winged powered gliders which take off under power and switch off the engine once at a suitable site to glide for many hours.
Plane spotting is a popular hobby at Southend Airport where an amazing number, range and variety of aircraft can be seen, from light singles to twin and four engined Airbus, Boeing and BAE passenger jets and freighters in for maintenance, repainting, fitting out and conversion.
PLAYING FIELDS
Open spaces include the 2 playing fields – The King George’s Field behind the Ashingdon and East Hawkwell Memorial Hall with Football and Cricket Pitches, Basketball, an adventure playground with swings, slide and climbing frames; There is an open playing field in Malvern Road and a green in Victory Lane. In addition, there is common land just off Lower Road which should be open for public access, but some residents enclosed it.
PLOUGHING
Each year, ploughing matches take place either within or near the parish. Anyone who likes the sight of tractors and farm machinery will see many of them at various times of the year.
RIVERSIDE WALKS
The River Crouch is a great amenity for enjoying the tranquillity, beauty and fresh air and for walking along the sea wall, bird watching, fishing, wind-surfing, rowing, sailing, water skiing and motor boating. The River Crouch is famous for sailing and especially famous for the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club at Burnham on Crouch not far away on the opposite side. At several sites in and around the River Crouch one can see seals and all other species of wildlife, fauna and flora can be seen including a wide variety of wild flowers, butterflies, insects, birds of prey, maritime birds, song-birds, wild-fowl, adders, badgers, hares, rabbits, rodents, muntjacs and deer.
Some of the wild flowers and insects in our Parish are extremely rare in the UK. The rare great crested newt is found in abundance in our Parish and many species of rare birds and butterflies are to be found here.
SCOUTS AND GUIDES
The scout, guide, brownie and cub groups meet regularly to provide outdoor activities for boys and girls. The Boys Brigade and The Girls Brigade also provide weekly fun activities for children.
SHOOTING
Some farmers have land and woods where some people can try clay pigeon shooting all year round and wildfowl shooting in season, subject to shotgun licensing rules and permission from the farmers and land owners.
SLIMMING WORLD
Slimming World sessions are held in The Ashingdon and East Hawkwell Memorial Hall every Thursday morning, at 9.30am. Tel. 01702 543844.
SPORTS
Our village centre is only 1500 metres (0.90 miles) from Clements Hall Sports Centre with a swimming pool and most sports facilities which are provided by Rochford District Council.
THEATRE
At Southend on Sea the excellent Essex County Council’s Focus Youth Theatre and performing arts centre caters for children to learn acting, reciting, singing, dance and mime. It is only 5 to 7 miles and a bus-ride away.
VILLAGE HALLS
There are 2 Village Halls – The Ashingdon and Hawkwell Memorial Hall in Ashingdon Road and The Church Hall in Church Road. The Elim Pentecostal Church has a village church centre providing a wide range of community services.
WALKING
Casual walkers, dog owners, nature lovers and members of The Ramblers Association can and do make great use of our large networks of lanes, green lanes, bridleways and footpaths to see the beautiful countryside and scenery which includes leafy footpaths meadows, woods, hills, farmland and tidal riverside coastal scenery and wildlife.
WEIGHTWATCHERS
Weightwatcher sessions are held in The Ashingdon and East Hawkwell Memorial Hall every Friday morning, at 9.30am to 11.15am.
