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.
ADVENTURE ISLAND
Tickets for Adventure Island, Southend on Sea can be bought at a reduced price of £10 per day from Ashingdon Youth Football Club. Contact Ray Cracknell, 40A York Road, Ashingdon, Telephone 01702 545650.
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, Canewdon, Hawkwell, Hockley, Hullbridge and other parishes. Allotments are administered by the Parish Councils. If you are interested, you should contact the other parish councils or Southend on Sea Borough Council or Leigh Town Council 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 07596 747873, Hawkwell Parish 01702 207710, Hockley Parish 01702 207707, Hullbridge Parish 01702 232038, Great Stambridge Parish 01702 555347. Southend on Sea Borough : Southend on Sea 01702 215625, Leigh on Sea 01702 716288.
Ashingdon Parish has no allotments, but it is an amenity that we have always wanted to have. Our Parish Council has the desire to acquire or provide allotments at some time in the future when the opportunity arises. If a land owner would like to make land available for allotments by rent, lease or sale of the land, then we would like them to contact our Parish Clerk. See "GARDENING" below.
ARCHERY
Clements Bowmen is a local archery club. They practise all year round in the Sports Hall at Greensward College, Greensward Lane, Hockley. They also practise outdoors at The Lawn, mansion house grounds in Hall Road, Stroud Green, Rochford. Contact Antoinette Salmons, Telephone 07713 379979.
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.
ASTRONOMY
There is a well established and popular Astronomy Resource Centre near our Parish beside the Rawalpindi Nursery, Main Road, Hawkwell, SS5 4JH. They have powerful telescopes and knowledgable amateur astronomers who are highly skilled in planet- and star-gazing. They observe, track and record planets, moons, stars, nebulae, binaries and the occasional comets. For details on membership, taking part in research and for free Observation Evenings, call Royston Dean, Telephone 01702 206244.
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 large Bluebell Woods in Ashingdon – Beckney Wood with public access and the private Trinity Wood which is visible from the adjacent Footpath 8. The stunning sight, intense colour and alluring fragrance of Bluebells in Spring is an experience well worth enjoying every year. Our bluebells are the British native species - Hyacinthoides non-scripta. It is estimated that Britain is home to between 25% and 50% of the entire world's Bluebells. The Natural History Museum encourages surveys of bluebell woods to confirm the location, species, habitat, coverage, plant sizes an so on. See their website for details : www.nhm.ac.uk/bluebells
There are several other beautiful woods in Ashingdon Parish and other woods in neighbouring parishes very near to ours. The main ones are : In Ashingdon - Boundary Wood, A wood above Durham Road, a wood beside White Hart Lane, woods beside Footpaths 2, 4 and 7; 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.
BOWLING
Rochford Bowling Club is the nearest lawn bowling club. It is in The Recreation Ground, Stambridge Road, Rochford. It has no indoor bowling, so the outdoor bowling green is open from April until October and they play short mat bowls during the winter. For membership and booking. Telephone 01702 542789 / 541596 / 546913. SEE : The "LINKS" Section
Eastwood Park Bowls Club is the next nearest lawn bowling club. They play in Eastwood Park, Rayleigh Road, Eastwood and in King Georges Playing Field, Websters Way, Rayleigh. There is a Ladies' Team and a Men's Team. the outdoor bowling green is open from April until September. For membership and booking. Telephone Ladies' 01268 782221; Men's 01702 523165.
Rayleigh Bowls Club is also in King Georges Playing Field, Websters Way, Rayleigh. Telephone 01268 780593.
Great Wakering RBL Bowls Club is in Great Wakering. They play outdoor bowls in the summer and short mat bowls during the winter. Telephone 01702 216006.
BOULES - PÉTANQUE
Boules is the popular bowling game also called "Pétanque", played all year round throughout France, Italy and Spain.
It is a game for two or more players. Each has three steel boules and throws or bowls them to stop as close as possible to a small wooden cochonnet or coche (jack). The nearest boules to the coche win 1 to 3 points for the side nearest the coche.
Boules is usually played on a square boules terrain. It is specially prepared with a firm surface of fine grit or small stones, but it can be played on any flat gravelly surface including firm sand. There is a Boules - Pétanque Club near here which plays every Sunday and Wednesday morning from about 11.15am for an hour or two. They play on the Boules Terrain in the garden of The Silver Jubilee pub, 629 Rayleigh Road, Eastwood, nearly opposite the Wyvale Garden Centre. Contact Vic, Telephone 01702 429195 or Gordon, Telephone 01702 203802 woodhill @talktalk.net
CADETS
Boys and girls can take part in many types of cadets and youth activity groups.
For the Air Training Corps, Sea Cadets and Army Cadets you can go to Southend Airport, Southend on Sea and Rayleigh where all types of military cadet activities are provided.
There are also Brownies, Cubs, Guides, Scouts and Venture Scout groups in evry town and most villages in our area. There is one of the country's oldest Scout camps at Belchamps in Hawkwell next to Hockley Woods.
The Boys Brigade and The Girls Brigade are in 484 Southchurch Road, Southend on Sea. www.bbseessex.co.uk. .
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.
COMPUTERS
Are you baffled by computers, or would you like to find out how they work and see what they can do for your interests, studies and amusement ? You can go to many places to try them out and get advice and you can attend simple and quick courses on how to use them. Advice is normally free. Some courses are free or are very cheap.
The Essex and Southend on Sea Libraries provide free use of computers at every branch. If staff are not too busy, they will show you how to get started. You only pay for print-outs, scanning and copying.
Computers can be used to : see the news, do research on every subject, listen to the radio, watch TV - including past programmes, find old friends, research family trees, communicate by email, speak to, see and hear your friends on the screen, write letters or a novel, calculate things, you can save and print your photos, you can do shopping, pay bills and manage accounts online - and much more.
Some charities and churches provide courses. In our area, RRAVS can help with beginners courses and they have a computer club. Tel. 01268 775255.
Computer shops will also show you how they work and what you can get out of them.
CRICKET
Cricket teams can play cricket in our village every week during the summer,
Bookings for football pitches must be made with Connaught Services, Contact Sue Strenks, Telephone 01702 411356 or 07500 127773.
Ashingdon Cricket Club is currently playing at Belfairs Park, opposite Belfairs Golf Course in Leigh on Sea. Contact Glenn Baker, Club Secretary, Telephone 01268 757886 www.ashingdoncc.co.uk
Chequers Cricket Club plays at the Canewdon Recreation Ground, 4 km or 2.5 miles from Ashingdon. Contact Peter Lunn, Telephone 01702 258020. They are associated with The Chequers pub in Canewdon village. www.chequerscricketclub.co.uk
Ekco Monarchs & Trojans Cricket Club recruits locally and plays cricket mainly at the old Ekco Sports Ground, near Southend Airport and at the delightful Garrison Cricket Ground in Shoebury Garrison. They have Adult and Youth teams. Contact Kevin Grant, Youth Officer, Telephone 01268 746132, kev.grant @virgin.net, www.emtcc.co.uk
Hockley Cricket Club is managed by Andy Barker of Ashingdon. They play at Clements Hall and Canewdon and at many away match grounds. For Adults - membership and training, contact Andy Barker at Moons Cottages, Canewdon Road, amb96. @hotmail.com, Telephone 01245 281374/6, or 07944 543516. For Juniors - Under 15s, contact Matt Donohue, Telephone 07757 954432. www.hockley.play-cricket.com
Rayleigh Cricket Club is a large local cricket club for men, women, girls and boys. They have several teams and youth teams for U11s, U13s and U15s, They play at their rural grounds quite near Rayleigh at the Rawreth Recreation Ground, Rawreth Lane, Rawreth. Contact Brian Dawbarn, Telephone 01268 770172. www.rayleighcricketclub.org.uk
South Fambridge Cricket Team. South Fambridge is in our Parish. We would like to receive details on the contacts for The South Fambridge Cricket Team.
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.
FIRST AID
The St John Ambulance has a local group for volunteers in their first aid and ambulance charity. Contact : Neil Genwick, Superintendant, St John Ambulance Essex, Hawkwell and Hockley Quadrilateral Division (the St John's group for our village and area. Tel, 01702 546185, Fax 01702 546403.
FISHING
There are many places where anglers can fish in our neighbourhood. Many people fish in the tidal salt water rivers and creeks. These are mainly The River Crouch, The River Roach, The River Thames, Lion Creek, Paglesham Creek and the creeks around Barling and Great Wakering, Southend on Sea, Southend Pier, Leigh on Sea and Canvey Island and its creeks.
The River Crouch, Beckney Brook and The Brandy Hole Saltings are in or beside our Parish. Other popular sites on The Crouch are at Wallasea Island, near Canewdon, South Fambridge, Hullbridge and Battlesbridge. The River Roach is only about 3 miles from here. Freshwater fishing can be done nearby at : Doggetts Farm, Great Stambridge Lakes, The Bobbin, Rochford Lake, South Hanningfield Reservoir. Local freshwater fish include : Carp, Chubb, Eels, Perch, Roach, Trout.
FLYING
There are several flying clubs at Southend Airport where new pilots can train for their pilot's licences. Those with a PPL, Twin engined licence or a CPL can hire aircraft and fly 24 hours per day from Southend with its customs port of entry status.
FOOTBALL
There are several football teams for men, women, boys and girls. Adult football teams and Junior football teams for boys and girls play in our village at King George's Field. Bookings for football pitches must be made with Connaught Services, Contact Sue Strenks, Telephone 01702 411356 or 07500 127773.
Ashingdon Youth Football Club is one of the largest in the region and has many teams for all ages for boys and girls from Under 7 up to Under 18. They have their own large grounds now with several pitches in Cherry Orchard Lane, Rochford and also play and train in Ashingdon in King George's Field and at Ashingdon Schools. See photos of AYFC in our website photo album. Contacts are : contact@ / secretary@ ashingdonyouthfc.org.uk. www.ashingdonyouthfc.org.uk
Assandun Vikings Girls Football Club is a girls and ladies only football club. They play in our village and train at Clements Hall. See photos of AVGFC in our website photo album. Staff and contacts are : Tim Crook - Chairman, Paul Johnson - Under 18 Manager, Brian Ford - Trainer. Sue Hume - Secretary Tel. 07873 247220, Sandra Smith 07976 075960. www.assandunvikinggirlsfc.co.uk
Hockley Rangers Football Club is a youth football club for under 16s. They play their home games in King George's Field behind The Ashingdon & East Hawkwell Memorial Hall in Ashingdon. They train every Saturday from 10 to 12 midday at Clements Hall sports field near the Skateboard Ramps. Contacts are : Glenn, Tel. 07826 112367 hrfc@ hockleyrangers.co.uk www.hockleyrangers.co.uk
Ekco Monarchs Football Club recruits locally for footballers and they also play cricket, mainly at the old Ekco Sports Ground, near Southend Airport. They have Adult and Youth teams. Tel. 01702 545660 and 01268 746132. www.emtcc.co.uk
There are several other football teams for adults and children playing in Ashingdon, including The Victory Inn, teams from Hawkwell, teams from Southend on Sea, and from Hockley, More details and contacts will be added soon for those teams.
GARDENING
Gardening is a favourite past-time for many. It is the chance to grow a few flowers to beautify our gardens. It lets us grow vegetables almost free of charge and with zero "food-miles". The exercise keeps us fit and we have a few extra plants to give away or swap with neighbours. What better way to get acquainted and make friends.
We can buy the bedding plants right in our Parish from a few amateur growers selling at the gate and from the garden centres and nurseries such as :
Four Acres Nursery in Brays Lane, Telephone 07735 370671,
Newhall Garden Centre in Lower Road, Telephone 01702 200007,
Riverside Garden Centre in Lower Road, Telephone 01702 201100.
Newhall and Riverside Garden Centres are open all year, but Four Acres is open from April until September with a holidays closure in August. You can buy their products all year at their shop at 45 Eastwoodbury Crescent, by the airport entrance.
Very near our Parish are other places to buy plants :
Bushukan Bonsai, in Lower Road, Lower Hockley, Telephone 01702 201029,
Cherry Orchard Nursery, Cherry Orchard Lane, Stroud Green, Telephone 01702 545841,
Four Seasons Nursery, in Southend Road, Rochford, Telephone 01702 530765,
Glebelands Nursery, in Ironwell Lane, Hawkwell, Telephone 01702 202320,
Londis Newsagent, Rectory Road, beside Eastbury Avenue, Golden Cross,
Pot Ash Garden Centre, in Main Road, Hawkwell, Telephone 01702 201120,
Rawalpindi Nursery, in Main Road, Hawkwell, Telephone 01702 206244.
Compost bins are available at special prices arranged by Essex Council Council, Rochford District Council and Southend on Sea Borough Council. To order one, call : 0845 076 0223 or buy online at www.recyclenow.com/home_composting
Small 220 Litres bin £22 including delivery - half retail price.
Large 330 Litres bin £23 including delivery - half retail price.
Square 250 Litres bin £48 including delivery - two thirds retail price.
Kitchen Caddy carrier £4 when bought with a bin.
GOLF
The nearest golf clubs are both about 2 km (1.25 miles) from our Parish :
Ballards Gore Golf Club at Ballards Gore along Brays Lane, Telephone 01702 258917; And,
Rochford Hundred Golf Club beside Saint Andrew's Church in Rochford, Telephone 01702 544302.
Hockley Golf Range is in Hockley village, near The Bull pub, Telephone 01702 207218.
Lords Golf & Country Club (was Hannover Golf Club) in Hullbridge Road, 01702 232377.
HOCKEY
Hockey training, practice and games for ladies are provided by Rochford Casual Hockey at King Edmund School off Ashingdon Road, Rochford near the the Golden Cross shops. Sessions on Wednesday evenings from 7.30 to 9.00pm and Friday evenings for Juniors. Contact Steve Cooke Tel. 01702 343549.
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.
MEETING PEOPLE
If you are lonely, then meeting people can be a great therapy, a joy and a good past-time. It will add interest to your life and it will put you in better spirits. Besides all of the many recreational activities mentioend here, Ashingdon has a lively group called BYSN - "By Yourself Saturday Night". The BYSN people meet regularly, at least once per month for chats, lectures, quizzes, games, raffles, visits, trips, theatre, drinks, teas and many other events.
NETBALL FOR LADIES
Back2Netball training, practice and games for ladies are provided by the local branch of Netball East at the Rayleigh Leisure Centre off Rawreth Lane near the Asda supermarket. Sessions every Wednesday evening from 7.00 to 8.00pm. Price £3.50 per session. Contact Teresa White Tel. 07834 500189. www.netballeast.org.uk
OPEN SPACES
Open spaces in our Parish mainly include the 2 playing fields mentioned below, plus :
- Open green areas and green verges within some of the housing estates;
- Beckney Wood is an ancient woodland mentioned in the Domesday Book. It has several bridleways running across and through the woods which are Public Rights of Way;
- Boundary Wood beside Footpath 7 (FP2) off Rectory Avenue;
- In addition, there is common land just off Lower Road which should be open for public access, but some residents enclosed it over recent years. The bridleways and byways through Oakfield Road, Cavendish Road and New Park Road are rights of way which should be open for access;
- The wildest and remotest open spaces are the coastal paths running in each direction from South Fambridge along the River Crouch sea wall. To the west it is 1.5 km (1 mile) to Brandy Hole Saltings and to the east it is 2.5km (1.9 miles) to our parish boundary with Canewdon Parish and their footpath to Scaldhurst Lane and Pudsey Hall Lane.
In neighbouring parishes, there are more open spaces within easy reach on foot, bicycle, bus or car :
- Magnolia Park in Hawkwell Parish starts just yards from our Parish boundary.
- Plumberow Mount and the adjoining playing fields are in Hockley Parish, only 500m (550 yds) from our Parish.
- Hockley Woods and the adjoining woods in Hockley and Hawkwell parishes are only 1.5 km (1600 yds) from our Parish.
- Cherry Orchard Jubilee Country Park with its Paths, nridleways, Lake and Woods is in Rochford Parish, only 3 km (1.9 miles) from our Parish.
- The ancient woodlands in Hockley Parish - Marylands, Crabtree and Hockleyhall woods are about 1.2 to 1.4 km (1300 to 1550 yards) from our Parish.
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
Our Parish has 2 playing fields :
The King George’s Field is behind the Ashingdon and East Hawkwell Memorial Hall. It has space for 6 Football Pitches and a Cricket Pitch. There is a floral garden with benches, an adventure playground with swings, slide and climbing frames, a picnic table complete with benches and a basketball goal on an asphalt sufface.
There is an open playing field off Malvern Road on a steep hillside with oak trees, seats and good views. The field leads into Footpath 1, Branksome Avenue and Beckney Wood nearby.
There is no playimg field in South Fambridge village. But, it is an amenity that we have always wanted to have. Our Parish Council has the desire to acquire or provide a field at some time in the future when the opportunity arises. If a land owner would like to make land available for a playing field in South Fambridge by rent, lease or sale of the land, then we would like them to contact our Parish Clerk.
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.
There is a second sports centre provided by Rochford District Council just off Rawreth Lane beside the Asda supermarket.
Rochford District Council has a Sports Development Officer - Mark Aldous. Tel. 01702 318121. Mark Aldous is the person responsible for promoting every type of sports, including minority and lesser known sports. His department and Rochford District Council are keen to encourage all sports, and where possible, they may be able to cater for or advise on new sports.
TENNIS
The nearest tennis club is in Rochford between the railway station and Saint Andrew's Church. Tel. 01702 542892.
TEN PIN BOWLING
The nearest Ten Pin Bowling is in Hockley. There is another in Southend on Sea.
CJ's Bowling, Eldon Way, Hockley, SS5 4AD. Tel. 01702 207331
Youth Bowling Club with a qualified instructor every Wednesday 4.30 to 6.30pm
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 managed by Connexions. It is only 5 to 7 miles and a bus-ride away.
The Cliffs Pavilion, The Empire Theatre, The Palace Theatre are all located in Southend on Sea. The Towngate Theatre is located in Basildon. The Civic Theatre is located in Chelmsford.
All provide plays, comedy, musicals, concerts, opera and ballet.
Other, mainly amateur performances are also provided at The Rayleigh Mill.
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 make great use of our large networks of lanes, green lanes, bridleways and footpaths. They come to see the beautiful countryside and scenery which includes leafy footpaths, meadows, woods, hills, farmland and tidal riverside coastal scenery and wildlife. We have 23 off-road Public Rights of Way - Footpaths, Bridleways or Byways. 4 more rights of way were recently approved. See our "Footpaths" Page on this Website !
Our Parish links with several footpaths in neighbouring parishes. There is direct access to 4 in Hawkwell, 2 in Canewdon, 2 in Hockley and 1 in Hullbridge. All lead to their extensive networks.
Health Walks are guided walks provided free by Rochford District Council. They are in beautiful parts of our District.
For details on Health Walks in Rochford District: Tel. 01702 318121, or email to LCSSRV@rochford.gov.uk
Apart from the various walks planned throughought the year, there are also local walks in :
Hullbridge - Every Monday at 10.45 in Hullbridge Community Centre,
Hockley - Every Thursday at 2.00 in Hockley Woods (a SSSI).
Health Walks are provided regularly in other Districts free of charge.
In Southend on Sea Borough - Tel. 07771 926932 Angela Andrews-King
In Castle Point District - Tel. 01702 694342 Lita Freeguard
Leigh on Sea - every Wednesday, 11.00 at The Crooked Billet, Old Leigh,
Southend on Sea - every Wednesday, 1.30 at the Beach Huts opposite the The Shorehouse,
Southend on Sea - every 2nd & 4th Thursday, 1.15 at Priory Park Cafe,
Canvey Island - every Monday, 12.00 at Waterside Farm Sports Centre,
Canvey Island - every Wednesday, 10.30 at Labworth Carpark, Furtherwick Road,
Hadleigh - every 1st Friday, 10.30 at Hadleigh Country Park.
WEIGHTWATCHERS
Weightwatcher sessions are held in The Ashingdon and East Hawkwell Memorial Hall every Friday morning, at 9.30am to 11.15am.
