Pulling Ragwort at Gosbecks Archaeological Park

An activity with North Essex Biodiversity Action Team (Midweek)

Activity date: Tuesday 16th June 2026

Start time: 10:15
Finish time: 15:00

Activity description

The fields at Gosbecks are cut for hay in midsummer. It is important to remove Ragwort before the cut as it is harmful for horses and cattle. Removing Ragwort by hand means that all the other plant life can be left to thrive.

Meeting place

10a.m. at Britannia car park (behind Colchester Town station). 10.10a.m. at the corral, off Gosbecks Road (through the gate at W3W///public.basket.nurses

what3words meeting point: ///public.basket.nurses

Activity location

Gosbecks Archaeological Park, Gosbecks Archaeological Park Cunobelin Way Colchester, CO3 4RN

Site description

This predominately grassland area is managed through a mixture of hay cutting and grazing. The pastures are managed on agreed cutting regimes, and in the areas grazed by cattle a hay crop is removed every year. In the section to the west of Olivers Lane approximately 50% of the grassland is cut each year, this is done in late summer to allow the flowers to seed with all the arisings removed from site.

Contact

Michael Padmore

Telephone: 07764655682
Email: michael.padmore@tcv.org.uk
Website: https://www.tcv.org.uk/essex

Please bring

• packed lunch
• suitable outdoor clothes
• suitable outdoor footwear

Further info

Gosbecks archaeological park has been described as one of Britain's premier Iron Age and Roman monuments and (with adjacent sites) was designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument in 1988. The park covers 65 hectares and is mainly flat grassland and farmland.

Site Facilities

• Parking
• Nearest Toilets - Lidl

Back to search results