5
Muhammad Haque 27 months ago
Gunners Park is undoubtedly a brilliant blissful natural attractions for all of all ages and abilities without the roars and buzzes of the long list of Southend-on-Sea beaches. It is a picturesque coastal park along the Thames Estuary and North Sea with many environmental, historic and heritage characters including Coastal Grasslands, Inland Lake, Shoeburyness Old Ranges Nature Reserve, Grade II Listed Historic Military Buildings owned by MoD (Ministry of Defence) Shoeburyness, Danish Camp - a Scheduled Monument.
Unlike Southend-on-Sea Beaches (Westcliff Beach, Jubilee Beach, Thorpe Bay Beach, Shoeburyness Common Beach etc), Gunners Park doesn't have public access Beach. Presence of Groynes as a means of defence strategy and protection of the Beach/Shore makes it inaccessible for public use. However, it has a long promenade along the shore providing excellent view of the sea, muddy nature reserves, Marshes, and glimpse of what it used to be as an active MOD Weapons Testing & Training Site - inevitable from the road names in this neighbourhood ☺! Gunners Park is much more interesting compared to the well-known beaches in the areas. Away from hustle and bustle of Seafronts, Beaches and City Life - Gunners Park provides a very peaceful, quite and blissful for anyone to have a walk along with the breeze of fresh air, soothing noise of waves and chirping of birds!
There are Recreation Facilities available for children, teens and adults - Play Areas, Skate Park, TENNIS Courts and Picnic Areas by the Inland Lake. Two Children's Play Areas off New Barge Pier Road, and off Warrior Square Road provide spaces for children and families to enjoy this historic site. Very intelligently, two car parks available are also located right next to each of the Play Area. Dedicated bays are available for Disabled ♿ Blue Badge Holders only parking. Cart and Wagon Shed, located just opposite the Gunners Park Car Park off Warrior Square Road, is a Grade II Listed Building and repaired as part of new housing development in Shoebury Garrison. It is re-purposed to be used as a Heritage Centre offering services, activities, local archives for the local communities and visitors!
Shoreline Promenade and Footpaths are made of either tarmacked or gravel making it accessible for all including wheelchair ♿, mobility scooter, and pushchair users!
Gunners Park is a goldmine of wildlife habitats. The whole Gunners Park is not a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) except the Shoeburyness Old Ranges. As per the EWT, the Gunners Park "has more than 12 habitats to walk through, from coastal grassland and a large pond to remnant sand dunes and historic military buildings." The Gunners Park is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust (EWT) in partnership with the Shoeburyness Borough Council. Shoeburyness Old Ranges and Military Buildings are closed to public. However, authorities have installed Information Boards next to the historic buildings and sites making it easier for visitors to learn about the historic nature reserve.