Marks Hall Estate

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Marks Hall Estate is an ancient estate set in attractive countryside north of Coggeshall. It runs to some 2,000 acres, of which 150 are enclosed and hold an arboretum and formal gardens and a further 300 acres are accessible via footpaths. The estate was left to the nation by its last owner, Thomas Phillips Price.

Great wildlife interest can be found in the old deer park – which sadly has lost nearly all of its massive ancient oaks – and in a large area of ancient woodland. Some of these woods have been planted with conifers but a great amount of the original woodland remains, containing a number of wild service trees and large areas of small-leaved lime, a tree that once dominated the woods of East Anglia but now confined to just a few ancient woods.

The woods are being coppiced and this encourages flowering plants such as lily of the valley, sweet woodruff and early purple orchid. They are frequented by deer and a wide range of woodland birds, including nightingales. Rare breed pigs are held in movable enclosures in the woods and perform the same function as wild boars used to, turning over the soil looking for food. Highland cattle graze the open grassland.

With its grassy tracks, coppiced woods and ancient hedgerows, Marks Hall is especially good for butterflies, including silver-washed fritillary.