Facilities: Observation area, Starlings Tearooms, Roof-top viewing deck, Snug area with wood-burning stove, Shop selling toys, gifts, bird seed and binoculars, Learning Zone, Toilets.

Disabled access and facilities: Hearing loop, Easy access path, Full access to visitor centre  including ramp to roof-top viewing deck, Fully accessible bird hide, disabled toilet and parking.

Dogs are not allowed in the visitor centre and roof-top viewing deck but are welcome on a lead in the nature park.

How to find us: Thurrock Thameside Nature Park is in south Essex, on the Thames Estuary, about five miles east of the M25.

Directions by car: Turn off the A1013 from the west or A1014 from the east, towards the village of Stanford Le Hope. Turn into Buckingham Hill Road, then left into Waltons Hall Road and right into Mucking Wharf Road. Carry on past the cottages and barns onto the single-track road up to the Visitor Centre, where there is a large car park. 

Directions by public transport: Nearest train station is Stanford-le-Hope, approximately three miles' walk away. Direct trains from London Fenchurch Street take 50 minutes; direct trains from Southend Central take 25 minutes. Stanford-le-Hope is served by buses from both Southend and Grays.

Essex Wildlife Trust is working to transform Mucking landfill site into a Living Landscape, this is the biggest project Essex Wildlife Trust has ever delivered.  The site is 120 acres at present and will extend to 845 acres. There is tremendous habitats for coastal and wetland wildlife, as well as very important grasslands, woodlands and hedgerows. 

Mucking is positioned right on the working River Thames and the new visitor centre has fanstastic views over the mudflats and the Thames.  The Nature park is situated between East Tilbury and Stanford-le-hope, just of A13.

The area is an avian hotspot and there are already internationally important numbers of Ringed Plover and Avocets and nationally important numbers of Grey Plover, Dunlin, Godwit and Redshank.

The Nature Park is important for many species including Barn Owls, Water Voles (our fastest declining species), Harvest Mouse, Skylark, butterflies and invertebrates.  However, these will not be the only beneficiaries; Livestock will graze the site and people can enjoy 2 miles of new footpaths and cycle ways, finally extending to more than 12 miles with bridleways. The new visitor centre has an observation area and roof-top viewing deck, with views over the nature park and the Thames Estuary. There is a fully accessible bird hide and a play area is planned for children to enjoy.