Canvey Wick

The old power station sits there like some monument to Britain's industrial past - all concrete and steel against the Essex sky. Canvey Wick isn't what you'd call a traditional tourist draw. It's an Essex Wildlife Trust reserve that occupies the site of a demolished power station, and what makes it genuinely fascinating is how nature has reclaimed the lot.

You're walking across grassland peppered with rare plants - over 130 species of vascular plants grow here, which sounds dull until you realise some are genuinely uncommon. The invertebrate life is prolific too: dragonflies, bees, butterflies. Serious naturalists and photographers come here specifically for that reason. If you're keen on birds, there's plenty to spot.

For most families on a typical park holiday from Haven Kent Coast - which sits about six miles away near Benfleet - this won't be the headline act. It's more of a pleasant walk if the weather's decent, but you're not looking at dramatic landscapes or interactive attractions. Forty minutes to an hour covers it properly. There's something quite moving about watching wildlife establish itself in what was once an industrial site, mind you. The reserve's free to access, which helps.

Go if you're genuinely interested in ecology and habitat restoration. Skip it if you're expecting manicured paths and visitor facilities. It's real Essex rather than postcard Essex - and that's precisely the point.