Thursday, August 16

Ballroom Dancing. Newcomers, particularly single people, welcome. Music/dancing to suit everyone. Come and make friends. 8-10.30pm. Lourdes Hall, Marguerite Drive, Leigh. 01702 475452 Table in Outpatients' Department of Southend General Hospital. EBric-a-brac, books, videos, toys and lots more. In aid of StrokeBusters. 7.30am-3.30pm. 01702 586697 Five-mile evening walk in Cherry Orchard Jubilee Park area. South East Essex Ramblers. Meet 6.45pm. Morrisons' car park, Western Approaches. 01702 511765 Solo Salsa Class. Beginners welcome. Dallas Academy. 7.30-9pm. St David's Church Hall, Rayleigh Road, Eastwood. 01702 462932 Civil Service Retirement Fellowship. Social afternoons. Speakers, Refreshments. 2-4pm. Parish Council Rooms, West Street, Rochford. 01702 342426 Four-mile walk. Pub lunch. Essex Friends Ramblers. Meet 10.30am. Black Bull pub, Fyfield. 01277 899776 Family Nature Day-Ugly Bug Ball. 10am-noon. Suitable for children of all ages accompanied by an adult. £4 donation per child, adults free. Booking essential. In aid of Essex Wildlife Trust Langdon Visitor Centre, Third Avenue, Lower Dunton Road, Basildon Family Nature Day-Badger Trail. 2pm-4pm. Suitable for children of all ages accompanied by an adult. Booking essential. £4 donation per child, adults free. In aid of Essex Wildlife Trust. Langdon Visitor Centre, Lower Dunton Road, Basildon Yoga. 6-7:30pm. Suitable for all levels and abilities. Shambhala Studios, Unit 11, Leighcliff Buildings, Maple Avenue, Leigh Nearly New Sale. 9.30am-noon. St Mary's Hall, Victoria Avenue, Southend. Bargain stalls and refreshments. Admission free. In aid of St Mary's Church, Prittlewell.Three-mile evening walk. Around Norsey Wood. Meet 7pm. Basildon Greenway Ramblers. Lake Meadows car park, off Radford Way, Billericay. 01277 654626 Yoga. Promotes health and well-being. 7-8pm. Laindon Community Centre, Aston Road, Laindon. 01268 466641 Wheelchair Dancing. Therapeutic afternoon for all disabilities. Line dancing, social, ballroom and Latin American. 1.30-3.30pm. St Cedd's Church, Bridgwater Drive, Westcliff. 01702 477697 or 01268 545988 School Holiday Kids' Fun. 8-16 years. Rayleigh Leisure Centre, Priory Chase, Street jazz, basketball, dodgeball, badminton, dancing, cheerleading. Call for information 01268 654510 Adult Boxing. Weekly. All abilities welcome. 12.30-2.30pm. Freestyle, 457 London Road, Westcliff. 07742 727931

Friday, August 17

Kickbox/Fitness Class. Every Friday. All welcome from novice to experienced. 7-8.15pm. Freestyle, 457 London Road, Westcliff. 07742 727931 Jewellery Making. Northwick Park Primary School, Third Ave, Canvey. 10-noon. Ages: 8-plus. Price: £3 per child. For more information call Pat from the Canvey Schools Partnership on 07867 787235.Little Egrets. Watch as they fly in to roost and get close-up views with the available telescopes. The pathways are uneven and you are advised to bring a torch. Everyone welcome. Admission free. 8pm-dusk. Two Tree Island, Essex Wildlife Trust Reserve, Leigh. 01702 557971 Family Nature Day-Ducks a Dabbling.

10am-noon. Suitable for children of all ages accompanied by an adult. £4 donation per child, adults free. Booking essential. In aid of Essex Wildlife Trust. Langdon Visitor Centre, Lower Dunton Road, Basildon

Family Nature Day-Nifty Newt Fun.

2pm-4pm. Suitable for children of all ages accompanied by an adult. £4 donation per child, adults free. Booking essential. In aid of Essex Wildlife Trust. Langdon Visitor Centre, Lower Dunton Road, Basildon

Annual Exhibition of Local Art and Crafts. Christ Church, Wickford (next to Somerfields). 9.30am-pm. Also Monday, August 20. In aid of Christ Church funds.

Refreshments available. 01268 733932

Saturday, August 18

Art and Craft Exhibition and Sale. All work by local artists. Free entry to hall. Refreshments available. 9.30am-2pm. Christ Church next to Somerfields, Wickford. 01268 733932 Six and four-mile walks. Rochford and Castle Point Ramblers. Christine's Figure of Eight Pub Walks, number 9 Chappel and Wakes Colne. Meet at Chappel viaduct car park for a morning or afternoon walk, or both. Morning walks starts 10am (six miles) and afternoon walk starts at 1pm (four miles). Optional lunch at The Swan pub. Call for car sharing arrangements. 01702 547297 Rayleigh History Walk. £2 (National Trust members £1). Rayleigh National Trust. 3pm. Starts from Rayleigh Windmill, Bellingham Lane, Rayleigh. 01268 775328 Re-enactment. Recreation of everyday life in years following Restoration of the Monarchy in mid-17th Century. Staged by the Essex Militia historical re-enactment society. Included with admission to house. 1.05pm-6pm, also Sunday. Ingatestone Hall, Ingatestone. 01277 655612 11-mile walk. Linton to Boughton Monchelsea. Bring own refreshments. South East Essex Ramblers. Meet 8.30am. John Burrows Recreation Ground car park, Rectory Road opp Poors Lane, Hadleigh. 01702 200018 Mini-market in the grounds of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Leigh Road. Homemade cakes, pies, preserves and produce plus books and bric-a-brac. Refreshments available. 10.30-noon. Proceeds to new parish centre building fund.Four and half-mile Feast Walk. East Essex Friends Ramblers. Meet 10.30am. White Horse pub, Mundon Road out of Maldon, Mundon. 01621 852070 or 07887 687019 Basildon and District Embroiderers' Guild Meeting. Subject is New Stitches. We meet on third Saturday of every month. 2pm-4.30pm. Trinity Methodist Church, Clayhill Road, Basildon. 01277 623558 or 01268 756700 Elvis Tribute Evening. Dean Hammond performs. Fun evening dedicated to his memory and will test your musical knowledge. £10 includes supper. Lions Club of Billericay. 7.30pm. Billericay School, School Road, Billericay. 0845 833 9849 Four-mile walk. Pub lunch. Essex Friends Ramblers. Meet 10.30am. White Horse pub, Mundon. 01621 852070 Award Winning Garden Open. Plant lovers' paradise with wide variety of flowers and foliage. Tea and plant sales. £2 admission. For Macmillan and Marie Curie Nurses. 2-5pm. Little Foxes, Marcus Gardens, Thorpe Bay. 01702 587972 Summer Fayre. Collectable glass, porcelain and jewellery, linen, children's section and early Christmas gifts and decorations. Friends of Wallace Kennels. 10am-2pm. Budworth Hall, High Street, Chipping Ongar. 01277 821737 Summer Fun Day. Bouncy castle, stalls, barbecue, cream teas, dancing show and more. Noon-4pm. Thundersley Methodist Church, Kennington Avenue, Thundersley. 01268 757582

Sunday, August 19

Seven-and-a-half-mile walk. Dedham to Flatford Mill. Lunch stop. Bring own refreshments. Leigh Holiday Fellowship Rambling Group. Meet 9.30am. Rayleigh Mill car park. 01268 777245 Eight-mile walk. Flat, easy walk of Felstead and along River Chelmer. Pub stop. South East Essex Ramblers. Meet 9am. Sainsbury's Rayleigh Weir car park, Rayleigh. 01702 587925 Four-mile walk. Pub lunch. Essex Friends Ramblers. Meet 10.30am. Ferry Boat Inn, Fambridge. 01621 782179 Ten-mile walk. North Downs and Pilgrims Way. Pub stop. Basildon Greenway Ramblers. Meet 8.45am. Circular car park, Station Way, Basildon. Car share to Holly Hill, Kent. 01277 840303 Four-mile Feast walk. Basildon Greenway Ramblers. Meet 10.30am. Ferry Boat Inn, North Fambridge. 01245 223657 Art Exhibition. Paintings by local artists. Free entry. Rayleigh National Trust. Noon-3pm. Rayleigh Windmill, Bellingham Lane, Rayleigh. 01268 775328 It's Show Time. Charity fundraiser in support of Little Havens Children's Hospice. Classic vehicles, crafts, demonstration, owls, dog displays, horse cart, miniature train rides, bouncy fun and go-karts and much more. Ample parking, refreshments and toilets. £4, conc £3, under 16s free. 10am-5pm. New Acres, Burnham Road (B1010), Althorne, nr Burnham-on-Crouch. 01245 473359 Teddy Bears' Picnic. Bring your teddy, a grown-up and a picnic. Drink provided. Free admission. 3-5pm. Canvey Methodist Church, Waarden Road, Canvey. 01268 684294

Monday, August 20

Talk titled The Flow of History of the River Thames by David Williams. University of the Third Age. 2.45pm. St Aiden's Church Hall, The Fairway, Leigh. 01702 525278 Adult Boxing. Weekly. All abilities welcome. 12.30-2.30pm. Freestyle, 457 London Road, Westcliff. 07742 727931 New Advanced Sequence Dance Class. Learn the latest inventive dances. £2.50.

3-4pm. Runnymede Hall, Benfleet. 01268 754955

Puppet Making. Paul Klee style with the Art Factory. Cornelius Vermuyden School, Dinant Avenue, Canvey. 10-noon. Ages: 8-plus. Price: £7. Make unique hand made puppet. For more information call Pat from the Canvey Schools Partnership on 07867 787235.Talk. Beekeeping by Margaret Thomas. Billericay Horticultural Society. 8pm. Billericay Day Centre, Chantry Way, Billericay. 01277 651823 Line Dance Class. Intermediates. 10.30-11.30am. St Luke's Church hall, St Luke's Road, Southend. 01702 614605 Line Dance Class. Beginners/Improvers. All welcome. 7pm. St Luke's Church Hall, St Luke's Road, Southend. 01702 614605 World Ship Society Meeting. Talk/slide show Tilbury Shipping by Ian Wells. 7.45-10pm. Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, Southend. 01702 586512 Fitness Walking and Yoga. Walk along the seafront followed by gentle stretching and restful relaxation. New class. 6-7.30, at Shambhala Studios 11 Leighcliff Buildings, Leigh. 01702 478924 Yoga. 10-1130am and 7.30pm-9pm.

All levels and abilities welcome. St Barnabas Church Hall, Woodfield Road, Hadleigh. 01702 389101

Tuesday, August 21

Water Dragons Family Nature Day. Suitable for children of all ages accompanied by an adult. Donation £4 a child. Adults free. In aid of Essex Wildlife Trust. Booking essential. 10am to noon. Langdon Visitor Centre, Lower Dunton Road, Basildon. 01268 419103 Marvellous Mosaics Family Nature Day. Suitable for children of all ages accompanied by an adult. Donation £4 a child. Adults free. In aid of Essex Wildlife Trust. Booking essential. 2pm to 4pm. Langdon Visitor Centre, Lower Dunton Road, Basildon. 01268 419103 Nine-mile walk. Rochford and Castle Point Ramblers. Three Hundred Churches No 3. Meet at Clements Hall Sports Centre, Rectory Road, Hawkwell, at the far end of the car park for 9.30am start. Refreshments and toilets at the sports centre. Call Arthur on 01702 205310.2D Art. Looking at local artists and styles with the Art Factory. Cornelius Vermuyden School, Dinant Avenue, Canvey. 10-noon. Ages: 8-plus . Price: £7. Painting with mixed media, looking at influential local artists and styles. For more information call Pat from the Canvey Schools Partnership on 07867 787235.Talk. Beautiful Landscapes of Britain by Barry Kaufmann-Wright. Mini-show, plant sales, refreshments and raffle. Membership £5 per year. Non-members welcome £1 admission. Laindon and District Horticultural Society. 8-10pm. Laindon Community Centre, Aston Road, Laindon. 01268 543681 Table Top Sale. Books, videos, bric-a-brac and much more. Helping support people with lung problems. BreatheEasy Southend. 8.30am-4pm. Outpatients Foyer, Southend Hospital. 01702 465978 Modern Line Dancing. Fun way to exercise and socialise. All types of music. All welcome. Starlight Line Dance Club. Beginners 7-8pm. Intermediates 8-11pm. Paddocks, Long Road, Canvey. 07931 370544 Four-mile walk. Pub lunch. Essex Friends Ramblers. Meet 10.30am. Nags Head pub, Ramsden Heath. 01708 447153 or 767220 Five-mile walk. Basildon Greenway Ramblers. Meet 10am. East Hanningfield Village Hall car park, off The Tye and opposite church. 01268 771937 Tai Chi. Shambhala Studios 8-9.30pm 11 Leighcliff Buildings, Leigh. 01702 478924

Wednesday, August 22

Monthly Meeting of Rayleigh Castle (evening) Townswomen's Guild. Talk titled Conservation in South East Essex by Cliff Moore from Essex Wildlife Trust. 7.45pm. Methodist Church Hall, Eastwood Road, Rayleigh. 01268 776363 High Flyers Family Nature Day. Suitable for children of all ages accompanied by an adult. Donation £4 a child. Adults free. In aid of Essex Wildlife Trust. Booking essential. 2pm to 4pm. Landgon Visitor Centre, Lower Dunton Road, Basildon. 01268 419103 Splendid Spiders Family Nature Day. Suitable for children of all ages accompanied by an adult. Donation £4 a child. Adults free. Booking essential. 10am to noon. Langdon Visitor Centre, Lower Dunton Road, Basildon. 01268 419103 Pardners Country Music Club. Featuring Johnny Marks. Dance or just sit and listen. 7.30-11pm. Clarence Rooms, above Conservative Club, Clarence Street, Southend. 01702 232114 Four-mile walk. East Essex Friends Ramblers. Meet 10.30am. Benton Hall Golf Club, Wickham Hill off Maldon Road (B1018), Witham. 01245 352985 or 07949 847077