Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 16 h 44 min4:37 am – 9:21 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 7 h 45 min8:02 am – 3:47 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People5,971 residentsin the Bures Hamlet, Maplestead & Belchamp census areaMedian age 53.42,587 households77% of homes owner-occupied47% owned outright9% social rented, 13% private rentedSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Work and commuting3.9% unemployment rate59% of adults are economically active, 2,899 in work, 30% retiredMain industries: construction 14%, retail and wholesale 14%, health and social work 10%Getting to work: 38% work from home, 56% go by car, 2% take public transport, 3% walk or cycle33% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Education and languages33% of adults hold a degree or higher15% have no qualifications, 6% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 99%Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 23°C, lows 13°CColdest month January: highs 7°C, lows 2°C594 mm of rain a year, 15 days with 10 mm or morewettest month August41 days of air frost, 19 summer days above 25°C in a typical yearSource: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991-2020 averages, 2 km grid (highs and lows from the 12 km grid)
Nearby landmarksThe Lakelake · 2.6 miHurrels Holewater · 1.1 miWesborough Hillhill · 1.4 miThe Grovewoodland · under a mileBrakey Hillhill · 1.9 miWaldegrave Woodwoodland · under a mileSource: Ordnance Survey Open Names
Parks and green spacesThe Greenpark · within reachTwinstead Greenpark · 1.2 miPlough Greenpark · 1.8 miSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes11 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19701 of magnitude 3+, 0 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 3.0 on 15 Feb 199440 mi away, Norwich, NorfolkMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 1 May 202640 mi away, Southern North SeaSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Flood riskRivers and sea: no mapped risk within 500 m of the centreSource: Environment Agency, Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea
Air qualityNO2 5.5 · PM2.5 6.8 · PM10 12 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within UK limits, above the WHO guideline for PM2.5Source: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband86% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband95% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)0.9% cannot get a decent connection (below the 10 Mbit/s universal service obligation)2,704 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation83 m272 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 60 to 88 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalHalstead Hospital3.4 miGP surgeryHedingham Medical Centre2.8 miPharmacyDay Lewis Pharmacy3.3 miDentistWeavers Court (Dental Surgery)2.2 miSource: NHS Organisation Data Service
SchoolsWithin 2 mi1 school1 primaryPrimarySt Giles' Church of England Primary Schoolages 4-11, 91 pupils1.8 miSecondaryHedingham School and Sixth Formages 11-18, 1,177 pupils3.3 miCollegeColchester Institute11.8 miUniversityUniversity of Essex14.5 miSource: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools
Getting aroundAirportLondon Stansted Airport STN20 miRailway stationSudbury (Suffolk)4.2 miBus stationBus StationSudbury4.1 miFerryEast Mersea Ferry Landing20 miBus stops15 within a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the CO9 postcode district.
