Free Animal Mysteries Festive Trail at the Essex Country Parks
Wrap up warm and enjoy the Animal Mysteries Festival Trail and more at the Essex Country Parks this December.
Posted on 27th November 2024
Pick up* or download a free** Animal Mysteries Trail this festive season from the Essex Country Parks.
Find and count the animals hiding in the park and discover the magic number to enter our prize draw to win an Explorer Pass!
Running from Sunday 1 December 2024 to Sunday 5 January 2025 at the following participating parks:
- Belhus Woods Country Park
- Cressing Temple Barns
- Cudmore Grove Country Park
- Danbury Country Park
- Great Notley Country Park
- Hadleigh Country Park
- Thorndon Country Park
- Weald Country Park
Wrap up warm and enjoy a run around in the fresh air, take our winter scavenger hunt, and enjoy the extra activities at home.
Supported by the Essex Year of Numbers.
*While stocks last
** Car parking charges apply. (Money taken for car parking is ultimately reinvested into the park, its maintenance and upkeep for visitors and the wildlife living within.)
Download or print at home
- Download the trail to your phone
- Print the trail at home
- Print our Festive Mysteries sheet at home
- Print our Festive Activities at home
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Why not also enjoy the Stick Man Trail, feed the deer and take part in our colouring competition to win £50 of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler themed goodies at Weald Country Park.
Meet the Gruffalo's Child at Thorndon Country Park or bake some festive sweet treats with Tiptree this December.
Take a Wonderful Winter Walk - find inspiration for the one that suits you with our blog.
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- Times: 9:00am - 4:00pm
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- Dates:
November 10, 2025- November 17, 2025
- November 24, 2025
- December 1, 2025
- December 8, 2025
- Venue: Danbury Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 12:00pm
- For under 5s
- Price: Now booking for September and November 2025. Six weeks for £51. Sibling discounts available.
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- Dates:
November 10, 2025- November 17, 2025
- November 24, 2025
- December 1, 2025
- December 8, 2025
- Venue: Danbury Country Park
- Times: 12:30pm - 2:30pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Now booking for September 2025. Six weeks for £51. Sibling discounts available.
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- Dates: November 29 - 30, 2025
- Venue: Factory Hill
- Times: 10:00am - 3:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free
Autumn Scavenger Hunt
Autumn has arrived and the parks are bursting with colour. See how many of these seasonal sights you can spot on your next trip to an Essex Country Park.
- Dates: September 10, 2025 - January 31, 2026
- Times: 9:00am - 4:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price:
Woodland Play under five's Forest School: Danbury Country Park
Join us for woodland play sessions, aimed at the under-5's. Activities include forest crafts and building dens.
- Dates:
November 10, 2025- November 17, 2025
- November 24, 2025
- December 1, 2025
- December 8, 2025
- Venue: Danbury Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 12:00pm
- For under 5s
- Price: Now booking for September and November 2025. Six weeks for £51. Sibling discounts available.
Forest School sessions for Home Ed: Danbury Country Park
Aimed at home educated children, this series of six sessions at Danbury Country Park includes nature activities, forest crafts, imagination, physical play and building things.
- Dates:
November 10, 2025- November 17, 2025
- November 24, 2025
- December 1, 2025
- December 8, 2025
- Venue: Danbury Country Park
- Times: 12:30pm - 2:30pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Now booking for September 2025. Six weeks for £51. Sibling discounts available.
Tiptree Christmas Fair at Tiptree Tea Room and Museum
Join our friends at Tiptree for two days of festive fun at the Tiptree Christmas Fair!
- Dates: November 29 - 30, 2025
- Venue: Factory Hill
- Times: 10:00am - 3:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free
Autumn Scavenger Hunt
Autumn has arrived and the parks are bursting with colour. See how many of these seasonal sights you can spot on your next trip to an Essex Country Park.
- Dates: September 10, 2025 - January 31, 2026
- Times: 9:00am - 4:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price:
Woodland Play under five's Forest School: Danbury Country Park
Join us for woodland play sessions, aimed at the under-5's. Activities include forest crafts and building dens.
- Dates:
November 10, 2025- November 17, 2025
- November 24, 2025
- December 1, 2025
- December 8, 2025
- Venue: Danbury Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 12:00pm
- For under 5s
- Price: Now booking for September and November 2025. Six weeks for £51. Sibling discounts available.
Forest School sessions for Home Ed: Danbury Country Park
Aimed at home educated children, this series of six sessions at Danbury Country Park includes nature activities, forest crafts, imagination, physical play and building things.
- Dates:
November 10, 2025- November 17, 2025
- November 24, 2025
- December 1, 2025
- December 8, 2025
- Venue: Danbury Country Park
- Times: 12:30pm - 2:30pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Now booking for September 2025. Six weeks for £51. Sibling discounts available.
Tiptree Christmas Fair at Tiptree Tea Room and Museum
Join our friends at Tiptree for two days of festive fun at the Tiptree Christmas Fair!
- Dates: November 29 - 30, 2025
- Venue: Factory Hill
- Times: 10:00am - 3:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free
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Autumn Scavenger Hunt
Autumn has arrived and the parks are bursting with colour. See how many of these seasonal sights you can spot on your next trip to an Essex Country Park.
- Dates: September 10, 2025 - January 31, 2026
- Times: 9:00am - 4:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price:
Woodland Play under five's Forest School: Danbury Country Park
Join us for woodland play sessions, aimed at the under-5's. Activities include forest crafts and building dens.
- Dates:
November 10, 2025- November 17, 2025
- November 24, 2025
- December 1, 2025
- December 8, 2025
- Venue: Danbury Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 12:00pm
- For under 5s
- Price: Now booking for September and November 2025. Six weeks for £51. Sibling discounts available.
Forest School sessions for Home Ed: Danbury Country Park
Aimed at home educated children, this series of six sessions at Danbury Country Park includes nature activities, forest crafts, imagination, physical play and building things.
- Dates:
November 10, 2025- November 17, 2025
- November 24, 2025
- December 1, 2025
- December 8, 2025
- Venue: Danbury Country Park
- Times: 12:30pm - 2:30pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Now booking for September 2025. Six weeks for £51. Sibling discounts available.
Tiptree Christmas Fair at Tiptree Tea Room and Museum
Join our friends at Tiptree for two days of festive fun at the Tiptree Christmas Fair!
- Dates: November 29 - 30, 2025
- Venue: Factory Hill
- Times: 10:00am - 3:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free
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