Summer Magic at the Essex Country Parks
Make it an enchanted summer at the Essex Country Parks with our free trail and more!
Posted on 8th July 2024
Summer Magic Trails
Our Rangers are sure that magical creatures, including fairies, trolls and maybe even unicorns and dragons live deep in the hidden corners of the parks.
But some children seem to have stopped believing in them!
Can you find and count the magical creatures on our Summer Magic trail, to help make the magic stronger?
Pick up a free trail activity sheet from participating sites, or download and print at home.
Download the Summer Magic trail sheet, choose Unicorn or Dragon.
Running throughout the school summer holidays, from Saturday 20 July 2024 at:
- Belhus Woods Country Park
- Cudmore Grove Country Park
- Danbury Country Park
- Great Notley Country Park
- Thorndon Country Park
- Weald Country Park
- and Cressing Temple Barns
The Summer Magic trail is supported by Essex Year of Numbers.


Jaywick Martello Tower Exhibition: St Helena Hospice - Life Stories
St Helena Hospice is celebrating its 40th anniversary with two exhibitions at the historical Jaywick Martello Tower.
- Dates: May 1 - June 22, 2025
- Venue: Jaywick Martello Tower
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free

*Sold Out* Extraordinary Essex Film Screening: 'Don’t Fight The Land That Feeds You'
The film follows the journey from soil to kitchen, featuring recipes from around the world made with locally grown ingredients in Essex.
- Dates: May 2, 2025
- Venue: High Street
- Times: 6:00pm - 11:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free

The Essex Ways with James Lawrence: The Coast
Essex-born storyteller, James Lawrence, is walking an epic 400km across the county to research, record and perform a collection of stories that celebrate the spirit of Essex.
- Dates: May 3 - 15, 2025
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- For adults
- Price:

Cressing Temple Barns: Willow workshop garden decorations
Join our workshop and create wonderful willow dragonflies and bulrushes for your garden
- Dates: May 3, 2025
- Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- For adults
- Price: £70 to 80

Essex Outdoors: Harlow High Adventure
- Dates:
- May 3, 2025
- May 4, 2025
- May 5, 2025
- May 10, 2025
- May 11, 2025
- May 17, 2025
- (continued …)
- Venue: Burntmill Lane
- Times: 12:00pm - 1:30pm
- 8-16
- Price: High Ropes Adventure Adult – £15 Young person (aged 8-17) – £12 Under 8 – £12 Climbing Wall Adventure Adult – £12 . Young person (aged 8-17) – £10. Under 8 – £10 All sessions are 90 minutes

ERO Presents: Henry Winstanley (1644-1703)
Join speaker Martin Rose for this talk about Henry Winstanley, a native of Saffron Walden, a linen-draper and farmer.
- Dates: May 6, 2025
- Venue: Essex Record Office
- Times: 10:30am - 12:00pm
- For adults
- Price: £6.50

Temple at War: Keeping History Alive
Temple at War is a two day military and vintage event packed full of everything to create one of the largest interactive and immersive historic re-enactment events in the south east of England whilst being totally family friendly.
- Dates:
- May 10 - 11, 2025
- Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
- Times: 9:00am - 4:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Saturday and Sunday tickets: £8.00 to £53.00. Weekend ticket: £17.00 to £72.00.

Parkrun: Great Notley Country Park
Free, weekly 5km timed runs.
- Dates: Every Saturday
- Venue: Great Notley Country Park
- Times: 9:00am - 10:00am
- For adults
- Price: Free to take part

Parkrun: Cudmore Grove Country Park
Free, weekly 5km timed runs.
- Dates: Every Saturday
- Venue: Cudmore Grove Country Park
- Times: 9:00am - 10:00am
- For adults
- Price: Free

Parkrun: Hadleigh Country Park
Free, weekly 5km timed runs.
- Dates: Every Saturday
- Venue: Hadleigh Country Park
- Times: 9:00am - 10:00am
- For adults
- Price: Free

Parkrun: Marsh Farm Country Park
Free, weekly 5km timed runs.
- Dates: Every Saturday
- Venue: Marsh Farm Country Park
- Times: 9:00am - 10:00am
- For adults
- Price: Free

Parkrun: Weald Country Park
Free, weekly 5km timed runs.
- Dates: Every Saturday
- Venue: Weald Country Park
- Times: 9:00am - 10:00am
- For adults
- Price: Free
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