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.
25 ways to Explore Essex for 2025
From coastal strolls to learning something new, kickstart 2025 with our 25 things to do this New Year.
- Dates: January 1 - March 31, 2025
- Times: 9:00am - 4:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Various
The Lock Climbing Wall: Learn to Climb (Two evenings)
This course is recommended for those who want to learn the fundamentals of climbing and how to stay safe in a climbing wall. The course covers all the basics you will need to be able to climb unsupervised in an indoor climbing wall.
- Dates:
- January 16, 2025
- February 6, 2025
- February 13, 2025
- March 6, 2025
- March 13, 2025
- Venue: Essex Outdoors Harlow
- Times: 7:00pm - 10:00pm
- For adults
- Price: £75.00 course fee includes all tuition and kit hire plus wall membership (approx. £20.00) to make climbing at The Lock even easier.
Jaywick Martello Tower: Expressions of Trauma
Healthwatch Essex bring their new exhibition ‘Expressions of Trauma’ to Jaywick Martello Tower.
- Dates:
- January 18, 2025
- January 19, 2025
- January 25, 2025
- January 26, 2025
- Venue: Jaywick Martello Tower
- For the whole family
- Price: Free
The Lock Climbing Wall: Learn to Climb - One Day
This course is recommended for those who want to learn the basics of climbing and how to stay safe on a climbing wall. The course covers all of the basics you will need to be able to climb unsupervised in an indoor climbing wall.
- Dates:
- January 19, 2025
- February 2, 2025
- February 16, 2025
- Venue: Essex Outdoors Harlow
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- For adults
- Price: £75.00 course fee includes all tuition and kit hire plus wall membership (Approx. £20.00) to make climbing at The Lock even easier.
Woodland Play at Danbury Country Park
Join us for woodland play sessions, aimed at the under-5's. Activities include forest crafts and building dens.
- Dates:
- January 20, 2025
- February 24, 2025
- April 28, 2025
- June 2, 2025
- Venue: Danbury Country Park
- Times: 10:00am - 12:00pm
- For under 5s
- Price: Now booking for 2025. Price £34.00 for four weeks 20 January to 10 February.
Home Education Forest School sessions at 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:
- January 20, 2025
- February 24, 2025
- April 28, 2025
- June 2, 2025
- Venue: Danbury Country Park
- Times: 12:30pm - 2:30pm
- Primary School aged children
- Price: Now booking for January 2025. Sibling discounts available.
The Lock Climbing Wall: Climbing Refresher
Climbed before? Had a lengthy break from climbing? Want to build on a previous experience? This is the course for you.
- Dates:
- January 23, 2025
- March 20, 2025
- May 15, 2025
- Venue: Essex Outdoors Harlow
- Times: 7:00pm - 10:00pm
- For adults
- Price: £35.00 course fee includes all tuition and equipment hire.
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