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 3rd July 2025

Summer Magic Trails: Updated for 2025!

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.

You can also pick up or print a family summer spotter's sheet.

Running throughout the school summer holidays, from Saturday 19 July 2025 at:

The Summer Magic trail is supported by Essex Year of Numbers.

NB: A Bugs and Butterflies trail is running at Hadleigh Country Park summer 2025.

Summer Magic illustration of wizard, fairy and troll
child in tutu skirt holding a wand doing a star jump against the sun and sky

Make your own woodland wand

Make your own woodland wands and bring them when you visit to make magical memories.

Find out how in Essex Explorer magazine.

You might also like FREE Family Forest School at Danbury Country Park. Wild Wednesdays run throughout August.

Med res ECP Danbury Sept22 0431

Events

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:
    • January 26, 2026
    • February 2, 2026
    • February 9, 2026
    • February 23, 2026
    • March 2, 2026
    • (continued …)
  • Venue: Danbury Country Park
  • Times: 10:00am - 12:00pm
  • For under 5s
  • Price: Now booking for the New Year 2026
Buy tickets for Woodland Play under five's Forest School: Danbury Country Park Find out more about Woodland Play under five's Forest School: Danbury Country Park
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Events

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:
    • January 26, 2026
    • February 2, 2026
    • February 9, 2026
    • February 23, 2026
    • March 2, 2026
    • (continued …)
  • Venue: Danbury Country Park
  • Times: 12:30pm - 2:30pm
  • Primary School aged children
  • Price: Now booking for the New Year 2026. Sibling discounts available.
Buy tickets for Forest School sessions for Home Ed: Danbury Country Park Find out more about Forest School sessions for Home Ed: Danbury Country Park
Lo res EO Lock Oct24 090 1

Events

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:
    • February 1, 2026
    • February 15, 2026
    • March 1, 2026
    • March 15, 2026
  • Venue: Essex Outdoors Harlow
  • Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
  • For adults
  • Price: £78.00 course fee includes all tuition and kit hire plus wall membership (Approx. £20.00) to make climbing at The Lock even easier.
Buy tickets for The Lock Climbing Wall: Learn to Climb - One Day Find out more about The Lock Climbing Wall: Learn to Climb - One Day
Lo res EO Lock Oct24 095 2

Events

The Lock Climbing Wall: Give it a go sessions (Adults)

If you want to see what all the fuss is about and want to try climbing for the first time, then this is the course for you. No experience required, just a desire to give it a go!

  • Dates:
    • February 1, 2026
    • February 1, 2026
    • February 2, 2026
    • February 2, 2026
    • February 12, 2026
    • (continued …)
  • Venue: Essex Outdoors Harlow
  • Times: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
  • For adults
  • Price: £24.00 (course fee includes all tuition and kit hire).
Buy tickets for The Lock Climbing Wall: Give it a go sessions (Adults) Find out more about The Lock Climbing Wall: Give it a go sessions (Adults)

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