Take our Explore Essex 2022 Challenge

22 tips to help you Explore Essex more in 2022

We've pulled together a list of twenty-two tips to help you get out more in Essex in 2022.

This New Year we want you to make the most of our stunning county, discover hidden corners, stories and places and make new memories. Our twenty-two tips aim to help you explore somewhere new in 2022 and embrace Essex’s incredible parks, culture and heritage.

Plan your perfect day out in Essex, be inspired by our list below.

You might also like our annual Essex Explorer Pass, free parking at seven Country Parks and so much more. Read more here.

22 tips for 2022

  1. Visit Colchester Castle– discover the Roman origins of this great town and unlock the stories within the castle walls (see pages 18 and 19 of the New Year Essex Explorer magazine for more).
  2. Delight in nature, discover the new bird hide at Cudmore Grove Country Park, what can you spot?
  3. Join a parkrun available at many of the Essex Country Parks and many other places throughout the county.
  4. Go to the Mercury Theatrethis year and watch something new
  5. Find Your Active . . . find the right fit for you this 2022.
  6. Make a resolution to up your recycling and reusing – see pages 28 and 29 of the New Year Essex Explorer Magazine to help you get started.
  7. Explore the new Heritage Trail at Thorndon South – choose from two walking routes and uncover the story of the landscape.
  8. Get on your bikes! Head to the bike trails at Hadleigh, Thorndon, Notley or the Flitch Way.
  9. Take to the skies – challenge yourself on the new High Ropes at Essex Outdoors Harlow (see page 38 of the Essex Explorer magazine) when it opens this Easter or enjoy Sky Ropes at Great Notley Country Park when they open for February half term.
  10. Explore the permanent, and temporary exhibitions at Jaywick Martello Tower, discover more about the history of our coastline (re-opening spring 2022).
  11. See the stunning migratory flocks of Brent Geese (and other overwintering birds) that have arrived on our shores from Russia at Marsh Farm Country Park.
  12. Book your children in to one of the exhilarating Essex Outdoors school holiday activity days (starting February half term).
  13. Wonder at our Wildflowers through the seasons, marvel at snowdrops, bluebells, and Ox Eye daisies. Take photos and share them @exploressex.
  14. Take a walk on the wild side – use the Go Jauntly app or the Daily Mile to discover new routes. Use the app to plan a route and visit the coast out of season.
  15. Make a bird feeder and see which birds you can attract to your garden (see page 14), join the Great Garden Bird Watch (RSPB)
  16. Attend one of the Essex Summer of Culture 2022 events.
  17. Try Forest School! Find out how to get started pages 34 and 35 of the magazine or find details here.
  18. Cook more! Cooking from scratch is beneficial for your health. Check out our recipes from Tiptree on pages 24 and 25 of the Essex Explorer magazine.
  19. Research your family history at the Essex Record Office in Chelmsford and online. Discover more about your heritage.
  20. Explore the historic Cressing Temple Barns; built by the Knights Templar in 1137 and enjoy the Tiptree Tea Rooms on site.
  21. Join a volunteer group. Get more involved with your local places and parks.
  22. Visit the Lee Valley White Water centre– why not try something new in 2022.

#22for2022
Facebook: @exploressex

Instagram: @exploressex

Den building at Danbury Forest School

Terms and Conditions

1. This prize draw is organised by Explore Essex, part of Essex County Council (ECC), County Hall, Market Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1QH.

2. By submitting an entry, you are agreeing to be bound by these terms and conditions.

3. Prize draw entry is free and no purchase is necessary to enter the competition.

4. The winner will be selected at random after the closing date of 23.59 BST 31 March 2022.

5. ECC accepts no responsibility for entries not received for whatever reason. ECC will not accept:

(a) responsibility for competition entries that are lost, mislaid, damaged or delayed in transit, regardless of cause, including, for example, as a result of any postal failure, equipment failure, technical malfunction, systems, satellite, network, server, computer hardware or software failure of any kind; or

(b) proof of posting or transmission as proof of receipt of entry to the competition.

ELIGIBILITY

6. Entrants must be UK residents and aged 18 years.

7. Physical prizes must be collected from the closest participating Essex Country Park where possible.

8. Competitions are not open to Explore Essex or Essex Country Parks employees, or to any immediate family of those employees.

9. In entering the competition, entrants confirm that they are eligible to do so and eligible to claim the prize. ECC may require proof of eligibility.

10. Prize draw entries that are not submitted in accordance with:

  • these terms and conditions; and
  • the advertised competition entry procedure

will be automatically disqualified.

11. ECC will not accept competition entries that are:

(a) automatically generated by computer;

(b) completed by third parties or in bulk;

(c) illegible, have been altered, reconstructed, forged or tampered with;

(d) photocopies and not originals; or

(e) incomplete.

12. There is a limit of one entry to the competition per entrant.

13. ECC reserves all rights to disqualify any competition entry where:

(a) the entrant’s conduct is contrary to the spirit or intention of the prize competition;

(b) the entrant uses false information; or

(c) it has reasonable grounds to believe that the entrant has breached any of these terms and conditions.

14. ECC reserves the right to implement any age requirements or any other eligibility criteria where necessary.

THE PRIZE

15. There is one prize for each winner and each winner will receive a prize to the same value.

16. No cash alternative is available. ECC reserve the right to substitute the advertised prize for another of equal or greater value should the original prize become unavailable.

17. The prize is not negotiable or transferable.

CLAIMING THE PRIZE

18. Winners will be notified of their win via an email.

19. Winners must claim the prize within 7 working days of the date of the notification email.

20. If a prize is not claimed within 7 days, the winner will be disqualified, and an alternative winner will be selected at random from the correct entries that were received.

21. ECC reserves the right to re-draw the prize if the winner cannot be contacted within 7 working days or the notification email is returned as undeliverable.

22.The prize may not be claimed by a third party on winner’s behalf.

23. ECC does not accept any responsibility if the prize is not claimed within the specified time limit or the winner is not able to take up the prize.

Liability

24. Insofar as is permitted by law, ECC, its agents or distributors will not in any circumstances be responsible or liable to compensate the winner or accept any liability for any loss, damage , personal injury or death occurring as a result of taking up the prize except where it is caused by the negligence of ECC, its agents or distributors or that of their employees. Your statutory rights are not affected.

Data Protection and Publicity

25. ECC will only process your personal information as set out at https://www.essex.gov.uk/privacy-notices/Pages/Default.aspx.

26. In the event that you win this competition and accept the prize, you agree to:

(a) grant ECC the right to use your name and likeness for advertising and publicity purposes without additional compensation; and

(b) the use of any photographs or video footage to be featured on ECC’s web pages or social media sites.

27. Entrants will only be contacted regarding the specific competition they have entered.

GENERAL

28. If there is any reason to believe that there has been a breach of these terms and conditions, ECC may, at its sole discretion, reserve the right to exclude any entrant from participating in the competition.

29. ECC reserves the right to hold void, suspend, cancel, or amend the competition where it becomes necessary to do so.

30. The Promoter claims rights to the photograph

31. In the event of any dispute regarding the competition, the final decision of ECC shall be final and binding and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into.

32. These terms and conditions shall be governed by English law, and the parties submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

Discover the Essex Explorer Pass