Belhus Woods Country Park

For Children

Children love our musical themed play area. Featuring multiple types of play for all ages, children can play musical instruments, climb and swing the hours away. The play area is surrounded by a short grassland which is perfect for a picnic. There is also seating available within the play area and around the edges.

*Read and Count with Me Under a Tree. Borrow a book bag in the park! Read more here.

For Dogs

Belhus Woods is perfect for dog walking with large trails through the woodland and round the lake. There is also a large fenced area and dog agility training area, please observe good dog owners etiquette at all times. Read our Responsible Dog Walking Tips.

Cycling

Cycle paths at Belhus Woods take you through all kinds of surroundings, from grassland to meadows and lakes. The flat terrain makes it a great place for the novice cyclist and families, and the large car parks offer plenty of space to load and unload bikes.

Bike racks at the visitor centre make it easy to pop in and grab a drink or snack. Please note that we do have a height barrier into the entrance to the car park so if you have bikes on the top of your car you will need to come into the visitor centre and we will be happy to open it for you.

Birdwatching and Wildlife

Birdwatchers will find interesting species in abundance at Belhus Woods. Bird life includes mute swans, tufted ducks, woodpeckers, kingfishers, kestrels and lapwings. In winter, you’ll see small flocks of finches, such as siskins and redpolls.

Major tree species include English oak, field maple, hazel and hornbeam.

You’ll also see many beautiful wildflowers such as bluebell, early purple orchid and lily-of-the-valley.

Walking

Belhus Woods is an accessible site for walking, with a flat terrain and open and denser areas of woodland. You can pass through many habitats, such as ancient woodland, coppice plantations and wildflower meadows and see our expansive lakes abundant in flora and fauna. It really does feel like you’re escaping the hustle and bustle.

Archery club

West Essex Bowmen’s archery club is one of largest in country, meeting regularly in the field near the visitor centre, catering to all from beginners to advanced. Beginner courses are held over three Saturdays in April and September, with qualified coaches teaching safety and basic technique. Contact the club for more information.

Fishing

There are two large fishing lakes in the park. You can fish with up to two rods but you must have an Environment Agency rod licence and a fishing permit(s) before you visit.

Please see our fishing terms and conditions here.

A daily permit is available to purchase here.

Please note: Essex Country Parks reserve the right to close the fishing lakes on an annual basis to maintain the health of the fish stock.

Volunteering

Volunteering at Belhus Woods is hands-on and is a great way to meet people, learn about conservation, get a bit of exercise and make a difference to the woods. You'll get to have a go at many tasks, such as coppicing, charcoal making and creating habitats for a variety of different wildlife. Our weekly volunteer sessions are led by our Rangers on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9.30am until 12.30pm. There is also a biodiversity surveying group to record the wildlife of the park that meets on Friday mornings. If you are interested in joining us, please call 01708 865 628 or email country.parks@essex.gov.uk