Essex Explorer Bug and Butterfly Summer Trails
Turn your kids into mini explorers this summer holiday at our Essex Country Parks
We’ve got just the thing for you and your kids this summer holiday.
Head to Belhus Woods, Great Notley or Weald Country Park where you can pick up a trail booklet from the café for just £2, (and treat yourselves to a well-deserved coffee at the same time!).
Turn your kids into mini explorers. Follow the route (loosely marked in the booklets), chase through trees, linger around the lakes and zoom across the meadows. Or follow the route around the kid’s play trail at Great Notley.
Challenge your children to discuss and guess the answers to the questions, hunt the trail markers to find the answers. Discover fun and fascinating facts about bugs and butterflies and see what you can spot along the way.
Bring a picnic, enjoy the play areas and make a whole day of it. Take the booklets home and enjoy the extra activities which include a word search and ladybird maze.
Event details
Good to Know
- Trail booklets are £2.00
- Booklets are available to buy at Belhus Woods Nightingale Café, the Wiggly Bush café at Weald and the Skylark café or Sky Ropes reception at Great Notley Country Park
- Please bring a pen or pencil!
- No prize included
Explore Essex
Search our parks and places to plan your perfect day out

Need to know
Explorer Pass
Save money with your Explorer Pass
Our annual Explore Essex Pass will give you and your family the freedom to explore some of the incredible places and green spaces that Essex has to offer, as many times as you like throughout the year, with free parking at seven country parks, 2 or 1 on Sky Ropes, priority booking on specific events, and 10% discounts at many cafes and visitor centres.
Related events

Man about Country: An Essex Ways story walks
Discover the stories and secrets of Essex with a guided walk through some of its finest landscapes.
- Dates: June 13 - July 10, 2025
- Times: 1:00pm - 3:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free

Jaywick Martello Tower Exhibition: Tower at Twenty
Join us in celebrating twenty years of Jaywick Martello Tower!
- Dates: June 26 - August 3, 2025
- Venue: Jaywick Martello Tower
- Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: Free

Jaywick Martello Tower: Drawing Workshop - Drawing the Human Figure
Join Jaywick Martello Tower artist Colin McAllister to discover essential techniques that will boost your confidence
- Dates: July 9, 2025
- Venue: Jaywick Martello Tower
- Times: 11:00am - 1:00pm
- For adults
- Price: Free