Parks Spotlight

Essex Country Parks in autumn and winter

Autumn and winter can be glorious times to enjoy the great outdoors. With beautiful bursts of colour as the leaves start to turn and fall, the wooded areas of our parks provide great areas to ramble through. Woodlands offer stunning scenery and shelter for walks as the winds get up and the weather turns colder.

Park Spotlight: Thorndon Country Park

Nature lovers, walkers and families alike will love the tranquil woodlands of Thorndon North which surround the beautiful Childerditch pond and attract many migrant and over-wintering birds, such as bramblings, siskins and redpolls.

The famous and much-loved Gruffalo trail also starts here. Pick up a trail map in the countryside centre for a small price before you head into the ‘deep, dark woods’. You can also enjoy a warm drink from the café when you’ve found all the characters.

Natural but clearly marked paths traverse Thorndon North’s beautiful woodlands and Thorndon South’s open parkland. The old Thorndon pastures that link the south and north offer views as far as London. Many walks will pass grazing animals, such as rare breeds of sheep, goats and cattle.

Also, thanks to the Land of the Fanns Landscape Partnership scheme, the park has surfaced 1000 metres of new pathways to improve access for visitors.

Discover more by visiting: www.explore-essex.com/ thorndon-country-park

Thorndon (North) Country Park

Belhus Woods Country Park

With over 300 acres in south Essex, Belhus Woods Country Park combines ancient woodland and working woods with a children’s play area, flower meadows, open grassland, fishing and conservation lakes.

Many of the woodlands have existed since 1600 (or before) and consist of hazel, mature oak and ash. Woodland cutting at Belhus - a practice known as coppicing which is over 400-years-old - is carried out on rotation and occurs every seven years.

Birdwatchers can discover 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. Sand martins and nightingales are among the spring nesting birds on site.

Find out more by visiting: www. explore-essex.com/belhus-woods

Weald Country Park

At Weald Country Park, you can enjoy over 520 acres of woodland, lakes, hay and wildflower meadows, a deer park, children’s play, open grassland and spectacular views.

While the park is well known for its richness of space, deer park and children’s play, it also contains a wealth of wooded areas and veteran trees, most can be easily accessed from Lincolns Lane car park.

Originally a medieval deer park, the Tower family expanded the park to the north east in the 1800s, creating these plantations and the impressive Chestnut Avenue. The woods are now managed for conservation and the area is rich in wildlife. It’s also home to some ancient oaks and hornbeams, some of which are over 500-years-old. If you’re lucky you may spot the resident herd of wild fallow deer in this area of the park.

Discover more by visiting: www. explore-essex.com/parktrails/weald-trail