Spend a morning exploring your local parks in Brentwood, Billericay and Upminster!
Every season you can discover new places to explore in our local parks of South Weald, Warley and Shenfield.
South Weald
The park was taken over by Essex County Council in 1953 to replant the woods lost in the second world war and is now a Grade 2 listed historic landscape. Famous for the Stick Man Trail and an ideal place to feed the deer. The park is open everyday and is a pay and display carpark. You can also buy parking online through Mi Permit. Weald Country Park is proud to be the recipient of the green Flag Award has toilet facilities and the Wiggly Bush Café offering indoor and outdoor seating with takeaway facilities. There is over 520 acres of woodland, lakes, grassland, wildflower meadows and a medieval deer park. The Visitor Centre is located near the café, where you can buy deer and duck food.
You can find out more details by clicking on the link below –
https://www.visitessex.com/things-to-do/weald-country-park-p1267881
Lake Meadows
A local charity called Friends of Lake Meadows help to care for the park and encourage conversation and wildlife. They offer early morning bird walk and talk sessions on Sundays run by the local wildlife expert to help identify different birds in the park. There is a rhododendron walk and beautiful at different times of the year especially in spring with the daffodils and cheery blossom is in full bloom. There is a grasses and rockery area by the lake which is lovely in winter and summer with the orange California poppy displays. Lake Meadows has been awarded the ‘Best Park 2019’ in the East of England. There is a café open from April 1st until 30th September and after September only opened Saturdays and Sundays.
You can find out more details by clicking on the link below –
https://www.lakemeadows.org.uk/
Warley Place Nature Reserve
Open every day on the site of a house and once famous Edwardian gardens belonging to Ellen Willmott. The reserve is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust, especially spectacular during the blooming spring flowers from snowdrops to daffodils and crocuses then bluebells. The Magnolias, foxgloves and ferns are a pleasant site, attracting a wide variety of birds and butterflies in the woodlands and meadows. The reserve is conveniently positioned next to the Thatcher’s Pub where you can get lunch and refreshments. It’s a place to be enjoyed throughout the year including guided and illustrative talks, work parties which is a great way to meet like minded people.
You can find out more details by clicking on the link below –
https://www.essexwt.org.uk/nature-reserves/warley-place
Butterfly Meadow Shenfield
A small garden at the back of St Marys Church in Shenfield has been brought back to life by the dedication of volunteers and is now called ‘Butterfly Meadow’. A tranquil space for local people to come and have a walk around and sit in a relaxing spot. Initially the project was set up for bereaved parents of all ages, but now is enjoyed by the local community of all ages. The garden is open to everyone in the local community. You can sit on the benches and listen to the birds, bring seeds along to feed the birds or even with permission plant you own bulbs. Bennetts Funeral Directors and Brentwood Council have been supporting the venture since 2015. There are work party sessions held on the second Tuesday of each month, everyone is welcome and a small car park at St Mary the Virgin church.
You can find out more details by clicking on the link below –
https://stmaryschurch-shenfield.org.uk/the-church/outside/the-butterfly-meadow/
