Chappel Viaduct is an impressive structure. The Viaduct was built in 1849 and is a Grade II listed building. It is a great spot for a day out, interesting photos and the small playground is a huge bonus. 📍 Address Chappel Viaduct Playground Chappel Colchester CO6 2DD 🅿️ Parking Free Parking Park on the gravel area, not on the grass. From here walk towards the Viaduct and you will see the playground on the left, behind Chappel Primary School Alternatively park at the East Anglian Railway Museum car park (CO6 2DS), approximately half a mile away The playground is suitable for smaller children. There is a climbing frame with slide, swings, sit on ride equipment, merry-go-round. The playground is not enclosed. There is also climbing structures and spinning equipment for bigger children. ❗️The playground is located close to a stream There is plenty of space around the playground for picnics and play. This includes millennium green, a short walk away. There is a WW2 Trail here, where you can see some of the pillboxes and other defences put in place in WW2. There are no public toilets or other facilitates here. The Swan Inn pub is close by. Facilities ☕ Cafe - NO ℹ Visitor Centre/Shop - NO 🚻 Toilets - NO ♿ Accessible -NO 🪑 Picnic Tables - YES 🏃‍♀️ Playground - YES 🐶 Dog Friendly - YES

The playground is small and basic but it's so well located and is perfect for keeping children interested during a beach walk. 📍Jubilee Beach⁣ (Listed as Poodles Playpark on Google Maps)⁣ Southend-on-Sea⁣ SS1 2EL ⁣ ⁣ 🅿️ Parking ⁣ Closest car park is Fairheads Green, SS1 2ER⁣ Up to 1 hour £2.50⁣ Up to 2 hours £4.50⁣ Up to 3 Hours £6.50⁣ Up to 4 hours £8.50⁣ Up to 5 Hours £11.00⁣ Up to 6 hours £14.00⁣ Up to 10 hours £18.00 ⁣ The playground is located close to the sealife centre, water fountains, toilets, a car park and a heap of seaside food outlets. ⁣It is also less than five minutes walk from Adventure Island and Southend Pier. ⁣ The playground is suitable for smaller children. There is a climbing frame with tunnels and pulleys, a separate slide and balancing equipment. Facilities ☕ Cafe - YES, lots of places to eat and drink nearby ℹ Visitor Centre/Shop - NO 🚻 Toilets - YES, public toilets including accessible close by ♿ Accessible - Accessible - toilets nearby and slope onto beach 🪑 Picnic Tables - YES 🏃‍♀️ Playground - YES 🐶 Dog Friendly - YES

If you like a park with some history, the impressive Coalhouse Fort was built in the 19th century to protect the Thames Estuary. The Fort and moat are unique and interesting structures. 📍Address Coalhouse Fort Park East Tilbury RM18 8PB 🅿️ Parking Free Parking The Fort itself is closed until further notice, but we enjoyed a walk around park, which includes around the Fort, moat and down to the Estuary. We also visited the small playground. Our favourite part of our visit was walking right up to the Thames. We saw lots of large tankers pass by and dock at Tilbury. Something a bit different! There is a small, pretty neglected playground here. There is one climbing frame with a slide and some swings. The playground is enclosed. The playground needs a big update. But you don't visit the park for the playground on this occasion. The Engine Tea Room is located next to the car park and The Fort. The cafe serves hot and cold food and drinks. There is a children's menu and there are plenty of highchairs. Very kid friendly. The staff in the cafe were so welcoming and friendly. One of the warmest welcomes we have received at our (many) park cafe visits. Facilities ☕ Cafe - YES ℹ Visitor Centre/Shop - NO 🚻 Toilets - YES accessible and baby change facilities ♿ Accessible - YES - accessible parking and toilets, flat paved pathways suitable for wheelchairs 🪑 Picnic Tables - YES 🏃‍♀️ Playground - YES 🐶 Dog Friendly - YES

As the name suggests, these gardens and playground surround Leigh-on-Sea library. A sweet spot, just the highstreet with lovely views across the estuary. A perfect stop for littles when browsing the high streets many independent shops and restaurants. You can also cut through the park and down some pretty steep steps to Old Leigh. You can find more independent shops, great pubs and a little beach in Old Leigh. The small, metal, playground is fenced off. There are swings, a merry-go-round, climbing frame and balance apparatus. Most suitable for small children. A small playground (which definitely needs a repaint and revamp) but a great location. ⁣⁣ Heading away from the playground and towards the path down towards the estuary you can find this really cool slide and climbing ropes. A great opportunity for bigger kids to play too. There are also lots of excellent trees for climbing. ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ The beautiful gardens and borders are largely maintained by volunteers from charity Friends of Leigh Library Gardens. The charity meet every Wednesday morning and the 2nd and 4th Sunday morning of the month. Incredible Edible LOS also do some amazing work here. They plant flowers and food for the community. All of the produce is available to pick for free. Incredible Edible also run regular seed sowing and plant sharing events. 📍 Address Leigh Library Gardens Leigh-on-Sea SS9 2DA 🅿️ Parking On street parking across the highstreet is free for 2 hours ⁣⁣⁣ Closest car park - Elm Road Car Park, SS9 1SL⁣⁣⁣ Mobon Code 602026 ⁣⁣⁣ Facilities ☕ Cafe - YES, lots of places to eat and drink in the Highstreet ℹ Visitor Centre/Shop - YES 🚻 Toilets - NO Closest toilets on Elm Road ⁣⁣⁣ ♿ Accessible - Accessible - paved pathways but some very steep sections⁣⁣⁣ 🪑 Picnic Tables - YES 🏃‍♀️ Playground - YES 🐶 Dog Friendly - YES Friends of Leigh Library Gardens Facebook

Hardie Park is a real community hub. The cafe is open 7 days a week and is volunteer run. Inside you can find toilets. A community food project also runs here daily and there are also regular community groups. The Friends of Hardie Park is a registered charity and community interest company. The playground is on a large recreational ground with pitches, a BMX track and skate ramp. The playground has a variety of equipment for all ages including varying climbing frames, a zip wire, swings, roundabout and spinning equipment. 📍Address Hardie Park Stanford-le-Hope SS17 0PB 🅿️ Parking Yes, free on street parking in surrounding roads. No designated car park. Facilities ☕ Cafe - YES ℹ Visitor Centre/Shop - NO 🚻 Toilets - YES - including baby change ♿ Accessible - NO 🪑 Picnic Tables - YES - benches 🏃‍♀️ Playground - YES - slide, climbing frames, merry-go-round, swings 🐶 Dog Friendly - YES Visit Friends of Hardie Park Website

There is something ever so magical about witnessing a carpet of bluebells across the woodland floor. The beautiful bluebell flower blooms from mid April to late May, and so they have already began blooming across Essex. Here are some bluebell walks happening across Essex this Spring... (This page will be updated when further guided bluebell walks are planned) Pound Wood and Tile Wood Pound Wood Nature Reserve, St Michael's Road Thundersley, Benfleet, SS7 2UW Sunday 30th April 2023 12pm - 5pm Guided walks to see the bluebells in Pound Wood & Tile Wood & Tractor trailer rides around Pound Wood. Meeting point and refreshments at St Michaels Church, St Michaels Road, Hadleigh, SS7 2UN. The Essex Wildlife Trust Wilder Learning team will also be at St Michael's Church for children's craft activities. No booking required. Meet outside the church hall ten minutes before the start of each walk. Donations welcome. Pound wood walk times-1pm, 1.45pm, 2.30pm, 3pm, & 4pm Tile Wood walk times-12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2.45pm Weeleyhall Wood Nature Reserve Weeleyhall Wood Nature Reserve, Colchester to Clacton Road (off the B1441) Weeley, Clacton-on-Sea Sunday 30th April 2023 11am - 4pm Outdoor event along woodland paths, sensible footwear is advised. Parking available, no booking required. Donations welcome. Hanningfield Reservoir Hanningfield Reservoir Nature Discovery Centre, Hawkswood Road, Billericay, CM11 1WT Saturday 29th April 2023 Join Bill, the Hanningfield Warden, for an informative walk round the reserve, particularly concentrating on the ancient woodland area with the carpet of Bluebells. £8 This guided walk is now SOLD OUT however, the visitor centre is open Monday to Sunday 10am - 5pm and the bluebells can be seen close to the centre. More places to see the bluebells: Bedfords Park, Havering-atta-Bower Belhus Woods, Aveley Danbury Woods, Chelmsford Gusted Hall Woods, Hockley Norsey Woods, Billericay Shut Heath Wood Nature Reserve, Great Totham Thorndon Country Park, Brentwood Weald Country Park, Brentwood Bluebells are a protected species. Please stick to paths, do not pick bluebells or trample on the flowers, damage to delicate the flowers can affect them for years. Bluebells are so important for our bees and other insects.

📍Address Victoria Avenue Southend-on-Sea SS2 6NB 🅿️ Parking Free parking in car park on Victoria Avenue. There is further on street parking in surrounding streets without parking restrictions. This open air, event runs every weekend until Sunday 1st October 2023. A selection of bands will perform at the Priory Park bandstand. ️ Performances start at 3pm and finish at 4.30pm. The bandstand is not covered, so dress for the weather. Performances may be called off at short notice in bad weather. There is no seating so bring a chair or blanket to sit on. There is a special Coronation performance on Saturday 6th May! The Southend Band will be accompanied by a Southend Community Chorus performing uplifting music to celebrate the coronation. More about Priory Park Priory Park is a large, well maintained park. There is a large, fenced off playground suitable for toddlers and bigger kids. There is a fishing lake with ducks, a tennis court, football pitches, basketball courts, beautifully maintained walled gardens and other open spaces. Prittlewell Priory museum is also located inside the park. Facilities ☕ Cafe - YES ℹ Visitor Centre/Shop - YES in Prittlewell Priory 🚻 Toilets - YES - baby change ♿ Accessible - YES - accessible parking, concrete pathways and ramps in gardens 🪑 Picnic Tables - YES 🏃‍♀️ Playground - YES - slides, swings, climbing frames, monkey bars 🐶 Dog Friendly - YES not in playground

*This post contains affiliate links It's spring, which means we can finally spend a little more time in the garden! Let your little one's imagination run wild with a mud kitchen. Let your mini chef cook up mud pies, write menus or do the washing up. Mud kitchens are a great way to encourage independent play and imagination. Here are our top picks of mud kitchens available from the high street. The Budget Wooden Mud Kitchen from The Works £50 This budget mud kitchen is the cheapest we've found on the highstreet. The mud kitchen comes with two hobs, a chalkboard, wooden shelf, metal bowl, two pots (perfect for flowers) and also two cooking pots. This mud kitchen is small, but rated well and fantastic value. For Water Lovers TP Toys Splash & Play Early Fun Wooden Mud Kitchen via John Lewis £99.99 If your kids love water play they will love this mud kitchen. This mud kitchen features a painted hob area, oven, pan rack, serving station, handy storage shelf and even a working sink. The Luxury Plum Discovery Mud Pie Kitchen via John Lewis £299.99 This mud kitchen is more expensive, but is sturdy and much bigger in size. There is also plenty going on; a wooden planter to grow herbs and greens to cook with, hooks for pans and painting screen perfect for drawing a menu. This mud kitchen comes with a steel sink and utensils. The Character Mud Kitchen Peppa Pig Mud Kitchen via Very £84.99 This bright, fun mud kitchen is any Peppa Pig fan's dream. This fun and colourful play kitchen has a triple hob, sink and opening oven. It also has a chalkboard for drawing up the perfect mud pie specials of the day! The Hand Made Happy Planet Toys via Not on the High Street £345 This hand crafted wooden mud kitchen is available via Not on The High Street. It is produced from locally sourced reclaimed wood and features a stainless steel sink, solid timber hobs and nobs and a fully integrated cooker with cut out window. It also has a black board and magnetic paint back board. There is a large storage area and shelf with built in hooks. This mud kitchen comes fully assembled.

If you are wondering What's On this Easter in Essex, check out the latest Easter blog post. Featuring over 30 Events at 20 Parks across Essex. More Events happening across Essex this April! Marvellous Minibeasts & Incredible Insects 4th April Belfairs Woods, SS9 4LR Meet on the hour by the visitor centre, be led into the woodland to try your hand at searching for all our creepy critters! Use equipment like bug pots and trays to explore. £4 Music in the Park 9th - 10th April Priory Park The bandstand will come alive with top local bands and musicians! Easter Sunday – Pavilion Brass. Easter Monday – Pat English & Southend Little Jazz Band. Both acts will perform between 3pm – 4.30pm. No chairs will be provided so please bring your own or a blanket. Free Dinosaur Discovery 10th April Thurrock Thameside, SS17 0RN Hunt for signs of dinosaurs on the reserve, take part in some fun dinosaur themed crafts and have a roaring time playing dinosaur games. £7 Forest Explorers: 11th April Hainault Country Park, IG7 4QN Forest Explorers for 7 - 11 years olds - Whittling workshop! Learn how to safely use a bushcraft knife to carve a campcraft project and split wood. Wild Adventures for 12-18 year olds. A chance to use saws, knives and axes safely in the woods. Learn the skills and create a campcraft project to take home. £5 Create a Nature Journal 12th April Thorndon, CM13 3RZ Take a walk through the woods before creating a simple nature journal to take home. Children must be accompanied by an adult. £10 What's that Bat 14th April Daws Hall, CO8 5EX A gentle walk around our stunning nature reserve, as the sun sets. On the walk we will watch as the dark shadows of our resident bats swoop between the trees and along the water's edge to catch their evening insect-meal. Meanwhile with the use of ultrasound scanners, we will convert their clicks and calls to work out which species they are. Adults £10, Children: £5 Statues in the Park 16th April Fishes Green, River Lee Country Park, EN9 2EF A beautiful walk around lakes and woodland as well as the statues on the route you may see some of the wildlife they reflect. You will see many things around this 1,000-acre country park and learn about some of the history through the sculptures you will see. The length of this walk is 3.7km (2.3 miles) and can take between 2 to 3 hours. This walk is on good surfaces and it is suitable for wheelchairs or buggies. Free, booking required. Pond Life Adult Course 22nd April Abberton Reservoir, CO2 0EU This is a chance for grown-ups to have some fun and get involved with pond dipping. We will see what creatures we can catch and brush up on our identification skills. We will also discuss the ecology and life cycles of some of the truly weird and wonderful creatures that live under the water. £10 All About Dogs Show 30th April and 1st May Hylands Park, CM2 8FS Bring your dog for two days full of exciting arena displays, expert advice, shopping and lots of fun have-a-go activities including the popular Fun Dog Shows where you and your dog can win rosettes, plus enjoy K9 Aqua Sports, talent competitions, live music and more. Adults from £12.50, Children over 5 £7

What's on this month at Essex Parks! Ranger Walk 5th March Thurrock Thameside, SS17 0RN Join Sam, the site Ranger on a guided walk of the reserve where he will tell you all about the site’s history, habitats and wildlife. £7 Geology Walking Tour 11th March The Naze, CO14 8LE This walk reveals the fascinating and unusual geology that has made The Naze such a special place. Mangrove swamps, volcanoes, tropical seas teeming with sharks, arctic tundra, cold seas rich in shellfish. And a time when the river Thames flowed across The Naze. Adults £7, Children £2 Forest Bathing 12th March Belfairs Woods, SS9 4LR “Shinrin-Yoku" or forest bathing is the practice of spending time in the forest for better health, happiness and a sense of calm. A slow and sensory walk through the woods using mindfulness, meditation, and breathing exercises. £18 Mothers Day Woodland Crafts 18th March Thurrock Thameside, SS17 0RN Join us in the woods and get creative making something with or for those special women in your life, using mainly natural and sustainable materials. Try splitting, peeling, weaving and sawing wood from the reserve, letting your imagination go wild. £5 Mothers Day Afternoon Tea 19th March Belfairs Woodand Centre, SS9 4LR Sandwiches, cakes and bottomless tea or coffee! To book call the Centre on 01702 477467. £16.95 per person. Mothers Day Afternoon Tea 19th March Parndon Wood Nature Reserve, CM19 4SF Delicious finger sandwiches, tasty scones & cream, cakes, tea, coffee & prosecco will all be on our specially designed menu. £20 per person. Daffodil Show 22nd - 23rd March RHS Hyde Hall, CM3 8ET The annual Daffodil Show in the Hilltop Lodge! See hundreds of beautiful cut blooms on display before you explore the rest of the garden. Normal garden admission applies Springtime Music 26th March Thames Chase, RM14 3NS Welcome in ‘British Summertime’ listening to some of your favourite popular songs and well known instrumental music, including golden oldies and modern classics. £8, to book call the forest centre reception 01708 642970

Mothers Day Woodland Crafts 18th March Thurrock Thameside, SS17 0RN Join us in the woods and get creative making something with or for those special women in your life, using mainly natural and sustainable materials. Try splitting, peeling, weaving and sawing wood from the reserve, letting your imagination go wild. £5 Mothers Day Afternoon Tea 19th March Belfairs Woodand Centre, SS9 4LR Sandwiches, cakes and bottomless tea or coffee! To book call the Centre on 01702 477467. £16.95 per person. Mothers Day Afternoon Tea 19th March Parndon Wood Nature Reserve, CM19 4SF Delicious finger sandwiches, tasty scones & cream, cakes, tea, coffee & prosecco will all be on our specially designed menu. £20 per person.

The promise of Spring, Springing! Don't forget to check out our post on "What's On During Half Term!" for over 50 events, across 17 Essex Parks. CLICK HERE Snowdrop Sundays - Markshall Estate Markshall Estate, CO6 1TG 3rd - 5th Sunday Welcome the first flowers of the year, come and view the beautiful snowdrops as they emerge. Wrap up and explore The Winter Walk, designed for colour and contrast through the winter months, then head to Robins Grove to admire the extensive carpet of snowdrops. Admission Adults from £8, Children from £4.30 Snowdrop Sundays - Daws Hall Daws Hall, CO8 5EX 5th, 12, 19th February See the incredible carpet of snowdrops and explore the 25 acres of riverside nature reserve and 3 acres of private garden. Entry by donation (No booking required) Forest Fun for Neurodiverse Children Thorndon, CM13 3RZ 4th and 11th February A morning of exploration and play in a peaceful woodland setting awaits! For Neurodiverse children only, aged 5+. Please email thorndon@essexwt.org.uk before booking to assess suitability of the session for your child's needs. £7 Family Forest Fun Hanningfield Reservoir, CM11 1WT 12th February Forest school activities in the woods. Go bug hunting, build dens, balance on rope walks, make woodland crafts, use tools, create wild art, play woodland games and learn how to light fires. £7 Southend LuminoCity Southend-on-Sea 16th - 18th February This fantastic light festival will be brightening up the February Half Term with a series of awe-inspiring light installations that will transform Southend’s iconic landmarks, and let you experience the city in a whole new light. Free Sunday Market 19th February Thames Chase, RM14 3NS Sunday Markets at the Forest Centre are held each month and focus on local produce and local handmade crafts. The markets stage a fine selection, with crafts stalls on view, giving you the opportunity to buy exquisite pieces of art and craft and help local craftsmen and small businesses. Free entry. Family Volunteer 19th February Hainault Forest Country Park, Chigwell, IG7 4QN Bring your family along for a day of volunteering - helping us with forest management works, and have a fun family day outdoors! Family volunteering is between 11 and 2, with a tea break halfway, focussing on family-friendly conservation activities. Children aged 5 and above are welcome to join the adults - they must be supervised at all times. Free Spring Bulb Spectactular 25th - 26th February Warley Place Nature Reserve, CM13 3HU Warley Place with its daffodils, crocuses and snowdrops is a spectacular sight to see. Volunteers will be on hand to answer questions about Ellen Willmott’s historic garden, its unique plants and trees and the building remains. The events take place every weekend from Saturday 25 February until Sunday 2 April plus the bank holiday weekend Friday 7 April to Monday 10 April, from 10.30am to 4.30pm, weather permitting.