Things to do in Borough of Brentwood, England: The Best Nature & Parks

October 7, 2021 Merry Kessler

Discover the best top things to do in Borough of Brentwood, United Kingdom including Hopefield Animal Sanctuary, Weald Country Park, Thorndon Country Park, King George's Playing Fields, Warley Place Nature Reserve, Barnards Farm Gardens, Brentwood Park Ski & Snowboard Centre, Marcella Vivrette Smith Park, TrailNet.
Restaurants in Borough of Brentwood

1. Hopefield Animal Sanctuary

Sawyers Hall Farm Sawyers Hall Lane, Brentwood CM15 9BZ England +44 1277 201110 [email protected] http://www.hopefield.org.uk
Excellent
72%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 258 reviews

Hopefield Animal Sanctuary

Hopefield Animal Sanctuary is a non-profit organisation caring for around 500 sick, unwanted and mistreated animals. The sanctuary is based in Brentwood, Essex. We care for a variety of animals including horses, donkeys, goats, sheep, pigs etc. and more exotic animals such as reptiles, parrots and other aviary birds, raccoons and many more. As a small charity, Hopefield relies upon donations and support from volunteers to be able to continue this work. It is with thanks to the continued support of volunteers and supporters that we have been able to achieve our aims thus far. Tickets MUST be pre-booked via our website prior to visiting. If you arrive at the sanctuary without booking, you will not be granted access.

Reviewed By EssexLexi

I Visited hopefield today with my husband and 8 year old a son which was the first time since it reopened following lockdown due to Covid 19. It was so lovely to be back !! They have worked so hard to make it ready for reopening with one way systems , expanded pathways to see the horses , a Marquee to sit and eat food from the cafe . We thoroughly enjoyed our day and loved seeing all the animals from the horses , ponies, Alpacas , Pigs, birds, cats , rabbits and plenty more . We have always loved Hopefield and the passion the founders and staff/volunteers have for the animals . It has a special place in our hearts . What an amazing peaceful place these animals now have after their abusive pasts. It makes me so happy to see them with a lovely happy ending that is Hopefield . Please visit and support such a worthwhile cause. They continue to need your support through these difficult Times and it’s a wonderful trip for the whole family . I highly recommend it !!

2. Weald Country Park

Weald Road, Brentwood CM14 5QS England +44 1277 261343 http://www.visitparks.co.uk/placestovisit/wealdcountrypark.php
Excellent
57%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
3%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 288 reviews

Weald Country Park

Reviewed By Ali_pul3 - Welwyn Garden City, United Kingdom

Lovely park with plenty of play areas and masses of space for the children to play in. Lovely different stick man themed play areas, you can buy a trail map from the cafe for 50p Feeding the deer was probably the children's highlight. You can bring veg or buy food from the shop £1 per bag and children got a lolly when they brought the empty bags back. Nice cafe. Parking is not cheap but £5.50 pays for over 3 hours and machine takes cards.

3. Thorndon Country Park

The Avenue, Brentwood CM13 3RZ England +44 1277 211250 [email protected]
Excellent
54%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
3%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 422 reviews

Thorndon Country Park

This beautiful country park contains a diverse range of habitats and is managed both for people and for its precious wildlife. There are some fantastic walks through ancient woodland and historic deer parks which lie close alongside recently planted woodland and a landscape of small pastures. Thorndon Countryside Centre is managed by Essex Wildlife Trust and the Park is managed by Essex County Council in a joint venture. Gruffalo Trail Come and see the original Gruffalo Trail - a self-led trail around the woods, searching for carvings of the Gruffalo characters. Gruffalo Activity Maps are available from the Countryside Centre, at a cost of 50p. The countryside centre offers some unique gifts and books, a separate education room, refreshments and displays. There are regular activities for children, schools and families. Few areas offer such variety as Thorndon country park and its surroundings. Ancient woodland and historic deer parks lie close alongside recently planted woodland and a landscape of small pastures, while nearby is the high forest of Hartswood and former common land. Thorndon Country Park is in two parts, the northern section on a gravel ridge and the southern part on clay soil lower down. The two parts are now linked by Old Thorndon Pastures, which is farmland that has been restored to a traditional farming landscape with small hedged fields, grazed by cattle. Thorndon Country Park North In spring, the woodlands of Thorndon North are filled with the scent and colour of bluebells, anemones and other woodland flowers. The woods are rich in birdlife and attract many species of migrant and over-wintering birds including bramblings, siskins and redpolls. Childerditch Pond is both beautiful and tranquil. Please note: Thorndon Country Park North car park is the best way to access the Gruffalo Trail. Thorndon Country Park South The open parkland at Thorndon South is busy with families enjoying barbecues and picnics, whilst drinking in views reaching out across countryside and into the heart of Canary Wharf. It's a great place to fly a kite. Thorndon Country Park offers a variety of habitats including ancient woodland, parkland, ponds, a marsh and meadow. There are some stunning ancient trees including Giant Oak and Hornbeam pollards, that are reminders that this was once a deer park. Parts of it used to be heathland, now a scarce habitat in Essex, and to restore it parts of the park, both north and south, are being grazed by goats and sheep. The park attracts a large number of woodland birds and sees more than its fair share of passage migrants and winter visitors. For example, large flocks of Siskins and Redpolls often gather in the birches, and bramblings can be seen near to the centre feeding on beech mast. There are many butterflies to be enjoyed including the uncommon Purple and White-letter Hairstreaks. The park is managed by Essex County Council's Ranger Service who are returning Conifer plantations to grassland or woodland as mature trees are harvested. The Countryside Centre in Thorndon Park North was built just after the 1987 hurricane and fallen timber from a number of Essex Wildlife Trust nature reserves was used in its construction. It is the Trust's most popular centre with over 100,000 visitors per year, and provides refreshments, a gift shop, displays and interpretation.

Reviewed By P4792ADannw - Brentwood, United Kingdom

Thornton Country Park is a wonderful place, so much to see and do especially for the children , it gives lots of scope and things for the children to explore.

4. King George's Playing Fields

Ingrave Road, Brentwood CM14 5AE England http://www.brentwood.gov.uk/index.php?cid=322
Excellent
58%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
3%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 125 reviews

King George's Playing Fields

Reviewed By BrettJones45 - Athens, Greece

Great place for kids. This place has a clean, spacious and welcoming environment. We have been many times to this location and find it good compared to the other ones in the area. This place has a nice cafe too. Will be back often!

5. Warley Place Nature Reserve

1 Great Warley Street, Brentwood CM13 3JF England +44 1621 862960 http://www.warleyplace.org.uk/index.cfm
Excellent
65%
Good
32%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 81 reviews

Warley Place Nature Reserve

Reviewed By brianc694

We were lucky enough to visit the reserve on probably the best day of the year so far. The snowdrops were beautiful and made a lovely subject to photograph. No dogs are allowed, which made a nice change. Not sure where one reviewer went, but we found no cow pats in the reserve. The information boards, placed at appropriate intervals, provide very interesting facts relating to the history of the family who once lived on the site and the buildings they occupied. We finished our morning with lunch in the Thatchers Arms, close to the entrance of the reserve itself. Will certainly be returning to see the daffodils and bluebells in due course.

6. Barnards Farm Gardens

Barnards Brentwood Road, Brentwood CM13 3LX England http://www.barnardsfarm.eu
Excellent
63%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 16 reviews

Barnards Farm Gardens

7. Brentwood Park Ski & Snowboard Centre

Warley Gap, Brentwood CM13 3DP England +44 1277 211994 http://www.brentwoodskicentre.co.uk
Excellent
50%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
5%
Terrible
13%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 56 reviews

Brentwood Park Ski & Snowboard Centre

Reviewed By joyw878 - Basildon, United Kingdom

Visited the centre for my very first ski lesson as a 63year old. Harrison was brilliant and a credit to the centre. He was professional, knowledgable, patient, well spoken and had excellent customer service skills, it was an absolute pleasure to have a lesson with Harrison, please forward my comments to him thankyou. Further I would really recommend the centre, though my grandchildren also had lessons and it gets very very busy at weekends.....thankfully my lesson was a Monday morning two weeks ago, thanks Harrison.

8. Marcella Vivrette Smith Park

Wilson Pike, Brentwood 37027 England
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1 reviews

9. TrailNet

Thorndon Country Park, Brentwood England +44 1277 811012 [email protected] http://www.trailnet.org.uk/

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