What are the opening hours?

Monday 8am - 4:30pm Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm Thursday 8am - 4:30pm Friday 8am - 4:30pm Saturday 8am - 4:30pm Sunday 8am - 4:30pm

Thorndon Country Park

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Thorndon Country Park

Discover the Gruffalo Trail, explore the tranquil woodlands, go fishing or birdwatching and let imaginations run wild.
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Perfect for dog walkers, families and nature lovers alike. More information, can be found here: https://hootbio.com/explore-essex

05/12/2025

Today is !

We love our country park. It’s a great place to go to find quiet and reflect, exercise and spend time outdoors with family and friends, but we couldn’t maintain and manage it like we do without the help of our brilliant volunteers. 💚👏

Every Thursday at Thorndon our volunteers work on conservation tasks such as clearing invasive tree species from our woodlands. The groups (of around 6 to 10 people) also look after the sensory garden (which they built), help with green hay spreading to improve our grasslands, footpath and ride clearance, pond restoration, tree planting, fencing repairs, heath management, seed collecting and much more! 🌲

If you would like to volunteer at Thorndon, please get in touch with us directly at www.explore-essex.com/throndon.

Please join us in saying thank you to our magnificent volunteers in the comments. 🤩

Pictures: Our incredible volunteers collecting seeds in partnership with the The Essex Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

01/12/2025

The most wonderful time of the year is here! Hello December. ❄️👋🧤

Discover the magical sparkle of this month with us!

Things to look forward to:

❄️ Frosty landscapes and frozen puddles
😄 Free Festive Elf Trail
🦌 Finding footprints in the mud or snow
🐦 Spotting migratory birds
🎄Festive family walks
🗺️ Special winter The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's child trail maps

Read our new blog for more festive fun ideas: https://www.explore-essex.com/blog/festive-trail

Pictures: Thorndon in past winters. Credit to Sophie

29/11/2025

*Visitor Notice – Essex Bridleways Association Christmas Ride (29 November)*

Please be aware that the park and car park may be busier than usual today due to the Essex Bridleways Association Christmas Ride taking place.

Sorry for any inconvenience caused.

26/11/2025

Have your 'elf' a merry Christmas with our brand NEW Festive Elf Trail at Thorndon this December!

Starting Monday 1 December, find the cheeky elves and their friends hiding in our park and work out the special number to enter our prize draw to win an Explorer Pass.🎄❄️🦌

Or visit Cressing Temple Barns and Tiptree Tea Rooms this weekend (Saturday 29 November) for a special Festive Fairy Door Trail. Explore the grounds and discover the hidden fairy magic. ✨🚪🧚‍♀️

Read our festive fun blog for more day out ideas www.explore-essex.com/blog/festive-trail

22/11/2025

This we are sharing a love of the important trees at Thorndon Country Park. 🌳🌳🌳

When asked which tree is her favourite, Louise Andrew, Park Manager responded:

“The incredible old hornbeam, which is found on the main track, down past the visitor centre.

This veteran tree is interesting because it’s twisted trunk and exposed roots look amazing. And it is full of habitat for beetles and bats.” 🦇

At Thorndon we are carrying out significant landscape restoration to protect our veteran trees into the future and help restore the wood pastures of the past. Read more on this here: www.explore-essex.com/blog/coppicing-at-thorndon

Read our NEW blog to discover more about the tremendous trees at the Essex Country Parks: www.explore-essex.com/blog/four-tremendous-trees. 💚

15/11/2025

WIN a Tiptree Tea Room Winter Hamper! 🧺🍓🫙

Enter our magazine competition and you could win a winter hamper worth approximately
£80 thanks to our friends at Tiptree Tea Rooms.😃

Simply read the latest edition of the Essex Explorer Magazine and answer the question on page 23: www.explore-essex.com/magazine/essex-explorer

Be quick, competition closes midnight Sunday 23 November.

14/11/2025

Rainy days are not that bad. In fact, wet weather walks can be fun and exciting. 🥾☔

With the right clothing and footwear, walks in the rain provide a refreshingly new experience. 🌦️

Enjoy new smells, hear the sound of the rain falling on the leaves and splash in muddy puddles.

Visit us this weekend and embrace our English weather. 💧🚶‍♀️

Remember, paths may be slippery so please watch your step.

09/11/2025

On Remembrance Sunday, we remember the service and sacrifice of all those that have defended our freedoms and protected our way of life.

The poppy is a symbol of both remembrance and hope for a peaceful future.

07/11/2025

Baaaa 🐑
Sheep are in the Old Deer Park at Thorndon North

One of the oldest breeds of native sheep, these Dorset Downs are an important part of our natural landscape management programme at Thorndon Country Park, along with our red poll cattle and cheviot goats.

Read more about our landscape restoration programmes at Thorndon:
https://www.explore-essex.com/landscape-restoration-thorndon

Thanks to Ranger Neil Bruce for the photos.

07/11/2025

Well done to everyone who completed our Spooky Trail this half term. 🧡🎃🐈‍⬛

Congratulations to Adam and Eleanor Longley for winning our spooktacular competition. 😁👏

You have won a goody bag and Explorer Pass (worth £85)!

Share your thoughts about our trail in comments below. 👇

Pictures: our winners enjoying the trail at Cressing Temple Barns😍

06/11/2025

Now that cosy season is here, our park's closing time (dusk) is coming around quicker than we're used to. 🌞🌑

But not to worry - pop on some warm clothes and make the most of the precious daylight hours with us! 😃

Just remember to check our website for the current closing time before heading out www.explore-essex.com/places-to-go/find-whats-near-me/thorndon-country-park. 🥾🧥🧤

01/11/2025

This we're celebrating our favourite author Julia Donaldson! 🤩

Visit us soon to discover our very own The Gruffalo trail or head over to Weald Country Park to enjoy the popular Stick Man trail. 🤎

Read the books and tell us who your favourite book character is in the comments 👇 😍.

Magic Light

Address

Thorndon Country Park, The Avenue
Brentwood
CM133RZ

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8am - 4:30pm
Thursday	8am - 4:30pm
Friday	8am - 4:30pm
Saturday	8am - 4:30pm
Sunday	8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

01277 211250

Website

https://www.explore-essex.com/places-to-go/find-whats-near-me/thorndon-country-park

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