2023
The third and final bank holiday of May and the May School Holidays! Here are some activities and events happening at parks, playgrounds and nature reserves across Essex this May Half Term.
This post will be updated as more events are added, so make sure you regularly check back regularly. Click the park name for direct links to book events where applicable.
Don't forget to check the Park Directory for more park inspiration - A-Z of over 70 Parks in Essex.
29th May - Wild Family Fun - Go wild and explore the habitats of Abberton. Includes pond dipping, bug hunting, seed bomb making, toasted marshmallows and a trail. £8
31st May - Drop Off Day - Get back to nature! Explore wildlife and learn bush craft skills at our school holiday drop-off days. £25
1st June - Make Your Own Nature Journal - Adventure round the nature reserve looking for wildlife and flowers to provide inspiration. Practice some drawing techniques and try water colours. £8
30th May - Superworm Storytime - Come and read Superworm, join in some worm activities and crafts as well as having fun with the mud kitchen, bug hunting and more. £7
1st June - Bug Bonaza - Explore the woods with us to hunt for all sorts of creepy crawlies, and make your own to take home! £7
2nd June - Drop Off Day - Get back to nature! Explore wildlife and learn bush craft skills at our school holiday drop-off days. £25
30th May - Storytime Elmer - Bring a cuddly teddy and a snack to help you enjoy the book and then take part in some fun wild child activities. £5
31st May - Wildcard Wednesday - From wild art, bug hunting, learning tracks & signs. Choose from a whole range of activities and take part in free flow activities to infuse in the outdoors! £7
31st May - Drop-in Meadow Madness - Discover which species of bugs, spiders and other minibeasts make their home in the meadows. Plus create your own grasshead friend to take home with you and watch grow! £5
1st June - Woodland Explorers - For all ages free-play activities including slackline walking, bug hunting, woodland crafts, tool use, mud kitchen and more. £7
2nd June - Drop Off Day - Get back to nature! Explore wildlife and learn bush craft skills at our school holiday drop-off days. £25
SHOP OUR FAVOURITES
27th May - 11th June Pick up a trail booklet from the café for free! Turn your kids into mini explorers. Follow the route (loosely marked in the booklets), chase through trees, linger around the lakes and zoom across the meadows. Hunt the trail markers and find the letters to make the mystery word. Discover fun and fascinating facts about Wetlands and wildlife, and see what you can spot along the way. Free
27th May - 11th June - Follow the route (loosely marked in the booklets), chase through trees, linger around the lakes and zoom across the meadows. Hunt the trail markers and find the letters to make the mystery word. Discover fun and fascinating facts about Wetlands and wildlife, and see what you can spot along the way. Free
27th May - 11th June - Head to Lakes car park and turn your kids into mini explorers. Follow the route (loosely marked in the booklets), chase through trees, linger around the lakes and zoom across the meadows. Hunt the trail markers and find the letters to make the mystery word. Discover fun and fascinating facts about Wetlands and wildlife, and see what you can spot along the way. Free
31st May - Pond Dipping, Minibeast Hunt and Crafts - Join in some Pond Dipping, Minibeast Hunting, marshmallows over the fire and a craft activity. £8
1st June - Bushcraft Drop Off - Aimed at children aged 11-18. Start by lighting a fire using natural materials foraged from the woodland. Set up tarp shelters and cook snacks on an open fire. The afternoon will be spent using tools and learning woodland crafts. £25
2nd June - Drop Off Day - Get back to nature! Explore wildlife and learn bush craft skills at our school holiday drop-off days. £25
30th May - Spring Nature Day - Caft activities, trails to follow and nature clues to hunt. £3
Free family activities this half term between 10.30am and 12.30pm.
Go Nuts for Doughnuts
30th May - Decorating Doughnuts
31st May - Doughnut Crafts
1st June - Doughnut Trail and Taste
31st May - Wild Adventures - Campfire Cooking - Lets see what the forest has to offer this spring and identify edible plants! £5
1st June - Forest Explorers - Birds of Prey - Come and find out about these powerful hunters that live in Hainault Forest. Identify them from their sick and work out what they've been eating for their dinner! £5
30th May - Drop Off Day - Get back to nature! Explore wildlife and learn bush craft skills at our school holiday drop-off days. £25
31st May - Pond Dipping - Come and take part in a drop in session and have a go at pond dipping. No need to prebook. £4
1st June - Family Forest Adventure - Join us for a session spent in the woodland. Discover and play as we build dens and explore the forest, before toasting a snack on our fire. £7
1st June - Wild Night Out - An exclusive evening to experience some of our nocturnal wildlife, including pond dipping, small mammal trapping and bat detecting. £7
2nd June - Nature Tots Taster - Discover and learn through a range of fun wildlife themed activities from bug hunting and mud play to natural painting and stick creatures. £7
Get sowing this May half term at RHS Garden Hyde Hall and learn how to grow your own food. Admission charges apply
27th May - 4th June - Sow Awesome Trail - Follow the grow-your-own-themed trail around the garden and see if you can spot the fruit and vegetable superheroes along the way. Discover their amazing powers and find out how you can grow them at home.
30th May - Storytelling - Enjoy an interactive storytelling walk around the garden with Mike Dodsworth.
31st May - Salad Growing - From seed to salad, come along to our growing workshops and plant some salad to grow at home, and when it’s ready, to harvest and eat! £2.50 per child, pre-booking required 1st June - Pips and Seeds Workshop - Explore the insides of fruits by taking out the seeds, sowing them in pots and watching them grow into plants. £2.50 per child, pre-booking required
30th May - 30 Days Wild Drop In - Join us in the meadow for some bug hunting and other wild activities to celebrate the start of 30 Days Wild. £4
31st May - Nature Tots Taster - Discover and learn through a range of fun wildlife themed activities from bug hunting and mud play to natural painting and stick creatures. £4
31st May - Family Forest Adventure - Join us for a session spent in the woodland. Discover and play as we build dens and explore the forest, before toasting a snack on our fire. £7
1st June - Drop Off Day - Get back to nature! Explore wildlife and learn bush craft skills at our school holiday drop-off days. £25
2nd June - Storytime Owl Babies - Come and enjoy the classic story, 'Owl Babies' and explore the woods. Join in activities, including: making your own owl, building nests, acting out the story as well as our usual minibeast hunting, mud kitchen and much more. £7
27th May - 11th June - Wetlands Trail - Head to Marsh Farm Country Park car park (not the farm attraction, carry on past this, until you reach the end of the road) and turn your kids into mini explorers. Follow the route beside the Fenn Creek (loosely marked in the booklets), hunt the trail markers and find the letters to make the mystery word. Discover fun and fascinating facts about wetlands and wildlife, and see what you can spot along the way. Free
30th May - Drop Off Day - Get back to nature! Explore wildlife and learn bush craft skills at our school holiday drop-off days. £25
31st May/2nd June - Family Fossil Discovery - Learn about The Naze geology and where to find fossils before heading out on a group fossil hunt. £3
1st June - Bat Safari - A guided walk around the woodland with bat detectors. Question and answers and information stands from Essex Bat Group. £2
Priory Park, SS2 6NB
24th May - 4th June - Circus Zyair - Over thirty adrenaline fuelled performers from all across the globe. Fearless acrobats and daredevil stuntmen guarantee maximum thrills. Tickets from £12.99
Free Event Music in the Park Event - every weekend until September!
26th May - 4th June - Downs' Traditional Steam Fair - Whether it's the magic of the steam driven Gallopers, the dizzying fun as you spin at speed on the Chair-o-Planes, the panoramic heights of the Big Wheel and Helter Skelter enjoy the fun & games.
Roding Valley Meadows Nature Reserve, IG7 6DP
31st May - Pond Dipping - Discover who calls our pond their home! All equipment provided, including pond dipping nets, trays, and ID sheets. £5
1st June - Drop Off Day - Get back to nature! Explore wildlife and learn bush craft skills at our school holiday drop-off days. £25
30th May - Music Making - During this fun packed session all participants are provided with an instrument and will learn about sound, rhythm and playing a melody reading music. £3
31st May - Minibeast and Flower Crafts - During this drop in craft session you will be able to make your own mini beast, create your own bird and design a flower all to take home. £3
30th May - Nature Printing - print your own floral design on a canvas bag to take home, and try creating a seed head clay coaster. £10
31st May - Storytime We're Going on a Bear Hunt - Bring a cuddly teddy and a snack to help you enjoy the book and then take part in some fun wild child activities. £7
1st June - Mad about Minibeasts - Search for the bugs that call our reserve a home, get creative by making them a habitat fit for you garden or a craft that resembles your favourite minibeast £7
30th May - Pond Dipping
31st May - Soft Archery and Pond Dipping
1st June - Cottage Tour, Soft Archery and Pond Dipping
2nd June - Soft Archery and Pond Dipping
£6 per child, £4.20 sibling, £2 adult. Call 01268 205267 to book.
Check back for What's On at Essex Parks Every Month
Comments