Keep the kids active this half term with Explore Essex!

Welcome to the Explore Essex What’s On newsletter.

Explore our february half-term activities and discover the first public tree planting event as part of the exciting Essex County Council Essex Forest Initiative to combat carbon emissions!

 

Kids Craft at Cressing Temple Barns

Keep the kids entertained and dry, and help stimulate their imaginations with our craft sessions at Cressing Temple Barns. 10.30am-12pm, £8 session, includes a trail and all materials. Make a day of it, and spend time at the historical Knights Templar site and Tudor walled garden, weather permitting!

Monday 17 February Cress Heads

Tuesday 18 February Ceramic Art

Wednesday 19 February Puppet Making

Thursday 20 February Paint A Canvas

Friday 21 February Design A Bag

Discover more and book to secure your place here.

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Plant a Tree at Great Notley

Plant a tree for free* at Great Notley Country Park on Wednesday 19 February between 10am-12pm.

Be part of the Essex County Council’s Essex Forest Initiative to plant 375,000 trees to help combat carbon emissions in this first public tree planting.

Open to all, wellies required! 150 trees, one per person. Simply turn up and follow the signs. Rangers will be on site to show you how.

*Car parking applies. Limited availability of trees.

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Get Active at Essex Outdoors Centres

Our action-packed activity day experiences run at 4 centres across Essex during the school holidays. There is no better way for 8-16-year-olds to try exciting new experiences in the outdoors!

Your child can take part in four fun and challenging small group activities each day  – ranging from archery, canoeing and climbing to mountain biking, high ropes and zip wire.

During February half term we are offering a 1/3 off activity days at just £20 per day (normally £30) more and book here.

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Pirates and Princesses Trail at Thorndon South

If your children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces love to dress up, then bring them to Thorndon South this half-term where you can pick up a themed trail for £4 at the cafe and follow the clues to hunt the pirates and princesses through the beautiful park land.

Find out more here.

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Look for a Book

This half-term we are hiding books around the Essex Country Parks every day. You could be the lucky family to discover a much-loved book, and/or you could take part by hiding some of your own!

Four golden envelopes will also be hidden with the books at Belhus Woods, Cressing Temple Barns, Weald and Thorndon, which will each include a family ticket to the upcoming Chocolate Festival!

Come and enjoy the great outdoors, our fabulous play trails, and snuggle up with a fabulous book when you get home.

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Meet the Stick Man at Weald Country Park

Stick Man is coming to Weald Country Park this half term!

He will be appearing at various times throughout the park on Thursday 20 and Friday 21 February between 10am-3pm. Can you find him and have your photograph taken with him and enjoy the play trail?

This event is free but normal car parking charges apply. Wellies a must!

(The specific Stick Man Story time and craft sessions are all booked, but you can still spot Stick Man at the park and enjoy the trail as above!)

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Chocolate Lover?

The ((first and only) Essex Chocolate Festival returns for it’s second year at Cressing Temple Barns this Easter on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 April.

Bigger and better, with everything a chocolate lover could want and more, there will also be plenty for the children from an Easter trail to seed planting and outdoor cinema screen – all included in the ticket price.

Tickets are now on sale. Find out more here.

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