All Country Parks in Essex to re-open with strict restrictions

  • Anglia
Essex County Council is to re-open its Country Parks on 21st May Credit: ITV News Anglia

All country parks in Essex are to re-open from Thursday (21st May) say the County Council with a number of restrictions in place.

Social distancing rules must be followed and there'll be changes to opening hours with children's play equipment remaining off limits.

The decision comes after lockdown restrictions to outside spaces were eased slightly by the Government.

The council's Country Parks team have been working over the past few weeks to put in place necessary safety measures to ensure the parks can open in line with government guidance, and ensuring visitors and staff can remain safe.

The parks, car parks and toilets will be open to the public, but the children’s play equipment, visitor centres and cafes will remain closed.

Visitors are asked to follow social distancing rules with particular attention to areas around car parks and toilets.

The following parks will be open from the 21st May:

  • Belhus Woods Country Park

  • Cressing Temple Barns

  • Cudmore Grove Country Park

  • Danbury Country Park

  • Great Notley Country Park

  • Hadleigh Country Park

  • Marsh Farm Country Park

  • Thorndon North Country Park

  • Thorndon South County Park

  • Weald Country Park

The following changes have been made to allow the parks to re-open:

  • Restricted opening hours, all country parks with open at 9:00am and close at 5:00pm

  • Once car parks are full access will be limited

  • A move to contactless debit or credit card payments for car parking

  • Fishing will be permitted during Park open hours however we will no longer be accepting cash payment on the day at Belhus Woods, Danbury and Weald. If you are intending to fish you will need to purchase a fishing pass online in advance of your visit.

The Council says it will continue to monitor the situation and if social distancing cannot be maintained, then further restrictions will be put into place.