Lower Swaines Recreation Ground
3 ha
Plan your visit
🦅Birds🦉Wildlife🎠Play
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome3 ha
Getting here
51.70122, 0.10262
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦57+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Woodpigeon and Magpie
- ☀️Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay
- 🛝Playground on site — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦57+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Woodpigeon and Magpie
- ☀️Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay
- 🛝Playground on site — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site
Best for
10 activities🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Woodpigeon, Magpie, Robin +54 more · last seen 2025; Deciduous woodland — woodpeckers, warblers and woodland birds
Birds — Woodpigeon, Magpie, Robin +54 more · last seen 2025; Deciduous woodland priority habitat
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — 7-spot Ladybird, Jersey Tiger, Aphrophora alni +70 more · last seen 2025
🛝Family friendly
Strong match
playground; Urban park — family destination
Dogs allowed with public access
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km8 signed routes nearby · 5 public paths nearby
Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Three Forests WayWalking route96 km▾
Named routeLength 96 kmRound tripRegional walking route
Epping Forest Big WalkWalking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
Beech TrailWalking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
Forest WayWalking route▾
Named routeRegional walking route
Parndon TrailWalking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
Coronation Hillpublic footpath · 62 m▾
Public pathpublic footpathLength 62 mPath type: residential
2 public paths nearby
Public paths
Bolt Cellar Lanebridleway · 639 m▾
Public pathbridlewayLength 639 mSurface grassPath type: bridleway
Bolt Cellar Lanebridleway · 424 m▾
Public pathbridlewayLength 424 mSurface grassPath type: bridleway
Photos
22 photos from nearby open sources
✓ Public accessFree entry🐶 Dogs
Good to know
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Wildlife to spot
23,405 records from NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
23,405 records · NBN Atlas🐦Birds57 species
winterspringsummer
2025Woodpigeon · Magpie · Robin · Carrion Crow · Jackdaw
+52 more speciesHide species list
All 57 birds recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- MagpiePica pica
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Great TitParus major
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2024
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2024
- SwiftApus apus2022
- GreenfinchChloris chloris
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2023
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2023
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2024
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2023
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2024
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2023
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2023
- NuthatchSitta europaea2023
- Herring GullLarus argentatus2023
- Coal TitPeriparus ater2021
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2021
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2023
- SwallowHirundo rustica2021
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus2021
- WhitethroatCurruca communis2020
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus2020
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- RedwingTurdus iliacus2024
- House MartinDelichon urbicum2021
- JayGarrulus glandarius2021
- Stock DoveColumba oenas2021
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2021
- Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minor2020
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos2020
- ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- PochardAythya ferina
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis2023
- FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla2023
- Common GullLarus canus2023
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco2022
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2021
- WheatearOenanthe oenanthe2020
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus2020
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis2020
- WaxwingBombycilla garrulus2020
- LinnetLinaria cannabina2020
🦌Mammals8 species
springsummer
2025Hedgehog · Red Fox · Muntjac · Rabbit · Fallow Deer
+3 more speciesHide species list
All 8 mammals recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2022
- Red FoxVulpes vulpes2022
- MuntjacMuntiacus reevesi
- RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus2021
- Fallow DeerDama dama
🦎Reptiles2 species
springsummer
2025Slow-worm · Common Lizard
🐸Amphibians4 species
springautumnwinter
2025Great Crested Newt · Smooth Newt · Common Frog · Newt
7-spot Ladybird · Jersey Tiger · Aphrophora alni · Harlequin Ladybird · Large Red Damselfly
+68 more speciesHide species list
All 73 insects recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- 7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
- Jersey TigerEuplagia quadripunctaria
- Aphrophora alniAphrophora alni2021
- Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis
- Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula
- Swollen-thighed BeetleOedemera nobilis
🍄Fungi2 species
winterautumn
2020Common Inkcap · Bolbitiaceae
🌿Plants7 species
winterspringsummerautumn
2023Japanese Knotweed · Yellow-rattle · Heath Plait-moss · Holly · Sun Spurge
+2 more speciesHide species list
All 7 plants recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- Japanese KnotweedReynoutria japonica
- Yellow-rattleRhinanthus minor
- Heath Plait-mossHypnum jutlandicum2022
- HollyIlex aquifolium2022
- Sun Spurge
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
23,405 records · NBN Atlas🐦Birds57 species
winterspringsummer
2025Woodpigeon · Magpie · Robin · Carrion Crow · Jackdaw
+52 more speciesHide species list
All 57 birds recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- MagpiePica pica
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Great TitParus major
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2024
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2024
- SwiftApus apus2022
- GreenfinchChloris chloris
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2023
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2023
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2024
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2023
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2024
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2023
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2023
- NuthatchSitta europaea2023
- Herring GullLarus argentatus2023
- Coal TitPeriparus ater2021
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2021
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2023
- SwallowHirundo rustica2021
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus2021
- WhitethroatCurruca communis2020
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus2020
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- RedwingTurdus iliacus2024
- House MartinDelichon urbicum2021
- JayGarrulus glandarius2021
- Stock DoveColumba oenas2021
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2021
- Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minor2020
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos2020
- ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- PochardAythya ferina
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis2023
- FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla2023
- Common GullLarus canus2023
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco2022
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2021
- WheatearOenanthe oenanthe2020
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus2020
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis2020
- WaxwingBombycilla garrulus2020
- LinnetLinaria cannabina2020
🦌Mammals8 species
springsummer
2025Hedgehog · Red Fox · Muntjac · Rabbit · Fallow Deer
+3 more speciesHide species list
All 8 mammals recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2022
- Red FoxVulpes vulpes2022
- MuntjacMuntiacus reevesi
- RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus2021
- Fallow DeerDama dama
🦎Reptiles2 species
springsummer
2025Slow-worm · Common Lizard
🐸Amphibians4 species
springautumnwinter
2025Great Crested Newt · Smooth Newt · Common Frog · Newt
7-spot Ladybird · Jersey Tiger · Aphrophora alni · Harlequin Ladybird · Large Red Damselfly
+68 more speciesHide species list
All 73 insects recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- 7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
- Jersey TigerEuplagia quadripunctaria
- Aphrophora alniAphrophora alni2021
- Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis
- Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula
- Swollen-thighed BeetleOedemera nobilis
🍄Fungi2 species
winterautumn
2020Common Inkcap · Bolbitiaceae
🌿Plants7 species
winterspringsummerautumn
2023Japanese Knotweed · Yellow-rattle · Heath Plait-moss · Holly · Sun Spurge
+2 more speciesHide species list
All 7 plants recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- Japanese KnotweedReynoutria japonica
- Yellow-rattleRhinanthus minor
- Heath Plait-mossHypnum jutlandicum2022
- HollyIlex aquifolium2022
- Sun Spurge
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Otter
Otter
Lutra lutra
Lutra lutra
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2023Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2023BadgerMeles meles2020BadgerMeles meles20202024
2024
14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata202114-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata2021Eristalis tenaxEristalis tenax2021Eristalis tenaxEristalis tenax2021Minotaur BeetleTyphaeus typhoeus2024Minotaur BeetleTyphaeus typhoeus2024Stag BeetleLucanus cervus2023Stag BeetleLucanus cervus2023Dark-edged Bee-flyBombylius major2023Dark-edged Bee-flyBombylius major2023Black-headed Cardinal BeetlePyrochroa coccinea2022Black-headed Cardinal BeetlePyrochroa coccinea2022Deraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescensDeraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescens2021Deraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescensDeraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescens2021Lily BeetleLilioceris lilii2021Lily BeetleLilioceris lilii2021PeacockAglais io2021PeacockAglais io2021Rhyzobius chrysomeloidesRhyzobius chrysomeloides2020Rhyzobius chrysomeloidesRhyzobius chrysomeloides2020Nephus quadrimaculatusNephus quadrimaculatus2020Nephus quadrimaculatusNephus quadrimaculatus2020SphaerophoriaSphaerophoria2020SphaerophoriaSphaerophoria2020Box Tree MothCydalima perspectalis2020Box Tree MothCydalima perspectalis2020Western Conifer Seed BugLeptoglossus occidentalisWestern Conifer Seed BugLeptoglossus occidentalisBatman HoverflyMyathropa floreaBatman HoverflyMyathropa floreaFour-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculataFour-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculataNorfolk AeshnaAeshna isocelesNorfolk AeshnaAeshna isocelesEmperor DragonflyAnax imperatorEmperor DragonflyAnax imperatorAgrilus cuprescensAgrilus cuprescensAgrilus cuprescensAgrilus cuprescensNemopoda nitidulaNemopoda nitidulaNemopoda nitidulaNemopoda nitidulaCarabus nemoralisCarabus nemoralisCarabus nemoralisCarabus nemoralisSmall TortoiseshellAglais urticaeSmall TortoiseshellAglais urticaeRose ChaferCetonia aurata2024Rose ChaferCetonia aurata2024Malachite BeetleMalachius bipustulatus2024Malachite BeetleMalachius bipustulatus2024Scathophaga stercorariaScathophaga stercoraria2023Scathophaga stercorariaScathophaga stercoraria2023Corizus hyoscyamiCorizus hyoscyami2022Corizus hyoscyamiCorizus hyoscyami2022Cuckoo-Spit InsectPhilaenus spumarius2022Cuckoo-Spit InsectPhilaenus spumarius2022Common Flower BugAnthocoris nemorum2022Common Flower BugAnthocoris nemorum2022Maiden's BlushCyclophora punctaria2022Maiden's BlushCyclophora punctaria2022Holly BlueCelastrina argiolus2022Holly BlueCelastrina argiolus2022Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2021Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2021Plagiognathus (Plagiognathus) arbustorumPlagiognathus (Plagiognathus) arbustorum2021Plagiognathus (Plagiognathus) arbustorumPlagiognathus (Plagiognathus) arbustorum2021Oak Bush-cricketMeconema thalassinum2021Oak Bush-cricketMeconema thalassinum2021Deraeocoris (Deraeocoris) ruberDeraeocoris (Deraeocoris) ruber2021Deraeocoris (Deraeocoris) ruberDeraeocoris (Deraeocoris) ruber2021Common DamselbugNabis (Nabis) rugosus2021Common DamselbugNabis (Nabis) rugosus2021Phytocoris (Ktenocoris) varipesPhytocoris (Ktenocoris) varipes2021Phytocoris (Ktenocoris) varipesPhytocoris (Ktenocoris) varipes2021Liocoris tripustulatusLiocoris tripustulatus2021Liocoris tripustulatusLiocoris tripustulatus2021Cassida vibexCassida vibex2021Cassida vibexCassida vibex2021Hairy ShieldbugDolycoris baccarum2021Hairy ShieldbugDolycoris baccarum2021Pilophorus perplexusPilophorus perplexus2021Pilophorus perplexusPilophorus perplexus2021Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina2021Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina2021Meadow GrasshopperPseudochorthippus parallelus2021Meadow GrasshopperPseudochorthippus parallelus2021Dock BugCoreus marginatus2021Dock BugCoreus marginatus2021Hawthorn ShieldbugAcanthosoma haemorrhoidale2021Hawthorn ShieldbugAcanthosoma haemorrhoidale2021Tree Damsel BugHimacerus (Himacerus) apterus2021Tree Damsel BugHimacerus (Himacerus) apterus2021Neolygus viridisNeolygus viridis2021Neolygus viridisNeolygus viridis2021Megaloceroea recticornisMegaloceroea recticornis2021Megaloceroea recticornisMegaloceroea recticornis2021Tortoise BugEurygaster testudinaria2021Tortoise BugEurygaster testudinaria202124-spot LadybirdSubcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata202124-spot LadybirdSubcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata2021Migrant HawkerAeshna mixta2021Migrant HawkerAeshna mixta2021Bright-line Brown-eyeLacanobia oleracea2021Bright-line Brown-eyeLacanobia oleracea2021MegachileMegachile2021MegachileMegachile2021Hedge BrownPyronia tithonus britanniae2021Hedge BrownPyronia tithonus britanniae2021Least CarpetIdaea rusticata2021Least CarpetIdaea rusticata2021Rosemary BeetleChrysolina americana2021Rosemary BeetleChrysolina americana2021Orange-tipAnthocharis cardamines2021Orange-tipAnthocharis cardamines2021Cream-spot LadybirdCalvia quattuordecimguttata2021Cream-spot LadybirdCalvia quattuordecimguttata2021Buff-tailed BumblebeeBombus terrestris2020Buff-tailed BumblebeeBombus terrestris2020Birch Catkin BugKleidocerys resedae2020Birch Catkin BugKleidocerys resedae2020Riband WaveIdaea aversata2020Riband WaveIdaea aversata2020Shaded Broad-barScotopteryx chenopodiata2020Shaded Broad-barScotopteryx chenopodiata2020Western Honey BeeApis mellifera2020Western Honey BeeApis mellifera2020Broad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressa2020Broad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressa2020CinnabarTyria jacobaeae2020CinnabarTyria jacobaeae2020Lesser Stag BeetleDorcus parallelipipedus2020Lesser Stag BeetleDorcus parallelipipedus2020AlticaAltica2020AlticaAltica2020BumblebeeBombus2020BumblebeeBombus2020Euphorbia helioscopia2021
Euphorbia helioscopia2021
Red CampionSilene dioica2020Red CampionSilene dioica2020SnowdropGalanthus nivalis2020SnowdropGalanthus nivalis2020Events & activities nearby
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