Glade
← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Birch Park

4 ha

📷 Robert Edwards · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsInsects
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome4 ha

Getting here

51.85249, 0.81984

Open directionsv
Google Maps↗Driving directionsApple Maps↗Driving directionsWaze↗Live driving navigationGoogle Transit↗Bus, rail or tramApple Transit↗Bus, rail or tram

Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
  • 🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
  • 📍Open access throughout summer — no booking required

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome

Best for

6 activities

Wildlife

Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Mallard +77 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Mallard +77 more · last seen 2026

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Stag Beetle, Water Scorpion, 7-spot Ladybird +47 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Stag Beetle, Water Scorpion, 7-spot Ladybird +47 more · last seen 2025

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Forest walks

Public woodland

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

6 signed routes nearby · 1 public path nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Colchester Orbital West BWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Colchester Orbital West AWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Colchester Orbital Spoke (West)Walking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Colne Valley PathWalking route37 km
Named routeLength 37 kmLocal walking route
Essex Way (Epping to Stratford St Mary)Walking route
Named routeRegional walking route
Birch 38public footpath · 169 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 169 mPath type: footway
🚴

Cycling

63 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
EuroVelo 2 - Capitals Route - part United Kingdom 8Cycling route
Named routeRef EV2International cycle route
Colchester Orbital CycleCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Garrison RouteCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
NCN National Route 1Cycling route
Named routeRef 1National Cycle Network
Route 13Cycling route
Named routeRef 13National Cycle Network
Colchester Orbital Cycle Spoke (West)Cycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
🐴

Horse riding

2 public paths nearby

Public paths
Birch 43restricted byway · 819 m
Public pathrestricted bywayLength 819 mPath type: track

Wildlife to spot

Photos

The bridleway near Birch Hall

📷 Robert Edwards · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

The bridleway near Birch Hall

1 / 15

Weather for this location

Next 14 days

Loading local forecast…

Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🐄Colchester ZooVisitor farm1.3 km→🌱Westlands Country ParkUrban park3.3 km→✦Roman Practice Camp and late Iron Age and Roman remains east of Stanway Hall FarmHistoric site1.7 km→✦Gosbecks Iron Age and Romano-British siteHistoric site2.8 km→🌱Cheshunt FieldUrban park3.1 km→🌱Wheatfield road parkUrban park3.8 km→

Own or manage this place?

Claim this listing to keep details accurate, add photos, and highlight what makes it special — free.

Claim this page

How was your visit?

How useful was the information on this page?

id: b466a617-7079-4660-b4e1-2153bfe355db