← Back🌱 Urban park

Black Notley Playing Field

2 ha

WildlifeBirdsInsects

Public accessFree entryDogs welcome2 ha

Getting here

51.85917, 0.56204

Open directionsv

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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
🌿Foraging is at its best in summer here
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
🌿Foraging is at its best in summer here
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

£Free to visit — no entry charge
🐕Dogs welcome

Best for

7 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

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

Free

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Blackbird, Blue Tit, Woodpigeon +54 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Blackbird, Blue Tit, Woodpigeon +54 more · last seen 2025

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — Harlequin Ladybird, Demetrias atricapillus, Sphaerophoria scripta +107 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Harlequin Ladybird, Demetrias atricapillus, Sphaerophoria scripta +107 more · last seen 2025

Free

Foraging

Strong match

Traditional orchard — seasonal fruit, fungi and wild plants

Varies

Dog walks

Strong match

Dogs allowed with public access

Free

Family friendly

Good match

Urban park — family destination

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

2 signed routes nearby · 10 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths

John Ray WalkWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

Essex Way (Epping to Stratford St Mary)Walking route

Named routeRegional walking route

🚴

Cycling

67 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Notley Link PathCycling route

Named routeRef (16)National Cycle Network

Regional Route 50Cycling route

Named routeRef 50Regional cycle route

Route 16Cycling route

Named routeRef 16National Cycle Network

(50)Cycling route

National Cycle Network link route between NCN 16 and Regional Route 50

Named routeLocal cycle route

Main RouteCycling route177 m

Named routeRef 16Length 177 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedloose

N/ACycling route2.4 km

Named routeRef 50Length 2.4 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

38,927 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

38,927 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds60 species

winterspringautumn

2025

Blackbird · Blue Tit · Woodpigeon · Robin · Great Tit +55

BlackbirdTurdus merula
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
RobinErithacus rubecula
Great TitParus major
MagpiePica pica
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
Little EgretEgretta garzetta
Rock DoveColumba livia
Coal TitPeriparus ater
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
BuzzardButeo buteo
GreenfinchChloris chloris
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
House SparrowPasser domesticus
DunnockPrunella modularis
Tawny OwlStrix aluco
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
JayGarrulus glandarius
JackdawColoeus monedula
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
Herring GullLarus argentatus
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
Red KiteMilvus milvus
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa
RookCorvus frugilegus
Stock DoveColumba oenas
Common GullLarus canus
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
SwiftApus apus2024
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
WhitethroatCurruca communis
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
LinnetLinaria cannabina
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
KingfisherAlcedo atthis
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2024
Water RailRallus aquaticus
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
House MartinDelichon urbicum
Barn OwlTyto alba
Erithacus rubecula melophilusErithacus rubecula melophilus2024
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria2024
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2024
SiskinSpinus spinus2024
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2024
RavenCorvus corax2023
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2023

🦌

Mammals5 species

springsummerautumn

2025

Badger · Yellow-necked Mouse · Wood Mouse · Muntjac · Red Fox

BadgerMeles meles
Yellow-necked MouseApodemus flavicollis
Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus2024
MuntjacMuntiacus reevesi2024
Red FoxVulpes vulpes2023

🦎

Reptiles1 species

springsummer

2025

Slow-worm

Slow-wormAnguis fragilis

🐸

Amphibians2 species

winterspringsummer

2024

Common Frog · Smooth Newt

Common FrogRana temporaria
Smooth NewtLissotriton vulgaris

🐝

Insects110 species

summer

2025

Harlequin Ladybird · Green Shieldbug · Field Damsel Bug · Mocydiopsis attenuata · Allygus communis +105

Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis
Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina
Field Damsel BugNabis (Nabis) ferus
Mocydiopsis attenuataMocydiopsis attenuata
Allygus communisAllygus communis
Javesella pellucidaJavesella pellucida
Lygus pratensisLygus pratensis
Apion haematodesApion haematodes
Himacerus (Anaptus) majorHimacerus (Anaptus) major
Sphaerophoria scriptaSphaerophoria scripta
Rhyzobius lituraRhyzobius litura
Demetrias atricapillusDemetrias atricapillus
Scymnus interruptusScymnus interruptus
Stenodema (Brachystira) calcarataStenodema (Brachystira) calcarata
10-spot LadybirdAdalia decempunctata
Dock BugCoreus marginatus
Nysius graminicolaNysius graminicola
14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata
Myrmica scabrinodisMyrmica scabrinodis
Liocoris tripustulatusLiocoris tripustulatus
Acericerus vittifronsAcericerus vittifrons
Rhopalus (Rhopalus) subrufusRhopalus (Rhopalus) subrufus
Psammotettix helvolusPsammotettix helvolus
Nettle GroundbugHeterogaster urticae
Long-winged Cone-headConocephalus fuscus
Cixius nervosusCixius nervosus
Aphrodes makaroviAphrodes makarovi
Phytocoris (Phytocoris) tiliaePhytocoris (Phytocoris) tiliae
Deraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescensDeraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescens
Bishop's MitreAelia acuminata
Oncotylus (Oncotylus) viridiflavusOncotylus (Oncotylus) viridiflavus
Pea-leaf WeevilSitona lineatus
Anaceratagallia ribautiAnaceratagallia ribauti
Nysius senecionisNysius senecionis
Dicranotropis hamataDicranotropis hamata
Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva
Meadow GrasshopperPseudochorthippus parallelus
Stictopleurus punctatonervosusStictopleurus punctatonervosus
Macrosteles sardusMacrosteles sardus
Stictopleurus abutilonStictopleurus abutilon
Stygnocoris fuligineusStygnocoris fuligineus
Pine LadybirdExochomus quadripustulatus
Hairy ShieldbugDolycoris baccarum
Conomelus ancepsConomelus anceps
Stenodema (Stenodema) laevigataStenodema (Stenodema) laevigata
Common Flower BugAnthocoris nemorum
Perapion marchicumPerapion marchicum
Stenocranus minutusStenocranus minutus
Metopoplax ditomoidesMetopoplax ditomoides
Adonis' LadybirdHippodamia variegata
Eupteryx urticaeEupteryx urticae
Cabbage BugEurydema (Eurydema) oleracea
Rhinoncus perpendicularisRhinoncus perpendicularis
Coccidula rufaCoccidula rufa
Euscelis incisusEuscelis incisus
Birch Catkin BugKleidocerys resedae
Gorse ShieldbugPiezodorus lituratus
Cymus melanocephalusCymus melanocephalus
European Tarnished Plant BugLygus rugulipennis
Cuckoo-Spit InsectPhilaenus spumarius
Parent BugElasmucha grisea
Dicyphus (Dicyphus) tamaniniiDicyphus (Dicyphus) tamaninii
Iassus lanioIassus lanio
Scolopostethus thomsoniScolopostethus thomsoni
Graphocraerus ventralisGraphocraerus ventralis
Neoascia podagricaNeoascia podagrica
Phytocoris (Ktenocoris) varipesPhytocoris (Ktenocoris) varipes
Nettle Pollen BeetleBrachypterus urticae
Tree Damsel BugHimacerus (Himacerus) apterus
Platycheirus clypeatusPlatycheirus clypeatus
Field GrasshopperChorthippus brunneus
Orius (Orius) nigerOrius (Orius) niger
Paradromius linearisParadromius linearis
Eupteryx aurataEupteryx aurata
Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes
Eurhadina concinnaEurhadina concinna
Anthocoris simulansAnthocoris simulans
Neophilaenus lineatusNeophilaenus lineatus
Alebra albostriellaAlebra albostriella
Turtle BugPodops inuncta
Trigonotylus caelestialiumTrigonotylus caelestialium
Southern Oak Bush-cricketMeconema meridionale
Black-Kneed Apple CapsidBlepharidopterus angulatus
European CinchbugIschnodemus sabuleti
Lucerne BugAdelphocoris lineolatus
Delicate Apple CapsidMalacocoris chlorizans
Tortoise BugEurygaster testudinaria
Eupterycyba jucundaEupterycyba jucunda
Myrmus miriformisMyrmus miriformis
Small Black AntLasius niger
Common DamselbugNabis (Nabis) rugosus
Speckled Bush-cricketLeptophyes punctatissima
Larinus carlinaeLarinus carlinae
Amara plebejaAmara plebeja
Scymnus frontalisScymnus frontalis
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
Perapion curtirostrePerapion curtirostre
Bembidion quadrimaculatumBembidion quadrimaculatum
Gorse WeevilExapion ulicis
Psallus (Psallus) salicisPsallus (Psallus) salicis
Arocatus roeseliiArocatus roeselii
Rhinoncus castorRhinoncus castor
Doratura stylataDoratura stylata
Anthocoris confususAnthocoris confusus
Oak Bush-cricketMeconema thalassinum
Marsh DamselbugNabis (Dolichonabis) limbatus
Legnotus limbosusLegnotus limbosus
Speckled WoodPararge aegeria
Glow-wormLampyris noctiluca2024
Banded DemoiselleCalopteryx splendens2023

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

38,927 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds60 species

winterspringautumn

2025

Blackbird · Blue Tit · Woodpigeon · Robin · Great Tit +55

BlackbirdTurdus merula
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
RobinErithacus rubecula
Great TitParus major
MagpiePica pica
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
Little EgretEgretta garzetta
Rock DoveColumba livia
Coal TitPeriparus ater
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
BuzzardButeo buteo
GreenfinchChloris chloris
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
House SparrowPasser domesticus
DunnockPrunella modularis
Tawny OwlStrix aluco
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
JayGarrulus glandarius
JackdawColoeus monedula
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
Herring GullLarus argentatus
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
Red KiteMilvus milvus
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa
RookCorvus frugilegus
Stock DoveColumba oenas
Common GullLarus canus
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
SwiftApus apus2024
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
WhitethroatCurruca communis
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
LinnetLinaria cannabina
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
KingfisherAlcedo atthis
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2024
Water RailRallus aquaticus
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
House MartinDelichon urbicum
Barn OwlTyto alba
Erithacus rubecula melophilusErithacus rubecula melophilus2024
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria2024
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2024
SiskinSpinus spinus2024
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2024
RavenCorvus corax2023
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2023

🦌

Mammals5 species

springsummerautumn

2025

Badger · Yellow-necked Mouse · Wood Mouse · Muntjac · Red Fox

BadgerMeles meles
Yellow-necked MouseApodemus flavicollis
Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus2024
MuntjacMuntiacus reevesi2024
Red FoxVulpes vulpes2023

🦎

Reptiles1 species

springsummer

2025

Slow-worm

Slow-wormAnguis fragilis

🐸

Amphibians2 species

winterspringsummer

2024

Common Frog · Smooth Newt

Common FrogRana temporaria
Smooth NewtLissotriton vulgaris

🐝

Insects110 species

summer

2025

Harlequin Ladybird · Green Shieldbug · Field Damsel Bug · Mocydiopsis attenuata · Allygus communis +105

Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis
Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina
Field Damsel BugNabis (Nabis) ferus
Mocydiopsis attenuataMocydiopsis attenuata
Allygus communisAllygus communis
Javesella pellucidaJavesella pellucida
Lygus pratensisLygus pratensis
Apion haematodesApion haematodes
Himacerus (Anaptus) majorHimacerus (Anaptus) major
Sphaerophoria scriptaSphaerophoria scripta
Rhyzobius lituraRhyzobius litura
Demetrias atricapillusDemetrias atricapillus
Scymnus interruptusScymnus interruptus
Stenodema (Brachystira) calcarataStenodema (Brachystira) calcarata
10-spot LadybirdAdalia decempunctata
Dock BugCoreus marginatus
Nysius graminicolaNysius graminicola
14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata
Myrmica scabrinodisMyrmica scabrinodis
Liocoris tripustulatusLiocoris tripustulatus
Acericerus vittifronsAcericerus vittifrons
Rhopalus (Rhopalus) subrufusRhopalus (Rhopalus) subrufus
Psammotettix helvolusPsammotettix helvolus
Nettle GroundbugHeterogaster urticae
Long-winged Cone-headConocephalus fuscus
Cixius nervosusCixius nervosus
Aphrodes makaroviAphrodes makarovi
Phytocoris (Phytocoris) tiliaePhytocoris (Phytocoris) tiliae
Deraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescensDeraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescens
Bishop's MitreAelia acuminata
Oncotylus (Oncotylus) viridiflavusOncotylus (Oncotylus) viridiflavus
Pea-leaf WeevilSitona lineatus
Anaceratagallia ribautiAnaceratagallia ribauti
Nysius senecionisNysius senecionis
Dicranotropis hamataDicranotropis hamata
Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva
Meadow GrasshopperPseudochorthippus parallelus
Stictopleurus punctatonervosusStictopleurus punctatonervosus
Macrosteles sardusMacrosteles sardus
Stictopleurus abutilonStictopleurus abutilon
Stygnocoris fuligineusStygnocoris fuligineus
Pine LadybirdExochomus quadripustulatus
Hairy ShieldbugDolycoris baccarum
Conomelus ancepsConomelus anceps
Stenodema (Stenodema) laevigataStenodema (Stenodema) laevigata
Common Flower BugAnthocoris nemorum
Perapion marchicumPerapion marchicum
Stenocranus minutusStenocranus minutus
Metopoplax ditomoidesMetopoplax ditomoides
Adonis' LadybirdHippodamia variegata
Eupteryx urticaeEupteryx urticae
Cabbage BugEurydema (Eurydema) oleracea
Rhinoncus perpendicularisRhinoncus perpendicularis
Coccidula rufaCoccidula rufa
Euscelis incisusEuscelis incisus
Birch Catkin BugKleidocerys resedae
Gorse ShieldbugPiezodorus lituratus
Cymus melanocephalusCymus melanocephalus
European Tarnished Plant BugLygus rugulipennis
Cuckoo-Spit InsectPhilaenus spumarius
Parent BugElasmucha grisea
Dicyphus (Dicyphus) tamaniniiDicyphus (Dicyphus) tamaninii
Iassus lanioIassus lanio
Scolopostethus thomsoniScolopostethus thomsoni
Graphocraerus ventralisGraphocraerus ventralis
Neoascia podagricaNeoascia podagrica
Phytocoris (Ktenocoris) varipesPhytocoris (Ktenocoris) varipes
Nettle Pollen BeetleBrachypterus urticae
Tree Damsel BugHimacerus (Himacerus) apterus
Platycheirus clypeatusPlatycheirus clypeatus
Field GrasshopperChorthippus brunneus
Orius (Orius) nigerOrius (Orius) niger
Paradromius linearisParadromius linearis
Eupteryx aurataEupteryx aurata
Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes
Eurhadina concinnaEurhadina concinna
Anthocoris simulansAnthocoris simulans
Neophilaenus lineatusNeophilaenus lineatus
Alebra albostriellaAlebra albostriella
Turtle BugPodops inuncta
Trigonotylus caelestialiumTrigonotylus caelestialium
Southern Oak Bush-cricketMeconema meridionale
Black-Kneed Apple CapsidBlepharidopterus angulatus
European CinchbugIschnodemus sabuleti
Lucerne BugAdelphocoris lineolatus
Delicate Apple CapsidMalacocoris chlorizans
Tortoise BugEurygaster testudinaria
Eupterycyba jucundaEupterycyba jucunda
Myrmus miriformisMyrmus miriformis
Small Black AntLasius niger
Common DamselbugNabis (Nabis) rugosus
Speckled Bush-cricketLeptophyes punctatissima
Larinus carlinaeLarinus carlinae
Amara plebejaAmara plebeja
Scymnus frontalisScymnus frontalis
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
Perapion curtirostrePerapion curtirostre
Bembidion quadrimaculatumBembidion quadrimaculatum
Gorse WeevilExapion ulicis
Psallus (Psallus) salicisPsallus (Psallus) salicis
Arocatus roeseliiArocatus roeselii
Rhinoncus castorRhinoncus castor
Doratura stylataDoratura stylata
Anthocoris confususAnthocoris confusus
Oak Bush-cricketMeconema thalassinum
Marsh DamselbugNabis (Dolichonabis) limbatus
Legnotus limbosusLegnotus limbosus
Speckled WoodPararge aegeria
Glow-wormLampyris noctiluca2024
Banded DemoiselleCalopteryx splendens2023

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Geographer · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Black Notley Playing Field

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🏞️GREAT NOTLEYCountry park3.2 km→🌱Great Notley Country ParkUrban park3.2 km→🌱John Ray ParkUrban park1.7 km→🌱Weavers FieldUrban park2.5 km→🌱Bradford MeadowsUrban park3.1 km→🌱Great Notley Country ParkUrban park3.2 km→

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