Public Footpath 25, Brentwood, CM15 9FE, Essex
Merrymeade Country Park
Parkland
Source image
4.8
Wildland
Under 1 hour
Time
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Cost
Peaceful
Feel
Why it's Wildland
4.8A small green pocket close to Brentwood, where hay meadows, mature hedgerows and oak trees meet woodland, scrub, marsh, a stream and a pond.
Merrymeade earns its place for its compact mix of habitats and locally distinctive wildlife: hay meadows support wildflowers and summer butterflies, while the adjoining wetland, stream, pond and mature hedgerows add variety to a short nature-focused visit.
Peaceful · Wild
Find your way
Open mapPublic Footpath 25, Brentwood, CM15 9FE, Essex
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The experience
A short, nature-led visit through a 34-hectare patchwork of meadow, woodland, scrub and wetland. The supplied walking guide describes a 2.5 km, 55-minute walk from the park towards Brentwood station; it is not confirmed as a circular park circuit.
Things to do
Explore the habitat mix
Walk through the fields and adjoining woodland, scrub and marsh, with a stream and pond also recorded at the site.
Look for meadow wildflowers
The site profile records cuckoo flower, heath bedstraw, bird’s-foot trefoil, pignut and devil’s-bit scabious in the hay meadows.
Watch for summer butterflies
The meadow management is described as encouraging wildflowers, and the source reports good numbers of grassland butterflies in summer.
Follow the walk towards Brentwood station
A published Go Jauntly route describes a 2.5 km, 55-minute walk from the park to Brentwood station, passing woodland, ponds and wildlife.
55 minutes / 2.5 km
Make a day of it
Quick escape · Under 1 hour
Meadow and habitat wander
- 01
Enter via the public footpath from Sawyers Hall Lane; confirm the approach before setting out.
- 02
Explore the park’s paths through its fields and adjoining woodland, scrub and marsh.
- 03
Pause to look for meadow flowers, butterflies and birds around the hedgerows and oaks.
- 04
Return the way you came; no circular route is verified.
Half day · About 55 minutes / 2.5 km
Parkland walk towards Brentwood station
- 01
Begin at Merrymeade Country Park.
- 02
Follow the Go Jauntly walk towards Brentwood station, using its route guide for directions.
- 03
Look out for the guide’s described woodland, ponds and wildlife along the way.
- 04
Check the route details and onward travel arrangements before starting; this is a linear walk, not a confirmed return circuit.
Hidden details
Meadow plants among the grasses — The site profile lists cuckoo flower, heath bedstraw, bird’s-foot trefoil, pignut and devil’s-bit scabious in the meadows; look closely among the grass rather than expecting a formal flower display.
Large oaks along the entrance track — Wild Essex notes that the entrance track is lined with large oaks of varying ages, with mature hedgerows around the fields.
When to go
April · May · June · July · August · Choose a daylight visit; no specific best time of day is established by the supplied sources.
Spring and summer offer the strongest documented seasonal interest, with meadow flowers and grassland butterflies reported by the site profile.
No site-specific weather guidance is available. Check path and ground conditions before visiting, particularly after wet weather.
What to look for
- 01
Look for cuckoo flower, heath bedstraw, bird’s-foot trefoil, pignut and devil’s-bit scabious in the meadows
- 02
watch for summer butterflies and birds among the mature hedgerows and oaks.
Best time to go
Spring to summer for meadow flowers and butterflies; visit in summer to look for grassland butterflies.
Spring and summer are the best-supported seasons for seasonal interest: the source describes meadow wildflowers and grassland butterflies, particularly in summer. Check conditions before travelling.
How long to spend
Under 1 hour
Perfect for
Walkers · Wildlife lovers · Photographers
Before you go
Address
Listed hours
- Monday: Open 24 hours
- Tuesday: Open 24 hours
- Wednesday: Open 24 hours
- Thursday: Open 24 hours
- Friday: Open 24 hours
- Saturday: Open 24 hours
- Sunday: Open 24 hours
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Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
Wild Essex describes access via a public footpath from Sawyers Hall Lane and says the site is accessible at all times. The accepted map pin is a place pin, not an entrance point; check the route and current conditions before setting out.
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Parking
Wild Essex reports on-street parking, free on Sundays. Check local restrictions and availability before visiting.
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Toilets
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Food & drink
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Dogs
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Accessibility
The supplied source describes access by public footpath. Surface, gradients and wheelchair or pushchair suitability are not verified; check before visiting.
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Cost
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Water
Stream, Pond
Gallery
Place photographsKeep exploring
Around Merrymeade Country Park
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
