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An Open air Classroom For many children growing up in and around Brentwood fifty odd years ago, Thorndon Hall and it's almost derelict parklands were a place of mystery and elicit adventure. We were forever being warned to avoid the place - That part of the old hall not in use by the golf club being in ruins and dangerous to venture into. The parkland being used by two farms and a lumber mill to say nothing of being temporary home to small convoys of the Travelling people, resting in the heart of the woodland on their traditional migration route from the Kent hope fields into Essex and into East Anglia for the potato harvests. Oh yes, a very dangerous place was the Thorndon estate then. Not of course that that this stopped the various gangs from the area clambering over broken fences to fight their way though the dense undergrowth and woodland to the ruins of Thorndon Hall itself, or rather that part of it that was not being used by the golf club. The building had been destroyed by fire many years before, but it was still possible to clamber into that part of the Hall not being used as storage for a local factory. Off course at the time we did not know that this was the second Hall to be built in the park, the first before being demolished to make way for the new Palladium style building which was to feature the then owner, the 8th Lord Petre's ideas of landscaping and gardens. Even before the war, envious eyes had been cast on this ruined Hall and park, land, with a development company being set up to cover the park with large detached homes. Indeed they even built two show-homes on the Avenue. Today they remain to show what could have been the fate of the rest of parkland. We can be thankful that the company went into receivership, otherwise this entire area might today have been covered in homes. Today of course, it's a very different story for now that burnt out shell of a building has been restored into smart upmarket flats with wonderful views out over a parkland now under Essex County Council control, who positively welcome you into the park with a wide range of activities all designed to educate whilst entertaining the visitor. An example of this positive use of the park came one weekend back in June when the parks rangers came up with an idea that was of instant appeal, and was guarantied to bring the child out in any adult press ganged into taking part. All that was required was a tent, for this was to be a sleep over event under the trees. But this was not all that made this Saturday one to remember. For on the agenda for the evening, was an exploration of the woodlands by torchlight, then back to the campsite where a night fell around a campfire were stories and songs all rounded off by a fish and chip supper. According the park rangers, thirty tents surrounded the campfire and the event was judged by all a great success. But suggest the Park Rangers, you don't have the be child to enjoy their events, Bird watching enthusiasts could for example joined them at 4 am in the morning back in April for a birdsong walk around the park, followed by a cooked breakfast back at the parks interpretation centre. This large tent like building in the northern part of the park is constructed of local wood taken from the parks many trees lost during the great hurricane, and house's along with a refreshment area, a gift shop and a small exhibition and display space. During the day this tends to be a crowded building, with both the Brentwood Countryside Management Services and the Essex Ranger Service working and planning various projects, undertaking guided walks and working with the large number of volunteers who have been attracted into looking after the park. But by far the greatest number of visitors are school children who enjoy a wide range of countryside activities ranging from pond dipping, art in the park and tracking and using map, plus the change to brush up on their maths by trying to count the ducks on the pond, which I was assured by one grinning ranger as being no easy task. The parks staff are also proud of their summer holiday programme designed to off set those long holiday blues and answer that eternal childhood moan of "having nothing to do." Bring them to Thorndon they say rolling out list of Family and Discovery days. Looking ahead to Sunday 20th July they suggest those aged between Eight and Twelve can join them in a Jurassic Jungle hunt. This will involve an exploration around the park looking for creatures and features left over from the days iof the dinosaur. On the other hand, during July and August youngsters can enjoy a discovery day involving themselves in a number of environmental activities. Also in August, there's a chance to join an Essex Wildlife Trust expert on a tour to discover some of the parks wide selection of butterflies and dragonflies. But if its just a little fun you want, then why not put August 25th in your diary. For this is the parks Family Treasure hunt day. The idea is that you accept the Wildlife trusts challenge to hunt around the park to find the treasure, then return to the countryside centre for a Chocolate reward. And latter in the year, as the October evenings draw in, the parks staff have come up with a special Halloween fun evening. Featured will be a candle lit walk, along with some traditional Halloween games. For more information you can contact Thorndon County Park on 01277 234944. But a word of warning, pre booking for all these events is essential and for most your expected to pay a small fee. Finally that duck counting business, wondering why the ranger concerned considered it a hilarious game, in the interest of investigative journalism, I decided to give it a try. He was right, Ducks you see tend to look much the same, and no sooner do you start counting, then these creatures have this annoying habit of moving around, all of which meant that after five attempts I gave up. But considering the tranquil surroundings of this park, it's a wonderful way of spending an afternoon.
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