Northlands Park consists of some seventy acres of woodland, copses, grassland and lakes. It is controlled by Basildon District Council, although since 1993 the lakes have been managed by Mick Toomer.

The park is on the site of the old Felmores Farm. The two lakes, which total six and a half acres, are at the Northern end of the park, with the nearest swims only twenty yards or so from the main car park.

The two lakes lay alongside each other and are joined by a few yards of canal. They were excavated by the council in the late 1960’s to provide flood relief for the nearby estates that were springing up as Basildon New Town developed. The lakes still fulfill their flood relief function, but nowadays they are better known as popular day ticket fisheries.