Hornchurch Country Park facts for kids

Hornchurch Country Park is a huge park in east London, covering about 104.5 hectares! That's like 250 football fields! It's located south of Hornchurch in the London Borough of Havering. This amazing park used to be a busy airfield during World War II, known as RAF Hornchurch.

The River Ingrebourne flows right through the park, adding to its natural beauty. The park is also a special part of the Thames Chase Community Forest, which is a big project to create more woodlands and green spaces around London.

Exploring Hornchurch Country Park

The park has different areas to explore. The western side, closer to the River Ingrebourne, is mostly flat and has paved paths. This part is very popular for people walking their dogs or going for a run.

On the eastern side of the river, you'll find more woodland. It's a bit wilder and can be harder to get to, but it's perfect for those who love exploring nature. Some parts of the park further south, near Rainham, were once used for burying waste.

You can also find a fishing lake in the park, which is a great spot for a quiet afternoon. Many paths lead out from the park, connecting you to other nearby towns like Upminster, Dagenham, and Rainham.

A Park with History

Because Hornchurch Country Park used to be an airfield during the Second World War, you can still find cool historical items there. Look out for old concrete structures called "pillboxes" and other remains from the war. They are like secret hideouts that soldiers used!

Nature and Wildlife

Hornchurch Country Park is a really important place for nature. It's officially recognized as a "Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation," which means it's a special place where plants and animals can thrive.

Most of the park is part of the Ingrebourne Valley Local Nature Reserve. This means it's protected so that local wildlife has a safe home. The very edge of the park on the eastern side is also part of the Ingrebourne Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest. This is an even higher level of protection, showing how unique and important the natural environment here is.

Getting There

You can easily get to Hornchurch Country Park from Airfield Way or Squadron's Approach, which are off South End Road.

Images for kids

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  The central memorial area is surrounded by wildflowers and a 12m long bench.

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  Over 4000 trees were planted surrounding the central memorial.