The Chase Nature Reserve facts for kids
The Chase is a wonderful nature reserve located in Dagenham, London. Most of this special place is in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. A smaller part is in the Havering area.
Local councils own The Chase. The London Borough of Barking & Dagenham's Parks & Countryside Ranger Service helps manage it. Both councils have made their parts of The Chase into a Local Nature Reserve. This means it's a protected area for wildlife and people to enjoy. The Chase is also very important for nature in London. It's known as a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation. This is because it has so many different plants and animals. It's right next to Eastbrookend Country Park, making a big green space for nature.
Contents
Discover The Chase Nature Reserve
What Makes The Chase Special?
The River Rom flows right through The Chase. This river acts as a natural border between the two London boroughs. The Barking and Dagenham side is to the west of the river. The Havering side is to the east.
Long ago, this area was used to dig up gravel. Now, it has many different types of natural homes for wildlife. These include wetlands, grasslands, and wooded areas. This variety helps many different species live here.
Amazing Animals and Plants at The Chase
The River Rom is home to beautiful birds like kingfishers. These quick birds dive into the water to catch fish. Over 190 types of birds have been seen at The Chase. You might spot skylarks singing high above. Little ringed plovers and lapwings also make their homes here.
About 300 Green Parakeets live in the reserve. You will definitely hear them, especially as the sun sets! Other animals include water voles, which are small rodents that live near water. Great crested newts, slow worms, and badgers also call The Chase home.
The Black Poplar is a very rare tree in Britain. The Chase is home to six female Black Poplar trees. There are only about 600 of these special female trees left in the whole country! Some parts of the reserve have dry acid grasslands. These areas are home to some unusual plant species. Horses sometimes graze in certain areas. This helps to keep the grasslands healthy.
Exploring The Chase
The reserve has two main parts. There's a narrow, wooded strip along the River Rom. This part is north of a road also called The Chase. South of this road is a larger, more open area. This southern part has several lakes.
Paths and Connections
You can explore the wooded strip east of the River Rom. This part is in Havering. A footpath crosses this area, connecting Roneo Corner to The Chase road. On the west side of the river, another footpath runs from Dagenham Road to The Chase road.
The large southern area is next to Eastbrookend Country Park. A footbridge connects The Chase to Beam Valley Country Park to the south. This bridge goes over a railway line. These paths and bridges make it easy to explore all the different parts of this amazing nature reserve.
