Ingrebourne Valley is alocal nature reserve (LNR) inHornchurch in theLondon Borough of Havering. It is owned and managed by Havering Council, and has a visitor centre managed by theEssex Wildlife Trust. Most of it is inHornchurch Country Park west of theRiver Ingrebourne, but there are also areas north and south of the park which are part of the LNR. It has a wide range of habitats, including woodland, grassland, the river and marshes. It is an important site for a range of species of plants, animals and birds, including great crested newts, slow worms, the harvest mouse and the water vole.[1][2][3]
It has a complicated relationship with other nature reserves in the area. Hornchurch Country Park is aSite of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade I,[4] and Ingrebourne ValleySite of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation has different boundaries from the LNR of the same name, lying east, north and south of the country park.[5][6] Part of the LNR is also in theIngrebourne MarshesSite of Special Scientific Interest.[7][8]
The site has a car park at its northern end off Hacton Lane.[1]
