51°32′21″N0°12′30″E / 51.53917°N 0.20833°E /51.53917; 0.20833Hornchurch Country Park is a 104.5-hectare park on the former site ofHornchurch Airfield, south ofHornchurch in theLondon Borough of Havering,east London.
TheRiver Ingrebourne passes through the park and if forms part ofThames Chase Community Forest. The most popular part of the park is to the west of the Ingrebourne, where the ground is flat and paved and frequently visited bydog walkers. The woodland to the east of the river is somewhat inaccessible. Some southern parts of the park that reach intoRainham have been historically used aslandfill.
There is a fishing lake located within the park alongside many paths that connect neighbouring areas, such asUpminster,Dagenham andRainham.
There are a number ofPillboxes and other historic installations dating from theSecond World War to be found in the park.[1]
The park is aSite of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade I.[2][3] Almost all of it falls within theIngrebourne ValleyLocal Nature Reserve,[4][5] with the eastern edge forming part of theIngrebourne MarshesSite of Special Scientific Interest.[6][7]
There is access from Airfield Way/Squadron's Approach, off South End Road.[8]
At a ceremony on 23 March 2022, the Mayor of Havering joined representatives of the Council, Borough, voluntary sector and families of the deceased to officially open the COVID-19 Memorial Woodland in the south of Hornchurch Country Park. The opening ceremony coincided with the National Day of Remembrance, marking the second anniversary of the first UK Lockdown.[9]
The Memorial Woodland consists of over 4000 trees planted by volunteers, alongside sponsored memorial benches, wildflowers and a wetland area, aims to remember all those who lost their lives, the significant efforts and sacrifices of key workers and all that our communities endured throughout theCOVID-19 pandemic. The location of the memorial is significant as it is centrally located within the borough and acknowledges the role that parks played in supporting the mental and physical health of local residents during lockdowns.
Alongside honouring those who lost their lives during the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Memorial Woodland also contributes to fightingclimate change and aiding local biodiversity. For example, aswale (a shallow dry channel) was included to combat flooding in the area, a variety of trees have been planted (including berrying and flowering species) to aid birds and insects, and grass rides were incorporated to create an excess of woodland edge, the ideal habitat for butterflies.
