The London Borough of Redbridge, one of the northern peripheral London boroughs, has within its boundaries parts of two large open spaces: Epping Forest and Wanstead Flats. Apart from many smaller parks, gardens and sports grounds, the following are the main open spaces in Redbridge:
- Claybury Woods and Park
- Epping Forest - portions near Woodford (also Wanstead Park, see below)
- Hainault Forest Country Park: 336 acres (136ha)
- Hainault Lodge Nature Reserve: 14 acres (5.7 acres)
- Fairlop Waters: an open space with two lakes and a golf course, at Fairlop
- Goodmayes Park
- Seven Kings Park
- Roding Valley Park
- South Park, Ilford
- Valentines Park, Ilford: 125 acres (50.6ha)
- Wanstead Flats
- Wanstead Park (with lakes) and the Wanstead Golf Course
Fairlop Waters Country Park is one of 11 parks throughout Greater London chosen to receive money for redevelopment by a public vote, in 2009. The park received £400,000 towards better footpaths, more lighting, refurbished public toilets and new play areas for children.
The parks are patrolled by the 15-strong Redbridge Parks Police.
Famous quotes containing the words parks, open and/or spaces:
“Towns are full of people, houses full of tenants, hotels full of guests, trains full of travelers, cafés full of customers, parks full of promenaders, consulting-rooms of famous doctors full of patients, theatres full of spectators, and beaches full of bathers. What previously was, in general, no problem, now begins to be an everyday one, namely, to find room.”
—José Ortega Y Gasset (1883–1955)
““What care I for a goose-feather bed,
With the sheet turned down so bravely, O?
For to-night I shall sleep in a cold open field,
Along with the wraggle taggle gipsies, O!””
—Unknown. The Wraggle Taggle Gipsies (l. 33–36)
“Every true man is a cause, a country, and an age; requires infinite spaces and numbers and time fully to accomplish his design;—and posterity seem to follow his steps as a train of clients.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)