Redbridge Parks and Open Spaces

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)

    It’s fairly obvious that American education is a cultural flop. Americans are not a well-educated people culturally, and their vocational education often has to be learned all over again after they leave school and college. On the other hand, they have open quick minds and if their education has little sharp positive value, it has not the stultifying effects of a more rigid training.
    Raymond Chandler (1888–1959)

    When I consider the short duration of my life, swallowed up in the eternity before and after, the little space which I fill and even can see, engulfed in the infinite immensity of spaces of which I am ignorant and which know me not, I am frightened and am astonished at being here rather than there. For there is no reason why here rather than there, why now rather than then.
    Blaise Pascal (1623–1662)