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Valentines Park

Valentines Park, just north of Ilford, is a good example of 18th and 19th century country house parkland, containing many features of historical and environmental interest. It is a very large park, containing areas of mature trees and wide expanses of grassland, and Valentines Mansion, built around 1696-7.
There are strong populations of woodland birds, including bullfinch, treecreeper, nuthatch and great spotted woodpecker. The site is also good for migrant birds; wood warbler is annual in spring and pied flycatcher is regular in autumn.
There are two large lakes with connecting canals. Most of the banks are artificial but some are natural. Alders (Alnus glutonosa) around the water features support large flocks of siskins in winter. The lake supports large populations of waterfowl, including breeding tufted duck, little grebe and great crested grebe. The water is rather eutrophic, and has enormous populations of the water flea (Daphnia).
There is potential for improving the water features and for relaxing the mowing regime in places to allow areas of taller grassland and wild flowers to develop.
Redbridge Walk to Health Initiative uses this site – a Walking the Way to Health (WHI) scheme; see link for details.

Site Type: Borough Grade II
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Borough: Redbridge
Ownership: London Borough of Redbridge
Habitats: Amenity grassland ; Pond/lake ; Scattered trees

Transport: Train: Ilford
Underground: Gants Hill
Buses: 66, 123, 129, 145, 150, 167, 179, 296, 364, 366, 396, 462



Related Links
Valentines Mansion
Victorian Valentines
East London Nature
London Parks & Gardens Trust
Redbridge parks and green spaces
Valentines Park Conservationists

Ornamental shrubbery at Valentines Park (photo: Ian Yarham) Images and Sounds

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