Bedfords Park Nature Discovery Centre

Set in the stunning grounds of Bedfords Park, an historic parkland site of 215 acres, owned and managed by the London Borough of Havering. The nature reserve affords fantastic views over London and into Kent.

Location

Bedfords Park Nature Discovery Centre
Broxhill Road
Havering-atte-Bower
Essex
RM4 1QH
A static map of Bedfords Park Nature Discovery Centre

Know before you go

Size
87 hectares
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Parking information

Large free on site car park

Bicycle parking

Yes

Grazing animals

Red Deer grazing at all times

Walking trails

Various routes around the reserve, call into the Nature Discovery Centre for more details.

Access

Please contact the centre for accessibility details.

Dogs

Dogs permitted

Please note that dogs are permitted on the reserve but must be kept on a lead and are not allowed inside the Nature Discovery Centre.

Assistance dogs are allowed in the Nature Discovery Centre.

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Facilities

Visitor centre
Toilets
Shop
Cafe/refreshments
Picnic area
Accessible toilet
Baby changing facilities
Wifi

When to visit

Opening times

Bedfords Park Nature Discovery Centre is open 7 days a week.

Winter opening hours:
10am – 4pm, 1 November – 10 February.

Summer opening hours:
10am – 5pm, 11 February – 31 October.

Christmas opening hours:
Christmas Eve 10am – 2pm, Closed Christmas Day & Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve 10am – 2pm.

Best time to visit

All year

About the reserve

The Nature Discovery Centre offers visitors a really warm welcome and the opportunity to find out about the wildlife within the park. The park includes many valuable habitats such as mature woodland, species rich wildflower meadows, ponds, streams and marshy areas. The Nature Discovery Centre is built on the site of the former mansion and it commands superb views over much of east London and into Kent. Light refreshments, snacks and a gift shop are all within the Nature Discovery Centre and there is a large decked area to relax on sunny days. There are many exotic trees originally planted in the mansion gardens, such as Cedar of Lebanon, Holm Oak, Monkey-puzzle, Giant Redwood and Yew. The Park has wonderful wildflower meadows where you will find Cuckoo Flower, Pignut and Ragged Robin in the Spring. There is varied woodland, several ponds and a lake, as well as a captive herd of Red Deer. Bird highlights include all three species of Woodpecker, Nuthatch and Hobby. Wild deer are often seen (Fallow, Roe and Muntjac). The meadows and ponds provide superb habitats for a variety of invertebrates including a really wide variety of butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies. Winter sees a large corvid roost, with hundreds of Rooks, Crows and Jackdaws gathering near the deer pen. The upper section of the park offers a more landscaped parkland, while the lower section is managed for wildlife, with hay meadows and some mature woodland and scrub. Dog walking: Dogs can be walked in the park but must be under control, preferably on a lead near the Nature Discovery Centre and deer pen.

Contact us

Essex Wildlife Trust
Contact number: 01708 748646

Environmental designation

Local Nature Reserve (LNR)