Location
Know before you go
Dogs
Dogs are not permitted in the Nature Discovery Centre
When to visit
Opening times
Accessible at all timesBest time to visit
all year roundAbout the reserve
The Ingrebourne Valley, in which Hornchurch Country Park sits, comprises 261 hectares of interconnecting habitats, including river, open water, marsh, grassland, reed bed, ancient and secondary woodland, scrub and hedgerows. It is home to London’s largest remaining continuous freshwater reed bed, designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a local nature reserve.
Hornchurch Country Park, owned and managed by Havering Council, covers 97 hectares of green space, highly valued by the local community for walking, running, cycling, dog walking, play, family visits and more. The park attracts around 150,000 visitors a year. The children’s play area includes a model Spitfire and a range of equipment suitable for all ages and abilities.
Visitors can also enjoy an outdoor gym and a trim trail that extends throughout the park. The site was formerly Sutton’s Farm airfield, from which Royal Flying Corps biplanes defended London in the First World War. Lieutenant Leefe Robinson famously took off from RAF Hornchurch to bring down the first Zeppelin attacking London, earning the Victoria Cross. The airfield later became RAF Hornchurch, a renowned Spitfire station in the Battle of Britain and the Battle of France, and home to famous pilots such as Stanford Tuck and ‘Sailor’ Malan. Historic remnants, including pillboxes, Tett turrets and a Spitfire dispersal point, are still visible today.
The Ingrebourne Valley is a vital wildlife haven, supporting 61 breeding bird species—including redshank, lapwing and pochard—as well as 16 nationally scarce beetle species, dragonflies, crickets and other insects. Visitors may also spot water voles or kingfishers in action.
Ingrebourne Nature Discovery Centre, opened in October 2015, provides essential community and education facilities, including a café, shop, toilets, an education and community room, displays and a full programme of events connecting visitors to the wildlife and heritage of Hornchurch Country Park and the wider Ingrebourne Valley.