Havering Country Park Clear-Up

The Collier Row and Mawneys Residents Association were out yesterday giving a helping hand at the Friends of Havering Country Park litter clear up morning. On Saturday Havering Park Ward Action members, Kevin Tonks and Denis Stevens turned up with about 20 local residents to help with the clear up.

Kevin Tonks said “In less than two hours, we cleared a load of rubbish out of bushes and trees and filled bag after bag with rubbish, myself and Denis had a great time working with local residents to clean up the mess, amongst other things, we also found an old motorbike burnt out amongst the long grass”.

The friends group was set up last summer and has gone from strength to strength, gaining new members each month in trying to work with the Council to help improve the Park. The group also recently held a fundraising quiz night, that raised over £700 to be spent on improvements in the park.

Havering Country Park is one of the oldest in London and dates back to the Romans. Most of Havering's residents know of the granting of the Liberty of Havering-atte-Bower by Edward IV in 1465. The medieval Palace of Havering was one of the principal residences of England's Kings and Queens until the 1400s. In fact, Havering Park was part of the estate of the Royal Palace and is mentioned in the Doomsday Book. Sadly, the palace fell into decay around 1650 and by 1816 no trace of it remained.

Havering Park Councillor, Andrew Mann said “The friends group have been doing a fantastic job in the park; they have been working well with the local Police Team and Council Officers in promoting and highlighting the good points of the park whilst working on more improvements and the Council commitment to put more capital money in the park”.

The friends group now have an e-mail address, if you would like more information about joining or being involved just e-mail on: fohcpg@googlemail.com