Green Flag for Bedfords Park

Bedfords Park in Broxhill Road, Havering-atte-Bower has again been awarded the coveted Green Flag status, the award is the national standard for parks and green spaces. Bedfords is also home to Essex Wildlife Trust, with the visitors centre entering its fifth year in the park, bringing in visitors far and wide. The park occupies some 210 acres


Cllr Andy Mann (pictured with last years flag) said "It is wonderful that the park has again achieved green flag status, it is largely down to the hard work of the staff in the park, Essex Wildlife and the Friends Group".

Havering Council had made previous submissions and last year gained its first award for the park. A great deal of work had gone into the bid and a lot of that work was supported by the "Friends of Bedfords Park" group, a group of volunteers that give up their own time to improve the environment of the park, along with the Grounds Maintenance staff that have been doing a great job in keeping everything clean and tidy.

Bedfords Park was enclosed in the 15th century by Sir Thomas Cooke, one-time Lord Mayor of London, and remained in his family for almost 200 years. It was acquired in 1771 by John Heaton who built a the manor house of Bedfords on the crest of the hill which was enlarged in the 19th century and extensive gardens laid out around it, much of which still remain such as the monkey puzzle trees, cedars of Lebanon and rhododendrons.