Forestry Commission - News - celebrating ingrebourne's green future

Far from green and pleasant, Ingrebourne Valley was a former gravel extraction site, which was used as a landfill site in the 1970s and 1980s.

Now known as Ingrebourne Hill - its transformation by the Forestry Commission into a superbly landscaped, vibrant and popular area of grassland, trees and water is complete. An opening event was held on Thursday 4 September to celebrate with all the organisations and individuals who helped to transform the site. Forestry Commissioner Tayo Adebowale marked the occasion by planting a tree at the new community greenspace for the London Borough of Havering.

In the late 1990s civil engineering firm CJ Pryor set up Ingrebourne Valley Ltd (IVL). The landowner IVL has worked closely with the Forestry Commission to restore the 74 hectare (183-acre) site and transform it into a community greenspace.

Sitting between a heavily populated area to the East of London, and the Ingrebourne Marshes - a nationally important Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) - the site is a valuable addition to the Thames Chase Community Forest. Ingrebourne Hill has been transformed thanks to Ł1 million from the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Ingrebourne Hill forms a key part of a network of urban greenspaces at the heart of the largest regeneration area in Europe - The Thames Gateway. Ingrebourne Hill is one of ten Thames Chase Community Forest sites in the area managed by the Forestry Commission; nine of these have been transformed into community greenspace from either brownfield or ex-agricultural land.

Although only 22m (72 ft) above sea level Ingrebourne Hill is higher than anywhere else in South Hornchurch and the view from its highest point gives a bird’s eye view of the surrounding area, the Thames, the City of London and beyond, as far as the North Downs.

Forestry Commissioner Tayo Adebowale, said, “Ingrebourne Hill is an active demonstration of the Forestry Commission’s commitment to working with partners to provide well-designed and well-connected networks of green spaces for people to use and enjoy and to benefit wildlife. The transformation of a former landfill and gravel extraction site into a thriving and popular community area provides a valuable addition to the expanding network of greenspaces for the growing communities in the Thames Gateway.”

The excellent facilities, which were designed in consultation with the local community, include 4.1km of paths (including 3km unsurfaced); 3km of cycle routes; a 1.3km mountain bike course; and a 2.1km horse-riding trail. The mountain bike track - the first in the area - provides a facility to introduce both young and old to mountain biking.

For the members of the community who are after something a little more sedate Ingrebourne Hill has all-ability trails, picnic areas, benches and a viewpoint offering fantastic views of the surrounding area, ranging from the city of London to Epping Forest. The site looks set to be a popular destination for the local community - a public open day in July was attended by more than 2,000 people.

Notes to editors

1. Forestry Commission England is the government department responsible for protecting, expanding and promoting the sustainable management of woods and forests and increasing their value to society and the environment. Forestry makes a real contribution to sustainable development, providing social and environmental benefits arising from planting and managing attractive, as well as productive, woodlands. For further information visit www.forestry.gov.uk/england

2. Ingrebourne Hill is the latest addition to the Thames Chase Community Forest, which covers 40 square miles to the east of London. Ingrebourne Hill is just off the A1306/A125 in South Hornchurch. Free car parking is provided at the site, which is situated off Rainham Road. Part of 12 Community Forests across England, Thames Chase aims to promote the creation and protection of woodlands to the East of London. By working in partnership with local authorities and other landowners in the area they are working towards covering 30% of Thames Chase in woodland by 2030. This will benefit both the local community and the environment. For more information see www.forestry.gov.uk/ingrebourne

3. The Forestry Commission manages 10 woodlands in Thames Chase. These are: Berwick Glades, Bonnetts Wood, Cely Woods. Harold Court Woods, Pages Wood, Folkes Lane Woodland, Tyler's Wood, The Thames Chase Forest Centre, Ingrebourne Hill and Mardyke Woods.

4. Ingrebourne Hill is a former gravel extraction site that was used as a landfill site in the 1970's and 80's. In 1998 the civil engineering firm CJ Pryor set up Ingrebourne Valley Ltd (IVL) to restore the site and transform it into a Country Park. In the late 1990s the Forestry Commission became involved in the project to turn the site into a community greenspace.

5. The Government’s Strategy for England’s Trees, Woods and Forests (ETWF) identifies high-quality green infrastructure, which frames and connects urban and rural areas, as essential to creating liveable neighbourhoods, towns and cities. The Forestry Commission is working with Natural England to produce a joint ETWF Delivery Plan in consultation with a diverse range of Government departments and public and private sector stakeholders. Green infrastructure delivery is at the heart of this document. For more information see www.forestry.gov.uk/etwf

Media contact
Jo Fowler
Forestry Commission England Press Officer
01223 346034
07833 672903