Claybury Park Has a Diverse Range of Birds

Fullwell Avenue. Avenue. Fullwell

difficult to navigate in the wetter months. wetter the in navigate to difficult

tended to by patients. The orchard orchard The patients. by to tended

towards Clayhall for road entrances along along entrances road for Clayhall towards

scampering up and down trees. The green green The trees. down and up scampering

of the paths in Claybury are soft and can be be can and soft are Claybury in paths the of

Hospital when it may well have been been have well may it when Hospital Gardens, or catch the 169 from Barkingside Barkingside from 169 the catch or Gardens,

heard drumming, nuthatches can be seen seen be can nuthatches drumming, heard

pushchair and wheelchair access, the rest rest the access, wheelchair and pushchair

forests surrounding the on encroaching Claybury of days early the to back dating and get off on stop opposite Wannock Wannock opposite stop on off get and

greater spotted woodpeckers can be be can woodpeckers spotted greater path into Claybury Woods are suitable for for suitable are Woods Claybury into path

borough, with development long since since long development with borough, feature, special very a also is orchard The 275 at Barkingside towards Walthamstow Walthamstow towards Barkingside at 275

and waxwing. In the woods, lesser and and lesser woods, the In waxwing. and paths and the all-weather multi-user multi-user all-weather the and paths

Fairlop Central Line tube station: Catch the the Catch station: tube Line Central Fairlop Isolated from other green spaces in the the in spaces green other from Isolated

the park’s wildlife. park’s the

the park include nightingale, firecrest firecrest nightingale, include park the available from certified locksmiths. Surfaced Surfaced locksmiths. certified from available

Underground

of patients. of for cover and habitat valuable a providing buggy or wheelchair access. RADAR keys are are keys RADAR access. wheelchair or buggy Rare birds that have been recorded in in recorded been have that birds Rare

rehabilitation the in key considered site, the of edges the on grow blackthorn will open up the kissing gates for large large for gates kissing the up open will Claybury Park has a diverse range of birds. birds. of range diverse a has Park Claybury

Roding Lane North for park entrances. park for North Lane Roding their wild and natural feel as they were were they as feel natural and wild their and hawthorn of hedges Magnificent All access gates have a radar key lock that that lock key radar a have gates access All

variety of fungi. fungi. of variety

275 bus, alight on either Tomswood Hill or or Hill Tomswood either on alight bus, 275

400 years), were managed to preserve preserve to managed were years), 400 woodland. the throughout seen

Wheelchair Access Wheelchair

In autumn, Claybury also has a huge huge a has also Claybury autumn, In

if continuously tree covered for over over for covered tree continuously if be also can cherry wild and ash beam,

Ravensbourne Gardens. Ravensbourne

seen. be also can archangel yellow and

beer. Field maple, birch, rowan, white white rowan, birch, maple, Field beer. ancient woodland (classified as such such as (classified woodland ancient

Wedmore Avenue, Calne Avenue and and Avenue Calne Avenue, Wedmore

Ravensbourne Gardens. Ravensbourne

ancient woodland, such as wood anemone anemone wood as such woodland, ancient

and the berries were once used to flavour flavour to used once were berries the and Hospital). The grounds, particularly the the particularly grounds, The Hospital).

adjacent to bus stops close to side roads roads side to close stops bus to adjacent

Acle Close gate and entrances along along entrances and gate Close Acle

stitchwort. Plants which are indicative of of indicative are which Plants stitchwort.

This tree has a distinctive chequered bark bark chequered distinctive a has tree This Europe’s largest mental asylums (Claybury (Claybury asylums mental largest Europe’s

Avenue, Fullwell on alight bus, 169 vehicle entrance gate, the Glade entrance, entrance, Glade the gate, entrance vehicle

of bluebell, ramson, celandine and and celandine ramson, bluebell, of

common within the ancient woodland. woodland. ancient the within common the park formed the estate of one of of one of estate the formed park the and Barkingside. and

Buses available on the Roding Lane North North Lane Roding the on available

In springtime there are stunning displays displays stunning are there springtime In

relatively rare in London, is also quite quite also is London, in rare relatively In the Victorian era up to the late 1990s, 1990s, late the to up era Victorian the In Green Woodford between

Bicycle friendly gates and racks are are racks and gates friendly Bicycle

Travel Information Travel

wildlife. The wild service tree, which is is which tree, service wild The wildlife. the site in order to preserve its naturalness. naturalness. its preserve to order in site the area and a green cycle and walking route route walking and cycle green a and area

Bicycle

and provide a valuable home to the park’s park’s the to home valuable a provide and Repton, who made only limited changes to to changes limited only made who Repton, ends of the park for easy access to the play play the to access easy for park the of ends

trees in the park; both are native species species native are both park; the in trees the famous landscape designer Humphrey Humphrey designer landscape famous the exercise. Hard paths link the east and west west and east the link paths Hard exercise. [email protected]

restrictions are not in force. in not are restrictions

Hornbeam and oak are the dominant dominant the are oak and Hornbeam was championed in the 18th century by by century 18th the in championed was is an outdoor gym, for those looking for for looking those for gym, outdoor an is

or 2316 8559 020 us: contact please

adjacent side streets where parking parking where streets side adjacent

of the Great Forest of Essex. Its landscape landscape Its Essex. of Forest Great the of adventurous and inspiring. Adjacent to this this to Adjacent inspiring. and adventurous

information more For abilities. and ages

nationally notable. notable. nationally

Residential parking is available on most most on available is parking Residential

Epping and Hainault Forest, as part part as Forest, Hainault and Epping abilities; the equipment is designed to be be to designed is equipment the abilities; many for suitable are and vary Tasks

Claybury Park Claybury and Essex for rare are that some

Car

people and help your local environment. environment. local your help and people The park was once connected to to connected once was park The natural play area, covering all ages and and ages all covering area, play natural

including species, spider of number

a great way to get some exercise, meet new new meet exercise, some get to way great a The park also provides a fantastic fantastic a provides also park The

regularly and there are an impressive impressive an are there and regularly for future generations to enjoy. to generations future for

workdays at Claybury Park. Volunteering is is Volunteering Park. Claybury at workdays or Tomswood Hill for Claybury Park. Claybury for Hill Tomswood or

also found. Muntjac deer are also seen seen also are deer Muntjac found. also value ecological and historical and Tom Putt. Tom and

number of events and practical volunteer volunteer practical and events of number Barkingside. Alight on Roding Lane North North Lane Roding on Alight Barkingside.

specialist the yellow-necked mouse, are are mouse, yellow-necked the specialist of the area and preserving its its preserving and area the of including Blenhim Orange, Laxtons Superb Superb Laxtons Orange, Blenhim including

Nature Conservation Ranger Team run a a run Team Ranger Conservation Nature the 275 bus adjacent to the station towards towards station the to adjacent bus 275 the

many small mammals, such as woodland woodland as such mammals, small many heritage space open and wildness process. Heritage varieties were chosen chosen were varieties Heritage process.

Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure’s Leisure’s and Culture Redbridge Vision Woodford Central Line tube station: Catch Catch station: tube Line Central Woodford

hooting. Bats roost in the old trees and and trees old the in roost Bats hooting. towards protecting the naturalness, naturalness, the protecting towards in 2014 and 2016 as part of the restoration restoration the of part as 2016 and 2014 in

the park at night, you can hear tawny owls owls tawny hear can you night, at park the Management of the park is focused focused is park the of Management little each year and new trees were planted planted were trees new and year each little

Fly Agaric Fly m i J

for prey. For those brave enough to visit visit to enough brave those For prey. for century. 12th the as back volunteers. The trees are carefully pruned a a pruned carefully are trees The volunteers.

sparrowhawk flying overhead searching searching overhead flying sparrowhawk far as dating history fascinating many hundreds of years ago. ago. years of hundreds many Conservation Rangers and their band of of band their and Rangers Conservation

inside

to the sky, one can even spot a kestrel or or kestrel a spot even can one sky, the to for wildlife and people alike and has a a has and alike people and wildlife for wildlife that once was common in this area area this in common was once that wildlife it is managed by the borough’s Nature Nature borough’s the by managed is it

information in the parkland fields and if you look up up look you if and fields parkland the in important public open spaces. It’s a haven haven a It’s spaces. open public important and character, gives us a snapshot of the the of snapshot a us gives character, and restoration in the early part of 2000. Now Now 2000. of part early the in restoration

woodpecker’s laughing call can be heard heard be can call laughing woodpecker’s Claybury Park is one of Redbridge’s most most Redbridge’s of one is Park Claybury and fields, Claybury’s unique ecology ecology unique Claybury’s fields, and was un-covered during the landscape landscape the during un-covered was and Map FURTHER INFORMATION FURTHER

CLAYBURY Following on from the Romans, the During the last years Humphrey Repton made the decision Troubled Minds and This was a form of what we might now term workdays were held by the Redbridge Saxons would have continued to farm the of James Hatch’s life not to recommend major changes to the Untroubled Woods ‘occupational therapy’. Conducted walks in Group of the Trust under the leadership cleared land and the two village greens a local naturalist, landscape, as he considered the existing the surrounding countryside also formed of the honorary warden Clive Griffin and, In April 1885 a committee appointed ‘for the HISTORY at Woodford Bridge may, possibly, be Edward Forster, naturalness of the woodland and fields part of the regime for patients even in early latterly, Chris Gannaway until 2000. purpose of providing an additional asylum remnants of their community discovered the could not be bettered by man-made design: days. When the 1958 Claybury Report was for pauper lunatics’ reported favourably narrow-leaved published, its author was explicit: When parish boundaries were drawn, the on Claybury as a ‘very desirable site’ of New Development, New Park The Early Years woodrush later Claybury area was included in the parish of When Nature has been so bountiful of ‘250 acres within a mile and a quarter of named Forster’s and New Future Barking. In c.1145 King Stephen confirmed charms as in the situation of Claybury, Woodford station’. They singled out for Any booklet about Claybury would woodrush. It can a grant of land to the newly established Art can seldom greatly interfere without special mention the mansion (Claybury Hall) be incomplete without reference to its Forster’s still be seen growing in The hospital estate was sold in 1997 to The earliest reference to human Ilford Hospital, which was attached to violating the genius of the place…and… which ‘is in excellent repair’. grounds, sloping woodland mainly, Woodrush Claybury Woods today . Crest Nicholson Homes to be redeveloped Barking Abbey. It was this grant that led to where Art cannot increase the natural with hornbeams, oaks, sycamores, elms, activity on the Claybury estate is a road In 1839, the London County Council opened as housing. As well as the hospital grounds the wood becoming known as Hospital Hill Repton’s Lessons in the Landscape charms, she is only to give comfort and beeches and a few maples - majestic and New Plans and constructed during the Roman period, the asylum. Claybury Hall became the first this included all outlying developed Wood long before Claybury Hospital convenience without disturbing what she dignified - set among shrubs, bracken which was excavated by the West Essex After the mansion had been completed public institution providing for private Ancient Woodlands areas. Development started in 1999. An was built. cannot improve. and bramble ... In the spring masses of Archaeological Group in the 1960s. This led Humphry Repton, a famous landscape patients. In addition to the mansion, a Claybury Hall was designated a statutory important aspect of the works was for bluebells nod hopefully. Mosses and from Old Ford in East London in a straight During the Medieval period the Claybury gardener, was called in to give advice about massive building was constructed to the listed building by the Department of the the woods, arable land and the Repton lichens, undisturbed through the years, line to Dunmow, near Stansted. Whilst it estate was leased out to a series of the grounds. The only major alteration for north of the estate. It covered sixteen acres Environment in 1958. In June 1990, they parkland to be reunited with the southern carpet the woods and enchant the eye. is likely that the banks of the River Roding gentleman tenants who paid rent to help which Repton was directly responsible was on ‘an attractively created plateau’ without expanded the designation to include the Redbridge Open Space to form a new Gladness is found there in the summer were cleared of trees and were under finance the Ilford Hospital. When Henry VIII to re-site the drive and the main entrance destroying any of the remaining woods. whole of Claybury Hospital. By this time public park in Redbridge. The arable time. Autumn brings its tinted glories, cultivation at this time, the main bulk of destroyed the Abbey in 1539 the Crown to the north side of the house. Otherwise Repton farmland was re-landscaped with water and the weak sun glisters the snow in the London Borough of Redbridge had Hainault Forest probably stretched down confiscated most of the lands and the his recommendations concentrated upon Oak features and permanent paths and the winter. At all seasons one may reap. already locally listed the tower. to Claybury. estate became the home of city gentleman improving the view from the house by entire park fenced in traditional steel A comprehensive study commissioned by or courtiers, including Thomas Knyvett, destroying all the hedges and adding some railings with security gates to deter the Waltham Forest Health Authority and Claybury a gentleman of the Privy Chamber, who additional plantations (egg clump and ash vandalism. This was all carried out by Crest issued in September 1991 spoke of the Hall entertained Queen Elizabeth there in 1597 plantation) near the perimeter to join up the The woods were preserved and cared for Homes with no direct cost to the Council. importance of the woodland and parkland and John Fowke, Lord Mayor of London existing trees around the estate. This effect by the hospital authorities with the only areas and concluded that `the intrinsic (From research by Georgina Green and in 1652. was lost when residential development later serious invasion being in the 1920s, when took place in the southern portion of the Forest House was built as an admission landscape is of great value in both strategic Herbert Lockwood) James Hatch, a malt distiller from Bow, estate however there is still a splendid view ward and the central area of Hospital Hill and local terms’ identifying that the woods purchased the estate in 1786. He became across the Thames into Kent. Wood was replanted with exotic trees for were one of the few remaining fragments a very wealthy man as a partner in the timber production. of Hainault Forest in Greater London and Four Mills distillery on the River Lea. He Three very large oak trees stand in a line that they were of great ecological interest.. demolished the old gabled hall on the in the south east of the parkland. They The hospital closed in 1997 by which estate and replaced it with a new mansion are an impressive feature of Repton’s time the woods and parkland were being to suit his status as a country gentleman/ original landscaping works and are known externally managed. Ancient Woodlands industrialist . It was designed by Jesse locally as the Repton oaks . It is noted that Aerial View of site and Wildlife Gibson, a two-story building of gault brick, Tomswood Farm, was included in the estate In the 1980s Claybury Woods came to the and is the hall we know today and patients worked there, and in the attention of the London Wildlife Trust. They nearby orchard (still in existence), to grow formally started managing the ancient their own food. woodlands, orchard, farm pond and part of the grassland in 1987. Regular volunteer

2 Ch 5 ris 5 G a n This area of the wood is coppiced on a regular rotation to help n Claybury Park This area is the one place within a w regenerate the ground flora. As there is now little demand for Claybury Wood that Forster’s a y coppiced wood this has been stacked to form a ‘dead hedge’, a woodrush grows and one of only wildlife habitat for small mammals and invertebrates, such as a few places in Essex where the Nature Trail ladybirds. As the wood rots, it is colonised by species of fungi. species occurs. It is believed that Please do not disturb this barrier. In spring this area is covered in a this is the site where Edward Forster profusion of bluebells. As you make your way towards Point 3 you first found the species in 1795. will pass from Hospital Hill Wood into Claybury Wood, here are Recently logs were pinned into some of the best stands of wild garlic (ramsons), which thrive on position to protect the plants from Forster’s Woodrush the damp soils found here. trampling. Hundreds of bluebells can also be found in this part of the 6 Ju woodland in springtime n 3 e 3 J a c k Up until the 1980s, this flat s o n 1 area was a tennis court for 6 the hospital. It was left to In March and April wood anemone can be found in large patches On entering Hospital Hill Wood you’ll be nature and has now been on the dry banks on the side of what was Sir Humphrey Repton’s surrounded by coppiced hornbeams. recolonised by trees. Ivy path/carriageway within the woods. It is said that it takes a Coppicing describes cutting down a tree at is the dominant ground hundred years for one plant to grow one metre across. the base and letting it re-grow as a series of cover as it quickly spreads poles from the cut base (stool). Traditionally in disturbed or abandoned the poles would be harvested after a period ground in woodland. A path 7 of time depending on the use, which could and steps once connected This area of the wood was recently coppiced. Bluebells, wood include handles for tools, walking sticks or this area to the hospital anemone and lesser celandine all flower here during April firewood. Coppicing encourages the growth forecourt. The path can be and May. Ramsons (wild garlic) also grow here and is noted of ground flora by letting more light to the made out to the left of the individually for its particularly impressive display. The wood Wood Anemones woodland floor in the first few years, the tennis court. anemones grow on the drier ground with lesser celandine and subsequent scrub growth is vital for woodland ramsons preferring the wet flushes at the sides of the paths. breeding birds. On your left you may notice 4 There is a large specimen cherry tree in the centre of the coppice, one of the woodland art installations - a a few standard oak trees and wild service trees. winding staircase. Keep an eye out for other The old hornbeam in this area was re-coppiced in 2007. Many of Before commencing the walk please note pieces on your way around. the original hornbeam stools have re-sprouted, the young shoots protected from grazing deer by the bramble The area is much the following points: more open now and with thick scrub, this is perfect habitat for breeding woodland birds, invertebrates and reptiles. Continue on ✓ The full circular walk should take about three hours the path and turn immediately right under a heavily leaning wild KEY but can be started at any point and can easily be

1 service tree (note the distinctive chequered bark). Soon after, on broken down into circular stages - look for marker Entrances Surfaced Path both sides of the path, clumps of the plant butchers broom can posts and waymarking. be found. Legend has it, the plant was used for brushing down Boundary All Weather ROAD ANOR ✓ M butchers’ blocks, can you see why? Interestingly the sharp pointed Permissive Bridleway Multi User Path The full walk and certain sections are not suitable for leaves are in fact modified stems from which flowers and berries young children or pushchairs (please use the hard Art Trail Public Right of Way grow. This plant indicates that the area is ancient woodland, Number 7 surfaced paths in the park and the “all weather Coppiced meaning it has been continually wooded for over 400 years. Hornbeam multi-user path” in the wood as alternatives). ✓ Please wear suitable clothing and stout footwear or boots. The paths are mainly soft ground, hilly in places and can be slippery and muddy after rain.

T O ✓ Please do not enter the wood under extreme M S 7 W weather conditions. O O 4 D ✓ Please do not pick flowers or remove any wood.

Ramsons

A (Wild Garlic) m a n J d un a e J Ja en c n 16 k er s o n

R O D Coppiced IN G Area L A N 2 1 E 3 N O R T 8 H 9 8 Claybury 4 7 Wood Orchard 6 5

Hospital 16 15 13 Hill Wood 10 Natural Orchard Outdoor Play Area Gym Claybury Hall 12 14 Secondary Woodland 11 15

Broad Bodied Chaser RAV ENSBOU Dragonfly 9 RNE GA 11 RDENS

Volunteers Working In Woodland 13 10 nda Je ma nne 10 A r

Green This is a younger woodland that has grown due to a lack of

management of the area, but now forms one of the park’s

Woodpecker

important woodland rides. Seed (mostly oak) has been allowed to

germinate within the original grassland. One of the original ponds

can be found at the extreme eastern end of the wood. Sculpture

Woodland

Trail

Ride

This is a remnant section of what is believed to be a medieval lane (correctly named Clayhooks Lane, although marked on the Ordnance Survey Map as Cocked Hat Plantation). You can enter Art Installations the lane at this point and pass through into Claybury Wood. 13 Woodland thinning work has been carried out along the paths 8 leading to and through Clayhooks Lane as part of the site’s You are now back in Hospital Hill Wood. Note the large pollarded Claybury Hall dates from the 18th Century and was converted to forestry management programme, carried out with volunteers oak, which marked a boundary feature when the wood was apartments in the 1990s. Directly below is a landscape that dates using hand tools. Conservation volunteering in Claybury is open divided between two owners. To the right are the remains of an back to 1791 when landscape gardener, Humphrey Repton was to all, do contact the Nature Conservation Ranger Team if you ancient hedgerow that provided the southern boundary to the asked to advise on improving the house and grounds. The view of want to take part. wood. In this area and as you walk through the woods there have the parkland is little changed although mature trees in the south been some very discrete public art installations, can you find of the park now obscure some of the original un-interrupted them? Inspired by the Victorian era, the pieces are there to inspire views into London. However on a clear day one can still make out the imagination and to connect the heritage of the woods with 16 London’s ever changing skyline and the hills of the North Kent 12 the former hospital. Downs beyond This is an excellent example of an old traditional orchard and ongoing restoration is underway, 14 9 including the planting of new trees to replace The main path joins the “all weather multi-user path” at this ones that have died. Orchards are highly This area is known as acid grassland, due to its acidic soil, and Claybury point. The woodland adjacent to the paths is newer and contains beneficial to wildlife as they develop desirable contains plants typical of this habitat type. There are many Lake trees that would have been used for timber production. Tree features such as nesting holes in their trunks mounded colonies of meadow ants, a favourite food of the green species such as sweet chestnut, American red oak and turkey oak earlier than other tree species. The pollen in the woodpecker. A Roman road is known to have run through this were planted on the hilly slope. This is one of the best areas of blossom is a good food source for bees and the part of the estate. As you navigate your way to point 10 note the wood to see and hear woodpeckers. Green, lesser and great blossoms themselves are a great food source the large impressive oak trees. spotted woodpeckers nest in this section of for the park’s population of bullfinch. There are These are a notable example of the wood. a great variety of apples, pears and damsons. Repton’s landscaping of the area. The fallen fruit is an important food source for birds, mammals and invertebrates to The areas of scrub around the 12 Repton Oaks are also home 15 feed on in autumn. to some fascinating wildlife, This section of Claybury Park was arable farmland until the mid- This is one of the original ponds and though small it is used by migrants such as garden 1990s. The ponds at this end of the site provide drainage from the smooth newt and common frog as a breeding site. Invertebrates warbler and whitethroat. housing development. They also attract a wide variety of wildlife, such as water scorpion and dragonfly are found here. Care should Muntjac deer are also especially dragonflies and amphibians such as smooth newts. be taken that fish are not introduced as they predate on other commonly spotted at dusk Please note that fishing is prohibited on site. forms of pond life. This pond was originally part of the farm, the Volunteers Working feeding out in the open. adjacent housing development being built on the old farm site. In Orchard

Repton Oak