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Conservation
The nature
conservation ranger team
organizes
many events and activities at a number of green spaces throughout
the borough. All our events are FREE unless otherwise stated.
For some events, booking is required.
A responsible adult must accompany all persons under the age of 16
on all events.
Volunteering Information
As you can see
our winter schedule is packed full of opportunities for you to
take part in practical conservation tasks throughout the borough.
Volunteering with us is a great way to get some fresh air and
gentle exercise, meet new people and learn more about wildlife in
the borough. Please note that we provide all the necessary tools
and training on how to use them. Volunteers are free to work at
their own pace and we provide plenty of tea and biscuits as an
extra incentive! Please bring your own packed lunch if the workday
takes place over lunchtime and wear old clothes and sturdy
footwear. Remember no experience needed, just enthusiasm!
If you are
planning to come to any of our practical conservation workdays,
please do ring or email beforehand so that we know to expect you
and can bring the right amount of tools.
Important Information
Please be aware that some of our sites may not be suitable for
those with wheelchairs, buggies, etc. Also, most of our sites do
not have toilets. Therefore it is very important that those with
special requirements contact us before an event to find out about
the accessibility of each site. Please wear sturdy footwear,
particularly on guided walks.
Teachers
The nature
conservation rangers can lead on a number of educational
activities at various open spaces throughout the borough so please
do get in contact if you would like to arrange a class trip.
For booking and
further information: call 020 8501 1426 or email
nature.conservation@redbridge.gov.uk
Sunday 25 April
Songs at Dawn
4.45am to 8am
Meet at: Hainault Forest Country Park
After last year's very successful walk led by the Woodward
brothers, we've ask them to lead us through the forest again to
hear the songs of our native and migratory wildlife during their
most important time of year - the breeding season. We’ll then
enjoy a tasty selection of breakfast treats. £3 per person.
Booking essential. Suitable for 11 yrs +.
Tuesday 27 April
Birds of the Roding and Ray Park
10am to 12noon
Meet at:
James Leal Centre, Ray Park
Join Alan Hobson, local birder, on a walk along the river to
discover what birds we get in the park and around the river.
Not suitable for pushchairs.
Thursday 29 April
Volunteer Work Day
10am to 2pm
Meet at:
Claybury Woods, entrance on corner of Ravensbourne
Gardens and
Wedmore Avenue
Come and lend a hand doing some practical conservation work in one
of the borough’s most beautiful open spaces. No experience
necessary, just enthusiasm! As usual all tools will be provided,
as well as plenty of tea and biscuits!
Monday 3
May
Get to Know Your Local Park
11am
to 12noon
Meet at:
Seven
Kings
Park, main entrance on
Aldborough Road South, opposite Suffolk Road
Join local park keeper, Martin Plumb, for a guided walk around the
park. You’ll get an insight into the history, maintenance and
daily life of the park.
Tuesday 4
May
Minibeast Loggery creation
10.30am to 3pm
Meet at:
Goodmayes
Park, gate on junction of
Stevens Road
and Dunkeld Road
Come and help the rangers to
create a loggery. It will provide dead wood, a vital habitat, for
a range of minibeasts, including the stag beetle.
Saturday
8 May
Riverside clean-up
2 to 4.30pm
Meet at: bus stop outside Tesco at Charlie Brown’s Roundabout
Come and lend a hand cleaning up
the riverside in
Roding
Valley Park. We’ll focus on collecting litter but may also clear
some scrub.
Sunday 9 May
Wildlife explorers
Meet at:
Valentines Mansion
11am to 12.30pm and
1 to 2.30pm
Discover the wonderful
mini-world of the creatures and plants found around the mansion
grounds in celebration of the international year of biodiversity.
We’ll be looking for signs of summer and there might be a chance
to get up close and personal with various minibeasts.
Minimum age 5yrs.
Booking essential. 020 8708
8100 or
valentines@redbridge.gov.uk
Monday 10 May
Guided walk in your local park
10am to 11am
Meet at:
Elmhurst
Gardens, entrance on Gordon Road.
Join Bill Frost for a gentle
stroll about this lovely little open space. You will gain an
insight into the history, management and daily life of the park.
Thursday 13 May
Thistle management
10am – 1pm
Meet at: James Leal Centre, Ray Park
Come and help the wildflower meadow of the Roding thrive, by
managing some of the more vigorous species. This area is a new
site of wetland and meadow habitat and contributes to the diverse
array of species we see along the river.
Saturday 15 May
Birds of Claybury
10am to 12noon
Meet at:
Claybury Park, junction of Roding Lane North and Vicarage Road.
Join Alan Hobson, a local Claybury birder, for a walk around the
park and woodland to see and hear our native birds, including the
newly arrived migrants. Not suitable for pushchairs.
Saturday 15 May
Bat and moth night
8pm to 10pm
Meet at: Valentines Mansion Grounds
Come and join the nature
conservation rangers and local moth enthusiast Kathleen Black for
an after dark wildlife experience on National Moth Night. We will
be recording and identifying moths for the very first time since
the mansion gardens were restored and taking a springtime bat walk
around the grounds. Families welcome. Minimum age 7yrs. Booking
essential. 020 8708 8100 or
valentines@redbridge.gov.uk
Tuesday 18
May
Urban conservation management
11am to
3pm
Meet at:
Valentines Park,
gate on Brisbane
Road.
There will be plenty of tasks which you can try your hand at and
help many creatures in the park. The rangers and park keeper will
be able to spot signs of wildlife along the way.
Tuesday
18 May
Who takes
care of my park?
10am
to 11am
Meet at:
South Park, entrance at South Park Crescent and South Park Road
near the toilet block
Join Pat
Murphy, your local park keeper, for a walk around the park and to
find out about the work he is doing to keep it looking clean and
tidy.
Friday 21 May
Valentines Gardens Tour
11am to 12noon
Meet at:
Valentines
Mansion Grounds, Gardener’s Café.
Join our gardener and park
keepers for a gentle stroll around the beautiful grounds of
Valentines Park. You will gain an insight into the history,
maintenance and daily life of the park.
Saturday 22 May
Wildflower Walk
10am to 12noon
Meet at: James Leal Centre, Ray Park.
Come and join local expert,
Brian Ecott, and the rangers for a walk along the river Roding to
discover and learn about the array of beautiful wild flowers.
Sunday 23
May
Springtime Wild Food and Forager Course
10am to
4pm
Meet at:
Hainault Lodge Local Nature Reserve
London
Wildlife Trust's bushcraft instructor, Enric Cucarella, will run
this one day course. A morning's foraging and learning how to
identify seasonal hedgerow ingredients will be followed by
learning how to prepare lunch using ancient and modern campfire
cookery techniques. No previous experience is necessary, but
plenty of enthusiasm and a willingness to get stuck in are
essential! £30 per person. £20 for 14yrs to 18yrs. Booking
essential.
Thursday
27 May
Wildlife gardening
10am to
1pm
Meet at:
Chadwell Millennium Green, gate on Percival Road.
We need your help to manage this tranquil green space for the
benefit of local people and wildlife. We’ll be using our green
fingers to promote growth and managing the hedgerows.
Friday 28 May
Get to Know Your Local Park
10am to 11am
Meet at:
main entrance on junction of Aberdour Road and
Abbotsford Road,
Goodmayes
Park
Join local park keeper, Paul Hudson, for a guided walk around the
park. You’ll get an insight into the history, maintenance and
daily life of the park.
Wednesday 2 June
Meet the Animals
2 x one hr sessions; 10.30 to 11.30am and 12noon to 1pm
Meet at:
Valentines Mansion Gardens
Come and join Valentines park staff show off some of their exotic
collection of animals. You’ll be able to get up close and
personnel with different creatures such as insects, birds,
amphibians, reptiles and mammals. We’ll be learning about how
different animals are adapted to different environments.
Booking essential.
Monday 7 June
Get to Know Your Local Park
11am to 12noon
Meet at:
Seven
Kings Park, main entrance on
Aldborough Road South, opposite Suffolk Road
Join local park keeper, Martin Plumb, for a guided walk around the
park. You’ll get an insight into the history, maintenance and
daily life of the park.
Tuesday 8 June
Minibeast Loggery creation
10.30am to 2.30pm
Meet at:
Fairlop Waters Club house
Join the rangers to help build a new habitat for different
creatures in the Borough’s largest green space. We’ll be creating
a loggery that will provide minibeasts with dead and decaying wood
to feed and live in.
Sunday 13 June
Medicinal Herbs Walk
11am to 1pm
Meet at:
Forest
Farm Community Garden, entrance at end of
Hazelbrouck
Gardens, by portacabin
Guided by professional medicinal herbalist Debbie Syrett, we will
be exploring the community garden looking for common and not so
common plants, which can be used for their natural healing
properties. Be amazed at what everyday plants can be used for.
Unsuitable for pushchairs.
Monday 14 June
Explore Elmhurst Gardens
10am to 11am
Meet at:
Elmhurst
Gardens, gate on Gordon Road
Join Bill Frost for a gentle
stroll about this lovely little open space. You will gain an
insight into the history, management and daily life of the park.
Monday 14 June
Dragonflies and Damselflies - What are they?
6.45pm registration; 7pm to 9 pm
Meet at: James Leal Centre, Ray Park.
Join Roy Woodward, local enthusiast who has been studying
dragonflies and damselflies for 12 years. He will be talking
about these magnificent creatures, in particular, their life
cycle, behaviour and how to identify them. Booking essential.
Everyone welcome from 12+ years.
Tuesday
15 June
Who takes
care of my park?
10am
to 11am
Meet
at:
South Park, entrance at South Park Crescent and South Park Road
near the toilet block
Join Pat
Murphy, your local park keeper, for a walk around the park and to
find out about the work he is doing to keep it looking clean and
tidy.
Tuesday 15 June
Volunteer in Valentines
11am to 3pm
Meet at:
Valentines
Park,
gate on Brisbane Road
Join the rangers and
local community members to help wildlife in this Site of
Importance for Nature Conservation. We’ll be creating a new
valuable reedbed habitat - in the wetland habitat and getting
plenty of fresh air.
Friday 18 June
Gardeners tour
11am to 12noon
Meet at:
Valentines
Mansion Grounds, Gardener’s Café.
Join our gardener and park
keepers for a gentle stroll around the beautiful grounds of
Valentines Park. You will gain an insight into the history,
maintenance and daily life of the park.
Saturday 19 June
Looking for Dragonflies and Damselflies
10am to 12.30pm
Meet at:
James Leal Centre, Ray Park
Fossil records show they were flying some 300 million years ago.
Come and join Roy Woodward for a walk along the River Roding to
have a closer look at these amazing creatures during dragonfly
Week. Booking essential. Everyone welcome from 8+ yrs.
Sunday 20 June
Summer Solstice Walk and Picnic
6pm – 8pm
Meet at: Claybury Woods, gate on Tomswood Hill, opposite
Wannock Gardens
Join the rangers for a gentle
evening walk around the woods and parkland to celebrate one of the
longest days of the year. We’ll finish the walk with a picnic by
the lake. Please bring your own picnic.
Tuesday 22 June
Conservation volunteer work day
10am to 3pm
Meet at:
Claybury Woods, entrance on corner of
Ravensbourne
Gardens and
Wedmore Avenue
Come and lend a hand doing some practical conservation work the
ancient woodland and one of the borough’s most beautiful open
spaces. No experience necessary, just enthusiasm! As usual all
tools will be provided, as well as plenty of tea and biscuits!
Friday 25 June
Get to Know Your Local Park
Meet at:
Goodmayes Park, entrance on junction of
Aberdour Road and
Abbotsford Road
10am to 11am
Join local park keeper, Paul Hudson, for a guided walk around the
park. You’ll get an insight into the history, maintenance and
daily life of the park.
Tuesday 29 June
Volunteer work day
10am to 2pm
Meet at: Claybury Woods, entrance on corner of Ravensbourne
Gardens and Wedmore Avenue
Come and lend a hand doing some practical conservation work in one
of the borough’s most beautiful open spaces. No experience
necessary, just enthusiasm! As usual all tools will be provided,
as well as plenty of tea and biscuits!
Monday 5 July
Get to Know Your Local Park
11am to 12noon
Meet at:
Seven
Kings Park, main entrance on
Aldborough Road South, opposite Suffolk Road
Join local park keeper, Martin Plumb, for a guided walk around the
park. You’ll get an insight into the history, maintenance and
daily life of the park.
Tuesday 6 July
Thistle management
1pm – 4pm
Meet at: James Leal Centre, Ray Park
We’ll be continuing on from our previous hard work to manage this
area in Roding Valley Park for its lovely wildflower meadow. The
rangers will give you an insight into this new wetland and
meadowland creation and you may get the chance to spot some
riverine wildlife while you are working.
Saturday 10 July
Tarzy Wood fun day
11am to 5pm
Meet at:
Tarzy Wood, war memorial green, Wanstead High Street
Come along to a community fun day where there will be music, food,
stalls and swings for children. Meet by the War memorial,
Wanstead High Street. Enquiries tel:
0208 508 0028.
Monday 12 July
Walk with the park keeper
10am to 11am
Meet at:
Elmhurst
Gardens, entrance on Gordon Road
Join Bill Frost for a gentle
stroll about this lovely little open space. You will gain an
insight into the history, management and daily life of the park.
Tuesday 13 July
Wild Arts n’ Crafts
1pm to 3pm
Meet at:
James Leal Centre, Ray Park
Join the rangers for a fun afternoon of arts and crafts. We’ll
start with a scavenger hunt around the park to collect natural
materials. We’ll then go back to the centre and get creative.
Children will have the opportunity to leave their artwork to be
displayed in the centre. Suitable for 4yrs+.
Thursday 15 July
Wildlife Gardening
10am to 1pm
Meet at:
James Leal Centre, Ray Park
We’ll be working in the area outside the new James Leal Centre, an
environmentally friendly building. We’ll be making some homes for
wildlife and providing some shelter and food sources for others.
Friday 16 July
Meet the park gardener
11am to 12noon
Meet at:
Valentines
Mansion Grounds, Gardener’s Café.
Join our gardener and park
keepers for a gentle stroll around the beautiful grounds of
Valentines Park. You will gain an insight into the history,
maintenance and daily life of the park.
Sunday 18 July
Summer River Walk
11am to 1pm
Meet at:
James Leal Centre, Ray Park
We’ll be taking a stroll along the River Roding in the Roding
Valley Park. The rangers will be able to give you an insight into
the wildlife that lives along this green corridor and we’ll end up
back at the James Leal Centre in time for a cup of tea or ice
cream!
Tuesday
20 July
Who takes
care of my park?
10am
to 11am
Meet at:
South Park, entrance at South Park Crescent and South Park Road
near the toilet block
Join Pat
Murphy, your local park keeper, for a walk around the park and to
find out about the work he is doing to keep it looking clean and
tidy.
Tuesday 20 July
Woodland management
10am to 2pm
Meet at:
Claybury Woods, entrance on corner of Ravensbourne Gardens and
Wedmore Avenue
Come and lend a hand doing some practical conservation work in one
of the borough’s most beautiful open spaces. No experience
necessary, just enthusiasm! As usual all tools will be provided,
as well as plenty of tea and biscuits!
Friday 23 July
Get to know your local park
10am to 11am
Meet at:
Goodmayes Park, entrance on junction of
Aberdour Road and
Abbotsford Road
Join local park keeper, Paul Hudson, for a guided walk around the
park. You’ll get an insight into the history, maintenance and
daily life of the park.
Tuesday
27 July
Biodiversity Blitz
2pm to
4pm
Meet at:
James Leal Centre, Ray Park
Join the
nature conservation rangers to do a wildlife audit of the park.
We'll be looking for all sorts of creatures and then helping to
identify them. Suitable for 5yrs+. Booking essential.
Wednesday 28 July
Summer buds club: Feed the birds
2pm to
4pm
Meet at:
Valentines Park
Come
and join the rangers for some fun in feeding the ducks and other
birds in the park. We’ll be learning which foods are best to feed
the waterfowl and why bread is bad! Bird food will be provided.
Booking essential. Suitable for 5yrs+. £2.50 per child.
Saturday
31 July
Introduction to Bushcraft
10am to
4pm
Meet at:
Hainault Lodge Local Nature Reserve
London
Wildlife Trust's bushcraft instructor, Enric Cucarella, will run
this one day course. It is a resourceful introduction to bushcraft
and wilderness skills. No previous experience is necessary, but
plenty of enthusiasm and a willingness to get stuck in are
essential! Some refreshments will be provided but please bring
your own packed lunch. Booking essential. £30 per person, £20
for 14yrs to 18yrs.
Sunday 1 August
Wildlife photography
10am to 4pm
Meet at:
James Leal Centre, Ray Park
After last year’s success we are holding another Wildlife
Photography workshop. Are you often disappointed with your
picture or maybe you just want to learn some basics about wildlife
photography – then this could be the workshop for you. Daniel
Bridge, semi-professional nature photographer, will guide you
through the basics from composition to technique. Please bring
your own camera and packed lunch. Booking essential. Cost £25.
Monday 2 August
Get to Know Your Local Park
11am to 12noon
Meet at:
Seven
Kings Park, entrance on
Aldborough Road South, opposite Suffolk Road
Join local park keeper, Martin Plumb, for a guided walk around the
park. You’ll get an insight into the history, maintenance and
daily life of the park.
Tuesday 3 August
Woodland Management
10am to 1pm
Meet at:
Hurstleigh Gardens, corner of
Hurstleigh
Gardens and
Fullwell Avenue
Come and join the rangers in
helping to manage this beautiful patch of woodland. We’ll focus on
clearing the woodland path and collecting litter.
Tuesday 3 August
Biodiversity Family Cycle
11am to 3pm
Meet at:
Wanstead
Park, Warren Road car park
A nice leisurely cycle for all the family, taking in some of
Redbridge's green cycleways from Wanstead Park to the new James
Leal Centre, Ray Park for lunch or picnic. A Nature Conservation
Ranger will be your guide, supported by the Redbridge Local
Cycling Campaign and an Epping Forest Keeper in Wanstead Park.
All children need to be accompanied by an adult. Minimum age for
solo riders is 8 yrs.
Wednesday 4 August
Summer Buds: Meet the animals
2pm to 4pm
Meet at: James Leal Centre, Ray
Park
Come and meet some of the animals that live at the centre,
including European green toads and hissing cockroaches! The
rangers will give a talk on each animal and well-behaved children
may even get the chance to hold and draw some! Suitable for 5
yrs+. Booking essential. £2.50 per child.
Thursday 5 August
Owl Pellet Analysis
1.30pm to 3pm
Meet at: James Leal Centre, Ray Park
Come and join the rangers and learn about these magnificent birds
of prey. We’ll be getting into the lab to dissect and learn about
what owls eat. Booking essential. Suitable for 8yrs+.
Saturday 7 August
What's living inside that plant?
10am to 12.30pm
Meet at:
Claybury Park
When you take a walk through the park and woods with Brian Ecott,
local naturalist, you will never look at a tree or other plant in
the same light again. He will show you examples of what insects
and mites can do to plants when they live inside them. Booking
essential.
Monday 9 August
Explore Elmhurst
10am to 11am
Meet at:
Elmhurst
Gardens, gate on Gordon Road
Join Bill Frost for a gentle
stroll about this lovely little open space. You will gain an
insight into the management and ins and outs of the park.
Tuesday 10 August
Tales of Claybury Woods
2pm to 3.30pm
Meet at:
Claybury Woods, gate on Tomswood Hill, opposite Wannock Gardens
Come and wander through the
woods, stopping to hear stories along the way.
Suitable for 5 yrs+.
Wednesday 11 August
Summer buds: Nature Detectives
2pm to
4pm
Meet at:
James Leal Centre, Ray Park
Become
a nature ranger and learn how to look for signs of wildlife. We’ll
be looking at all different kinds of plants and getting the
magnifying glasses out to look for minibeasts! Booking
essential. Suitable for 5yrs+. £2.50 per child.
Tuesday
17 August
Who takes
care of my park?
10am
to 11am
Meet
at:
South Park, entrance at South Park Crescent and South Park Road
near the toilet block
Join Pat
Murphy, your local park keeper, for a walk around the park and to
find out about the work he is doing to keep it looking clean and
tidy.
Tuesday 17 August
Build a bird box
11am to 1pm
Meet at: James Leal Centre, Ray Park
Come and try your hand at
building a bird box. You can either take your finished product
home to your garden or leave it to be put up in the park. £3
per person. Booking essential.
Wednesday 18 August
Summer buds: Wildlife Fun n’ Games
2pm to 4pm
Meet at:
James Leal Centre, Ray Park
Come and join the rangers for an
afternoon of wildlife themed fun and games at Ray Park. Please
wear old clothes that you don’t mind getting wet and dirty.
Booking essential. Suitable for 5 yrs+.
£2.50 per child.
Friday 20 August
Meet the park gardener
11am to 12noon
Meet at:
Valentines
Mansion Grounds, Gardener’s Café
Join our gardener and park
keepers for a gentle stroll around the beautiful grounds of
Valentines Park. You will gain an insight into the history,
maintenance and daily life of the park.
Saturday 21 August
Guided walk
10am to 11.30am
Meet at:
Hainault Lodge Local Nature Reserve, main entrance to the reserve
on Forest Road, opposite the cemetery
Come and join the ranger for a
guided walk around Redbridge’s only local nature reserve. Not
suitable for pushchairs. Please telephone for parking
information.
Tuesday 24 August
Teddy Bears’ Picnic
11am to 12.30pm
Meet at:
James Leal Centre, Ray Park
Teddy has been on a journey
through the park. Come and follow the clues he’s left behind. Once
you’ve found him, you can join him for a picnic and some stories
about all the animals that live in the park. Please bring your own
picnic.
Wednesday 25 August
Summer buds: Arty, Crafty Creatures
2pm to
4pm
Meet
at: James Leal Centre, Ray Park
We’ll be
collecting natural objects from around the park and bringing them
back to create some wonderful nature-inspired collages and
creatures. Booking essential. Suitable for 5yrs+. £2.50 per
child.
Thursday 26 August
Wetland management
10.30am to 2.30pm
Meet at: Fairlop Waters, sailing centre car park
We’ll be clearing overgrown willow from around the banks of some
of the wetland areas in the Country Park. The will improve water
quality and provide enhanced habitats for many amphibians found
around the area.
Friday 27 August
Get to Know Your Local Park
10am to 11am
Meet at:
Goodmayes Park, entrance on junction of
Aberdour Road and
Abbotsford Road
Join local park keeper, Paul Hudson, for a guided walk around the
park. You’ll get an insight into the history, maintenance and
daily life of the park.
Tuesday 31 August
Meet the Animals
2 x one hr sessions; 1.30pm to 2.30pm and 3pm to 4pm
Meet at:
Valentines Mansion Gardens
Come and join Valentines park staff show off some of their exotic
collection of animals. You’ll be able to get up close and
personnel with different creatures such as insects, birds,
amphibians, reptiles and mammals. We’ll be learning about how
different animals are adapted to different environments.
Booking essential. 5 yrs+.
Wednesday 1 September
Summer buds: Creative Recycling
2pm to 4pm
Meet at:
James Leal Centre, Ray Park
Join us for an afternoon of arts
n’ crafts using recyclable materials. Try your hand at making a
paper potter, decorating a plant pot or even making your own
jewellery. Suitable for 5 yrs+.
Booking essential. £2.50 per child.
Thursday 2 September
Wilderness management
10am to 1pm
Meet at:
Valentines
Park, Gardener’s Café.
It’s that time of year again! The wilderness area in Valentines
Park needs cutting back so we’ll be using traditional meadow
management techniques to cut and collect the vegetation we remove.
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