Beam Valley Country Park

River Beam in Beam Valley Country Park

Beam Valley Country Park is a 74-hectare park in Dagenham in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.[1] Most of it is designated as a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) called Beam Valley,[2][3] but a narrow strip next to the River Beam south from Western Avenue is a separate LNR called Beam Valley (Environment Agency).[4][5] The park is also designated as two Sites of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade 1, one north and the other south of South Dagenham Road.[6][7][8]

The park was formerly derelict land. It has woodland and grassland, former gravel pits and the River Beam and Wantz Stream.[2] Birds found on the site include kingfishers, reed warblers, reed buntings and skylarks.[9] There is archaeological evidence that the site has been used since the Stone Age, and it also has a Roman pottery kiln.[1]

In 2014 Beam Valley Country Park was connected to Bretons Manor when a new pedestrian and cycling bridge was installed over the River Beam by Sustrans.[10]

51°32′38″N 0°10′44″E / 51.544°N 0.179°E / 51.544; 0.179

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References

  1. ^ a b "Beam Valley Country Park". London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Beam Valley". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. 1 March 2013. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  3. ^ "Map of Beam Valley". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  4. ^ "Beam Valley (Environment Agency)". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. 1 March 2013. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  5. ^ "Map of Beam Valley (Environment Agency)". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  6. ^ "iGiGL data portal (map)". Greenspace Information for Greater London. Archived from the original on 14 January 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  7. ^ The Mid Beam Valley in Barking and Dagenham and Dagenham East Lake Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine Greenspace Information for Greater London. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  8. ^ Beam Valley South in Dagenham and the Wantz Stream Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine Greenspace Information for Greater London. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  9. ^ "Beam Valley Country Park". Wild Essex. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  10. ^ Cooke, Phoebe (21 October 2015). "Plenty to Bragg about as bench bridges the boroughs". Barking and Dagenham Post. Retrieved 24 December 2023.