Mayesbrook Park

Mayesbrook Park is a 43 hectare^[1] public park in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and in the post town of Dagenham and the pre-1965 borough of Barking. It is owned and managed by the borough council. The southern end, which is mainly a large lake, is a Local Nature Reserve.^[2][broken link]^[3] The area covered by the park was once part of the historic Manor of Jenkins, seat of the Fanshawe family. For reasons which remain obscure, the park is nicknamed "Matchstick Island".^[4]

The park, which was opened in 1934, was created to meet the need for open space for the London County Council's Becontree Housing Estate. The park has a car park, a children's play area, football pitches, a cricket pitch and pavilion, an athletic track, tennis courts, basketball court, and lakes.^[1] The Mayesbrook Park project has used green infrastructure engineering to address flood water management needs.^[5]

The southern end has two large lakes which are rich in wildlife, newly planted woodland and rough grassland.^[2] The Mayes Brook, a tributary of the River Roding, runs along the western edge. There is access from Lodge Avenue.^[1] 51°32′25″N 0°06′40″E / 51.5403°N 0.1111°E / 51.5403; 0.1111

Since 2002, Mayesbrook is also a ward of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. The population of the ward at the 2011 census was 10,342.^[6] The boundaries were revised in 2022.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Mayesbrook Park". London Parks and Gardens Trust. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
^ ^a ^b "Maysbrook (sic) Park, South". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
^ "Map of Mayesbrook Park, South". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
^ Post Memories: The Mystery of Matchstick Island, Barking and Dagenham Post, 15 August 2016
^ "Mayesbrook Park - Green Infrastructure Case Study: Creating the UK's first climate change park in east London (NE394)". Natural England. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
^ "Barking and Dagenham Ward population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 17 October 2016.

External links

"Mayesbrook Park". Greenspace Information for Greater London. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2013-11-02.
"iGiGL data portal (map)". Greenspace Information for Greater London. Archived from the original on 2014-01-14. Retrieved 2013-11-02.
"Mayesbrook Park". London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. Archived from the original on 2013-10-20.