ELM PARK (District Line)
There is a pleasant lake in Harrow Lodge Park, with a large flock of mute swans and mature woodland. It’s about ten minutes from Elm Park Tube reached via a shortcut path between houses that starts at a shrubbery to the right off Elm Park Avenue (left out of the station, then left again).
A bit further away is the Chase Local Nature Reserve and the Eastbrookend Country Park. These are reached by following the line of the trees in the park, keeping the tennis courts to your left. Soon you will reach the Upper Rainham Road. Opposite is a track with a sign for Eastminster Riding School. Go down here and you are in the Chase Local Nature Reserve. Watch out for cars in this pretty lane, as the riding school is very busy at weekends..
Continue down the lane, passing a cemetery, until you come to a sign on the left for Eastbrookend Country Park.
The history of this park is interesting. Originally the source of the gravel used for concrete in the construction of Dagenham town and the massive Becontree Estate, the resulting lakes were used as a dump for rubble from the Blitz. As late as 1970 it was still blighted, but eventually the land was reclaimed and the park opened in 1995. Ten years or so is not long to transform such a mess, but it’s well on its way. This kind of area is best visited before high summer, as wetlands are less attractive when they dry out. I saw a disconsolate heron peering at hard mud where water should be.
The lakes remain beautiful all the year round, with lots of water birds. Indeed, the area is important for a whole variety of birds, and I met someone who was on his way to view a Little Owl by the stables.
Incidentally, the splendid deco seats on the Elm Park station platform are strictly for visual enjoyment. For comfort they rank with church pews and bus stop benches.
This is just one walk from the many to be found at London Tube Rambles. There are architectural gems, beautiful country views, historic places and whacky buildings to be found, even in the most unpromising areas covered by the Greater London Underground stations. Usually the places listed are within a mile of the Tube - often only five minutes walk away. If you reached this as an individual page via a search engine, you might like to go to www.londontuberambles.co.uk to see the other destinations explored . You'll be amazed at what's out there!
©DR2006