Havering Parks & Open Spaces

21/10/2026

Friends of Upminster Park are holding a quiz night on Tuesday 3rd November from 7:30pm at Brewdog Upminster to fundraise for materials for a new community mural and flower bed in the park, designed by local artists and students from our local secondary schools

: https://www.instagram.com/p/DeuSJVAEQNC/?exln=dDI5cW9yMGhuZzcw

15/10/2026

Advance Notice

Work on improvements to the Mardyke Open Space play area will start on week commencing 19 October and work should be complete by 10 November, subject to weather.

During this time it will be necessary to restrict access to the original fenced play area but the unfenced area will remain open. We apologise for any inconvenience.

12/10/2026

Advance Notice

Work will start adding three more items to the small play area at Fleet Close on Friday 16th October and should be complete by 26th October, subject to weather conditions. Whilst work is being carried out it may be necessary to restrict access to the play equipment and some parts of the site.

We apologise for any inconvenience.

09/10/2026

Advance notice

Work will start on improvements to the play area at Cranham Brickfields week commencing 12 October. Work should be completed by the 26th but this will be subject to weather conditions.

Whilst work is being carried out it will be necessary to close the play area for safety reasons. We apologise for any inconvenience whilst this work is being carried out.

17/07/2026

10/07/2026

🦌 Meet the Bedfords Park Red Deer

The red deer herd at Bedfords Park is looking wonderful this summer, and never fails to draw admiring visitors. At this time of year, the stags are a particular highlight — their impressive antlers are still growing, covered in the soft, protective coating known as "velvet." This velvet supplies the blood and nutrients needed for the antlers to develop fully before it is shed later in the season, revealing the hard, bony antlers beneath.

Leading the herd is our magnificent master stag, Brian, easily recognised by his splendid set of antlers.

Red deer (Cervus elaphus) are the UK's largest native land mammal, and the herd here is a treasured feature of the park.

Our Country Park Rangers feed and check the deer every day, ensuring they remain healthy and well cared for throughout the year.

Next time you visit, take a moment to admire these magnificent animals — a true living highlight of Bedfords Park.

02/07/2026

🌾 Bedfords Park – Conservation Grassland Extended

Following the success of last year's conservation area, we've extended the unmown grassland in the northern fields of Bedfords Park, giving even more space for wildflowers and grasses to flourish.

The results are already visible, with swathes of common bent and lady's bedstraw establishing well across the site. The presence of these species is a good indicator that this area supports acidic grassland conditions, a habitat type that is increasingly scarce in London and supports a distinct range of plants and invertebrates.

By leaving these areas to grow throughout the summer, we allow plants to flower and set seed, providing vital food and shelter for pollinators and other wildlife.

This is part of our ongoing commitment to expanding biodiversity across Havering's parks and green spaces.

01/07/2026

23/06/2026

🌼 Wildflowers Flourishing at Rise Park

The conservation grassland at Rise Park is now bursting with colour, with a wonderful variety of wildflowers coming into bloom. Common knapweed (Centaurea nigra), with its distinctive pink-purple flowerheads, is a particular highlight at the moment, alongside hedge woundwort, mullein, and clusters of delicate white campion.

The recent rain has given everything a real boost, with lush green growth throughout the meadow and flowers appearing in greater numbers by the day. These conditions are ideal for supporting the area's pollinators, with bees and butterflies making the most of the abundant nectar sources.

Areas like this are managed specifically to encourage wildflowers and grassland wildlife to thrive, helping to support biodiversity across the borough. We'll continue to share updates as the meadow develops further over the summer.