Celebrate the Forestry Commission’s INGREBOURNE HILL

Far from green and pleasant, Ingrebourne Valley was a former gravel extraction site, which was used as a landfill site in the 1970s and 1980s.

Now known as Ingrebourne Hill - its transformation by the Forestry Commission into a superbly landscaped, vibrant and popular area of grassland, trees and water is complete. An opening event will be held on Thursday 4 September to celebrate with all the organisations and individuals who helped to transform the site.

In the late 1990s civil engineering firm CJ Pryor set up Ingrebourne Valley Ltd (IVL). The landowner IVL has worked closely with the Forestry Commission to restore the 74 hectare (183-acre) site and transform it into a community greenspace.

Sitting between a heavily populated area to the East of London, and the Ingrebourne Marshes - a nationally important Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) - the site is a valuable addition to the Thames Chase Community Forest. Ingrebourne Hill has been transformed thanks to £1 million from the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Ingrebourne Hill forms a key part of a network of urban greenspaces at the heart of the largest regeneration area in Europe - The Thames Gateway. Ingrebourne Hill is one of ten Thames Chase Community Forest sites in the area managed by the Forestry Commission; nine of these have been transformed into community greenspace from either brownfield or ex-agricultural land.

Although only 22m (72 ft) above sea level Ingrebourne Hill is higher than anywhere else in South Hornchurch and the view from its highest point gives a bird’s eye view of the surrounding area, the Thames, the City of London and beyond, as far as the North Downs.

Forestry Commissioner Tayo Adebowale, said, “Ingrebourne Hill is an active demonstration of the Forestry Commission’s commitment to working with partners to provide well-designed and well-connected networks of green spaces for people to use and enjoy and to benefit wildlife. The transformation of a former landfill and gravel extraction site into a thriving and popular community area provides a valuable addition to the expanding network of greenspaces for the growing communities in the Thames Gateway.”

The excellent facilities, which were designed in consultation with the local community, include 4.1km of paths (including 3km unsurfaced); 3km of cycle routes; a 1.3km mountain bike course; and a 2.1km horse-riding trail. The mountain bike track - the first in the area - provides a facility to introduce both young and old to mountain biking.

For the members of the community who are after something a little more sedate Ingrebourne Hill has all-ability trails, picnic areas, benches and a viewpoint offering fantastic views of the surrounding area, ranging from the city of London to Epping Forest. The site looks set to be a popular destination for the local community - a public open day in July was attended by more than 2,000 people.