Thorndon Country Park

Description

This beautiful country park contains a diverse range of habitats and is managed both for people and for its precious wildlife.

A surfaced track connects the wooded and heathland areas of Thorndon North with the more open parkland of Thorndon South. The path runs through the Old Park, an area owned and managed as a traditional wood pasture by the Woodlands Trust, and is designed to be used by all, whether on foot, cycle, mobility scooter or horse.

In spring, the woodlands of Thorndon North are filled with the scent and colour of bluebells, anemones and other woodland flowers. The woods are rich in birdlife and attract many species of migrant and over-wintering birds including bramblings, siskins and redpolls. In contrast, in summer, the open parkland at Thorndon South is busy with families enjoying barbeques and picnics, whilst drinking in views reaching out across countryside and into the heart of Canary Wharf.

The park contains rare areas of heathland which are being carefully managed and restored in the most traditional and effective manner - by a hard-working herd of sheep and goats! It's also a great place to spot a wide variety of butterflies, including some rarities, and the rangers run an extensive list of events throughout the year for all ages and interests.