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Educational Offer
Bring your nursery, school or college to one of Essex Wildlife Trust’s outstanding education facilities or we can bring our expertise to you.
Exploring the great outdoors is incredibly worthwhile for all ages. Students will gain knowledge and develop practical skills through programmes linked to the curriculum or make use of numerous enrichment opportunities at our education centres or at your site. We cater for all ages and abilities. We also offer: Forest School, schools outreach, INSET training River surveys and bushcraft.
Additionally Essex Wildlife Trust run home school groups and all activities are fully risk assessed and run by a Level 3 Forest School leader.
As well as the website link above, you could also look at our activities here: www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/Learning and www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/activities.
Please note Hornchurch Country Park is owned and maintained by Havering Borough Council.
Links to Topic Activities
Site Contact Details
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Email: learning@essexwt.org.uk
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Tel: 01708 520364
Location
Squadrons Approach, Hornchurch, UK
Site Summary
- 257 acres (104 hectares)
- Created from a landfill site in 1980
- Located on the site of First World War and Second World War airfields
- Surviving Second World War military features
- Meadows, lake, wooded areas
- Good for bird watching
- Visitor centre
- Play area, trim trail and outdoor gym
Site History
- The northern part of Hornchurch Country Park is on the former land of Suttons Farm, which was once part of the Manor of Suttons. Henry II gave the land to Hornchurch Priory in the 12th century.
- The southern part of the country park was within Dover's Manor and later became Albyns Farm, whose old farm buildings remain today.
- In 1915 Suttons Farm was chosen by the War Ministry for an airfield. The site was chosen due to its proximity to London and the Thames.
- On the night of 2nd September 1916, Lieutenant William Leefe Robinson took off from Suttons Farm airfield and hit an airship. It was the first aircraft to be downed over British soil and Leefe-Robinson was awarded the Victoria Cross.
- By the Second World War it was known as RAF Hornchurch. It played a major part in the Second World War and was equipped mainly with Spitfires. It played a major role during the Battle of Britain and many famous pilots flew from here.
- There are several World War II defences within the park. The main car park at Squadrons Approach was an aircraft dispersal bay used to protect Spitfires and their ground crews during the war. There are also some well-preserved pill boxes and some very rare Tett Turrets.
- RAF Hornchurch closed in April 1962 and in the 70s it was used for gravel extraction and the technical area (hangers, workshops etc) was developed into what is now the houses on Airfield Estate. The estate shows the area's heritage through the use of Hornchurch pilots' names in its streets.
- In 1980 the site changed again when quarrying finished and the site was landfilled and turned into a country park.
Land of the Fanns Teacher Briefing
Some sites have a Teacher Briefing available at the top of the page, but the following download is a general Teacher Briefing for The Land of the Fanns. We recommend you download this briefing before visiting any of the sites listed on this resource.
Download Teacher BriefingLandscape and Habitat
- Lake
- Woodland
- Meadows
- The Ingrebourne River runs down the eastern side of the park and flows through the part known as the Ingrebourne Marshes. These are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and form the largest fresh water reed bed in the London area. Access is limited.
Wildlife
- A number of rare species have been observed in recent years, including Spotted Crake and Bittern. waterbirds
- Also known for its invertebrate and reptile species, including Adders.
