HAINAULT FOREST

My Family has had links to Hainault since the 1880's my Aunt was part of a large Family of Farm Workers being born in Stokes Cottages in 1912 .We have lived in our current house near the Forest since 1952 and I Worked in Hainault from 1969 untill I Retired in 2007.

 

Hainault Tornado

On tuesday the 3rd of January 2012 a mini tornado hit the streets of Hainault causing a lot of damage to houses and cars mine included loosing my ham radio ariels and my workshop ,at the time the tornado hit I was working in my workshop in the loft ,I was terrified when half of the roof was lifted off and tiles and bits of other people houses started coming in I have never got down the stairs so fast.

some pictures are here

Help Save our Forest

A worried local resident of foxburrow farm 

 

Redbridge Councillors are being asked to approve a plan to hand over Hainault Forest to an unelected Trust or Quango.

Hainault Forest was bought by public and private subscriptions from East and West Ham, Barking, Dagenham, Wanstead, Ilford UDC's, Essex and London CC's and other benefactors.
By an Act of Parliament (1903) it was declared an open space forever for the people of London. It belongs to the people of London. There were also restrictions on what forms of activity could take place in Hainault and the GLC maintained and safeguarded the wish of Parliament, to later be ignored by Redbridge.
At a time of world discussions on democracy it seems that the Council is ignoring its responsibility and wishes to take away residents' and users democratic rights.
Have London and Essex residents or the metropolitan councillors been consulted?

You may not be aware in your deliberations that Hainault Forest (Redbridge) has an area designated an SSSI or Site of Special Scientific Importance and the Councillors have a statutory duty to the Government to maintain the site under the direction of Natural England. It also has been designated an area of Metropolitan Importance. From surveys carried out by prominent natural history experts, Hainault Forest for all its small size has species present of Red data, National and Essex rarity importance.  A survey of the lichens shows Hainault to be the least polluted and healthiest area in the Borough.

Will a Trust which has to make money, care and understand how to manage the area - its trees, grasslands and amenity areas to safeguard the wildlife and provide a tranquil place for the near million people that use the area yearly - families, schools, disabled, special needs and a range of activities - walking, running,orienteering, picnics, kites, dog walking etc. Will they maintain the small farm which is loved by all especially mothers and grandparents with toddlers? What of the Visitor Centre now closed due to staff cuts.

What is the Trust composition? Is it the same people who ran the Councils Leisure department? If they couldn't run it for the Councillors then how will they be successful in a Trust?
Remember Horse racing at Fairlop fiasco. Remember the Claybury opening ceremony fiasco?

It appears that no discussions are allowed on Hainault. Democracy gone mad. Is this the future conduct of the Councillors and Officers? Roll on the elections!

Please keep Hainault Forest in Council and electorate hands.

Too Late


Welcome to Vision - Redbridge Culture and Leisure. 

As a charitable leisure trust, Vision provides leisure services on behalf of the London Borough of Redbridge at the following facilities: Fullwell Cross Leisure Centre, Wanstead Leisure Centre, Cricklefields Athletic Ground, Ashton Playing Fields, Fairlop Waters and Redbridge Cycling Centre. 

Vision - Redbridge Culture & Leisure aims to increase participation, accessibility and inclusivity across its services, developing partnerships and sharing best practice throughout facilities.

Whether it be swimming, cycling, athletics, fitness classes, the Gym, athletics, raquet, beauty treatments, golf, football, sailing, angling or relaxation..too late

 


Some Local Links

 

.Hainault Forest Website

This the Forest at the top of my road

Barkingside 21

find out what is really happening in this area

BIRD WATCHING IN REDBRIDGE  NEW

Daniel Erickson-Hull's blog of bird watching in Redbridge with observations in Fairlop, Wanstead and Hainault etc

BRITISH LEAFMINERS

BRITISH PLANT GALL SOCIETY  

For those with interests in Plant Galls.

CHIGWELL ROW WOODS LOCAL NATURE RESERVE

A forgotten corner of Hainault Forest?

EAST LONDON NATURE PHOTOGRAPHERS

Educational site with photographs taken in Hainault Forest, Fairlop Waters, Epping Forest etc.

EPPING FOREST CONSERVATION VOLUNTEERS

Actively involved in the Conservation and Management of Epping Forest. Help maintain diversity by undertaking practical tasks on important sites, especially threatened areas such as ponds, bogs, heaths and grasslands.

ESSEX FIELD CLUB

The oldest and best Natural History Society in Essex.

The Essex Field Club were closely associated with Hainault Forest and the re-afforestation plans in 1902. Frequent field meetings are held in the forest.

ESSEX KITE GROUP often meet in Hainault Country Park.

ESSEX WILDLIFE TRUST

Part of Hainault Forest lies within Essex

FRIENDS OF DAGNAM PARK

An active Friends group in Dagnam Park. January 2005 saw Dagnam Park, Duck Wood and Hatters Wood given Local Nature Reserve status by Havering Council.

FRIENDS OF EPPING FOREST

A strong and active Friends group, representing the varied interests of all sections of the public who appreciate and use Epping Forest.

HAINAULT AND ITS ENVIRONS

Developed at Hainault Forest Community Association Centre by a group of I.T. learners meeting there since September 2005. A Redbridge-NLDC project.

HAINAULT COMMUNITY PROJECT  NEW

Local issues, local action.

LADYBIRD AND BEETLE SURVEYS

Paul Mabbott's website of Ladybird and Beetle surveys for The London Natural History Society and

The Essex Field Club.

LONDON BIODIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP

'By producing an Action Plan for Biodiversity, London is giving a lead to other World Cities - not only in making its own particular contribution to conservation of global diversity, but in demonstrating that nature is a vital ingredient in the quality of life of city dwellers.'

LONDON NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY

Hainault Forest is in the catchment area.

LONDON WILDLIFE TRUST

Covers Hainault Forest in Redbridge.

OLD LAMBOURNE

Modern photographs of Lambourne village and Church history. 1841 Tithes,  War memorial inscriptions, Poaching, Lopping, Grave robbing and other crimes

R.A.F. FAIRLOP

The airfield was situated on the site of Kingswood, until 1851 part of Hainault Forest.

TREES OF LONDON

Dedicated to teaching people how to identify trees and showing where examples can be found in London.

WANSTEAD WILDLIFE

The History and Wildlife of Wanstead.