Managed in partnership with The Land Trust, Beam Parklands is located where the River Wantz meets the River Beam. The Parkland’s primary function is as flood defence, providing safe storage of 450,000m3 of water – equivalent to around 180 Olympic swimming pools – that in turn protects neighbouring homes, schools and businesses from flooding.
For a few days each year, after heavy rains, some parts of the site will be underwater. However, the paths and bridges have been designed to withstand flooding and the habitats created here represent environments that naturally experience regular flooding.
Along the rivers and floodplain are wildlife-rich reed beds, shallow ponds and marsh areas. The Parklands also support large areas of acid grassland which is scarce in the South East. It also includes a variety of historical features, including a pillbox and a section of the Old Romford Canal. There is archaeological evidence that the area has been used since the stone age, as well as evidence of Roman cremation burials.
This space is managed in partnership with London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and the Environment Agency
