This site provides valuable open space right in the heart of Barking town centre. There is free public access to the site, which is popular for informal recreation. The Abbey Ruins have been the venue for an annual firework display in May during the classical concert festival.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Barking Abbey Ruins and St Margaret's Churchyard
Borough: Barking and Dagenham
Grade: Local
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 5.8 ha
Description
Wildlife
The abbey ruins and adjacent churchyard have been known to support two plants which are worthy of note in Barking & Dagenham: fern-grass, which is scarce in London, and pellitory-of-the-wall, which is of rather scattered distribution in the borough. Thyme-leaved sandwort has also been recorded growing on the ruins. The neutral grassland in the churchyard and park to the north is dominated by false-oat grass and cock's foot and contains further unusual plants, including chicory and buck's-horn plantain. The nationally rare Bermuda-grass has also been recorded here, as well as field madder and dwarf mallow, both uncommon in the borough.Facilities
Refreshments
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