Barking Park is a well-used recreation ground containing a lake, formal parkland with mature trees, and a section of Loxford Water. Loxford Water, on the western edge of the park, is a small stream that forms the borough boundary with Redbridge.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Barking Park and Loxford Water
Borough: Barking and Dagenham
Grade: Borough Grade II
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 13.73 ha
Description
Wildlife
Loxford Water has been known to support a few clumps of reed canary-grass, sea club-rush. Nuttall's waterweed and branched bur-reed in the margins, and is bordered by a strip of rough grassland and tall herbs. Kingfishers are known to use this stretch of water. The lake has little or no aquatic vegetation, but its three islands provide nest sites for common waterfowl, including mallard, tufted duck, moorhen and coot. Little egrets have also been recorded in this lake. The mature trees and dense shrubberies in the park provide habitat for common birds, including the declining spotted flycatcher and song thrush. Notable species include buck's-horn plantain and common storksbill. A recent addition to the site includes a newly created wildflower meadow, which support species such as common knapweed, kidney vetch, birds-foot-trefoil, crested dogstail and spotted medick.Facilities
Playground; toilets; public art; cafe; miniature railway
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