You'll find a wide variety of wildlife and green spaces within easy distance of ExCeL London. From parks and gardens to nature reserves, picnic areas and city farms, there are so many opportunities for locals and visitors alike to get back to nature.
Lee Valley Regional Park
Lee Valley Regional Park is London's biggest open space, a unique mix of sport and leisure facilities, heritage sites, gardens, nature reserves and riverside trails. Stretching over 10,000 acres the Park winds its way 26 miles along the banks of the River Lee from Ware in Hertfordshire, down through Essex, North and East London, past the Olympic Park to East India Dock Basin on the River Thames.
Just a short distance from ExCeL London you'll find:
- East India Dock Basin, Tower Hamlets - with fabulous views of the O2 Arena this nature reserve, now a haven for birds and other wildlife, has a varied and interesting industrial history. Located close to Trinity Buoy Wharf and home to London's only lighthouse and a café diner, the area really is a hidden gem.
- Bow Creek Ecology Park, Newham - reopened in 2006 and buzzing with activity during spring and summer months, it's the perfect place for a picnic and pond-dipping, right on the river you can relax and watch the world go by.
- Three Mills Island, Bromley-by-Bow - a renowned heritage site, for the world's largest surviving tidal mill, Three Mills Island consists of The Mill House and café, Three Mills Green and Riverside Green. From here you can follow the tow path to the Limehouse Cut or venture north along the Lee Navigation towards Hackney and Leyton.
For more information visit www.leevalleypark.org.uk
Spitalfields Farm
Spitalfields City Farm continues the East End tradition of backyard farming in a former railways goods depot on the edge of the City. This community farm includes a collection of British rare breed farm animals. Visitors can buy plants and vegetables, volunteer, adopt an animal and participate in the many educational and fun activities. The Farm is also home to the award-winning Coriander Club run by local Bangladeshi women. Find out more at www.spitalfieldscityfarm.org
East Ham Nature Reserve
East Ham Nature Reserve offers fun for the whole family. Set in a ten-acre churchyard more than 800 years old, there are three nature trails teeming with local wildlife including foxes, owls and kestrels. Find out more at www.newham.gov.uk
Mudchute Park and Farm
Situated on the Isle of Dogs, the 40 acre Mudchute Park and Farm has a full range of farm animals including sheep, pigs, llamas, geese and turkeys, There is also a pets corner with rabbits, guinea pigs and ferrets, a colourful aviary, an approved riding school, regular summer play schemes, festivals and agricultural shows. You'll find excellent refreshments at the award-winning Mudchute Kitchen restaurant and if you're interested in volunteering there are a host of opportunities from working with the horses and looking after the animals to fund-raising, washing up and event planning. Find out more at www.mudchute.org
Newham City Farm, Beckton
Opened in 1977, Newham Farm is one of London's longest established city farms, and boasts, among other animals, Berkshire pigs, sheep, Golden Guernsey goats and even birds of prey. Meet Blaze, the gigantic shire horse or taste the honey made in the farm's very own bee hives. Vistors can also buy herbs and chicken and duck eggs. There are tarmaced paths throughout the farm for easy wheelchair/pushchair access. Find out more at www.newham.gov.uk
Thames Barrier Park
Set within 22 acres of lawns, trees, Yew and Maygreen hedges you'll find a children's play area, great places to picnic, the Thames path, with magnificent views of the barrier, and a fountain plaza for children to splash and play. One of the most imaginative and attractive features is The Green Dock. Renowned international horticulturalist Alain Cousseran and Alain Provost, created the stunning Green Dock area. The colourful flowers and shrubs reflect the river's ever changing spectrum of tints, shades and shapes creating a micro-climate where varieties of plants and butterflies abound. Find out more at www.thamesbarrierpark.org.uk
Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park
Tower Hamlets Cemetery (known locally as Bow Cemetery and where burials ceased in 1966) is now a beautiful park and nature reserve. In 1993 the Soanes Centre, within the Park, opened offering programmes of education in the natural environment based on the mature, broadleaved, flower-rich woodland, ponds and the meadows with some 7000+ school children each year using the Park as an outdoor classroom. Park activities include themed walks, drop in sessions and monthly meetings of Bow Beasties Wildlife Watch Club (for children aged 4-14). Find out more at www.towerhamletscemetery.org
Greenwich Park
Covering 74 hectares (183 acres), Greenwich is the oldest Royal Park and home to a small herd of Fallow and Red deer. Situated on top of a hill, visitors enjoy sweeping views across the River Thames to St Paul's Cathedral and beyond. The park is part of the Greenwich World Heritage Site, host to the Prime Meridian Line and the old Royal Observatory, as well as having the National Maritime Museum as a neighbour. Find out more at www.greenwich.gov.uk
Further information on parks, gardens, farms and nature reserves in the local area can be found at:
www.newham.gov.uk
www.towerhamlets.gov.uk
www.greenwich.gov.uk
