Overview

Essex Wildlife Trust, in partnership with Havering Council and with important financial support of funders, built the Ingrebourne Valley Visitor Centre at Hornchurch Country Park in 2015.

The site sits in 261 hectares of a unique mixture of interconnecting habitats, including river, open water, marsh, grassland, reed bed, secondary and ancient woodlands with rides, scrub, hedgerows and important arable farmland. It is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a local Nature Reserve.

The visitors to the centre can enjoy fantastic views and use interactive technology, including a River Camera and historic Memory Booth and can also hire the Education and Community room for events, parties and school visits.

Hornchurch Country Park is the former site of Sutton's Farm Airfield, which opened in October 1915. The land was requisitioned in 1923 and then opened as a larger R.A.F. fighter station in World War II and housed one of the most important Spitfire Squadrons to help in the Battle of Britain. We have various historical artefacts on display in the centre.

There is also a Memorial Woodland and Garden designated to the lives of people lost during the Covid-19 Pandemic within the site of Hornchurch Country Park - Please ask in centre for information.