South Park, Ilford

South Park
240px South Park Lake
Type	Public park
Location	Ilford, Greater London, UK
Coordinates
Area	13.5 ha
Created	1902 (1902)
Operated by	London Borough of Redbridge
Status	Open year round
Website	South Park, Ilford

South Park is an Edwardian park to the South of Ilford, North-East London. It is one of the largest open spaces in the London Borough of Redbridge. It has recently been awarded Green Flag status.

Geography

File:South Park, Ilford - Canada Goose (2012-06-21).png

A Canada goose next to the lake in South Park

The park is a 13.5 hectare park on former farmland which was sold to Ilford Council in 1899 for £11,200. The park opened to the public on 10 May 1902. It contains a number of large trees, a lake which is fed by Loxford Water and leisure facilities including Tennis courts and Football pitches.

Wildlife

The park provides a home to a number of wildlife species, including mallard ducks, tufted ducks, pochard, Canada geese, Greylag geese, Mute Swan and bats. Great Cormorant, Grey Heron and Egyptian geese are also frequently seen.

In 2011, a new Wildlife Education & Information Centre was opened in the old boat house as a partnership between the London Borough of Redbridge and the South Park User Group.

Surrounding area

The area around the park has become known as South Park and the nearby primary school, the catchment area of which covers a large part of the south of Redbridge, is known as South Park Primary School.

Gallery

• South Park, Ilford - Mute Swan (2012-07-14).png

  A mute swan in South Park

• South Park, Ilford - Coot (2012-07-14).png

  A coot in South Park

See also

• South Park Primary School
• Valentines Park, a nearby park

External links

• Official Park web site
• South Park Users Group