South Park, Ilford

South Park
South Park
	South Park Lake
Type	Public park
Location	Ilford, Greater London, UK
Coordinates	51°33′24″N 0°05′29″E / 51.5566°N 0.0915°ECoordinates: 51°33′24″N 0°05′29″E / 51.5566°N 0.0915°E
Area	13.5 ha
Created	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, East London. It is one of the largest open spaces in the London Borough of Redbridge. It has recently been awarded Green Flag status.^[1]

Geography[]

A Canada goose next to the lake in South Park

The park is a 13.5-hectare (33-acre)^[2] 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, Canada geese, tufted ducks, pochard, Canada geese, Greylag geese, and Mute Swan. 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.

The park is known as a haven for bats, and an annual bat-sighting walk is organised every September by the London Borough of Redbridge. There are three species which are commonly present, the Common pipistrelle, the Soprano pipistrelle, and the Common noctule. Daubenton's bat is less commonly sighted.

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. also has catchment area in this area for catholic children