Ancient woods, grassland, and lakes make up the varied scenery of Belhus Woods Country Park. The park is situated 40 square miles to the east of London in the Thames Chase Community Forest. With more trees, a variety of wildlife habitats, farms, and other attractions, it hopes to create a beautiful location for you to enjoy.
Belhus Woods, which spans more than 300 acres in South Essex, comprises old-growth forest, working woodlands, floral meadows, open grassland, and fishing and conservation lakes. It's a terrific location for dog walks, lakeside picnics, feeding the ducks, fishing, and wildlife viewing. Families and environment lovers may enjoy a variety of year-round activities, including viewing model boats.
An all-weather, multi-ability forested play area is now available not far from the visitor centre and parking lot.
Belhus Woods Country Park, which has several tourist amenities and a variety of landscape types, serves as the region's main point. Over the years, coppicing has been used to actively maintain some of the site's existing forests. Today, the Essex County Council Rangers carry on this practise by using the chopped wood to create thatching spars and hazel hurdles. The lakes in the park were created by earlier gravel mining and are now carefully managed for fishing or conservation.
Remains of the 18th-century park designed by Richard Woods and the landscape architect Lancelot "Capability" Brown may still be found on the Belhus Estate, which was once held by the Barrett-Lennard family. Long Pond and the shrubbery were built around 1770.
The Ice House is a brick-lined well from the 18th century that served as an early example of chilled storage. In the southern part of the park, a stink pipe that looked like a Tudor chimney is still in place.
Since at least 1777, the ancient forests' shape and size haven't altered significantly, but since then, further planting has significantly expanded the existing regions. The forests are traditionally managed and host thriving animal communities.
Wood from Moving Water Hazel plots are chopped on a regular8-year cycle, and wood is utilised for thatching and creating hurdles. By increasing the quantity of sunlight that reaches the woodland floor and enables seeds to germinate and plants to flourish, this traditional management technique known as coppicing helps the wildlife. You may purchase charcoal and firewood made as a result of this method.
Early purple orchids, beautiful ragged robins, and a sea of bluebells all flourish, giving birth to insects and butterflies as well as nectar and shelter.
Belhus is home to a variety of grasslands, including towering swards perfect for grassland butterflies and sky larks and mowed grass kept short to create picnic places. The edges of the lake and the nearby fields are great locations for family sports, while the hay meadows are oceans of green and teeming with plant and insect communities.
On the property, previous gravel mining led to the creation of a number of lakes that offer top-notch coarse fishing. A sanctuary for animals, 2lakes have been designated as conservation zones.
Here's a local business that helps the community!
Local Removals London Ltd
98 Cowper Rd, Rainham RM13 9TS
Make sure to pay a visit to this nearby attraction as well.