Autumn is hurtling towards the capital city at an alarming rate – and despite the low-key identity crisis that the weather seems to be experiencing at the moment; ’tis very nearly the season for pumpkin spice lattes and chunky knitwear. Summery small plates are being traded for hearty roast dinners as we speak, and day-trips to the beach are soon to become long autumnal walks in the park. So, in preparation for crisp, crunchy, cosy season; we’ve been scoping out some of the very best spots to head to for our chilly autumn strolls – and we think we’ve found a pretty gorgeous one.
Havering Country Park is tucked away in East London, and is a park that’s well worth adding to your must-visit list. Spread across 165 acres, it’s a glorious green space that transitions seamlessly between sprawling grassland and dense woodland. What makes Havering Country Park particularly special, though, is that it’s home to a rather impressive collection of California Redwoods. The park has around 100 of the huge, towering trees planted throughout – most of which can be found lining a gorgeous walkway that leads up to the park: Wellingtonia Avenue.
A California Redwood (also known as Wellingtonia) is a type of very tall and densely foliaged coniferous tree. Known as the world’s tallest tree, they are native to the Sierra Nevada mountains in California, but have recently started to flourish in the UK due to our damp climate. I’m glad that at least someone thrives in our rainy weather, hey? It’s recently been revealed that these trees are actually becoming more common in England than they are in California, due to the rising temperatures and climate change on the west coast of Ameria.
Havering Country Park boasts a huge collection of them – the second largest plantation of them in the country, in fact – but you can find California Redwoods in smaller numbers elsewhere in the city. There are three in Friary Park (North Finchley), two in Hampstead Heath, and one in Springfield Park (Walthamstow). But having the opportunity to see 100 of them all in one place is surely worth journeying across the capital for, right?
Getting to Havering Country Park
The best way to get to Havering Country Park from Central London is via Romford – which can be reached on the Elizabeth Line or on a train from Liverpool Street or Stratford. You can then hop on the 375 bus from Romford station which will take you to Havering Green, which is then a short walk from the park. If you plan on driving to Havering Country Park, be aware that there is no on-site parking available.
📍 Wellingtonia Avenue, RM4 1QP.