Beam Valley Country Park
183ac/74ha
Grid ref: TQ 512 850
Updated 31/12/2023.
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This recently created country park runs alongside the River Beam, from the railway in the north down to New Road in the south, opposite the Ford plant. The area has been partly worked for gravel, leaving a patchwork of wet and dry grassland, tall herbs and scrub. At its southern end a new wetland has been created alongside the Wantz Stream, which also serves as a flood storage area when needed.
Along the river kingfishers are seen regularly, and reed warblers and reed buntings breed. Dense wetland vegetation grows beside it in places, especially along the Wantz Stream in the south. Snipe and water rail sometimes find refuge here in winter. A series of ponds have been created and these support great crested newts and other amphibians.
Visiting
Accessible from Rainham Road South (A1112) or Ballards Road (B178), with on-street parking. Alternatively, park at Eastbrookend visitor centre (previous page) and follow footpaths south and over the railway footbridge. SatNav: RM10 9EH.
District Line tube to Dagenham East. Turn right outside the station down Rainham Road South and the entrance track is about 50m down on the left.
Accessible at all times.
Summer for wetland plants and insects; migration periods for unusual birds.
A surfaced path runs the full length of the valley.