Бедфордс паркі: табиғат қорығы және тарихы

Bedfords Park is public open space of 215 acres or approximately 87½ hectares near Havering atte Bower in the London Borough of Havering in England. and a local nature reserve. It was awarded a Green Flag Award in 2007 which was maintained at least until 2013. The site is managed by Havering Council and the visitor centre is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust.

Bedfords Park is situated on a south facing slope, the top of which is 110 metres above sea level and affords views over east London and across the River Thames to Kent. The highest part of the park is on a ridge capped by a patch of Chalky Boulder Clay and it is this that allows the Round Pond to retain water. The park is made up of mixed parkland and deciduous woods and is much narrower on the ridge while broadening as you move down the slope in a southerly direction. Vehicular access is gained on the north side of the park from Broxhill Road, while there is pedestrian access from Lower Bedfords Road on the southern edge of the park, and also using a permissive footpath from Orange Tree Hill.

The land that makes up Bedfords Park originates in the two adjoining estates of Bedfords, believed to be named after the family of Robert de Bedford mentioned in 1285 and John Bedford who held the land in 1362, and Earls which later became known as Upper Bedfords. The latter was taken from John Derewin in 1212 by King John as forfeiture for homicide The manor, which is one of the olderst in Havering and was one of four held in serjeanty, remained in the family at least until the time of the 5th Earl. After being sold out of Gobions Manor, the ownership was in the hands of various London merchants until 1771 when it was sold by Nathaniel Houlton to a Mr John Heaton. During this time there is no evidence of the owners living in either manor. It was also around this time that a captive herd of red deer were introduced. During World War II Bedfords House was used by the Auxiliary Fire Service and afterwards was used as the council archive but was gradually allowed to fall into disrepair until it was demolished in 1959. In the 1960s a cafe was built on the site of the house until this also fell out of use in the 1980s. Today the route of the public lane closed around 1777 can still be traced along the entrance drive, past the old stable block (the only part of the house to survive), and then down the slope to the east of the visitor centre, the whole being characterised by the avenue of mature Horse Chestnut trees. The site of the house is now occupied by a Visitor Centre run by Essex Wildlife Trust.

This was an ancient oak tree that stood to the side of the mansion and the deer enclosure. The above is the earliest known photograph of the oak tree where legend has it, Queen Anne sat by this tree on her visits to the estate. That is why the estate took this concerted effort to help keep the tree alive for so long; including bricking around the base of the tree and bracing it with metal belts. It is also mentioned in the Romford Then and Now publication from 2005 where it mentions:

The "Old Preserved Oak Tree" Syd mentioned was known as the "Queen Anne Oak". Because of its increased deterioration (it had more wooden support and brickwork than its own timber!) Council decided to remove it in the late 1980s. However the Mayor planted a replacement Oak Tree close by with a plaque which commemorated the Old (about 400 year old) tree. Acorns were also gathered from the Old tree by pupils of Dame Tipping School, Havering Village. They potted the acorns with a view to growing young oaks for later planting. Could I please ask that somebody still living close to Romford contact the school to see if any of the Oaks, descendants of the "Queen Anne Oak" were ever planted and, if so, where? A new oak tree was planted on the actual site of the tree to commemorate its memory in 2015.