Bedfords Park is an historic 215-acre green landscape situated between Collier Row and Harold Hill. Once a privately owned estate, it is one of Havering's largest parks and has achieved Green Flag status since 2007. It is also a designated Local Nature Reserve, home to a herd of captive red deer, which are a popular attraction. Grasslands range from sports pitches and species-rich swards, to hay meadows and tall herb marshlands. Whilst most, if not all of the older woodland is derived from plantations, several species indicative of ancient woodland conditions occur here, mainly associated with the streamside woodland on the western boundary of the park. Open water features comprise one large, artificial fishing lake in the south of the park and one other significant pond in the northern section. Other, smaller ponds occur in Nursery Wood and in the secondary woodland to the east of the small fishing lake close to Lower Bedfords Road. Worth visiting is the impressive visitor's centre which is run by the Essex Wildlife Trust, where you can relax and buy light refreshments. Bedfords Park is situated to the east of the B175 minor road between Collier Row and Harold Hill, approximately 3.5 kilometres north of Romford town. The park provides an important vantage point for to enjoy panoramic views across much of East London. [TAGS: park, pond, lake, nature, trees, forest, wood, deer, city views, Havering, East London]