FTS Thames Chase Community Forest

Thames Chase Community Forest and Broadfields Farm - FULL

Thames Chase covers 38 square miles of east London and south east Essex. As a part of the Metropolitan green belt the community forest is an area of great contrasts. To the north are the well wooded and historic landscapes of the Brentwood hills, whilst in low lying southern and eastern areas the landscape has changed dramatically in recent decades through urban expansion and industry, road building and mineral extraction. Today communities in areas such as Aveley, Rainham and South Ockendon live side by side with gravel pits, rubbish tips, pollution and a degraded environment. English elm was dominant throughout Thames Chase until Dutch elm disease took its toll on woods and hedgerows in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

The Thames Chase team is working to improve this area of London’s green belt. Broadfields Farm Forest Centre on the edge of Upminster is developing as a major part of this process. The vision has been to create a new public open space which is a microcosm of the whole community forest concept, demonstrating how inevitable landscape changes can be managed positively for the benefit of people, wildlife and the landscape. Over the past 6 years, 100 acres of former farmland and associated buildings have been transformed through the planting of 44 acres of new woodland, the sowing of traditional haymeadows, the planting of a large orchard of traditional Essex varieties, and the creation of new ponds and rides. Along side this, the derelict former farm cottages have been restored as offices to house the Thames Chase project team, and the 17^th century listed barn and associated 19^th century stables have been cleared and renovated.

Much development work is still planned for Broadfields including further tree planting and woodland management and the improvement of all areas of wildlife. Alongside the new landscape there will be an information centre, education and meeting room, refreshments area and shop.

All the land at Broadfields farm is now accessible to the public and the vision of creating a microcosm of the community forest is fast becoming a reality.

If you would like to receive more information on Broadfields Farm and Thames Chase as a whole, please call us on 01708 641880, or write to Thames Chase, The Forest Centre, Broadfields Farm, Pike Lane, Cranham, Upminster, Essex, RM14 3NS.

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