Description
Beam Parklands consists of woodland, grassland and scrub with two rivers and part of a disused canal running through it. There are playing fields in the southwest corner. One of the main areas of interest is the lake at the southern end which holds many species of waterbird including Lebădă de vară, Gâscă canadiană and Rață mare with other species occasionally seen such as Rață lingurar and Rață pestriță. Around the lake is a reed-bed which hosts Cârstel de baltă in winter and Stufărică all year round, both of which are usually only heard rather than seen.
Migrant birds can often be seen flying over and the top of Hospital Hill is a good vantage point to look for them.
Details
Access
Beam Parklands runs along the eastern border of the Borough of Barking and Dagenham. There is a car park just off Ballards Road (the western edge of the park) and the 145 bus also stops along this road at Farm Close. The nearest tube station is Dagenham East (District Line) from which you would turn right out of the entrance and walk for a mile along Rainham Road South to the roundabout where there are entrances into the park. Alternatively, cross over the road from the tube station and catch the 103 bus to Ballards Road (two stops) and cross over the road and into the park.
There are several hard surface paths around the park which are suitable for wheelchairs and bicycles as well as several grass paths and concrete steps up to a bank that are not suitable for either. There are no facilities onsite. A series of notice boards around the park denote areas of local history along with maps showing where you are.
