Barking Park

Our year-round programme of outdoor learning brings subjects alive as pupils enjoy experiencing nature through practical activities in the open air.

We deliver a wide range of topics throughout the year for school visits or a programme can be tailored around the schools needs. All of our sessions are based on National Curriculum or early years foundation stage targets and can be adapted to relevant age groups.

The outdoor classroom - Barking Park primary Education programme 2019 (PDF, 393 KB)

The sessions cost £133.50 for a full-day session (10am to 2.30pm), £82 for a half-day sessions (10am to 12pm, or 12.30pm to 2.30pm).

The price includes use of the classroom all day (including use of the room for lunch), all the necessary equipment and the delivered programme of your choice.

Contact us on 020 8227 5290 for more information or to make a booking, complete the booking form:

outdoor classroom school booking form (PDF, 71.43 KB)

There are two rooms at Barking Park Centre that are available for hire by community groups and members of the public for meetings, celebrations and talks.

The Classroom is the largest room with sliding doors into the courtyard and has a capacity of:

• 59 people standing
• 40 people sitting theatre-style
• 30 people sat around a table

Hire costs for the Classroom are £17 per hour for commercial organisations, £11 per hour for non-commercial organisations. There is a minimum booking of 1.5 hours.

The Seminar Room is the smaller room with sliding doors onto the grassed area of the courtyard and has a capacity of:

• 30 people standing
• 20 people sitting theatre-style
• 12 people sat around a table

Hire costs for the Seminar Room are £9 per hour for commercial organisations, £7 per hour for non-commercial organisations. There is a minimum booking of 1.5 hours.

For information on room hire, call 020 8227 2332.

Boat and pedalo hire is available at all weekends and public and school holidays (from 10am to 6pm) between April and October.

You can find the boating jetty half way down the lake, outside the cafe.

Dogs are not allowed and no smoking or alcohol is allowed on the boating lake.

Prices

Each boat can accommodate between 1 and 5 passengers and life jackets are provided free of charge.

Children under 3 years of age go free and children aged under 8 must be accompanied by an adult.

• £2 for 15 minutes - children
• £3 for 30 minutes - children
• £4 for 15 minutes - adults
• £6 for 30 minutes - adults
• £10 for 15 minutes - family
• £15 for 30 minutes - family

The boat hire concession is operated by Bluebird Boats.

Contact them on 07834 030415.

They don't take credit card payments.

We’re keen to involve park users and the local community in our decision making.

You can:

• attend events and activities organised by the Ranger service
• join the Barking Park Friends group
• volunteer and becoming involved in nature conservation work (nest box building or recording some of the park’s wildlife)

For those who want to broaden their experience volunteering at Barking Park can assist with obtaining further work in:

• horticulture
• nature conservation
• park management

Park volunteer days

Park Manager Walkabouts

We regularly run walkabouts and ‘meet the manager’ hours with the Park Manager.

Members of the public can discuss any issues or ideas they may have about the park.

It’s a great opportunity to get involved with the park management and get your ideas across.

Please contact the Park Manager for details of the next walkabout:

Barking Park Manager

Barking Park Lodge, Longfield Road, Barking, IG11 8TA

020 8227 5289

Make a positive contribution to the management and development of the park.

Why not join The Friends of Barking Park?

The Friends of Barking Park group was formed in 2008 and has around 15 regular members.

Reasons for having a Friends of Barking Park group:

• Barking Park benefits from encouraging the community to participate in its management and development
• it helps generate a sense of pride and ownership in the park among local people.
• The Friends groups can help raise valuable funds and attract external funding
• it can become an excellent source of voluntary assistance to help achieve things not possible with existing staff and budgets
• community groups like The Friends are essential to win accreditations and awards like Green Flag

Meeting times

The Friends meet on the last Wednesday of every month at 7pm in the Park Lodge (adjacent to the Longbridge Road park gates.

If you’d like to join

New members are always welcome.

If you are interested in joining please contact:

Education and Outreach Ranger

Barking Park Lodge, Longbridge Road, Barking, IG11 8TA

020 8227 5290

Park Watch is very similar to a Neighbourhood Watch scheme

It aims to:

• protect Barking Park from crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB)
• improve safety
• help make Barking Park a cleaner and more welcoming community green space

The scheme involves the council working in partnership with the Metropolitan Police’s Parks Safer Neighbourhood Team and regular park users.

This encourages the local community and park users to assist with looking after Barking Park.

How you can help

After taking the Park Watch training, delivered by the Parks Safer Neighbourhood Team you will be more aware of what to do if you see something unusual or any evidence of:

• anti-Social behaviour (ASB)
• graffiti
• vandalism

Your reports will mean that crimes and ASB can be dealt with quickly and effectively.

A full profile of crime and ASB can be built up for the park, and any reoccurring issues can be dealt with effectively.

During your normal visit to the park, if you see anyone committing a crime, or behaving in a suspicious manner, please ring the police using 999.

Remember three key points:

• keep yourself out of danger
• take a description of the person, location and what they’re doing
• report it to the police

Barking Parkwatch leaflet (PDF, 222.34 KB)

How to join

Contact us:

Barking Park Manager / Education and Outreach Manager

Barking Park Lodge, Longfield Road, Barking, IG11 8TA

020 8227 5289 / 5290

We’ll ask for your name, postal or email address and a telephone number. This is so we can keep in touch with you about Park Watch issues.

Once you’ve signed up to the scheme you will be given a welcome leaflet, and an opportunity to attend a Park Watch training session.

Barking and District Indoor Bowls Club was founded in 1965.

The present club premises in Barking Park opened in 1970 and is the only purpose built indoor bowls facility in the borough.

Facilities:

• six national standard rinks for play
• changing rooms
• licensed bar
• catering facilities

The club welcomes new members and membership is open to all.

The club also organises ‘have a go’ sessions for anyone who has not played bowls before but is interested in taking up the sport.

Fees and charges

Pay and play:

Rink fee of approximately:

• £3 for 2 hours for members
• £6 for 2 hours for non members

Cost of social or club membership are available on enquiry.

Coaching available by arrangement.

Opening times

Club open from 1 October to 30 April.

9.30am to 8.30pm (subject to demand)

How to join

Anyone interested in joining the club and playing bowls in a relaxed and friendly environment should contact the Club Secretary:

Barking and District Indoor Bowls Club

Bowls Centre, Barking Park, Longbridge Road, Barking, IG11 8TA

020 8594 9250

Go Ride

There are a number of lead bike rides organised by British Cycling which leave from the park across the year.

Find a local bike ride

Park gates and car parks are opened at 6.30am each day and locked at these times:

• Spring/Summer (1 April to 30 September) - 10pm
• Autumn/Winter (1 October to 31 March) - 7pm