Where do start with Gunpowder park, Waltham Abbey is it’s explosive history or the River Lea that is my home town river that starts in Luton and runs along the west side border of this park!

So Gunpowder its great to see with London 2012 legacy funding help part of the South Site of Royal Gunpowder Mills has been converted from over 300 years military use producing explosives to a new park opened in 2004.

I always love the idea coverting disused as in this case contaminated land, giving it a new lease of life for wildlife to thrive and the local community to enjoy, another brilliant example of how to use in a positive way!!!

 

One of the joy’s of this challenge is to meet new people and celebrate the success where I can of a member of the local parkrun community. So today it was my pleasure to meet fellow avid parkrun tourists Pat & Peter Jackson and Linsey & Phil Pearson from Huntington, Cambridgeshire!

A very well done to Danelle Edwards who celebrated her 100th parkrun today, may I say your celebration cake was delicious too after the run 🙂

 

Course

The course is 2 and a bit slightly undulating clockwise laps of the park that is run on well maintained gravel paths!

 

Points to note

1. The only short notable 58 ft evaluation is the wonderfully named segment, A blast of Gunpowder
2. On their parkrun website they state, “Some sections of the course may accumulate mud, leaves and puddles after rain”

My time was 36:05 now know where I am in current fitness to improve upon!

Facilites

There is on site car parking available Sat Nav EN9 3GP and this is right next to the start of the parkrun, but it is important to note that from Monday 23rd October new parking tariffs will come into force with a maximum daily parking charge of £2.50

For the record the car park opens at 8am and toilets are available before the start of the parkrun at the field station next to the car park!

Unfortunately there is no set location for a post run coffee that is a real shame, possibly just a suggestion creating your own pop up cafe like Beckton parkrun and use the amenities of the field station building has too offer!

Update: I have been informed by Jane Mann of Gunpowder parkrun that they have a community cafe there once a month and it is announced on Facebook!

 

Gunpowder Park Facilities include

• Environmentally friendly field station for art & wildlife groups to use
• Park has nature 4 bioregions Cob Fields, Cob Meadow, Osier Marsh and Cob Fields for you to explore
• Great paths for dog walkers and runners
• If you have the time to visit the nearby Royal Gunpowder Mills it will explain the history before this land was used as a park

 

Final Verdict

I would like to thank Jane Appleton and her team of volunteers for making us feel extremely welcome today, top work guy’s!!!!

Will be great to come back in the future to see how your park matures and I have know doubt a goto location in all of Lee Valley Regional Parks!

Finally I would like wish all the best next week for your events 6th birthday, have a great time and let there be plenty of cake!!!

Best

Mark

Event 62 Upton Court 21-10-2017