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Bark & Borough

Newham / Redbridge · managed by City of London Corporation (Conservators of Epping Forest)

Wanstead Flats and Wanstead Park

network · easy

Off-lead rules

Seasonal restrictions apply

Official land or licensing authority
The LBN 2010 and 2011 DCOs cover Forest Land at Manor and Wanstead Flats, while the LBR 2010 DCOs include all Forest Land from Wanstead Flats to Woodford Green.

democracy.cityoflondon.gov.ukChecked 19 July 2026

This is the evidence for off-lead rules at Wanstead Flats and Wanstead Park. It was read from democracy.cityoflondon.gov.uk on 19 July 2026.

Epping Forest byelaws require dogs to be kept under effective control rather than on lead, but ground-nesting bird cordons are erected on Wanstead Flats in season and an authorised officer may direct a dog onto a lead.

On-lead areas: Dogs on leads by direction. The Redbridge Dogs on Leads by Direction Order 2010 names Wanstead Park Recreation Ground.

Seasonal: Ground-nesting bird (skylark) cordons are erected on Wanstead Flats in the breeding season. UNVERIFIED - the City of London Corporation page carrying the dates could not be fetched.

A Public Spaces Protection Order applies here. Dog control orders made by the London Borough of Newham (2010 and 2011) cover Forest Land at Wanstead Flats, and Redbridge's 2010 orders cover Forest Land from Wanstead Flats to Woodford Green. These converted automatically to PSPOs in October 2017.

The walk itself

Start point
Centre Road, Wanstead Flats
Nearest station
Wanstead Park
Terrain
open acid grassland, scrub, ponds, ancient woodland
Surface
grass and unsurfaced tracks
Mud
high
How quiet
high
Suits a reactive dog
good
Water access
Yes
Swimming allowed
Not stated
Livestock
Not stated
Wildlife
high
Stiles
Not stated
Gates
No
Lighting
No
Toilets
Not stated
Waste bins
Not stated
Parking
Not stated
Café on site
Not stated

“Not stated” means our source did not cover it. We leave gaps rather than fill them.

Notes

The largest open space inside the North Circular. Skylark cordon dates could not be verified because cityoflondon.gov.uk blocks automated access. Coordinate from Wikipedia infobox.

Rules changed?

PSPOs get renewed and amended. If the signage on the ground disagrees with what is here, the signage is right and we are wrong — please tell us.

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