Walking the Ching - 29th December 2013

The River Ching is a small but important tributary of the Lea, with its source in Epping Forest and its final above-ground presence - at least as far as accessibility is concerned - near to Morrison's supermarket in the south of Chingford. The name of “Chingford” might seem to have originated from a dwelling place where there was a ford crossing the Ching, but in fact the river took its name from the settlement. How the settlement got its name is not so certain : Ching is an Old English word for King – so possibly “King's Ford”, but the accepted version is “Shingly Ford”.

By Walthamstow Greyound StadiumAnyway, fourteen of us began the walk at Morrison's car park at 11am on a lovely sunny day. Adjacent to the south edge of the store was our first view of the river. The Ching runs in a muddy channel through an overgrown corridor of vegetation including some large willow trees before disappearing into culverts which carry it under the North Circular Road, past the Banbury Reservoir and into the Lea. The corridor could be attractive enough, but for the dumped rubbish hereabouts. Eastwards from here, the river flows alongside a public footpath, again tree-and-shrub lined and even waymarked “The Ching Way”. After a few hundred meters the footpath reaches Chingford Road, directly opposite the old greyhound stadium. Pam told us about the residential development of almost 300 homes that is taking place on the site, in which it is hoped that the main structure of the Grade 2 listed building will be retained.

Some of the group spotted what may have been a mink in a small open space by the stadium, where the river runs behind the gardens of houses, making it inaccessible to us walkers. We were soon able to walk by the river again by means of a foot/cycle path at the east end of the stadium, where sports fields and public open areas give something of a sense of open-ness to the surroundings. More street walking, with the river behind houses, then again river-side as it A peaceful view of the River Ching in winter...and we passed under the Liverpool Street to Chingford railway line. The route then took us behind houses, with the river to the left, in a slightly overgrown corridor near Hale End, and along Vincent Road to emerge into a more open and kempt area where the river-side features had become more appreciated and landscaped. Here too were allotments - sensible use of a flood-plain it would seem – and Val told us how she used to walk up the Ching itself, in the water, all the way to its source! Now there is an idea for really walking the Ching!

We reached Highams Park Lake, which Humphrey Repton formed by damming the Ching with stones from the old London Bridge. The river itself was diverted to flow to the west of the lake, and we walked alongside the diverted course where the first real mud was encountered. In the bright sunshine, with the ground covered in reddish leaves, the wood was more autumnal-looking than wintery. Emerging from the trees – leaving the woodpeckers, nuthatch and parakeets behind – we crossed Chingford Lane and walked in sunshine that was even warm, on grass that was sodden and in places still frosted, down towards the roundabout at Chingford Hatch, under which the Ching flows. Chingdale Road, below Friday Hill, was the last of the streets that separated us from the river; beyond that it is a forest walk to the source, with just two roads to cross.

...somewhat less peaceful now that EFOG have arrived?Between Chingdale Road and Whitehall Plain, the wood is an attractive part of the forest which is, perhaps, less familiar to most of us than other parts. It is relatively open woodland with a mix of oaks and hornbeam through which the Ching runs in a series of wonderful meanders. We discussed the formation of meanders and even where the word comes from (the River Menderez), and even had a moment to reflect on the idea of Psychogeography. Now you don't get that on many walks!

Whitehall Plain was effectively a bog, into which none of us – luckily – were sucked into oblivion, although a few came close. The Ching is accessible here, but we stuck to a clear path a little above it to emerge at Rangers Road. Crossing this, in a short way we turned right along an accessible path, to cross the Cuckoo Brook just as it meets the Ching, then walked sharply up-slope to reach Connaught Water, from which – of course – the Ching flows.

Half of EFOG's Ching walkers near the sourceHalf of the group by this time had had enough of the incredibly fast pace that I'd kept up (you know me!) or possibly of the mud or the sunshine, and made their way to the Royal Forest Hotel. The rest gamely circumnavigated the lake – which was pretty much iced-over – but we paused at the far end to think about the source of the River Ching. When I'd walked it previously I investigated one or two streams – or perhaps ditches – that flow into the lake. One, to the east, is pretty-much un-followable due to blackthorn. The other heading north shows on maps to originate somewhere up on Whitehouse Plain. Perhaps it is sufficient to say that drainage into what is now Connaught Water from a variety of sources from higher ground constitute the sources of the river itself. It may well be possible to wade/walk it for much of the length that we covered if water levels are low, but it is a significant little river, spoilt in places simply by disrespect in the form mainly of rubbish-dumping or just neglect, or cut off from view by means of houses.

In Dagenham, the Mayes Brook – which originates near Chadwell Heath and reaches the River Lea at Barking Creek – ran in an ugly and overgrown artificial channel through Mayes Park. Over the last few years the opening-up and re-landscaping of the brook has resulted in a 45 hectare park which is now a showcase of how a public green space can help cope with the risks of flooding from climate change, enhance wildlife and present a much more aesthetic and accessible water-side area. We should be treasuring our rivers and streams, not abusing them or loosing them. The Ching – considering its location – is still pretty good; it could be better with a bit of love.

Most of us finished off the day's walk by having a meal at the Royal Forest Hotel before catching a bus back to near our starting point. Thanks to Amina, Fred, Ken, Madeleine, Marilyn, Pam, Sue S., Susan B., Val, Mick and June, Jenny and Garry for accompanying me on this 5-or-so mile walk, and I won't apologise for the mud because I told you there was some Forest-walking!

Paul Ferris   30th December 2013