River Roding facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Roding
The Roding, just before reaching the Thames at Barking
Other name(s)	(Barking Creek)
Country	England
Counties	Essex, Greater London
Districts / Boroughs	Epping Forest, Uttlesford, Redbridge, Newham, Barking and Dagenham
Towns	The Rodings, Chipping Ongar, Loughton, Woodford Green, Ilford, Barking
Physical characteristics
Main source	Dunmow, Essex 93 m (305 ft) 51°52′55″N 0°19′07″E / 51.8820°N 0.3186°E / 51.8820; 0.3186
River mouth	River Thames Creekmouth 0 m (0 ft) 51°30′51″N 0°05′57″E / 51.5142°N 0.0993°E / 51.5142; 0.0993
Length	50 km (31 mi)
Discharge (location 2)	Location: Loughton Average rate: 1.41 m3/s (50 cu ft/s)
Discharge (location 3)	Location: High Ongar Average rate: 0.48 m3/s (17 cu ft/s)

The River Roding is a river in England that rises at Molehill Green near Dunmow in Essex. It then flows south through Essex and London and forms Barking Creek (which joins the two rivers together) as it reaches the River Thames.

The river leaves Dunmow and passes through or near a group of eight or nine villages in Essex known collectively as the Rodings, as their names are 'Roding' prefixed with various different specific names (High, Margaret, Aythorpe etc.). After Chipping Ongar, the river flows under the M25 motorway by Passingford Bridge and Abridge.

Flood meadows by the river near Chigwell, looking towards Loughton, at Roding Valley Meadows Nature Reserve

The river then runs between Loughton and Chigwell, where the Roding Valley Meadows make up the largest surviving area of traditionally managed river-valley habitat in Essex. This nature reserve consists of unimproved wet and dry hay meadows, rich with flora and fauna and bounded by thick hedgerows, scrubland, secondary woodland and tree plantation. The meadows stretch down to the M11 motorway and the Roding Valley tube station is situated close to the area, although Loughton or Buckhurst Hill are better placed for a visit. The river then enters Woodford.

Redbridge takes its name from a crossing of the river which then passes through Ilford and Barking near the A406 North Circular Road. The River Roding through Ilford project is a government backed scheme to improve amenities along this stretch of the river. After Barking the tidal section is known as Barking Creek, which flows into the Thames at Creekmouth, where the Barking Barrier acts as a flood defence.

In Essex the river forms part of the boundary between the district of Epping Forest and borough of Brentwood. The river marks the southernmost part of the boundary between the London Borough of Newham and the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. Ilford takes its name from Ilefort, "ford on the River Hyle", which was the ancient name for the lower part of the Roding.