Back River Forest

After World War II, East Ham Council set out to build a school that would shape the future - Langdon Academy was the result. It rose from challenging ground: marshland once filled with watercress beds, cut through by a stream known as the Back River. Draining and reshaping the land was a major feat, making Langdon the council’s most ambitious and costly project of its time. We’ve named this SUGi Pocket Forest the ‘Back River Forest’ to honour the land’s natural past. Though the river now runs underground, its legacy flows through this project - restoring life and biodiversity to a once-wild landscape.

Planted across Langdon’s 43-acre grounds, the Back River Forest will engage 2,000 students, aged 4 to 16, in outdoor learning. It will be a living classroom where they’ll connect with Nature hands-on, build a deeper understanding of biodiversity, climate resilience, and their own role in shaping a sustainable future.