| Roding | |
| Name Other: | (Barking Creek) |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | England |
| Subdivision Type3: | Counties |
| Subdivision Name3: | Essex, Greater London |
| Subdivision Type4: | Districts / Boroughs |
| Subdivision Name4: | Epping Forest, Uttlesford, Redbridge, Newham, Barking and Dagenham |
| Subdivision Type5: | Towns |
| Subdivision Name5: | The Rodings, Chipping Ongar, Loughton, Woodford Green, Ilford, Barking |
| Length: | 50km (30miles) |
| Discharge1 Location: | Redbridge |
| Discharge1 Min: | 0.08m3/s13 August 1990 |
| Discharge1 Avg: | 1.85m3/s |
| Discharge1 Max: | 62.4m3/s22 November 1974 |
| Discharge2 Location: | Loughton |
| Discharge2 Avg: | 1.41m3/s |
| Discharge3 Location: | High Ongar |
| Discharge3 Avg: | 0.48m3/s |
| Source1 Location: | Molehill Green, Essex |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 51.8993°N 0.2778°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 93m (305feet) |
| Mouth: | River Thames |
| Mouth Location: | Creekmouth |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 51.5142°N 0.0993°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 0m (00feet) |
The River Roding rises at Molehill Green, Essex, England, then flows south through Essex and London and forms Barking Creek as it reaches the River Thames.
The river leaves Molehill Green 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.
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.[1] 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.[2] 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, based on an earlier Celtic word.[3]