Wanstead Flats
Alexandra Lake, Wanstead Flats
Alexandra Lake - viewed from a similar position in September 2004
'Wanstead Flats, Manor Park' - an Edwardian monochrome postcard (courtesy of P. Saunders)
Alexandra Lake was a popular spot for recreation from shortly after it opened in the early 1900s. Still popular, the 'pebble beach' which for long sloped down from near Aldersbrook Road was taken away, and the pond re-edged. This led to a growth of willow and silver birch at the edge, which created just a muddy inaccessible border. The photo taken in 2004 does not yet show that growth.
Ceramic drain installed early in 20th Century now encased in the roots of a tree. March 2002
Ceramic drain installed early in 20th Century and now encased in the roots of a tree. March 2002
Shortly after the l
Ceramic drain at NW corner of lake, encased in concrete but not connected to a surface-water drain. April 2002ake was originally created it was found that it often lacked sufficient water. To help overcome that problem.
An attempt to drain flooding of the playing fields into Alexandra Lake
Drainage ditch near Alexandra Lake
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Wanstead Flats - Plant List - Part 3
Note : "Stace" indicates the page number of the plant in Stace 2nd Edition
p = Previous (Historical) record; COL = City of London Cemetery; EF = Essex Flora
(Clicking on 'Common Name' field for many species will take you to a photograph)
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Stace
|
Species
|
Common Name
|
Location
|
|
758
|
Butomus umbellatus | Flowering Rush | H1, Some patches in Angel Pond 12/09/00 |
|
762
|
Elodea canadensis | Canadian Pondweed | F2/3, Dames Road Pond 05/07/76; H1 Angel Pond 21/08/79; Jubilee Pond, 22/06/10; Alexandra Lake, 30/06/10 |
|
772
|
Potamogeton crispus | Curled Pondweed | F2/3, Dames Road pond, abundant 21/08/79; Jubilee Pond, 22/06/10 |
|
780
|
Lemna minor | Common Duckweed | L2/3 in Alexandra Lake, 17/08/2016 (Wanless 2003, F2 or F3 in Jubilee Pond) |
|
784
|
Juncus squarossus | Heath Rush | I3, by track south of plantation (EF: 48 Wanstead Flats) |
|
784
|
Juncus tenuis | Slender Rush | L2 by south side of Alexandra Lake on sandhills 24/08/04 |
|
785
|
Juncus bufonius | Toad Rush | F4, Cat and Dog Pond 21/08/79; H1, dried edge of Angel Pond, 02/10/80; H4 in marshy area, 21/08/79; K3 north edge of lake, 28/09/80; L2 at edge of lake |
|
788
|
Juncus acutiflorus | Sharp-flowered Rush | H5 Marsh, 21/08/79 |
|
788
|
Juncus articulatus | Jointed Rush | F4, in Cat and Dog Pond; H5, marsh area, 21/08/79; L2, small amount on dried up south edge of Alexandra Lake, 29/09/80 |
|
790
|
Juncus conglomeratus | Compact Rush | F3/4 marsh; G3 ditch |
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790
|
Juncus inflexus | Hard Rush | H5, marsh, 21/08/79; ; K3 two large patches at west end of Alexandra Lake, 29/12/04; F2 at south end of Jubilee Pond, 27/07/08 |
|
790
|
Juncus effusus | Soft Rush | F4 H1, plentiful over much of muddy Angel Pond, 01/09/93; H5 K3 L2 L3; F2 or F3 bank of Model Yacht Pond, August 2000; F2, F3 edge of Jubilee Pond 17/09/04 |
|
791
|
Luzula campestris | Field Wood-rush | I4, one clump by Long Wood, on path between wood and pitches; M2 one clump in rough grass, 10/04/81; N2, rough grass north of bandstand site |
|
796
|
Eleocharis palustris | Common Spike-rush | H1 two or three plants in south-west corner of Angel Pond, 21/08/79; many plants by the pond in 2008; plentiful 2016 |
|
797
|
Scirpus maritimus | Sea Club-rush | F2/3 Jubilee Pond 16/08/05 |
|
801
|
Cyperus longus | Galingale | L2 One patch on south bank of Alexandra Lake below sandhills 20/08/04; present 2007; not seen in 2016 |
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801
|
Cyperus eragrostis | Pale Galingale | F2 by east edge of Jubilee Pond on 26/07/2008 |
|
811
|
Carex otrubae | False Fox-sedge | F2/3 a patch at east edge of Jubilee Pond, 1 August 2008 |
|
811
|
Carex spicata | Spiked Sedge | F2 by south end of Jubilee Pond, amongst Pendulous Sedge, on 26/07/2008 |
|
811
|
Carex divulsa | Grey Sedge | H4/5 a single patch at bottom of slope, known for some years by Roger Snook; present 11/04/2007 |
| 814 | Carex remota | Remote Sedge | K1/2, in the hedge between Capel Road and the Flats, 31/05/2017 |
|
814
|
Carex ovalis | Oval Sedge | I/J3, just south of plantation, 14/06/1987 |
|
815
|
Carex hirta | Hairy Sedge | G5 near Lake House Road, 03/06/79; L/M2 opposite Golden Fleece P.H., 17/05/1992 |
|
816
|
Carex pseudocyperus | Cyperus Sedge | F2 south edge of Jubilee Pond 17/09/04 (planted) |
|
816
|
Carex pendula | Pendulous Sedge | F2 south edge of Jubilee Pond 17/09/04 (planted) |
|
822
|
Carex nigra | Common Sedge | M8 marsh area |
|
840
|
Nardus stricta | Mat Grass | H3 H4 (EF: 39-86, 40-86) |
|
844
|
Festuca pratensis | Meadow Fescue | On the bank by Aldersbrook Road, 17/04/1977 |
|
845
|
Festuca rubra | Red Fescue | K/L2, abundant south of Alexandra Lake |
|
849
|
Festuca ovina | Sheep's Fescue | K2 south of Lake, 02/07/1979 |
|
849
|
Festuca filiformis | Fine-leaved Sheep's Fescue | F6 K/L2 I3 I4 |
|
850
|
Festuca [longifolia] | Hard Fescue | L2, south east of Alexandra Lake, 08/06/77 |
|
852
|
Lolium perenne | Perennial Rye-Grass | L1 by Capel Road; by Jubilee Pond, 27/07/08 |
| 853 | Vulpia bromoides | Squirreltail Fescue | G/H5, NE corner of Aldersbrook Flats |
|
854
|
Cynosurus cristatus | Crested Dog's-tail | F6 south of Bush Wood; H4 spring area; L2 |
|
858
|
Poa annua | Annual Meadow-grass | Common on track edges, etc. |
|
858
|
Poa pratensis | Smooth Meadow-grass | K2/3, south east of lake, 13/06/77 |
|
858
|
Poa trivialis | Rough Meadow-grass | K2/3, rough grassland south-east of lake, 08/06/77 |
|
859
|
Poa nemoralis | Wood Meadow-grass | M2, by trees east of Alexandra Lake, 11/05/77 |
|
859
|
Dactylis glomerata | Cock's-foot | Common |
|
862
|
Glyceria maxima | Reed sweet-grass | N6 marsh area, 19/06/77; F2 or F3 bank of Model Yacht Pond, August 2000; F2 or F3 bank of Model Yacht Pond, August 2000; |
|
863
|
Glyceria fluitans | Floating Sweet-grass | H1 edge of Angel Pond, 21/08/79 |
|
864
|
Arrhenatherum elatius | Tall or False Oat-grass | M1, by Capel Road-side |
|
865
|
Avena fatua | Wild Oat | I1 Capel Road ditch outcast, opposite No. 37, 05/08/79 |
|
866
|
Avena sativa | Common Oat | I1, outcast in ditch opposite 37 Capel Road, 50/08/79 |
|
866
|
Trisetum flavescens | Yellow Oat-grass | H5 below gorse bushes near spring, 10/7/79 |
|
867
|
Deschampsia cespitosa | Tufted Hair Grass | Common |
|
868
|
Holcus lanatus | Yorkshire Fog | Common |
|
868
|
Holcus mollis | Creeping Soft-grass | K2 K3 |
|
868
|
Deschampsia flexuosa | Wavy Hair-grass | J3, south of 1953 plantation, common, 10/06/77 |
|
869
|
Aira praecox | Early Hair-grass | H5, on gravelly path leading west from spring; K/L,2/3 gravel south-east of sandhills |
|
874
|
Agrostis gigantea | Black Bent | L1 ditch, 08/07/79 |
|
874
|
Agrostis capillaris | Common or Fine bent | K2 L2 south of lake, dominant. |
|
874
|
Agrostis stolonifera | Creeping Bent | H5 marsh, 10/07/79 |
|
880
|
Alopecurus pratensis | Meadow Foxtail | L2, and common elsewhere |
|
883
|
Phleum pratense | Timothy | L2, common. |
|
883
|
Phleum bertolonii | Smaller Cat's-tail | H4/5 near spring; L1 north of Capel Road ditch |
|
885
|
Bromus hordeaceus ssp. hordeaceus | Soft Brome | M6 |
|
887
|
Zerna erecta | Upright Brome | H5 near spring; J2/3 grassland; L1 ditch of Capel Road, 30/06/79; G/H5 in rough grassland, 22/06/09 |
|
888
|
Anisantha sterilis | Barren Brome | M1, abundant by Capel Road-side; N2 by COL wall and roadsides |
|
892
|
Elytrigia repens ssp. repens | Couch | K/L1 scattered along edge of Flats, 20/06/79 |
|
895
|
Hordeum murinum | Wall Barley | I4 Long Wood; scattered, particularly by roadsides; F2 or F3 bank of Model Yacht Pond, August 2000 |
|
897
|
Hordeum secalinum | Meadow Barley | |
|
895
|
Hordeum distichon | Two-rowed Barley | I1, outcast opposite 37 Capel Road, 05/08/79 |
|
895
|
Hordeum vulgare | Six-rowed barley | K2, outcast in ditch by Capel Road, 3/7/77 |
|
898
|
Triticum aestivum | Bread Wheat | G4, by Centre Road pavement, west side, 13/07/81; I1, ditch opposite 37 Capel Road on 05/08/79 |
|
899
|
Danthonia decumbens | Heath Grass | I4 (409-866) a few clumps near Genista anglica, 16/07/81 (EF: 40-86) |
|
900
|
Phragmites australis | Common Reed | Jubilee Pond, 11/08/07 |
|
900
|
Molinia caeulea subsp. caerulea | Purple Moor-grass | K2/3 south of Alexandra Lake; G4 (EF: 40-86 Wanstead Flats) |
|
918
|
Zea mays | Maize | K2/3 south of Alexandra Lake; G4, a single plant on 02/11/06 |
|
921
|
Typha angustifolia | Lesser Reedmace | F2/3, By Jubilee Pond |
|
921
|
Typha latifolia | Great Reedmace | E3, in Cat and Dog Pond, 2015 (Wanless 2003, E3, small stands grow around the margin of Cat and Dog Pond) |
| 926 | Kniphofia sp. | Red-hot Poker | In ditch by Capel Road, opp. No. 197, 26/05/2017 |
|
931
|
Ornithogalum angustifolium | Star-of-Bethlehem | H5, bank at east edge of Centre Road, 05/05/80; in the same area, but apparently many more plants, on 23/04/2014 |
|
934
|
Hyacinthus orientalis | Hyacinth | N2, by Aldersbrook Road, 27/04/79 |
| 934 | Hyacinthoides non-scripta | Bluebell | M2, corner of Manor Park Flats, 06/05/2021 |
|
934
|
Hyacinthoides hispanica | Spanish Bluebell | K2 opposite 118 Capel Road, 19/05/77; Scattered in various locations, from roadsides to more central parts. |
|
934
|
Chionodoxa forbesii | Glory-of-the-snow | H5, one plant only in grass beneath trees in the woody area of the N.W. corner of the square, by the left-hand side of the path leading from blackthorn bush to Aldersbrook Road. |
|
938
|
Allium triquetrum | Three-cornered Garlic | F4, a large clump by house fence at north edge of Lake House Road, Garden outcast, 03/06/79; K2 by Capel Road, 24/03/06 |
|
940
|
Allium vineale | Crow Garlic | G5, 1980's; H2 H3 H5, large areas on 30/04/92; K2, two clumps in rough grassland |
|
941
|
Tristagma uniflorum | Spring Starflower | G/H4, two adjacent clumps by Centre Roadside and in ditch, 14/04/07; still present 2009 |
|
943
|
Galanthus nivalis | Snowdrop | F5, five or six flowers near Lake House Rd at back of houses, 01/04/78; E3 in wood near changing rooms 03/02/05 |
|
945
|
Narcissus spp. | Hybrid Daffodils | F8; G4/5, "broomfields" area, some scattered plants; G7; J2/3 north-west corner of East Copse in ditch, looks like N. pseudonarcissus, 02/04/81; N2 by roadside |
|
954
|
Iris pseudacorus | Yellow Iris | L2, S.W. corner of the east island on Alexander Lake. Two adjacent patches, one distinctly taller than the other. |
|
954
|
Iris foetidissima | Stinking Iris | F4, a single plant very close to the Crataegus pedicellata shrub at west corner of junction of Lake House Road and Belgrave Wayleave, found in 2003 by Fred Wanless; with fruit 26/10/04 |
|
955
|
Crocus sp. |
Autumn Crocus | I2; L3, well established patch of about six flowers in wood north of lake, 31/10/79; Twelve flowers in same position 14/10/80 (possibly C. speciosus?) Thirty plus flowers on 08/10/95. Not seen in 2007 |
|
956
|
Crocus tommasinianus | Early Crocus | H5, in grass east side of Centre Road near "onion patch", 03/03/78;18/03/79; G2, Sidney Road Copse near bend 17/02/02 |
|
956
|
Crocus vernus / C. purpureus | Spring Crocus | H5, in grass east side of Centre Road near "onion patch", 03/03/78;18/03/79; by Sidney Road |
|
958
|
Crocus spp. (C. x stellaris) (C.aureus) | Yellow Garden Crocus | I1, one flower by west edge of tree opposite. 37 Capel Road, 18/03/78 - 17/03/79, still present (3 flowers) 11/02/05; E3, two clumps by Harrow Road 03/02/05 |
|
962
|
Cordyline australis | Cabbage-palm | (p) J4, a specimen planted about 2006/2007 by Aldersbrook Road-side was flourishing in 2008, but was destroyed by a car in 2009 |
| 971 | Anacamptis pyramidalis | Pyramidal Orchid | N2, One plant in grass north side of Aldersbrook Road, near City of London Cemetery wall. 26/06/2022 |
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for Part 1 - click here for Part 2 - click here |
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The following is a list of species that I have not personally found, but have either been reported to me or I have found by research.
G = Gibson's Flora of Essex, 1862; EF = Flora of Essex, Jermyn ST; CC = Epping Forest Conservation Centre record.
|
Stace
|
Species
|
Common Name
|
Location
|
|
139
|
Chenopodium rubrum | Red Goosefoot | Wanless 2003, F2, F3, scattered plants around margins of Jubilee Pond |
| 268 | Teesdalia nudicaulis | Shepherd's Cress | Foster; The Flora of Essex, 1862. "In an old gravel pit on Epping Forest, not far from Ilford near the gate opposite East Ham Lane." |
| 301 | Anagallis arvensis | Scarlet Pimpernel | Wanless 2003, F2 two plants by S. edge of Jubilee Pond |
| 451 | Oenothera (glazioviana) | Large-flowered Evening Primrose | Wanless 2003, L2 one plant in pond dipping area of Jubilee Pond |
| 605 | Veronica agrestis | Field Speedwell | Wanless 2003, F2 pond dipping area of Jubilee Pond |
| 641 | Jasione montana | Sheep's-bit | J. Freeman 1862, The Stratford Flora Forest. "Bog" |
| 869 | Aira caryophyllea | Silver Hair-grass | Snook, pre 2010, unknown location (personal correspondence) |
|
879
|
Apera spica-venti | Loose Silky Bent | EF: 40-86 Wanstead Flats; BEC.,1945 rep, 73 |
| 882 | Alopecurus aequalis | Orange Foxtail | Wanless 2003, F2 and F3 between peninsular and pond dipping area of Jubilee Pond |