Update on Aldersbrook Wood

Aldersbrook Wood is a small piece of woodland at the east end of Northumberland Avenue, between the newer housing of the Aldersbrook area and Perch Pond in Wanstead Park.

It is probably almost unrecognised by most - even those living hereabouts - separated from the Park by a concrete fence and traversed only really by an unsightly path from the housing near the riding stables as an access to the Park. I have written more about the wood here.

For many years I have been quietly proposing that the wood needs care, particularly as it is an important buffer between Wanstead Park and housing. It seemed to have been forgotten by its owners, the London Borough of Redbridge, and is a convenient site to either throw local rubbish (for example - I am sorry to have to say - by some people that fish the adjacent Perch Pond) or as a fly-tip. There is a wooden gate at the end of Northumberland Avenue which might have kept some fly-tippers out, but in recent years this has mostly been left open to enable parking for local vehicles.

Since my article - and perhaps since I concocted the name "Aldersbrook Wood" with the deliberate aim of giving the area some status, perhaps - London Borough of Redbridge have got to know about it. I know that the new Head Forest Keeper, Andrew Gammie, showed Redbridge's Senior Conservation Ranger, Francis Castro, the area some time ago.One of the concerns that I have had about  bringing the wood to the attention of Redbridge is that it might be perceived as a ripe piece of real estate!

The access to Aldersbrook Wood from Northumberland AvenueI contacted Francis recently over another issue in these parts, and during our discussion we arranged to meet up to look at the wood and discuss possibilities for its future management. As we entered by way of the open gate, we were met with an area of coarse grassland to our left that had recently been mown. This apparently hadn't been done in anticipation of our visit, but showed that somebody or some department had taken some initiative. It is an open area bordering the wooded part large enough to warrant the machine mowing. A London Borough of Redbridge lamp-post adorns the edge of the road here, which raises the question as to what the status of the road and access here is?

The wood is bordered at its southern edge here by a fence behind which are the houses of "Bunker Villas" in Westmorland Close - not their real name, but a personal reference to the fact that they were built on the site of the nuclear bunker that stood here! A non-surfaced access track leads off the main access road parallel with the fence and between it and a building used by the Woodford District Horticultural Society. Further possible vehicle access into the wood is inhibited by a series of wooden bollards, but nevertheless a substantial amount of masonry had been dumped here - evidently recently - and obviously by a vehicle by way of Northumberland Avenue.

Aldersbrook Wood - the bollards. A gate across the access to this track where the car is parked could avoid fly-tipping this far into the wood

We noted that even if the original gate did now need to remain open, it might be possible to erect a new gate to help prevent that degree of access into the woodland, but that possibility was just conjecture.

Turning right just past the bollards (this side of and to the left of the bollards in the photograph above) leads onto the path that is used for access between the end of Westmorland Close and Wanstead Park. It is untidy, littered and muddy. Somebody has felt that it is an important enough pedestrian route to warrant laying down some rough concrete slabs, and in wet weather these may well prove their worth. It is unfortunate - or rather a shame - that the actual entrance or exit is a narrow gap in a corner between metal fencing. Prior to this present fencing it was possible to continue ahead from this point if required, on an unsurfaced grassy track that separated the houses from the riding school. This actually gave a pleasant aspect to the area, with just a simple barred fence between pedestrians and the horses. Now, heaps of material have been piled against the fence on the stables side at the end of Westmorland Close, presenting a grim aspect with no real view of the somewhat rural setting beyond. The stables and riding school are leased from the council, so surely it would be possible to negotiate for a return to the simple but attractive access and view between Aldersbrook Wood and the lane at the end of Empress Avenue that provides both access to the stables, and is part of the London Cycle Network? Taking that a step further, why not resurface the aforementioned bollard-ed track from Northumberland Avenue, do the same with a re-opened route by the stables, and give pedestrians and cyclists a pleasant route from the east end of Northumberland Avenue into the Aldersbrook Exchange Lands and through to Ilford? This could be an alternative to the present dog-legs through the houses. Well - more conjecture!

Heaped soil and rubbish piled against the grim fence --- "No Dumping"

A narrow gap gives access from Westmorland Close - rubbish is a problem here, and a forbidding fence-line!

Returning to the wood proper, the path into the park is obviously frequently used, and even a small bit of edge-clearance could enhance its attractiveness and ease. Particularly at the eastern side of this path, nearer to the stables, there is a lot of masonry amongst tangled vegetation. I believe that this is not be the result of fly-tipping, but is in fact the remains of buildings associated with the isolation hospital that once stood on the site. This might present some dangers insofar as access to the woods is concerned, but otherwise the impression was that the woods in the main could do with an extensive litter-pick - at least as a beginning - to a future programme of management, perhaps with volunteer assistance.

I suggested to Francis that it might be possible to do some vegetation clearance, perhaps open up some glades from the brambles, and even perhaps cut some paths elsewhere in the wood. Giving the wood some management - showing that people care - I believe goes some way at least to deterring people from casually using it as a litter-tip. Giving a usable pedestrian/bike path between Northumberland Avenue and the track end of Empress Avenue would make Aldersbrook Wood a used resource.

I left Francis after a pleasant enough short tour, discussion and idea session, and with a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in Aldersbrook Wood to prove something of its wildlife value. I await with interest what proposals Redbridge may come up with. In the meantime, maybe it would be appropriate for Aldersbrook residents to "Adopt their Wood"?

Paul Ferris, 3rd February 2011