Some recent activities in Wanstead Park - both human and natural...

Following Tricia Moxey and my meeting on December 14th with the Forest's Operations Manager (see here), it may be worth reporting on some work that has since been undertaken.

Path edging laid down in Chalet WoodIn Chalet Wood some work has been done by members of the Wren Conservation Group and also some work organised by City of London staff, again using volunteers. As well as the annual event of removing some of the bramble, some cut logs were deliberately left in the wood by Epping Forest work teams in order to use as the suggested path-edgings. These were a variety of sizes, and not cut to any length. They were man-handled into appropriate positions by just a few Wren Group members in order to direct visitors to the wood along delineated path-lines. It can't be said that they look very neat and tidy, but this is something of an experiment to see if they are effective in lessening trampling damage to the already-emerging bluebells. If they seem to work, they could perhaps become more permanent and done in a more aesthetically pleasing way.

The Grotto, now visible from the west bankEven prior to our meeting, work had been planned to clear some of the vegetation in and around the Grotto. This was a large task, involving felling of some trees particularly by the Ornamental Water-side, and some sensitive removal of saplings inside the Grotto itself. As such, this was carried out by City of London staff. The result is that now the Grotto is much more visible, particularly from the edge of the Ornamental Waters. It may be noted that the strip of vegetation that included the lone Mock Orange had not – when I visited it – been disturbed.

On the Perch Pond, the large patch of Floating Pennywort that has threatened and is spreading throughout the lake has been removed, again by Corporation staff. It is intended that the Wren Group should return later to clear up any left-over patches, as these can spread rapidly.

The river-side footpath flooded by the RodingNature has had quite an impact on the Park, too. A few trees toppled during some of the high winds over the winter, notably a large Beech at the east end of the Plain.

Perhaps even more dramatically – and not surprisingly – the excess rainfall this winter led to considerable flooding of the Roding into the Park Much of the wood along the River Roding was under water, and it was necessary to divert alongside the southern arm of the Ornamental Water to complete a circuit of the lake. Across the river, Wanstead Park Recreation Ground became a lake. This wasn't the worst flooding that I've seen in the Park. At the end of October in 2000 the Ornamental Water itself became part of the river. The river occasionally decides to reclaim its own!

Wanstead Park Recreation Ground under water (pic. by Sue Ullesperger)It does seem that some of the suggestions that Tricia and I made at our meeting with the Forest Operations Manager may have been taken up, and that is most encouraging. For so long I seem to have been moaning about the state of the Park. I can mention one aspect that was of serious concern to me in relation to this, just to finish. When I went to see the flooding I had to walk along two sections of path that were for too long serious obstacles to me – and I'm sure a deterrent to others. These were sections where the consistency of the path made them into a gooey and extremely slippery mire. Both of these sections have been repaired, and – even after all the rain – are nowhere near as unpleasant (and even dangerous) as they had been.

It's good to see improvements.

Paul Ferris, 10th February 2014