St. Mary's Churchyard - Plants

The plant-life of the graveyard was surveyed some 60 years ago by Gulielma Lister, niece of Lord Lister, famous as the pioneer of vaccination. The report was published in the Essex Naturalist (Vol. 27) as "THE FLORA OF WANSTEAD PARK DISTRICT by GULIELMA LISTER, F.L.S." (Read on 29th November, 1941). A copy of the species list is available HERE.

As the graveyard was very much within the Wren Group's study area, situated as it is to the north of Wanstead Park and adjacent to Wanstead Golf Course, I made a cursory survey of the plants to be found there in 1981. 102 species of plants were found. The list also includes those plants noted by Lister, so that comparisons could be made with the past and present flora. It could be seen that many of the more unusual species still persisted, although 28 species were not noted. The list is available below.

In early February 2016 (07/02/2016) another survey was done by members of the Wren Wildlife and Conservation Group. Results from that have been added to the listing below, and in addition to the higher (flowering) plants, other organisms - including animals - are appended. 

The reference "(L. 1941)" in the third column indicate that the plant was noted by Gulielma Lister in 1941

The 1981 date relates to the 1981 survey.

"Stace" refers to the page no. in Stace 2nd Edition

(for information about the church and churchyard, click here)

Additional plant or plant-like species

 Some additional species found in the graveyard: