The Green Man roundabout and underpass

The Green Man roundabout is a major road interchange between local routes in the Leytonstone/Wanstead area and the A12 trunk road. It is named after a pub that still stands on the corner of Leytonstone High Road, although the pub no longer retains the name.

In relation to other wildlife areas covered by Wanstead Wildlife, it lies between Bush Wood, which is to the south and east, and Leyton Flats to the north-west. When the roundabout was created in its present form to access the new A12 link road between Blackwall Tunnel and the Redbridge roundabout, care was taken to provide easy access for pedestrians, cyclists and horse-riders between those parts of Epping Forest to which the road system would otherwise have proved to be a major obstacle. As such, a high and wide series of underpasses and pedestrian, cycle and horse paths were provided, together with landscaping either side of the roundabout and within the central section.

The landscaping was carried out appropriately for what effectively is part of Epping Forest and was seeded in 1999. A meadow-like environment was created which really is a flowery and attractive place for people and creatures alike.

The list of plants below was mostly collected subsequent to a survey undertaken by myself and Kathy Hartnett on 13th June 2012. Some of the plants were actually found on part of Bush Wood North, insofar as the recording areas in "Wanstead Wildlife" is concerned, but very close to the roundabout and its approach paths. On an area of disturbed ground very close to the pavement of particular interest was a small, low plant with tiny pink-ish flowers hardly opened, and fleshy, succulent leaves. After a bit of investigation I interpreted it as Greater Sea-spurrey Spergularia media, probably making use of the salt that is used on icy roads to emulate its more usual sea-side habitat this far inland.

So as to distinguish between Bush Wood North and the underpass system of the roundabout, it was decided to use the surfaced cycle and pedestrian path that crosses from near the pedestrian crossing on Bush Road and continues towards Wanstead parallel to the link road which the roundabout serves, as the boundary. Similarly, at the northern end of the underpass system, the surfaced track there serves to readily distinguish between the underpass system and Leyton Flats. Between these, the system can be conveniently divided into three sections: the Green Man section adjacent to Bush Wood (North), the Central Section which is that section which forms the centre of the roundabout (although at a lower level than the roads) and the Leyton Flats area, which of course is adjacent to Leyton Flats. In the list that follows, the plants that have been found in each section are mentioned.

The higher-level road-system part of the roundabout does have grass-and vegetation edges, but is busy and not conducive to pedestrian investigation. However, a readily observable planting of Chusan Palm trees Trachycarpus fortunei may be seen - part of a pre-Olympic tidy-up. Weird and totally out of place here, although they are the only species of palm that is hardy throughout the British Isles. I wonder how long they will last?

On a return visit on 15th June 2012 perhaps the nicest new find were two stems of Bee Orchid, growing right near to the Green Man roundabout underpass on the Bush Wood section. On the approach path to the central part of the underpass system - near theTesco's approach road and right by the brickwork of the underpass - were a few plants of Woad Isatis tinctoria, not before recorded in this area. In the section of the underpass nearest Leyton Flats, two flowers of Corncockle were found. Much later, in 2024, those Bee Orchids just mentioned could not be found, but within the central section many were in flower in early June. As well, a few flowers of Pyramidal Orchid were present. At the same time, there were numbers of Common Broomrape Orobanche minor.