Bee orchid
Introduction
This Green Flag Award site includes Walthamstow Marsh Nature Reserve as well as Coppermill Fields and Leyton Marsh. The Nature Reserve is a remnant of London’s once widespread river valley grasslands and is especially important for its plant and insect life containing a national rarity in Creeping Marshwort. The area is served by a good network of paths and has accompanying interpretation. In the summer parts of the marsh are grazed by a small herd of old breed cattle. The cattle help to conserve the natural history of the marsh by grazing down the more aggressive plants. The Waterworks Visitor Centre is nearby and has a café and toilets.
June 2010 update
Green Flag
The annual application for accreditation was submitted in December.
Landscape Strategy
Outline proposals have now been worked up for the area. These are most detailed for the Lea Bridge Road northern frontage and for the area around the Riding Centre with especial emphasis on the Back Path. However they look at the whole access network in the area.
The consultants outline proposals were initially presented at the User Forum on the 24th February. We’ve received feedback on these and are now re-working the proposals according to our own and the public’s responses.
Lea Bridge Road study
Recent Developments
• Thames Water have been on the marshes since October 2009, re-lining the old sludge main and removing the flue on Leyton Marsh. These works were finally finished at the beginning of June when the contractors re-instated their works areas.
• Some filming for a video was done on the marshes in January for an up-and-coming Australian band called Temper Track.
• The Kings Head Bridge boardwalk/ramp was removed in January as the structure was no longer sound. We had expected to have a study completed on it’s replacement by now by a third party but this hasn’t happened, which will delay the replacement.
• A number of trees were pollarded in March as part of regular management. For the Crack Willows in front of the Ice Centre this was done to maintain their safety. Also one of these trees had a bees nest in, to which we went to great trouble to safely remove it whilst transporting the bees nest elsewhere.
• Temporary repairs were made to Sandy Lane in March.
• Two sections of ditch were cleared in March.
• The early meadow cut took place in early June. This cut encourages re-growth which allows a second flowering of the plants in late August. Apart from looking really beautiful late in the summer it is good for insects which have an extended nectaring season as well as shelter when the main meadow cuts are carried out.
Up-and-coming Developments
• We’re planning the construction of two more ponds in the Horseshoe Thicket area in order to diversify the habitat here and add further interest to the site. Planning permission for these has now been given.
• We’re also planning to install a special community picnic table on Coppermill Fields in association with a local Hackney artist. This is currently at the planning stage.
• We plan to extend the Countryside Live event by 2 days so that it becomes a public event over the week-end and incorporates some elements of the Spring Wildlife Fair, which has been held on the Waterworks Nature reserve for the last two years. It will be on 25th/26th September, with a £3 charge for adults and with children gaining entry free. A lot of planning has yet to be done for it so watch this space.
• The next event on the marshes is a 2nd ‘Top Dog’ event, on Leyton Marsh, on Sunday 18th July. After this, as part of Love Parks Week, there is an Explorer walk (general wildlife including invertebrates) on 1st August.
• The cows should return to the marsh in July whilst the main meadow cut of the marshes is planned for 1st August. This will include most of North marsh this year, so that cattle can be brought in to graze the re-growth on 1st September.
Wildlife Monitoring in 2009
Cuckoo-flower is again showing really well in Horseshoe Thicket pond (30th April). Adder’s-tongue Fern has responded really well to the wet winter. However a huge surprise was the discovery of the first orchid on the SSSI for many decades! Not only that but it was different from the last one, the present one being a Twayblade.
User Forum
The last meeting of The Filter Beds and Walthamstow Marshes User Forum was held on 24th February. The next meeting will be a walk on Wednesday June 9th starting at the WaterWorks Centre at 6.30pm. If you would like to join the Forum please email
dmiller@leevalleypark.org.uk and we’ll send you the most recent minutes. We normally meet 4 times a year.
Self Guided Trail
Why not take a wonder through the nature reserves on the Lea Bridge Road with the help of our guided trail maps, there's one for summer birds and one for butterflies and dragonflies.
Click here to download a pdf of our Self Guided Trail - Summer Birds.
Click here to download a pdf of our Self Guided Trail - Butterflies and Dragonflies