Tottenham Marshes
Introduction
On the borders of Haringey and Waltham Forest, just north of Tottenham Hale lies Tottenham Marshes. Over 100 acres of open space, Tottenham Marshes is made up of three main areas, Clendish Marsh, Wild Marsh West and Wild Marsh East.
Background and History
Tottenham Marshes has experienced considerable changes since its origins as part of the natural floodplains of the River Lee. Significant changes occurred during the late 19th century, with the construction of a number of major reservoirs in the valley and the diversion of the River Lee to its present course, bisecting Wild Marsh East.
Between the 1860s and 1930s a range of facilities were provided on the marshes including a swimming pool and tennis courts. After the war, 1946 -1960 the marshes were subject to a systematic programme of tipping which raised ground levels by up two metres above their former level. The construction of the flood relief channel (Pymmes Brook) in the early 1960’s effectively cut the western marshes in two. Ownership of the marshes was gained by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority on 20 November 1972 and the Regional Park improved the site by providing surfaced and mown footpaths, site signage, a car park with approx 40 spaces, and various planting schemes to screen the boundaries of the site and to improve its amenity value.
Special features
Art found on Clendish Marsh is by Peter and Karen Bunting, with the help from Northumberland Park Community School, St Paul’s and All Hallows Primary School.
Art work found in Wild Marsh East is 'Spiral Vision'. The piece was commissioned by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority with support from English Nature and was designed by children from Priory Court Playscheme, Waltham Forest and Giles Leaman and was installed in October 1995.
Site Information:
In 2005 Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, British Waterways and Haringey Council helped to set up Friends of Tottenham Marshes also know as FoTM, they are made up of the local community.
Accessibility:
In partnership with the London Boroughs of Haringey and Waltham Forest over £1.5 million was spent improving access to and around Tottenham Marshes including:
In March 2008, the main entrance to Tottenham Marshes car park, on Watermead Way, had its walls lowered to make the entrance more visible and provide a better view across Clendish Marsh.
Along with re-designing the entrances, we have added five new interpretation panels about the site’s history and habitats. We have also installed nine new fingerposts and six new information maps around the site to provide visitors with more information about Tottenham Marshes.
Working with the “Friends of Tottenham Marshes”, we hope that 2008’s calendar will be as busy as ever, with events, walks and talks and opportunities to get your hands dirty helping with the permaculture garden and habitat work with the site Ranger.
News:
From late August-September 2008, the new bridge from Wild Marsh East over the River Lee Diversion to the towpath and Navigation, will be open for the public to use to be able to walk down to Stonebridge Lock and Clendish Marsh. The new bridge has been given the name “Sandpiper Bridge” which not only is this the name of the road leading to this entrance to the rest of Tottenham Marshes but also a small, slim, long-tailed wading bird, which can be found with in Lee Valley Park at Fisher Green in some wet meadows.
Site Management:
Tottenham Marshes is managed to encourage public access and the enjoyment of open space. The majority of the users are local people e.g. walkers, dog walkers, joggers and cyclists. Various areas are managed by mowing for nature conservation; there is also a short mown area to facilitate informal recreation. Other areas are managed as open long grass land, with small areas of planted woodland. Events are occasionally held on the short mown grass area, and the site is designated as a safe zone next to the picnic tables.