Category
Events
Photographic exhibition – 26 November 2017
Our excellent second photographic exhibition will be launched this Sunday, 26th November, 1pm at the Temple, Wanstead Park.
All members are invited to come along and enjoy these lovely and interesting photos as well as a social get-together.
We are lucky to welcome a special guest, Marian Sidebottom, who is the Artist in Residence at Epping Forest. She is keen to meet you all and to tell you a little about her work.
In addition to enjoying tea and cake ( contributions welcome!) you may like to buy some nature- themed stocking fillers for children and ‘Trees of Epping Forest’ tea towels by Chingford Calligraphy Circle, on sale at £5. So bring your purse…
The Launch will preceded by a short walk led by Tim Harris. Meet at 12pm at the Temple.
Talk – Birds of Wanstead
Birds of Wanstead
Sunday 19th November 1.00pm
The Temple, Wanstead Park
A talk by local top birder and photographer Nick Croft. Learn about some of the 180 species recorded in our area.
Cost £3.00.
Book your place in advance & pay on the door:
Contact Gill on 020 8989 4898 or Email Gill
a joint Epping Forest, Wren Conservation Group and Friends of Wanstead Parklands event
Links: Wanstead Park Epping Forest
Trees in the Landscape: photography exhibition at the Temple
A tree-themed photography exhibition opens at the Temple in Wanstead Park this month. “Member of the Wren Wildlife Group and Friends of Wanstead Parklands have been out snapping, trying t o capture not only the beautiful forms of trees in Wanstead Park and Epping Forest but also the details of leaves and seeds and the animals, birds and insects that depend on them” said Gill James.
The exhibition launches on 26 November (from October to March, the Temple is open on weekends only from 10am to 3pm).
BioBlitz 2017 – Friday 16th – Sunday 18th June 2017
BioBlitz 2017 – Friday 16th – Sunday 18th June 2017
Become a wildlife explorer for the weekend and discover what’s living right on your doorstep by joining in at your local BioBlitz event.
With interactive activities for youngsters, grown-ups, beginners and experts alike there is something for everyone including Guided Walks, Talks, Children’s Art, Nature Table, Dawn Chorus Walk, Bat Walks, Pond-dipping, Moth-trapping, Grass-Sweeping, Tea Hut and much more – and it’s all free!
Friday 16th June
20:30 – Bat Walk. Meet outside the tea hut, Wanstead Park.
Come and join Conservation Ranger, Frances Castro and search for pipistrelles, Noctules, Daubenton’s and other bats. Bring a torch and suitable clothing for an evening walk. (approx. 90 minutes)
22:00 – Moth-trapping. Meet outside the Temple, Wanstead Park.
Local moth enthusiasts will have their light traps fired up to attract some of the great array of moths to be found in Wanstead Park. Bring a torch and wear appropriate clothing for an evening activity. (approx. 2 hours). Leader Tim Harris
Saturday 17th June
08:00 – Wildlife Refound: from parkland to woodland.
Meet at junction of Bushwood Road and Stanmore Road.
Leader: James Heal
10:30. Flowers of Wanstead Flats
Meet at Centre Rd car park gazebo. Leader: Tricia Moxey
11:00 – Spider Hunt
Meet at Centre Rd gazebo. Leader: David Carr
14:00 – Dogs and Wildlife; a guide to responsible dog-walking
Meet at Centre Rd car park gazebo. Please bring your dog (on a leash)! Leader: Thibaud Madelin
15:00 – 16:00 Children’s Pond Dipping
Meet at Jubilee Pond. Leaders: Sean Dillon and Gill James
Sunday 18th June
05:00 – Dawn Chorus Walk
Leading birder Nick Croft, joined by Tim Harris and Jane Cleall, lead the crack-of-dawn walk around the park to listen to the sounds of the dawn chorus, see a new generation of young birds and maybe encounter a surprise or two. (approx. 2 hours 30 minutes).
11:00 – Pond Dipping. Meet at Temple enclosure, Wanstead Park.
The park’s lakes hold a surprising amount of aquatic life, from large fish to tiny invertebrates, including dragonfly larvae and even crayfish. Help Derek and Cathy McEwan catch an endless array of life-forms from the Shoulder of Mutton Pond. (approx. 90 minutes).
11:15 – Nature Walk in Wanstead Park
Meet at Temple enclosure, Wanstead Park
Leaders: Mirza Rashid, Jackie Morrison, David Giddings
14:00 – 16:00 – Nature Club. Storytelling, Minibeast Hunt, & Crafts
Meet at The Temple. £3.50 per child (children aged 2-7 years old)
Leaders: Sean Dillon of Wild East Project and Gill James
14:00 – Pond Dipping in Shoulder of Mutton pond (90 minutes)
Leaders: Derek and Cathy McEwan
15:00 – Wanstead Park Trees
Meet at Temple enclosure, Wanstead Park.
Leaders: Tricia Moxey, David Giddings, Jackie Morrison
16:00 – Finish
Log Rolling – Getting Chalet Wood ready for the Bluebells
Pratical work, on Thursday 9th March 2017, to get Chalet Wood ready for the appearance of the Bluebells. Paths through the wood are deliniated by logs to try to prevent people walking on the Bluebells.
WREN Photographic Exhibition
The Wren Group’s new photographic exhibition, opened on 19th February 2017 at the Temple. It consists of 21 photographs of Wanstead wildlife taken by amateur photographers. The official opening is on Sunday 26th February 2017 at 12:00. Tea and cake will be provided.
Details on the WREN Facebook page
Display of “mystery objects” to test visitors’ knowledge of natural history. One is a genuine mystery, being so far unidentified!
Wren Group banner made by Friends committee member Jo Fensome
First Pratical Work of the Autumn
During the first practical work session of the autumn huge pile of brambles were removed from Chalet Wood to assist the bluebells in coming through in the Spring. Several small froglets rehomed and a large skull with upper part of spine unearthed too.
Wanstead’s Botanical Bonanza
Plants were always going to play a big part in the Wren Group’s quest to find 1,000 species within the Wanstead area in 2016. They have not disappointed. The year got off to a very good start, with many plants in flower in the churchyard of St Mary’s on Overton Drive and around Jubilee Pond in early January. And a wet spring contributed to fine shows of many flowers in May and June, with micro-sites such as the wayleave behind Belgrave Road coming into their own.
The areas that proved the most productive were Wanstead Flats and Wanstead Flats, of course, but within these were some real gems, notably the SSSI and the bank at the west end of the brickpit. Parts of the wonderfully managed City of London Cemetery were excellent also, but the real stars were the Old Sewage Works and the Green Man roundabout – both of which had displays of Bee Orchids in June. The Old Sewage Works also had a few Pyramidal Orchids in July.
Other flowers which seem to have a good spring and early summer include Heath Bedstraw, Grass Vetchling and Meadow Vetchling on Wanstead Flats, and Yellow Rattle flowered for a second year running in the SSSI. After a tip-off from Kathy Hartnett, Paul Ferris identified a specimen of Italian Eryngo by Jubilee Pond at the start of August. Where has this, previously unrecorded, plant come from? A couple of months earlier Sharon Payne had identified Sulphur Cinquefoil on Bush Road. Again, the provenance of this specimen is anyone’s guess.
As of the beginning of August well over 400 plants have been noted, including a number of mosses. Many grasses remain unidentified, and many more mosses won’t be recorded until the damp days of autumn. Why not take a look at the linked list and see whether you can add any species to it? Please let us have a note of the location, date and whether the plant was in flower.
Tim Harris
Bio-Blitz 2016
We are pleased to announce the second midsummer bio-blitz on the weekend of 24-26th June. The programme includes leisurely nature walks, children’s activities and more specialist quests for specific creatures in Wanstead Park and on Wanstead Flats. All events are free. The itinerary is as follows (though please note that poor weather may force the cancellation of some activities):
FRIDAY 24th
21:00: Bat walk, led by Francis Castro, assisted by Mirza.
Meeting point: tea hut, Wanstead Park.
We will use bat-detectors to locate and identify feeding bats.
22:00-midnight: Moth-trapping in the grounds of The Temple, led by Graham Smith, Anthony Harbott and Tim Harris.
Meeting point: The Temple, Wanstead Park.
Light-traps will be used to attract a variety of these nocturnal insects.
SATURDAY 25th
10:30-12:30: Nature walk on Wanstead Flats, led by Tricia Moxey.
Meeting point: gazebo by Centre Rd car park
A leisurely walk to look at wildflowers, butterflies and Skylarks.
12:00-16:00: Fly Quest, led by Jeremy Richardson
Meeting point: gazebo by Centre Rd car park
People can join Jeremy as he searches for some of the unusual hoverflies and flies of Wanstead Flats.
14:00: Nature walk, led by Jackie Morrison and Gill James
Meeting point: Jubilee Pond car park
A gentle walk looking at grasses, wildflowers and insects.
SUNDAY 26th
05:00-07:30: Dawn Chorus walk, led by Nick Croft and James Heal
Meeting point: the tea hut in Wanstead Park
Join the Wanstead Birders as they search the Old Sewage Works, the banks of the River Roding and Wanstead Park for our breeding birds.
10:30-12:00: Nature walk in Wanstead Park, led by Tricia Moxey
Meeting point: gazebo by The Temple
A leisurely walk to look at wildflowers, trees and butterflies
11:00-12:30: Pond-dipping in Shoulder of Mutton Pond, led by Derek McEwan
Meeting point: gazebo by The Temple
The pond holds an astonishing variety of invertebrate life. Nets are provided but please bring wellingtons!
11:00-12:00: Gastropod quest, Old Sewage Works, led by Penny and Nick Evans.
Meeting point: gazebo by The Temple
A look at the variety and lifestyles of our snails and slugs.
13:00: children’s activities in Temple Garden, led by Gill James, Anita McCullough, Jane Cleall. Simple treasure/scavenger hunt, a nature table, mud painting, plus
drawing and painting found items with Anita McCullough
14:00-16:00: Nature walk with Ferndale Area Residents Association, led by Tim Harris
Meeting point: Ferndale Rd (Wanstead Flats end)
We will walk through Bush Wood, cross into Wanstead Park and pass Reservoir Wood and Shoulder of Mutton pond, before finishing at the tea hut, looking at wildflowers, trees, butterflies and birds along the route.
14:00-15:3: Pond-dipping in Shoulder of Mutton Pond, led by Derek McEwan
Meeting point: gazebo by The Temple
Another chance to look at the aquatic invertebrates of the lake with an expert tutor. Wellington essential!