About the Wren Group

An important aspect of what we do is to provide information for use by various bodies, and present a reasonable and balanced approach towards changes and developments throughout the area.

Group members have collected and recorded information about the wildlife of the area, and this has been used to publish reports on the birds and flora of southern Epping Forest and to advise our members, other groups and the Conservators of Epping Forest of wildlife activity in the area.

We also do practical work; pond clearing, ditch digging and tree planting have been done in the past, and we help to clear litter from time to time. Much of this work is done in Wanstead Park, but we may also work in other areas and with other groups.

We arrange outings throughout the year, and we have visited a variety of places in Essex and the Home Counties. These trips give the opportunity to see common or unusual birds, plants or animals, to learn something about wildlife, or simply to have a stroll and a chat. Local walks also take place in summer and winter, including some bat walks in Wanstead Park. A programme is published about four times a year, and this may be viewed by clicking above. Included on the website's programme information is usually a review of past trips. Non-members are welcome to join us on these outings.

In the past we have arranged indoor meetings where we invited a guest speaker. These  included some well-known broadcasters on natural history subjects, gardening experts and local historians.  We can arrange these once satisfied we can cover costs!

As well as the programme of forthcoming work and events, we publish a newsletter usually four times a year which is sent free to all members.

Group History

In 1972 Peter Rumsey, the then RSPB local representative, suggested that Richard Oakman might like to visit a new birdwatching group set up in East Ham by George Dormer and Terry Wilkins. He did, and when George left a couple of years later Richard found himself restarting The Wren Action Group as the Wren Conservation Group with the help of Colin Plant and Hedley Morgan.

With the encouragement of the Forest Superintendent, the late Alfred Qvist whom they met at least annually at the British Queen at Wanstead, a weekly work party was set up in Wanstead Park. Tools were loaned by the Corporation of London and were kept at the Warren, the headquarters of the Conservators of Epping Forest. In 1976 the late Robert Mitchell, as Verderer, supported the idea of guarding the swans’ nest on the Ornamental Water in Wanstead Park. A rota with about thirty volunteers was organised over a period of six weeks using a hide provided by D J Higgins and Son that was established on Lincoln Island to overlook the nest.

Early meetings in the eighteenth century former vicarage in East Ham brought in speakers known to the organisers. The young members (the average age of Group members then was about twenty) proved quite a challenging audience. They came regularly to listen to such respected naturalists as Alfred Leutscher, Fred Speakman and (of the next generation) Roger Tabor. In later years the Group met at the Passmore Edwards Museum Centre in St Mary’s Churchyard, East Ham, and more recently held talks at Wanstead Library where speakers have included Paul and Tricia Moxey, Georgina Green, and the late Peter Burman.

Administratively, the Group had a constitution and subsequently became registered as a charity. Richard approached Sir John Betjeman to be the Patron and he agreed though felt we should also have another more connected with wildlife. Sir David Attenborough accepted this idea and indeed spoke to Group members at East Ham Town Hall in 1980; he remains the Patron to this day.

Wildlife Reports and Surveys

In 1980 a survey of the wildlife of Wanstead Park was undertaken, and this led to the publication of a series of four reports by Paul Ferris in The London Naturalist as "The Flora of Southern Epping Forest".

Further report by the same author are "The Flora of the Redbridge (Southern) Sewage Works", which was published in the 1996/97 issue of The Essex Naturalist, and "The Flora of the City of London Cemetery" (1994) which is available on the WansteadWildlife website.

The Group Today

More than thirty years on, the Group has a smaller and older membership but does not lack the enthusiasm of the early years. It still receives support from the Conservators of Epping Forest and the City of London staff, and Group members continue to lead walks in Wanstead Park and elsewhere, carry out practical work and continue with the survey work.