Come and join us for a walk through the Park and the Old Sewage Works listening out for bird calls and their songs. Learn how to identify different species, including some newly arrived migrant birds establishing their territory for the summer
Wren Practical Work
The 2026 spring season of Wren practical work is finishing at the end of March. For dates and times see the web diary
All welcome, tools and gloves provided but come dressed for work and the weather.
Merry Christmas!
The Wren 2025 Winter Newsletter is here to bring good cheer and nature news: Newsletter_53_Winter25
Lepidoptera report 2024: Butterflies and Moths
A comprehensive, well-illustrated report on the Butterflies and Moths found in the Wanstead area in 2024. Compiled by Tim Harris
Save our Skylarks
Several pairs of the iconic ground-nesting Skylark breed on Wanstead Flats. These birds represent the closest population of breeding larks to the centre of London but for how much longer? Nationally, the population of Skylarks has been in decline for decades so the Wren Group – in conjunction with the City of London Corporation – is determined to do all it can to protect their numbers locally. In 2021, and each year since, temporary fencing has been erected around two areas of the Flats. Between March and early September, this has meant that the birds – whose eggs and chicks are particularly vulnerable to disturbance – were protected from heavy human and canine footfall during the nesting season. This protection paid off handsomely last year with at least four young raised – the best breeding success for quite a few years.
We hope the larks repeat that success this year, and that we will begin to see the recolonisation of more areas of the Flats. In order to reduce the use of single-use plastic fencing, the City of London Corporation is this year experimenting with blue rope to demarcate the two areas people are politely being asked to keep out of. Please respect this fencing, the future of our larks may depend on it. If you see the rope being vandalised, please report to the police 101.
Missed the Wren AGM ?
A fasinating talk by Ben Murphy, Chair of the Epping Forest and Commons Committee, telling us about new developments in the management of the Forest is available here:
