Wren: the Wanstead Park and Flats Conservation group, have cancelled public events until further notice due to the coronavirus outbreak. Virtual wildlife Meetings and suggestions for activities continue here
Wanstead Moths And Butterflies
A fully illustrated report written by local expert Tim Harris – click below
Wanstead Moths_Report 2020(1)
Help Save our Skylarks
Many of you will be aware of the skylarks on Wanstead Flats and will have heard them singing as they soar into the sky lifting everyone’s spirits with them.
Unfortunately they have been unable to breed successfully for several years due to several factors including some unintentional disturbance from humans and dogs.
Disturbance can cause birds to abandon their nests and any young birds may flee, get lost and end up starving to death.
We are in danger of losing the last few of this critically endangered species. They have already disappeared from Leyton Flats.
For this reason fencing will be installed this year at the end of February to try and protect any that remain and hopefully allow them to breed. While the fencing is going up members of the Wren group will be around as much as possible to answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to approach us – at a safe distance of course.
http://www.wrengroup.org.uk
Wren 2020 Winter Newsletter
out now
Go to Newsletter Page or click here Winter 2020 Newsletter
Wren Practical Work is Back
Important volunteer work to maintain the Bluebell Woods and other areas in Wanstead Park. See Diary for dates and Meeting site.
Starting on Thursday, the Meetings have been approved for the November Lockdown
Please try to bring your own gloves, and don’t share Wren tools but stick to one set. Otherwise we will work fairly normally at a social distance.
Virtual Field Meetings
Our free Virtual Field Meetings are back for 2021
The history of Epping Forest
VFM 13 Sunday March 28th 11am
Local historians and Wren members Peter Williams and Mark Gorman will explain how we have the amazing Epping Forest on our doorstep in suburban East London, and how it was saved from development in the nineteenth century – the first example ever of preserving a wild habitat for its own sake.
Mark’s new book on the subject will be out in May 2021.
https://www.uhpress.co.uk/ books-content/saving-the- peoples-forest
VFM 14 Swifts
from Edward Meyer
Thursday 22nd April 7pm
Edward Meyer is an expert on these summer migrants and will tell their amazing story.
https://www.swift- conservation.org/
VFM 12 The lichens of Wanstead
This will be an introduction to the weird and wonderful world of lichens, present nearly everywhere but largely unnoticed. A lichen is not a single organism. It is a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and a photosynthetic algae and/or cyanobacteria.
In his talk, Bob will introduce us to some of the fascinating local lichens, what to look out for, and perhaps where you might find them….
If you missed it a recoding is available at: https://youtu.be/LPty0hXjnrA
Plans for the Restoration of the Mortuary Site on Manor Park Flats revealed:
click link below to download and read
TMF-flyer-JD-amends-A4-003-final-1(3)
The History of Eping Forest
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