Migrant Bird Walk
30th August, Wanstead Flats
meet at 07-00 a.m. in Jubilee Pond Car Park
Come with us to search for migrant birds, resting and feeding on the Flats, before heading south over London
Wren Practical Work returns on 1st October
Fungus Foray
Meet at the entrance to Bush Wood, on the path opposite Hartley Road, E11 3BN, on the 11th October 10 a.m.
A walk led by Clifford Davy, a professional mycologist, to find the many interesting fungi found in this ancient woodland
Snail Hunt
Meet at the Tea Hut, Wanstead Park on 19th October at 10 a.m.
A hunt for the German Hairy Snail, led by Nina Hundt with members of the Conchological Society.
Wren Summer Newsletter
The Wren 2026 Summer Newsletter is here to encourage everyone to get outside and observe nature: 55_Summer26
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.