The Wren Conservation and Wildlife Group

Below are some of the events that took place during 2004...

Sunday 2nd May - Practical Work in Wanstead Park. Further clearance work in Warren Wood.

Saturday 15th May - Walk in Higham's Park
The Park is the remains of the landscape gardens by Repton and other well know eighteenth century garden designers. The house known as Highams is now Woodford County High School. Its lake and other landscape features survive, and it is a haven for wildlife. This walk was led by George Washington.

Sunday 23rd May - Practical Work New Wanstead - a joint session with the Conservators and other local groups.

Sunday 6th June - Practical Work in Wanstead Park - further clearance work in Warren Wood.

19-20th June - Wanstead Park Wildlife Weekend 10-4 each day
Organised by the conservators intending all sorts of activities for all ages. The event was to include walks, craft, pond dipping, mounted keepers and longhorn cattle. The Group had a display during on Saturday, but the event was cancelled on Sunday.

Sunday 27th June - Butterflies in Hockley Woods Walk
Bill Parrish has an excellent knowledge of butterflies, and these woods given an opportunity to see some rarities. Hockley Station is about half a mile from Hockley Woods - quite an easy and not unpleasant walk. The group looked especially for the Heath Fritillary - but a good variety of other species were also seen.

Sunday 4th July - Practical Work in Wanstead Park - further clearance work in Warren Wood

Saturday 10th July - Connaught Water Walk
Created in the early 1900's as a boating and recreational lake, Connaught is the largest lake in Epping Forest. Today it is mainly known as a good place to see a wide variety of water birds. George Washington led this walk.

Saturday 17th July - Wanstead Park Open Air concert

Not a Wren event, but still fun. In the evening there was a concert, and during the afternoon there were various stalls and activities to enjoy

Sunday 18th July - Practical Work in New Wanstead - a joint session with the Conservators and other local groups.

Sunday 1st August - Practical Work: A joint session with the Conservators and other voluntary conservation groups. We worked on Wanstead Flats, removing burnt gorse, broom etc. This is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, (SSSI), damaged by the September 2003 major blaze alongside Lake House Road, E11.

Sunday 8th August - Bentley Old Vicarage walk (NW London)
A nature reserve where kestrels, woodpeckers and tree creepers have been reported. Through the birch woods of Stanmore Common to see Bentley Priory, HQ of RAF Fighter Command during Battle of Britain. Led by Norman Olley.

Sunday 22nd August - Open Day at the Crematorium, City of London Cemetery.
To help commemorate the 100th anniversary of the opening of one of the first Crematoria in the country, the Wren Group was invited to put up a display, as the cemetery is a major area for wildlife. The display, within a gazebo on the lawn, was manned during the day by Jennifer Charter, Paul Ferris, Les Rice, George Washington and Peter Williams.

Sunday 5th September 11am - 4 pm Forest Festival, on Chingford Plain.
An annual event organised by the Corporation of London to celebrate all aspects of Epping Forest with craft displays, performers, staff in costume, music, dancing and a lot more. The Group had a stall in a marquee with other wildlife groups.

Sunday 19th September - 11am - 4 Redbridge's Wanstead Festival.
The High Street was not closed off this time as funding is limited, but there were stalls, entertainment, a French market and the Wren Group's display manned by Martin Leech.

Weekend 18th/19th September is Open House weekend across London
Jennifer Charter, Paul Ferris and George Washington manned our display within the the Temple in Wanstead Park. On Sunday, there were about 240 visitors to the Temple, many of whom visited our display.

Saturday 25th September - A guided tree walk round City of London cemetery
The cemetery is almost like a nature reserve with many fine trees, plus magnificently carved memorials. The walk was well attended by about 25 people, and led by George Washington. During the tour, he pointed out some of the more interesting graves and memorials as well as some of the wildlife of the cemetery.

Sunday 3rd October: Practical Work 10am - clearance work on Lincoln Island to ensure the wild daffodils come through in the Spring. Great fun!

Sunday 17th October- A walk in Gunpowder Park, Waltham Abbey
This newly laid out park, on the site of the rifle range of the former Royal Ordnance (Lee Enfield) factory. It has only recently opened to the public so we were amongst the first visitors.

Sunday 7th November: Practical Work 10am - further clearance work on Lincoln Island.

Saturday 20th November - a visit to Syon Park Butterfly House, Brentford
By popular request we made another visit to the spectacular (and warm!) butterfly houses at this mansion in West London.

Sunday 4th December - Practical Work 10am - Worked in Chalet Wood preparing the ground for the staggering display of bluebells and wood anemones in the Spring.

Wednesday 8th December - Christmas social
Our seasonal get together to celebrate another successful year.