The Wren Conservation and Wildlife Group

Below are some of the events that took place during 2006...

Sunday 8th January - Practical Work in Chalet Wood (2-3 hours)
Clearing area for bluebells in spring
Meeting 10.00am at the Temple in Wanstead Park (Leader: Les Rice)

Monday 16th January - Nature Tour in the City of London Cemetery (1-2 hours)
This route (#1) allowed wheelchair users to join us as we looked at wildlife and the meanings to nature - related symbolism used on headstones and monuments.
(Leader: George)

Saturday 21st January - Epping Forest Walks: Pole Hill to Yates Meadow (2-2.5 Miles)
The Corporation of London have produced a series of leaflets suggesting routes including this one. Although this is a short walk only, it is a walk with a view as leafless trees at this time of the year allowed panoramic views.
Met 10-30am at Chingford Station or at 10-40 in Bury Road car park next to the golf clubhouse.(Leader: George)

Sunday 5th February - Practical Work (2-3 hours)
Met 10.00am by the Keeper's Cottages next to the Temple in Wanstead Park. (Leader: Les.Rice)

Saturday 18th February - Short Walks in London's Epping Forest #14 (5 miles)
Fred Matthews and Harry Bitten planned a circular route of around 5 miles that keeps to forest and country paths and takes in Gernon Bushes Nature Reserve along the way.
Met 10.30am outside the entrance to Epping Underground Station. (Leader: George).

Monday 20th February - Nature Tour in the City of London Cemetery (1-1.5 hours)
This route (#2) allowed wheelchair users to join us as we looked at wildlife and the meanings to nature-related symbolism used on headstones and monuments.

Sunday 5th March - Practical Work in Tarzy Wood, Wanstead (2-3 hours)
Met 10.00am at the corner of Wanstead High St and New Wanstead. (Leader: Les Rice)

Monday 20th March - Nature Tour in the City of London Cemetery (1-1.5 hours)
This route (#3) allowed wheelchair users to join us as we looked at wildlife and the meanings to nature-related symbolism used on headstones and monuments.
Met 1.00 pm inside the Main Gate (Leader: George.)

Wednesday 29th March - WREN Group AGM
8pm at Wanstead House, Wanstead E11, at the junction of The Green and Redbridge Lane West; within a short walk of Wanstead Station and the bus routes. The election of the new Committee confirmed George Washington as Chairman, Stacey Burdsey as Secretary, Tim Burdsey as Newsletter Editor and Pete Saunders and Paul Ferris as Committeee Members.

Sunday 2nd April - Practical Work (2-3 hours)
Met 10.00am by the Keeper's Cottages next to the Temple in Wanstead Park. (Leader: Les. Rice)

Sunday 9th April - Litter Pick with the LakeHouse Lake Project.
11.30am at the Jubilee Pond on Wanstead Flats (by Dames Road) This was organised by the LakeHouse Lake Project..

Easter Monday 17th April - Nature Tour in the City of London Cemetery (1-1.5 hours)
This route (#4) allowed for wheelchair users to join us as we looked at wildlife and the meanings to nature-related symbolism used on headstones and monuments. (Leader: George Washington)

Saturday 29th April - Debden to Chingford: a 5-mile section of the London Loop
The route will took in Linder's Field,the Roding Valley Meadows nature reserves and North Farm - buffers that protect Epping Forest on its eastern side from the spread of housing and other developments.
Met 11.00am at Debden Station. (Leader: George, 07 944 551 485)

Monday 15th May - Nature Tour in the City of London Cemetery. The wildflowers were particularly lovely on this walk, with the last of the Bluebells, patches of Cow Parsley, various Speedwells; Cuckoo Flower; masses of Horse Chestnut and May flowers; Herb Robert, Columbine and Wild Strawberry, amongst others. We looked at some of the more notable burials: Dame Anna Neagle, Bobby Moore, and the policemen (Sgts Bryant and Tucker and Constable Choat) killed in the robbery that led to the Siege of Sidney Street. As well - and perhaps a bit more to do with wildlife - we were told about some of the symbolism (plants and animals) that are to be found on some of the memorials.

Tuesday 16th May - Walk at Sewardstone Marsh. Having met at Wanstead Library at 7pm,. we travelled by car to Sewardstone Marsh, in the hope of seeing/hearing Cuckoos and Nightingales. The Cuckoos obliged, though we only managed to get a flighting glimpse. Nightingales weren't. Some worrying ducks turned out to be Gadwall, the Tern didn't perform for very long, only doing a short turn, and a Mallard hit a cable and spiralled into the Cow Parsley. This led to a 20 minute fruitless search for a dead or injured bird. Birds experienced (not all seen - some just heard) were: Willow Warbler; Garden Warbler?: Common Whitethroat; Blackcap; Wren; Dunnock; Robin; Swallow; Sand Martin; Swift; Chaffinch; Reed Bunting; Green Woodpecker; Song Thrush; Blackbird: Jay; Carrion Crow; Magpie; Wood Pigeon; Pheasant; Cuckoo; Coot; Heron; Mallard; Gadwall; Sheld-duck; Canada Goose; Mute Swan; Common Tern; Black-headed Gull; Cormorant. In addition, a perched hawk turned out to be a Harris Hawk - complete with jesses. Couldn't encourage it, though.

Saturday 27th May - Walk at Pole Hill and Yates Meadow with the London Natural History Society. Met at Chingford Station at 10.30. Leader: George Washington.(07 944 551 485)

Sunday 4 June - Bush Wood. The EFCV invaded Bush Wood to remove scrub and open up the grassland glades near the Quaker Meeting House.(Epping Forest Conservation Volunteers task). Task Leaders: Ralph Boswell 020 8527 7371 and Peter Vaughan 020 8590 0879

Saturday 10th June / Sunday 11th June - Temple open in Wanstead Park. This was an opportunity to see inside the Temple and meet WREN members.

Saturday 10th June - Bat Walk on Wanstead Flats. Using bat detectors to "hear" the bats around the Alexandra Lake area of Wanstead Flats, a small number of people met at 8.30 to be introduced to the bats of the area by Richard Oakman. Although not many bats were seen (or heard) except for numerous Pipistrelles, a very nice sunset was experienced - in the west of course - whilst behind to the east, an immense-appearing full moon sat on the rooftops towards Manor Park!

Monday 19th June - Nature Tour in the City of London Cemetery. (Leader: George Washington)

Sunday 16th July - The Three Canals Walk. Met at Mile End Tube Station at 10.30am. Led by Stacey and Tim Burdsey.

Monday 17th July - Nature Tour in the City of London Cemetery. Led by George Washington

Saturday 22nd July - Music in the Park. From 2pm. An annual event in Wanstead Park organised by Aldersbrook Residents. Various stalls, displays and music, culminating in an evening concert. The WREN Group had a display at this event.

Sunday 13th August - City of London Cemetery Open Day. 10am - 4 pm. The WREN Group, as well as having a display at this event, also presented a talk on Beetles, did three general wildlife tours of the cemetery, and also led the first tour of the newly opened Birches Nature Reserve. Although there was a deal of rain - particularly during the morning- numbers of people showed an interest in the Group's activities.

Sunday 20th August - Wildlife around the Jubilee Pond, with Fred Wanless and Paul Ferris.
Following on from the very successful walk last year Fred and Paul did the same walk on Sunday 20th August, starting at 11am. The pond is looking decidedly low at the moment, due to an apparent leak after the renovation. Perhaps this is why only five people turned up?

Monday 21st August - Nature Tour in the City of London Cemetery. Led by George Washington

Sunday 3rd September - The Forest Festival 2006 on Chingford Plain
11am - 4pm on Chingford Plain, near the Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge, on Rangers Rd. A somewhat difficult day for the Group, only just managing to get the manpower and transport to put up the gazebo and the display. Later, the strong winds of the day destroyed the gazebo, so only a limited display could be provided!

Saturday 16th September - Open House at the Temple, Wanstead Park (11am-4pm). Open House day provided another opportunity to visit the Temple in Wanstead Park. The WREN Group had a display in one of the rooms, manned by Jennifer Charter with a little help from Paul Ferris.

Sunday 17th September - Wanstead Festival, Christchurch Green, Wanstead High Street (11am-5pm). The WREN Group had a small display at this popular event, manned by George Washington.

Monday 18th September - 'Maple Trees Walk'. Nature Tour in the City of London Cemetery. Met at the City of London Cemetery entrance at 1pm.  and was led by: George Washington

Sunday 24th September - Walk in Knighton Woods.
Met at Stratford Station at 10.30am and Buckhurst Hill Station at 10.45am. Led by George Washington.

Saturday 30th September - Walks from the Temple in Wanstead Park. Two walks led by George Washington - at 1.30pm and 3pm.

Sunday 1st October - Practical Work. Path clearing in Warren Wood. Met at 10am at the Temple in Wanstead Park. Led by George Washington..

Sunday 8th October - Walk in Theydon Bois and Great Gregories area of Epping Forest (distance approx. 5 miles). Bring a packed lunch. Met at Stratford Station at 10.30am and Theydon Bois Station at 10.45am (to meet the train from Stratford). Led by Tim Burdsey.

Monday 9th October - Guided Tour of the Birches Nature Reserve. (approx 1.5 - 2 hours) 12 people met inside the main gate of the City of London Cemetery for a walk which started at 1pm. We looked at different aspects of the cemeteries wildlife as we walked to the Birches Nature Reserve. We returned to the main gate by a different route, again briefly looking at aspects of the cemetery. Leader Paul Ferris..

Sunday 15th October - Lake House Lake Project Litter Pick.
This task was organised by the Lake House Lake Project, meeting at Jubilee Pond Car Park at 11.30am.

Monday 16th October - Nature Tour in the City of London Cemetery 'Berries and Cones Walk'. Met at the City of London Cemetery entrance at 1pm. Led by George Washington..

Sunday 29th October - Walk in Epping Forest from Loughton (distance approx. 3.5 miles) Met at Stratford Station at 10.30am or Loughton Station from 10.45am to meet the those on the train from Stratford. Led by Tim Burdsey.

Sunday 5th November - Practical Work - clearing the Bluebell site on Lincoln Island in preparation for the spring display. Met at 10am at the Temple. Led by George Washington.

Saturday 18th November - Barnes Wetland Centre. Another visit to the excellent Wetland Centre to see wildlife and many interesting habitat exhibits. Met at Stratford Station by the ticket barrier at 10am, and was led by Tim and Stacey Burdsey.

Monday 20th November - City of London Cemetery Walk 'Getting Ready for Winter'. Met at the City of London Cemetery entrance at 11am, and was led by George Washington.

Tuesday 26th December - Boxing Day stroll. This was only advertised on the website, so apart from a couple of friends, no WREN Group members showed up! We met at the Refreshment Hut in Wanstead Park at 11am and had a good walk around the Ornamental Waters. Led by Paul Ferris