For recent and past sightings - Click Here

On this page is a summary of the plants, birds and animals of southern Epping Forest - please use the table below to find out more about the sites within this area. The information in each section relates mostly to the botanical aspects of the sites, but may also contain an overview of the area, and bird and animal lists.

For an area that is so close to the built up parts of residential east London, Wanstead Park and the nearby areas of southern Epping Forest - together with such habitats as the City of London Cemetery amongst others - has a varied and numerous wildlife population.

SUMMARY

Flowering Plants. In the order of 780 species of flowering plants have been recorded - these include ferns but do not include mosses, lichens or fungi. On Wanstead Flats alone, we know of 34 species of tree. For more details, see the pages relating to specific areas such as Wanstead Park, Wanstead Flats etc.

Non-Flowering Plants. We have not had the expertise to identify many of the mosses, lichens or liverworts, but we have discovered something like 183 species of fungi. Most of these were found in Wanstead Park, Bush Wood or the City of London Cemetery and some of them quite unusual for Epping Forest.

Birds. We are fortunate in having a wide range of habitats for birds. These include lakes and ponds, open rough grassland and mown playing fields, and woods and trees. Including birds seen overhead we have listed more than 100 species. Of these, approximately 50 are known or thought to breed or have bred here. A list is available. Click Here

Mammals. The mammal population is relatively small, due to human disturbance, traffic and predation. Foxes are very common, though as with most places now it is more usual to see them in the vicinity of houses than in "the wild". There are plenty of Grey Squirrels, and particularly in Wanstead Park, a continuing population of Rabbits. Hedgehogs seem less common nowadays. Brown Rats can be easily seen, particularly near Alexandra Lake on Wanstead Flats and by Hrronry Pond and the Perch pond in Wanstead Park. House Mice are found adjacent to the Forest, and we know of Wood Mice. Mole hills are a common sight in many areas, though particularly so on the banks of the River Roding. Common Shrews can often be heard, but those that are seen are more usually the dead ones. We have had reports of Bank Voles, and Water Voles returned to the Roding in 1998 - but were not reported again until one was seen in Wanstead Park in mid July, 2004. During the winter of 1998/99, three American Mink, Mustela vison were seen in Wanstead Park. One was seen by the River Roding in Wanstead Park on 14th April 2006 and again on 31 July 2007. Stoats and Weasels are present, and may also be seen in the Park. Populations of feral Cat have been known in the City of London Cemetery. The Pipistrelle is our commonest bat, though there are Noctule and Daubenton's as well. The lakes of Wanstead Park - particularly Perch Pond - and Alexandra Lake on Wanstead Flats are good places to see these. There have been occasional and increasing sightings of Muntjack Deer in the area, and even a Fallow Deer.

Reptiles, Amphibians and others. The Grass Snake is one of our commonest reptiles, though often overlooked by casual visitors to such areas as Wanstead Park or the City of London Cemetery. Surprisingly, perhaps, there have been very few reports of these from Wanstead Flats. Even more common are Red-eared Terrapins Trachemys scripta elegans - most of the local lakes and ponds have these. Smooth Newts are common, particularly in the area of the Heronry Pond in Wanstead Park. Common Frogs are abundant in this area also, though many are killed by cars while migrating to the lake from nearby gardens in the Spring. Common Toads are less often found, though they may well live quite happily in nearby gardens. An American Signal Crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus was found by Heronry Pond in August 2001, and more have been seen since. In August 2004, a number of dismembered crayfish were found in rough grass just to the east of Alexandra Lake on Wanstead Flats. It is possible that these had been taken from the lake by predators - perhaps gulls?

Butterflies - 23 species have been recorded, mostly from the southern part of our area - Click here

Moths - Click here

Dragonflies and Damselflies - Click here

Other Insects and Spiders are Click here.

For an explanation of abbreviations and information on locations, Click Here