Water supply work near the Shoulder of Mutton Pond in Wanstead Park

Recently digger and tree-felling activity has taken place at the west edge of the Shoulder of Mutton Pond where the stream from Reservoir Wood flow in. This is a lovely area of reed-beds and overgrowing vegetation. There is a large poplar tree that had fallen to bridge the Reservoir Stream which had re-rooted and put up a lot of new growth - a phoenix tree!

Reservoir Stream

This gives rise to a remarkable area, not too disturbed by people so great for visiting and nesting birds. The area has recently been cleared to allow more ready access for the water supply from the stream, making the ditch wider. The lake system certainly needs all the water it can get. However, a reed-bed filter is not too bad an idea - it helps filter out unwanted materials and chemicals before they get into the lake. It is perhaps unfortunate that so much of the regrowth of the tree has had to be cut away presumably to allow the machinery through, but the vegetation will recover and should regain something of its previous character.

Paul Ferris, 3rd September 2009