TheTottenham Marshes are located atTottenham in theLondon Borough of Haringey. Themarshes cover over 100 acres (0.40 km2) and became part of theLee Valley Park[1] in 1972. The marsh is made up of three main areas: Clendish Marsh, Wild Marsh West and Wild Marsh East. The latter two are separated by theRiver Lea.
The marshes are one of the last remaining examples of semi-natural wetland inGreater London. They contain a variety of plant communities typical of a former flood plain location, such as a range of neutral grassland types, sedge marsh, reed swamp, sallow scrub and areas of tall herb vegetation. Associated with this diversity of habitat are several species of plant and insect which are rarely seen in London.
The 100 acres (0.40 km2) of marshes were originally aflood plain of theRiver Lea. But significant changes have been made over the years. Between the 1860s and 1930 a range of facilities including tennis courts and swimming were available but afterWorld War II between 1946 and 1960 the area was used for gravel extraction andlandfill. In the late 19th century the Wild Marsh East was bisected when the River Lea was diverted to accommodate the construction of some of theLee Valley Reservoir Chain. The marsh was the first home ground ofTottenham Hotspur Football Club in 1882.[2] TheLee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA), created by anAct of Parliament in 1965, bought Tottenham Marshes in 1972.[3]
Plants
Many species of plants can be found on the marsh including:
Butterflies
Birds
51°35′45″N0°03′14″W / 51.595931°N 0.053832°W /51.595931; -0.053832
