| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 Boardwalk across an environmental protection area | |
| Location | Greater London |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | TQ352875 |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 36.7 hectares |
| Notification | 1985 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Walthamstow Marshes, is a 36.7-hectare (91-acre) biologicalSite of Special Scientific Interest inWalthamstow in theLondon Borough of Waltham Forest.[1][2] It was once an area oflammas land – common land used for growing crops and grazing cattle.
In 1909, the aero-designerAlliott Verdon Roe made the first all-British powered flight across the marsh in aRoe I Triplane (his earlierRoe I Biplane had been fitted with a French motorcycle engine). He went on to found theAvro Company, with his brother, inManchester. Ablue plaque records his achievement, on the railway arch in which he had his workshop.[citation needed]
TheRiver Lea forms the boundary with theLondon Borough of Hackney, and the marshes lie within theLee Valley Park. South of the Walthamstow Marshes lie theLeyton Marshes, and to the north the remains ofTottenham Marshes, parts of which are now theBanbury Reservoir. North of Coppermill Lane, are the linked set ofLockwood Reservoir,High Maynard Reservoir,Low Maynard Reservoir,Walthamstow Reservoirs,East Warwick Reservoir andWest Warwick Reservoirs. The 90.7 acres (36.7 ha) area of Walthamstow Marshes south of these escaped both development and use for gravel excavation,[3] remaining a relatively untouched refuge for wildlife, crossed only by the railway lines in 1840 and 1870.
Themarshes 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 uncommon in the London area.
The marshes contain several species of insect with a restricted distribution in the London area such as the Essex skipper butterflyThymelicus lineola, an uncommon Parasite flyLigeria angusticornis, apyralid mothShoeribius micronellus and the sporadic breeding by the nationally endangeredmarsh warbler.
The breeding bird community contains several species typically associated with marshland habitats such asreed bunting, andreed,sedge andwillow warblers. A variety of wintering birds visit the marshes and neighbouring reservoirs while in autumn flocks of finches are to be found feeding on the seeds of the tall herbs.
Split Leaf, a sculpture by Jon Mills, marks the formal entrance to the marshes. The sculpture was made in spring 2003 by Jon Mills in conjunction with pupils from Coppermill Primary School and Mission Grove Primary School, as part of the "Take pART" programme.[4][5] It was intended to form a gateway to the park and to the marshes beyond.[5]
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