A floating reedbed has been launched on Heronry Pond in Wanstead Park, on the East London-side of Epping Forest, to create additional habitat for wildlife and help improve water quality.
The launch of the 160-square-metre floating reedbed is part of a £100,000 project to improve overall water quality in the 44,500-square-metre pond.
Environmental charity Thames21 is working closely with The Rivers Trust and the City of London Corporation, which manages Epping Forest as a registered charity. The project is funded by soft drinks manufacturer Britvic.
Although ponds and other blue spaces and lakes can be an oasis for wildlife and places for the public to enjoy, they can suffer from many environmental challenges, including road runoff pollution.
Road runoff occurs when pollutants settle on the surface of the road – such as residue from oil spills, as well as tyre and brake wear from vehicles. These build up during dry weather and are then washed into rivers and streams when it rains. ‘Natural barriers’ such as floating reedbeds can act as a sponge and can filter these pollutants before they flow into rivers.
Native species such as Purple Loosestrife, Yellow Flag Iris, and Common Reed, feature on the new floating reedbed. These species are a typical standard mix of wetland species that come in pre-established coir mats – materials which are crafted from coconut fibres and tightly packed together. They also help to enhance biodiversity by helping to support a range of wildlife, providing essential habitats and food sources.
The River Roding – London’s third largest river – flows through the east of Wanstead Park and provides water supplies to Heronry Pond when its water levels are low.
Separately, Thames21 has been working with local volunteers in carefully managed river restoration activities, including using woody matter in some parts of the river to help maintain its natural curves, which provides a diverse flow to the river and creates more room for wildlife to thrive.
Tyler Randall, Thames21’s River Restoration Officer, said: “It is fantastic to work on this project, which is not only helping to transform the lakes of Wanstead Park into healthy environments for wildlife, but helping to improve water quality in this area whilst enhancing blue and green spaces. It’s truly inspiring to work with our volunteers and partners and witness together how we can breathe life back into our lakes and leave a positive legacy for future generations.”
Sarah Webster, Britvic’s Director of Sustainable Business, said: “Water plays a critical role in our business of creating soft drinks. For the last few years, we’ve been engaged in the Wanstead Lakes project as part of our The Rivers Trust water stewardship programme and it’s rewarding to have contributed to the launch of a new floating reedbed. The lakes in Wanstead Park are just a few miles away from Britvic’s Beckton factory, so we are delighted to be having a positive impact within our local water catchment area.”
Ben Murphy, Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Epping Forest and Commons Committee, added: “We welcome this collaboration to improve the water quality in our grade II* listed landscape. Wanstead Park is a natural haven, loved by millions of people, but its lakes have experienced a number of challenges in recent years. As charity, we rely on community volunteering partnerships, enabled by private investment to conserve over 8,000 acres at Epping Forest. This project also compliments a range of other initiatives underway to improve the water quality and resilience at Wanstead Park.”
