WICK WOODLAND 2 Much of the Woodland

1 HISTORY OF WICK WOODLAND 2 much of the Woodland. In 1999, travellers occupied the Woodland and fly-tipped huge amounts of rubbish. Wick Field (now Wick Woodland) is a triangle-shaped This was cleared in 2000 and many new trees planted to area at the southern end of Hackney Marshes. On its replace those destroyed. northern edge is Homerton Road, Lea Navigation is on Lea Valley Walk, Capital Ring and Sustrans National the west, and A12 runs Cycle and Pedestrian Path run along Lea Navigation from Lea Interchange towpath. The Woodland is maintained by Hackney along its southern side. Council’s Parks Department assisted by local volunteers After the Marshes from Hackney Marsh User Group. came into public owner- ship in 1894, trees were TREES OF WICK WOODLAND planted: a row of 40 plane trees along Lea There are about 60 trees in Wick Navigation, native black Woodland which are more than poplars on Homerton Black poplars at Lea Interchange, 100 years old. Road (six to the north ash, and newly planted woodland Planes. 40 plane trees in a row and six to the south) and with plane trees near Lea Navigation near Lea Navigation: over 30 another six and an ash in background. April 2001. Above: Plane trees near Lea Navigation and black poplars on Homerton metres (100 feet) tall and 100 tree by Lea Interchange. Road with young trees in Wick Woodland. April 2000. years old. London planes were Rubbish was dumped in the late C19: pottery and Below: The first trees being planted for Wick Woodland. February 1996. planted extensively in London’s china are sometimes found when digging holes to plant parks and streets. trees. There was no dumping of bomb rubble after World War II. As a result, Wick Woodland is at a lower level than Main Marsh. Unlike the trees on Main Marsh, which Above: Plane trees in have to push their roots through the rubble, the trees in autumn 2003. Wick Woodland establish themselves more quickly in the softer ground. Left: Gateway black In the 1960s a row poplars at Lea Interchange, looking from of ash trees was the banks of the Old River planted along two Lea towards Wick sides of Wick Field. Woodland (background). On one side they May 2004. were chopped down Native black poplars. Six native black poplars on each when the M11 Link side of Homerton Road and another six at Lea Road (now the A12) PUBLIC TRANSPORT Interchange create a magnificent gateway to Hackney. was built in the late Buses Although old and rare, they are under threat from road- 1990s. The trees Black poplars at Lea Interchange (right) 236, 276, 308 & W15 to Homerton Rd. widening schemes. along Homerton Road and ash trees (left) cut down for M11 Link Road (now the A12). October 1991. 242 Millfields Rd. and Cowbridge. still remain. 55, 56, 48 to Lea Bridge Rd; walk along Lee Navigation. Ash. 23 ash trees along Homerton Road and a large ash Until 1990 Wick Field was laid out for football. The Trains with gateway native black poplars were planted in 1960s. white lines which marked out the pitches are still BR stations: Hackney Wick; Homerton. Some variants of the ash family include Wayland Glory occasionally visible. After a period of uncertainty and and single-leaf ash, some of whose trunks are swollen by threats of building the rare moths development, Wick This leaflet was prepared by Anne Woollett and Mike Trier with which live in them. Field was planted assistance from Ian Graham, Russell Miller, Annie Chipchase, as a Community Malcolm Robinson & Les Wilson. For copies of the leaflet and Woodland. Planting more information about Hackney Marshes and activities contact 020 8985 1256, or see Ash trees and hedge started in 1996 and along Homerton Road, continued until 2000. www.hackneyenvironment.org.uk with woodland growing In 1997 a water main All photographs © Anne Woollett. fast. Planes trees are burst (left) and flooded in the background. Based on Collins mapping - www.collinsmaps.com April 2001. Volunteers are 3 TREES OF WICK WOODLAND (CONTD) 4 and plants and flowers which like to grow in shade. cutting off some The bushes planted include alder buckthorn, Recently planted trees of the side buckthorn, field maple, hawthorn, rose, spindle, viburnum branches of include many native species, in (guelder rose), gorse, broom and dwarf elder (a rare young black order to encourage wildlife. Over shrub spread along the Lea Valley on barges). poplars to ‘lift’ 40 native black poplars line the them and In spring they are covered in flowers and their seeds main path. Produced especially encourage the and berries are food for the animals and birds over the for the Woodland, they have trees to grow winter. Blackberry, buddleia and elder have colonised the grown fast and some are now straight. On the woodland. They keep their leaves in winter and provide left is the main over 10 metres (30 feet) tall. welcome shelter for birds and foxes. Look for house path through the Some side branches are cut off sparrow, dunnock and wren Woodland. (left) to encourage them to grow Black poplars along main path, March 2005. near the ground, chaffinch in straight. Cuttings are taken to with yellow ash and silver birch in the foreground and plane trees bushes and blue tit, great tit grow yet more black poplars. behind. October 2004. Wick Woodland, and long-tailed tit feeding high in trees and bushes. Sparrows is separated Other young trees include: field maple, prunus (or cherry), also live near Arena Field. ash, aspen, silver birch, rowan, hawthorn, willow, apple, MAIN EAST from Hackney Many insects, such as MARSH alder, hazel, yew and oak. They were planted as small trees MARSH Main Marsh by ladybirds and lacewings, live in Homerton Road because small trees establish them- Lea P the bushes. There are also selves better than larger trees. As they (left). beetles, including lesser stag Skipper butterfly on hedge HOMERTON ROAD grow they provide nesting places for mustard. July 2002. Navigation There are paths beetle, in the Woodland. A12 birds. Willow and hazel are being cut round the edge WICK back to let in light and encourage new MABLEY Open areas. The paths and area in the middle of the WOODLAND LEA of the Woodland growth as well as providing materials for GREEN INTERCHANGE woodland are kept clear of trees to give the woodland an ARENA and a main path weaving and art projects. FIELD open feel. Birds, butterflies, and squirrels and foxes (and through the In the spring, look for blossom their tracks) can be seen along the paths. Keeping areas centre (below). (prunus, rowan, hawthorn) and catkins open encourages plants which prefer light, as well as (hazel, willow, aspen, alder); and in the woodland plants. Look for the flowers of black summer and autumn, fruits and berries HOMERTON ROAD horehound, white dead-nettle and hedge mustard which (apple, hazel, rowan, New growth on willow flower most of the year, and the tall stems and seed- Black poplar Ash Ash field maple) which are that was coppiced the heads of burdock and teasel (goldfinch eat their seeds). eaten by birds and previous autumn. In the spring there are buttercup, clover, blue OPEN AREA animals. Look in the trees for squirrels and Black poplar speedwell and cow parsley; and in the summer, yellow Young jay and listen for the songs of robin and A12 cinquefoil, goat’s beard, herb Robert, comfrey and black thrush (often high up in trees) and, in the MAIN PATH mallow; and later, rosebay willowherb, yarrow, sow Plane trees Young poplar summer, for blackcap, thistle, and woody nightshade with red berries. Lea Navigation black chiffchaff and whitethroats. poplar Magpies and green woodpeckers feed on the ground (especially on ants in their ant-hills). Blackbirds are often Shrubs, bushes and a hedge seen along the paths or looking for food in the layer of were planted to create an leaves on the ground. Butterflies move along the paths understorey and provide shelter and the edges of the N and food for insects, such as woodland: especially ants (look for ant-hills) and speckled wood, meadow butterflies, birds which live close brown and skipper. Look to the ground, such as wren and First flowers of prunus or cherry out for kestrel, cormorant dunnock, animals such as fox, trees. March 2000. and heron flying overhead. KEY: Paths On the towpath look for Please help to protect wildlife of Wick Woodland: water birds, including Always put your litter in a bin or take it home. swan, Canada and greylag If you have a dog, please keep it under control. goose, moorhen and 0 100m ¼ mile 500m Respect wildlife, plants and trees. Alder catkins and cones. February coots, mallard ducks. 2005.