TREES of HACKNEY MARSHES 2 1 2 1 Willow (8) and Native MIDDX 18 O Friends Ld Black Poplar (1) by the FB 2 5 Ri Bridge 1 V Old River Lea

1 2 Hackney Marshes and its Trees Maple. Leaves with five points and winged seeds. Field Hackney Marshes came into public ownership in 1894. At this TREES OF Maple in newly wooded areas, such as Spitalfields edge of time some of the large mature trees (Native Black Poplar, Ash East Marsh & Main Marsh. Norway Maple: large dark leaves & Plane) were planted along River Lea and Lea Navigation HACKNEY MARSHES turn yellow and sometimes red in autumn. Round edge of (Wick Woodland), by Marshgate Bridge, and edges of Mabley Main and East Marsh. Silver Maple: delicate deep cut Green and East Marsh. leaves with silver underside; one of the first trees to change In the 1960s, trees were planted along Ruckholt Road colour (yellow and red). By bridge to East Marsh. Box Elder: (Ash) and Homerton Road (Ash & Balsam Poplars), and along separate leaves, tassel-like flowers and tiny red fruits in East River Lea (hybrid Black Poplars & Willows). Since then, exotic Wood. and native tree species have been planted, many from GLC Lime. Common and Small-leaved lime. Flowers often Tree Nursery. These include: Lime, Mulberry, Maples, Pear & scented and attractive to bees. Round fruit on stalks. Willow-leaved Pear, Southern Beech, Cedar & Alder. Over the Prunus or cherry. Shiny barks, blossom in spring, fruit is last 15 years, Hackney Marsh User Group volunteers have quickly eaten by birds. Attractive autumn colour. planted trees, hedges and shrubs and created new Sorbus. Rowan trees with lacy leaves, white flowers in woodlands. Wick Woodland was started in 1995 and Friends, spring and red berries. Whitebeam leaves - white underside. Jubilee and Kingfisher Woods in 2000. North Wood. The trees are part of the heritage and history of the Alder. With round leaves, catkins and cones (often dark Marshes and add to its beauty as they change through the Cherry trees (12) on Homerton Road. older and younger green cones together). Italian Alder year. Blossom and bright new leaf-growth signal the start of leaves more shiny and larger cones. the year; shade in the summer; the sound of wind through the Chestnut. Horse Chestnut on East Marsh. Sweet leaves, bright fruits and colourful leaves in autumn; and in Whitebeam (13) in blossom, Chestnut with prickly fruits in front of Depot. Cluster of winter their shapes, and colour and patterning of their trunks. North Wood. young trees at north end of Marshes. Trees provide important wildlife habitats. They are home Malus. Crab Apples in North Wood, Apples in Wick for many varieties of insect and bird. Insects living on leaves Woodland, Pears and Willow-leafed Pear (white flowers and on live and dead wood are a rich source of food for birds. and fruit like Pears but the leaves are grey like Willow) on Dead wood is left on site, whenever possible, as home for East Marsh. insects and invertebrates. False Acacia: spines on branches and pea-like fruits. Silver Birch: trunks look spectacular in winter sunlight Tree Varieties on Hackney Marshes (Wick Woodland and meadow). Poplar. There are over 30 mature native Black Poplar Hawthorn. Grows as a tree and a shrub in hedge along and over 40 younger ones in Wick Woodland. This collection Homerton Road. White, aromatic flowers, and red haws of this rare tree is unique in London. Other poplars include: Black Poplars (1) and old River Lea. Hawthorn berries (18). (berries) – quickly eaten by birds (North end of Marshes). hybrid Black (East Marsh); Balsam (Homerton Road and round edge of Marshes); Aspen (Crescent Wood & Wick Shrubs: Hazel (catkins in spring and nuts); Viburnum (white Woodland); upright Lombardy (round North changing rooms); PUBLIC TRANSPORT flowers, red fruit); Buckthorn and Alder Buckthorn (red and Grey (East side of Marsh and Crescent Wood). Buses and black berries); Spindle (pink flowers with orange seeds) Plane. London Plane is a hybrid produced in C19 and 236, 276, 308 & W15 to Homerton Rd. in Wick Woodland and North Marsh; Blackberry (white widely planted in London streets and parks. Look for light 242 Millfields Rd. and Cowbridge. flowers, and fruit which are eaten by birds, small mammals patches where bark is shed and fruit like Christmas tree 55, 56, 48 to Lea Bridge Rd; walk along Lee Navigation. and local people); and Dwarf Elder (black fruit) in Wick decorations. Rows planted on Mabley Green and Wick Trains Woodland and Crescent Wood: an unusual plant brought in Woodland; and with Ash and Black Poplar along Lower Level. BR stations: Hackney Wick; Homerton. with contents of barges. Ash. Varieties include: Common; Single-leaf; Narrow- leaf; and Raywood with burgundy-coloured leaves in autumn Evergreens. Some trees retain their leaves in winter. Yews: (East Marsh, Mabley Green). Rows of Ash along Ruckholt This leaflet was prepared by Anne Woollett and Mike cluster of Yew trees near Dip. Holly: East Marsh and Wick Road (East Marsh) and Homerton Road/ Wick Woodland. Trier with assistance from Ian Graham, Russell Miller, Woodland. Cypress: very tall hedge in Tree Nursery. Cedar: Oak. There are no very large Oaks but many English in Depot and near Lea Interchange. Wellingtonia near Oaks in meadow and new woodlands and self-seeded Oak in Annie Chipchase & Les Wilson. For copies of the leaflet Bridge to East Marsh. Wick Woodland. Turkey Oak at front of Depot and Red Oak and more information about Hackney Marshes and along Lower Level. Holm Oak (evergreen with shiny leaves activities contact 020 8985 1256, or see Exotic and unusual trees. Apart from native Black and tiny acorns) in North Wood. www.hackneyenvironment.org.uk Poplars, Marshes are home to many unusual trees: Willow. Large Crack Willows along river bank of Main Catalpa (Indian Bean Tree) in front of Depot; Mulberry and East Marsh. Also Goat Willow with ‘pussy willow’ catkins All photographs © Anne Woollett. with fruit loved by Blackbirds (East Marsh); Southern in early spring. Based on Collins mapping - www.collinsmaps.com Beech (East Marsh). Left: TREES OF HACKNEY MARSHES 2 1 2 1 Willow (8) and native MIDDX 18 O Friends ld Black Poplar (1) by the FB 2 5 Ri Bridge 1 v old River Lea. AREAS OF HACKNEY MARSHES NR 25 2 er 11 Le Depot & Tree Nursery on Homerton Road have a 7 Meadow North 3 2 a 19 1 Below: Wood 13 Chestnut 5 fine collection of native and exotic trees, including 17 2 Flowering Cherry (12) 14 Wood 6 Turkey Oak, Cherry, Cedar, Pines, Cypress N changing rooms 3 in January on the East Lea Na hedge, Gingko, Whitebeam and Catalpa (Indian East Marsh bank of the old 4 Jub Wood 11 Bean Tree). il River Lea.

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Lower Level: great walk along bank of old River MARSH h 8 e Lea, at the original level of Marshes. Planes, Black anal 18 F r 8 9 ri W 2 en 5 3 Poplar and Ash from C19 and more recent ds o 25 o 14 1 W d 7 planting, including Willow and Field Maple. 11 o 16 o 15 1 North & East Wood. Planted from 1980s with 2 7 d 10 1 24 10 EAST Balsam Poplar, Prunus, Grey Poplar, Box Elder, 22 6 Daubeney 9 MARSH N 4 Holm Oak, Whitebeam, Horse and Sweet Bridge 20 Yew Wood 8 12 Chestnut, Crab Apple and Ash. GR 6 11 11 Dip 14 15 Homerton Road. Balsam Poplar and new hedge. EY 5 16 13 8 25 6

Wick Woodland: edged with mature Ash, native EN Rowan 9 2 SOME KEY TREES 3 Wood 13

Black Poplars and Planes. Planted 1995–2000 UB Crescent 1 Black Poplar

2 Wood P 2312 with native species, including native Black Poplars. DA 21 RUCKHOLT RD 9 2 18 2 Balsam Poplar East Marsh: edged with many fine and mature 1 2 LBH Depot & MEESON ST Marshgate Tree Nursery 3 Grey Poplar TREHURST trees, exotic and native species. Bridge OAD 18 6 1 4 Lombardy Poplar R 1 6 A12 Old River Lea 5 Plane N LEE CONSERVANCY RD 10 1 TO 17 6 Ash ER 13 M 18 7 Oak ST O 1 H 5 5 WICK 12 ROUTE 5 19 8 Willow 8 WATERDEN ROAD 9 Norway Maple HOMERTON HILL 6 WOODLAND MABLEY 10 Field Maple MARSH CROSS KENWORTHY RD 11 Lime GREEN 6 6 12 Prunus or Cherry EAST ARENA Lea Navigation Canal 13 Sorbus AY 14 Alder TW FIELD S 15 Horse Chestnut A Above left: Grey Poplar (3) by Crescent Wood with Plane (5) E N 16 Malus beyond. Above right: Horse Chestnut blossom (15) by north 17 Silver Birch changing rooms. 18 Hawthorn 19 Spindle 20 Yew Please help to protect the wildlife of Hackney 21 Cedar Marshes: HACKNEY 22 Wellingtonia Always put your litter in a bin or take it home. WICK 23 Catalpa 24 Mulberry If you have a dog, please keep it under control. KEY: Paths Malus (16) & Wellingtonia 0 ½ mile 1km 25 Southern Beech Respect wildlife, plants and trees. (22) in the background.