And talking of Twitter after many a heated message, The CoLC come up with their explanation of the destruction wrought on our favourite part of the flats (published as a consequence of the debate on the 8th Feb) . It was all a cunning plan...
Above: formerly known as the brick pit copse (or Dell apparently]
Formerly the best spot for migrant birds in London, the enclosure. Now not so enclosed or good, Thanks CoLC
Wanstead Flats scrub management
At Wanstead Flats, scrub is an important component of the habitat and has great conservation value, especially for insects and birds. Historically, most of the bigger scrub has developed around the edges of the grassland because the Flats were grazed by commoners' cattle.
Annual management of scrub
This regular work, which has been carried out for many years, is aimed at conserving the small section of the Epping Forest Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) at Wanstead, keeping pathways open and maintaining firebreaks. Natural England have approved a ten year plan for scrub and grassland management at Wanstead Flats of which this is a part.
We have divided the Flats into 8 key areas for scrub management and these are shown in Map 1 shows the main scrub areas (8 of them numbered) of two main categories, thorny scrub and broom scrub, on Wanstead Flats. These are either managed for conservation annually or cyclically. The SSSI scrub is included within Area 1. In some areas amenity and safety issues are also particularly important. [Why?]
Uh oh looks like the remaining part of the SSSI is going to get the shit kicked out of it at some point
As well as this annual management of scrub, we also carry out longer-term cyclical scrub management. For this longer-term management, there are two main categories of scrub which are targeted. First is the older, more thorny and brambly scrub with mature trees on the edges of the Flats. The second target for work is the more recent development and expansion of broom scrub within the acid grassland habitat itself.
Thorny scrub
For the first category of scrub, such as at The Dell [I presume what we call Brick Pits copse], we carry out long-term cyclical scrub management in order to maintain a variety of ages and a varied structure within the habitat. The central parts of this scrub area are relatively recent in their development as can be seen in the aerial photographs below, which show how scrub has developed along the western side of the Dell (see top left of each aerial photo). This area has been cut in sections several times over the last twenty years to maintain young, thick but low scrub. We are undertaking work currently as part of that cycle of cutting to encourage younger scrub to develop. [Why?]Broom scrub
The broom thickets, the second category of scrub, have been colonising the areas of grassland gradually over the last twenty years. Although scrub has probably been present at Wanstead Flats at low densities for hundreds of years, in the last 20 years this habitat has significantly [no it hasn't since the major fire in 1976] increased to form dense thickets. This reduces the area for the scarce acid grassland flora and for specialist grassland breeding birds like skylarks. The increase in this type of scrub can be seen in middle sections of the aerial photograph images of the Flats from 1992, 2003 and 2013 which have been composited in Map 2 [Kept the dogging areas though didn't you?]
I'll have 2013 please. In 1976 a massive fire took out most of the scrub south of Long Wood, so this illustration is an alternative truth that suits the reasoning behind this management. By 1992 not much had regrown
For these areas of broom scrub the work is aimed at removing shrubs to prevent the loss of acid grassland habitat whilst retaining smaller patches with an increased length of younger scrub-edge. This scrub-edge is the really valuable habitat for insects as it catches more sunlight and can maintain the warmth they rely on to survive. Insects using these broom thickets now include some scarce butterflies, moths and solitary bees.
Planning habitat conservation work
Therefore, in developing the plans for both the annual and longer-term cyclical work, the aim is to balance the needs of the specialist species of each of the component habitats; bearing in mind that the most threatened areas are the large areas of open acid grassland that are now very scarce and still declining in south-east England.Our scrub management is selective, based on detailed mapping, and has been planned with decisions made on the basis of survey assessments and conservation and landscape values. We also are very grateful for the excellent information on wildlife that we receive from the local community and have adapted our work as new species finds have been made in recent years.
The annual clearance of areas of broom and gorse is undertaken by both our staff and by local volunteers whose enthusiasm and efforts are much appreciated. Recently, visitors might have noticed the piles of cut scrub which have arisen from work by community volunteers. These piles are pending final clearance by our staff. Although the worked areas may look damaged once cleared, they regrow quickly and ensure that a range of ages and classes of scrub are maintained ensuring a more diverse habitat.
So that's OK then! Yes and no.
Acid grassland is important as so little of it remains, it is so important that little tweaking is going to mean bugger all. If it is so important then get rid of the plantations that someone from the CoLC allowed in the first place, get rid of the football pitches, the car parks, the model airfield, the fairground.
So not that important then
Skylark. Somehow knew this would appear somewhere–the fact that some of the very rare and special acid grassland was taken to make more football pitches–give that back and connect the two areas of acid grassland where Skylarks are found. Get serious about the disturbance caused by users of the flats (yes dog walkers!).
OK not that important then
Landscape values: heard this before to justify some of the pig-headed destruction in the park. This should have no part in management of such an important area. It is clear what most people feel about Landscape values in not what they take away from their visit more through what they leave behind.
Shit then
The good news is that it probably wont effect the migrants that like to think we are famous for, if we get any. Good news for the breeding birds that would have used the area to raise young–it'll grow back in a few years time. You'll probably not appreciate this as you'll be dead, losers!
Losers: Should have read the management plan, or spoken up during the consultation
Here's the other news what little there is of it
1st
Wanstead Flats: Yellow-browed Warbler still on Alex, Stonechat (Jonathan Lethbridge)
Wanstead Park: Firecrest, 3 Water Rail, 5 Little Egret (Jonathan Lethbridge/Tim Harris)
2nd
Wanstead Flats: No confirmed sighting of Yellow-browed Warbler by evening, Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, Stonechat, Skylark, Grey Wagtail, 6 Pochard, 3 Tufted Duck, 7 Shoveler, 6 Teal, 4 Gadwall, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Linnet (Wanstead Birders)
Wanstead Park: Treecreeper, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Coal Tit, Sparrowhawk (Bob Vaughan/Tony Brown)
3rd
Wanstead Flats: Stonechat, Fieldfare, 4 Redwing, 7 Meadow Pipit, Goldcrest, 20 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 4 Pochard, 4 Tufted Duck, 12 Linnet, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk (Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: Firecrest, 10 Goldcrest, Treecreeper, 2 Nuthatch, Coal Tit, 2 Siskin, 5 Redwing, 15 Fieldfare, 2 Teal, 33 Gadwall, 7 Shoveler, 3 Pochard, 12 Tufted Duck, 6 Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk (Nick Croft)
4th
Wanstead Flats: Yellow-browed Warbler briefly with Long-tailed Tits at 08:30 (Rob Sheldon); Y-bW again briefly at 14:30, 3 Goldcrest, 4 Skylark, 12 Linnet, Reed Bunting, c20 Shoveler, 2 Teal, 2 Gadwall, 10+ Tufted Duck, 4 Pochard, 3 Redwing, Kestrel (Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: Firecrest, Nuthatch, Coal Tit in Bush Wood (Bob Vaughan); 3 singing Coal Tit, 5 Goldcrest, 13 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, 3 Mistle Thrush, Kingfisher, 5 Little Egret, 5 Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, 4 Shoveler, 3 Teal, 32 Gadwall, Pochard, 15 Tufted Duck (Nick Croft/Mike Messenger)
5th
Wanstead Flats: 6 Skylark (Bob Vaughan); 6 Shoveler, 3 Teal, 2 Goldcrest, 30 Fieldfare, 8 Redwing, 2 Kestrel (Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: Water Rail, 2 Little Egret, 35 Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, 3 Pochard, 8 Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Chiffchaff, 2 Redwing, 3 Goldcrest (Nick Croft)
8th
Wanstead Flats: 6 Meadow Pipit, flock of Linnet, Great Black-backed Gull (Wanstead Birders)
Wanstead Park: Water Rail, Little Egret, pr of Teal (Wanstead Birders); 2 Woodcock, Tawny Owl, 3 Little Grebe (Nick Croft)
10th
Wanstead Flats: 7 Meadow Pipit, 13 Shoveler, 2 Teal, Goldcrest (Bob Vaughan/Nick Croft)
11th
Wanstead Flats: 16 Shoveler, 7 Teal, 2 Pochard (Nick Croft, Simon Worsfold)
Wanstead Park: Water Rail, 60 Gadwall, 12 Shoveler, 19 Teal, Wigeon, 2 Pochard, 2 Little Egret, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Redwing, 2 Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker (Nick Croft, Simon Worsfold)
12th
Wanstead Flats: 11 Fieldfare, 2 Goldcrest, Skylark, singing Song Thrush, 2 singing Mistle Thrush (Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: 33 Gadwall, 3 Pochard, 7 Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, 3 Little Egret, singing Stock Dove (Nick Croft)
13th
Wanstead Flats: 6 Teal, 16 Shoveler, Pied Wagtail (Simon Worsfold); 4 Meadow Pipit, 11 Redwing (Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: Wigeon, 39 Gadwall, 11 Shoveler, 6 Teal, Little Grebe, Meadow Pipit, 3 Redwing, Great Spotted Woodpecker (Simon Worsfold)
14th
Wanstead Flats: Woodcock, Little Owl (Bob Vaughan); 12 Linnet (Tony Brown)
15th
Wanstead Flats: WeBS 3 Teal, 4 Gadwall, 18 Shoveler, 117 Mallard, 6 Pochard, 13 Tufted Duck, 269 Canada Goose, 57 Greylag Goose, 13 Mute Swan, 686 Common Gull, 112 Black-headed Gull, 8 Herring Gull, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull; others including Meadow Pipit, 12 Linnet, Reed Bunting, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk (Nick Croft)
19th
Wanstead Flats: 6 Redwing, 2 Goldcrest, 6 Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting, 10 Shoveler, 3 Teal (Wanstead Birders)
Wanstead Park: Chiffchaff, Nuthatch, Goldcrest, Grey Wagtail, Water Rail, Siskin, 12 Redwing, 4 Little Grebe, 15 Shoveler, 19 Gadwall, Wigeon, 5 Tufted Duck (Nick Croft)
20th
Wanstead Flats: 18 Lapwing, Stonechat, Redwing, Fieldfare, 6 Meadow Pipit, 5 Reed Bunting (Wanstead Birders)
Wanstead Park: Kingfisher, 5 Teal, Little Grebe, Redwing, Nuthatch (James Heal)
22nd
Wanstead Flats: 700+ Common Gulls including 5 colour-ringed (one North Thames, 4 Norwegian) and metal-ringed Finnish bird
24th
Wanstead Flats: Little Owl (Nick Croft)
31st
Wanstead Flats: 28 Shoveler, 8 Gadwall, 5 Teal, 3 Pochard, 23 Tufted Duck, 15 Linnet, Kestrel (Nick Croft)
Wanstead Park: Little Egret, Kingfisher, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, 2 singing Stock Dove, 44 Shoveler, 13 Gadwall, 19 Teal, 19 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebe, Kestrel (Nick Croft)
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