Cranham Marsh is a fine combination of ancient wet woodland, wet meadow and marsh. Almost all of the similar marshland which used to dominate this part of London has been converted to farm land, and Cranham retains one of the few areas of original fen vegetation to survive.There are three small ancient woodland areas on the site, the largest being Spring Wood. This consists mainly of hazel and alder coppice, together with some very large oak and ash trees and a few tall wild cherry trees. Old drainage ditches, filled with reeds, cross the southern area of the site.The site is a Local Nature Reserve managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Cranham Marsh
Borough: Havering
Grade: Metropolitan
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 15.29 ha
Description
Wildlife
Dogwood, guelder rose, spindle and midland hawthorn are to be found in the Spring Wood area, indicating that it is very old woodland. The wet grassland and marsh are home to a variety of regionally and locally uncommon plants such as southern marsh-orchid, fine-leaved water-dropwort, golden dock, fen bedstraw, small sweet-grass, marsh marigold, ragged-robin and yellow loosestrife. Other plants that have not been recorded for some time but may still be present include marsh valerian and sneezewort. In the drier areas betony, devil's-bit scabious and grey sedge can be found.The insect life includes a rare bee, Macropis europaea. Twenty-three butterfly species have been recorded, including small copper, wall brown and speckled wood.The site is also important for reptiles and amphibians, and great crested newt and grass snakes are often seen in the grassland.Marshland birds such as sedge and reed warblers breed on the reserve, alongside all three species of British woodpeckers in the woods. Kestrels and sparrowhawks also breed in the reserve regularly, as occasionally do hobbies and nightingales.Facilities
Information; nature trail.
Yellow loosestrife at Cranham Marsh © Tony Gunton
Southern marsh-orchids © Mike Waite
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