Horseshoe Thicket
Horseshoe Thicket is a small 2 hectare wood at the north end of Walthamstow Marsh. The construction of Springfield Marina in 1971 resulted in mud and rubbish dredged from the river being deposited on the marsh. The thicket evolved from local willows shedding their seed over the newly bare mud.
The thicket is composed mainly of goat and grey willows. Most of these are hybrids. Amongst these hybrids are tall crack willows, some of which are left as standards to form the dominant layer of the canopy. Others are pollarded, i.e. cut 2 - 3 metres high, and then allowed to grow a new crop of branches. Of special interest are three of the grey willows which are of the marsh sub-species.
The marsh is often a little drier than we would like it to be. This has encouraged both hawthorn and sycamore to grow in the thicket. Jays have also become more frequent and are possibly responsible for the emergence of holm oak saplings.
The ground flora is dominated by Russian comfrey, cow parsley, hogweed and nettle. Garlic-mustard, which is well established along the rides, is probably responsible for the presence of Orange-tip butterflies in the spring. Speckled wood and comma butterflies are also common in the area. The thicket has many open areas which are sheltered and are particularly good for hoverflies and other insects when it is sunny.
The main birds of the thicket are whitethroats, blackcaps, willow warblers, blackbirds, song thrush, wrens, blue and great tits. Magpies, jays and great spotted woodpeckers also seem to be ever present. The pond attracts a reed warbler each year.
05.01.2003 - Lea Bridge Conservation Volunteers stacking branches and logs at Horseshoe Thicket
The main management scheme for the area is to keep one section of the thicket on a ten year coppice rotation. The Lea Bridge Conservation Volunteers (LBCV) and Springfield Conservation Volunteers (SCV) do most of this work as one of their autumn and winter tasks. This is done to maintain the structural variety of the wood, which benefits the birds and insects. The logs are stacked in piles to help the insects and fungi. The smaller branches are chipped and laid down to maintain one of the main paths through the thicket. The volunteers also created the pond and help to manage it.
Although it is a recent addition to the marsh’s habitats, the thicket adds to the marsh’s overall diversity. It also provides a pleasant walk at any time of the year, being both shady and sheltered.