court for enclosing with posts and railing six or seven acres of Forest land including the two ponds
on Goldings Hill.
The Forest pond flora is rich and varied. Ponds are, perhaps, the most unstable habitat in the Forest.
If not maintained they can go from open water - marsh - carr - dry land in a short period of time. The
Forest fortunately has ponds in all these stages which makes for a varied flora. Ponds with extensive
open water have species such as the White Waterlily (Nymphaea alba) and the Yellow Waterlily
(Nuphar lutea). Less frequent is the introduced Fringed Waterlily (Nymphoides peltata). Other plants
of open water include Pondweeds (Potamogeton spp.). At least 8 species have been reported from the
Forest. Some, such as Broad-leaved Pondweed (P. natans) and Curled Pondweed (P. crispus) are fairly
frequent, but two species are extremely rare in Essex and one of these, Various-leaved Pondweed (P.
gramineus) was last seen in the Forest in 1870.
Other plants of open water include the rare Whorled Water-milfoil (Myriophyllum verticillatum)
and the more frequently recorded Spiked Water-milfoil (M. spicatum), Hornwort (Ceratophyllum
demersum), recorded from the Hollow Pond on Leyton Flats and the Water Crowfoot (Ranunculus
peltatus) reported from several Forest ponds. Bladderworts (Utricularia spp.) have also been reported
from several sites. These plants are carnivorous, catching small prey such as 'waterfleas' (Daphnia
sp.) in small 'bladders' attached to the underwater stems of the plant. Rather attractive yellow flowers
are produced on emergent stems in July and August, often in numbers in each pond. Common
Bladderwort (Utricularia vulgaris sens. lat.) was reported by Edward Forster from the Forest between
Woodford and Chingford Hatch (EN XIX p.232). The record is undated but probably refers to the
early part of the 19th century. Another record refers to pools near Whipps Cross in 1901 (Kent and
Lousely. 1951-57). Jermyn (1974) gives records only of this species from several of the Forest ponds
in 1972. Bladderworts when not in flower are difficult to separate and 1 suspect that the species these
records refer to is Western Bladderwort (Utricularia neglecta), which 1 have identified from one of
the smaller Wake Valley Ponds and which has also been seen in the Heronry Pond in Wanstead Park.
Western Bladderwort was first reported in the Forest from a pond near Epping in 1915 (Kent and
Lousely).
Water Soldier (Stratiotes aloides) has been recorded at least from the Warren and Fairmead Ponds
and is almost certainly an introduction. Perhaps the most beautiful of all the aquatic plants is the Water
Violet (Hottonia palustris) with its spikes of pink flowers usually flowering in numbers in places such
as the Lost, Baldwins Hill, Wake Valley, Lower Forest and Goldings Hill Ponds. There are old records
from the Rising Sun Pond and a pond near Woodford. Goldings Hill Pond has probably the richest
flora of any of the Forest ponds (Table 6). Essex rarities found here include Bog-bean (Menyanthes
trifoliata). Floating Scirpus (Eleogiton fluitans). Fine-leaved Water Celery (Apium inundatum).
Narrow-leaved Water Parsnip (Berula erecta) and Water Horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile). More
frequently encountered species found here include Greater Pond Sedge (Carex riparia) and Great
Reedmace (Typha latifolia). Two species occurring as presumed introductions are the large aquatic
buttercup. Greater Spearwort (Ranunculus lingua), which has also been introduced to other ponds,
and the smaller, but potentially more damaging. Swamp Stonecrop (Crassula helmsii), a fleshy plant
with minute, creamy white flowers. It has become well established on the shallow margins of the
pond. It can, if allowed to do so. swamp other vegetation in such areas.
Another introduction is the Water Fern (Azolla filiculoides) occurs sporadically on Forest ponds
with plenty of open water, among them Connaught Water and the Rising Sun Pond, sometimes
covering the water surface with a great sheet of green and then reddish brown. Other free-floating
plants include the rare Frog-bit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae), recently reported from Fairmead Pond,
and the Duckweeds (Lemna spp.) Five species (L. gibba. L. minor. L. polyrrhiza. L. trisulca and L.
miniuscula) are known from Forest ponds.
The margins of Forest ponds are the usual habitat for a great variety of common aquatic plants -
Fools Watercress (Apium nodiflorum). Water Mint (Mentha aquatica). Yellow Flag (Irispseudacorus).
Skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata), and Water Plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica) among them.
The deadly Hemlock Water Dropwort (Oenanthe crocata) is particularly frequent in the vicinity of
Connaught Water and ditches on Fairmead. Reed (Phragmites australis) is not common in the Forest.
It is found in the Wake Valley Pond and two of the ponds in Knighton Wood. Knighton Pond itself is
the only location I have seen Great Water Dock (Rumex hydrolapathum) in the Forest. Its rarer relative.
Marsh Dock (R. palustris), has been reported from one of the Wanstead Park ponds. A list of plants
from the Wanstead Park ponds is given in Table 7.
The wet mud and partially dried out edges of ponds have their own typical species, among them
Celery-leaved Crowfoot (Ranunculus sceleratus), Marsh Pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris)
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