Review of the Wildlife of Epping Forest in 2000
Another surprise was the discovery of a new site for probable Common Spotted Orchids
Dactylorhiza fuchsii or possibly a hybrid orchid population. Nearby there was also a new site for
Grass Vetchling Lathyrus nissolia close to the Warren Plantation in the north of the Forest.
The recovery of the vegetation in the Forest ponds where Carp Cyprinus carpio have been removed
continues. However, the best addition at the Hollow Ponds, Leytonstone was along the shoreline
with the appearance of Marsh Dock Rumex palustris, found by Dave Miller, a ranger at the nearby
Lee Valley Park.
Invertebrates
Dragonflies
Although the wet weather meant another poor year for counting emerging Downy Emerald Cordulia
aenea dragonflies at Wake Valley Pond there was still good news for this species. Following its
sighting in 1999 back at its old haunt of the Lower Forest Lake, it was seen there again for the
second year running although not yet proved to be breeding. However, exuviae (shed larval skins)
have now been found at 9 other ponds in the Forest. The most interesting new site is Fairmead Pond,
which is in the open, not surrounded by trees, as has been the norm for this species here.
Another scarce dragonfly, the Hairy Dragonfly Brachytron pratense, having been proved to breed
at one pond in 1999 was shown to have successfully reproduced at its main site of Wake Valley
Pond, by the discovery of 9 exuviae by Amanda Samuels. The hope is it will now become permanently
established again in the Forest.
A much commoner species, but only local in the Forest, the Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum
cancellatum was in much higher numbers than recently at Connaught Water, which may reflect the
improvement in that water since fish numbers were reduced.
Butterflies & Moths
The Forest like many other parts of Essex had its Clouded Yellow Colias croceus invasion, with
many records from the area around Wanstead in particular. However, the most welcome appearance
was probably of Ringlets Aphantopus hyperanthus along the Green Lanes to the north-west of the
Forest. It is to be hoped that this often overlooked butterfly is making a comeback at last.
An unwelcome invader remains, however, at Walthamstow Forest. Gypsy Moths Lymantria dispar
were caught again in the pheromone traps put out during July and August. The results for 2000
showed the lowest number of adult males (5) caught so far in all traps. The trap in the SE corner of
Walthamstow Forest nearest to the A406 (North Circular) roundabout was the only trap in the Forest
to register a catch. This trap has now caught 5 of the 9 moths caught in the Forest between the years
1998 - 2000 inclusive. In the gardens nearby all adult males were trapped in one garden in Carnarvon
Road.
Unexpectedly, two pupae were found in an adjacent garden in the same road and these extra individuals
are given in parentheses in the table below. Again, as in 1999, no individuals were caught south of
the North Circular Road.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 18 (2001)
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