Walthamstow Marshes

Walthamstow Marshes is a wetland protected area spanning open floodplain grasslands and reed swamps along the River Lea in East London. Walking through the site, you encounter sedge marshes, scattered vegetation, and water channels that create a natural landscape shaped by seasonal flooding.

Medieval residents used these marshes as lammas land, where they could graze cattle and cut hay during designated seasons. This traditional land use shaped the area into the river valley ecosystem that exists today.

The Split Leaf sculpture at the entrance, created through collaboration between artist Jon Mills and local students, represents community involvement in 2003.

Several walking paths connect across the site and link to nearby public transportation stations along Lea Bridge Road. The terrain and pathways are straightforward for visitors to navigate on foot.

The site supports Essex skipper butterflies through specific plant communities found here, representing some of London's last surviving natural floodplain ecosystems. These insects depend on the grasses and wetland plants that thrive in this seasonal flooding landscape.

Location: London Borough of Waltham Forest

GPS coordinates: 51.57060,-0.04986

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:47