Hainault Forest Website

100 years of Hainault Lake

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     Wildfowl find a small area of open water. © Adam Locke Jan. 2010                                 Frozen lake looking southwards  March 2009

Part of a large cloth map of London County Council's planting plans for the lake dated 25th July 1910. Some of the trees still exist. Abele or Abele poplars are White poplars Populus alba, Poplar tremula refers to the Aspen P. tremula, Huntingdon willows are White willows Salix alba, Black Italian refers to

Hybrid poplars P. x canadensis. These were not planted and Black (water) poplars P. nigra ssp betulifolia substituted

Map Rubber stamp

London County Council 25th July 1910

 

 

Left: Photo of Lake circa 1920-25 showing the planting established. The field immediately behind the lake is one of the Lords Pond fields, and beyond that behind a distant hedge is Lockwood's Land. These fields demonstrate the openness of the area which prior to 1906 was part of Foxburrows Farm.

 

Below left: Detail of the photograph.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                       The Lake, Hainault Forest.

 Two boys in school caps and short trousers. Possibly 1940's

The Lake, Hainault Forest, Chigwell Row.

The tower of All Saints can be seen in the background of open fields.

A man stands at the outflow of the lake and is enlarged here. The Lake and planting was completed in 1910 so that the picture could date about 1920-5

Could this be the Ice Cream seller or Hokey Pokey man?

Several Black (Water) Poplars Populus nigra ssp betulifolia were planted by the outfall and on the mounds at the northern end of the lake. Pictured left are a group of Black (Water) poplars photographed on 6th February 2005 by the outfall. Now (2010) 100 years old. A couple of the trees fell about 10 years ago.

The bole of the tree above shows "bosses" which are characteristic of this species.

Lads fishing 1972 Photo from the GLC magazine Newsleaf 20 May 1972.                                        Swan family 1969

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Left: Coltsfoot by the lake 31st March 2006.

 

Above: Golden willows on the island in winter 2006/7.

 

Below left: Cormorants drying off January 2005.

 

Below right: Heron on willow 10th February 20007.

Two plant specialties by the lake: Sea club-rush Bolboschoenus maritimus 12th June 2005 and Wild celery Apium graveolens 31st May 2007, both normally found in brackish coastal areas and uncommon inland..

Hainault Lake from Hog Hill 12th July 2005

The Lake February 1984.  Notice the Football pitches in the background

The Lake February 1969. Notice the goal posts.