Sharpes

Highams Park Boating Lake

Highams Park · 3.1 miles

The lake, created in the early 19th century when landscape gardener Humphry Repton redirected the River Ching, forms the water-centre of Highams Park in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. Repton’s 1793 plan turned a flood-prone site into the present lake, which later became part of the grounds of the Manor of Highams – a house built in 1768 and subsequently used as a Crimean-War hospital before becoming Woodford County High School for Girls. The water feature was opened to the public in the late 19th century and now lies within the larger parkland that borders Woodford Green and the Highams Estate. Boating has been a long-standing activity on the lake, with an “old boathouse” serving the community for more than a century. The building is currently leased from the Corporation of London by the Waltham Forest South District Scouts, who have restored it for use by local sailing clubs. Historically the lake hosted child-size Flies built by club owner Ken Ford and larger yachts such as the Moth IV; a 1970s appearance on the BBC programme *Blue Peter* highlighted a large yacht being lifted from the boathouse for a sea transfer. Recent engineering reports have classified the lake as a Category A reservoir, prompting plans to raise the dam while preserving Repton’s landscape design. The lake is identified on OpenStreetMap as a natural water feature near the Highams Park neighbourhood, and can be reached on foot from the surrounding residential area. As a public amenity, it does not require an admission charge, and the adjacent park provides open access for walkers and visitors.

Chigwell Row Wood

Chigwell Row · 3.1 miles

Chigwell Row Wood is a 14.1 hectare Local Nature Reserve in Chigwell in Epping Forest district, Essex. It is owned by The Chigwell Row Recreation Ground Charity, of which the district council are the trustees, and managed by council staff and volunteers.

Tottenham Marshes

Upper Edmonton · 5.6 miles

Covering more than 100 acres, the Tottenham Marshes lie in the London Borough of Haringey, close to Upper Edmonton. Managed by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, the site forms part of the wider Lee Valley Park network and is split into three sections – Clendish Marsh, Wild Marsh West and Wild Marsh East – the latter two being divided by the River Lea. The area is recognised as one of the few remaining examples of semi-natural wetland within Greater London. A mixture of neutral grassland, sedge marsh, reed swamp, sallow scrub and tall-herb vegetation creates a varied habitat that supports plant species such as wall bedstraw, yellow vetchling, bee orchid and Babington’s poppy. Invertebrate and bird life includes the brown argus butterfly, skylark and short-eared owl, species that are relatively uncommon in the capital. Historically the marshes originated as a flood plain of the River Lea. Between the 1860s and the 1930s the site accommodated recreational facilities including tennis courts and a swimming area. Post-World War II, from 1946 to 1960, the land was used for gravel extraction and landfill, and in the late-19th century the River Lea was diverted to allow construction of part of the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain, bisecting Wild Marsh East. Tottenham Hotspur Football Club first played there in 1882. The Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, established by an Act of Parliament in 1965, purchased the marshes in 1972, securing their present status as a public park.

High Maynard Reservoir

Walthamstow · 5.6 miles

A notable component of the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain, High Maynard Reservoir lies in the Walthamstow area of the London Borough of Waltham Forest. The water body, classified as a lake on mapping services, forms part of the drinking-water supply network for London and is managed by Thames Water. The reservoir occupies former marshland that was developed after the East London Waterworks Company received permission in 1852; the first three reservoirs were finished by 1863 and the High Maynard scheme reached completion in 1870. Designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, the reservoir supports winter roosts of cormorants whose numbers attain nationally important levels, while the surrounding margins host plant species that are uncommon within Greater London. Public access is permitted, making the site a regular destination for birdwatchers, walkers and anglers who wish to observe the wildlife or enjoy the waterside paths. No admission charge or specific facilities are mentioned in the available material, and the area is reachable from Walthamstow, the nearest town identified on mapping data. As a component of the broader London water-supply infrastructure, the reservoir combines functional importance with opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Walthamstow Wetlands

Seven Sisters · 6.2 miles

Walthamstow Wetlands is a 211-hectare nature reserve in Walthamstow, east London, adjacent to the River Lea in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is focused on the Walthamstow Reservoirs, built by the East London Waterworks Company between 1853 and 1904 as part of the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain. The site is one of the largest urban wetland nature reserves in Europe and is particularly important for wildlife due to its position within the Lee Valley. It serves as a byway for migrating, wintering and breeding birds. Visitors can freely access the site's natural, industrial and social heritage in one of the capital's most densely populated urban areas.

Warwick Reservoir East

Waltham Forest · 6.8 miles

East Warwick Reservoir is located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest at Walthamstow. The storage reservoir is part of the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain and supplies drinking water to London. The reservoir is owned by Thames Water.