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Water levels in Wanstead Park
The City of London own four lakes at Wanstead Park. These lakes, along with one owned by our neighbours, comprise a five lake cascade that formed the centrepiece in one of England’s most significant gardens. Low water levels at two of the lakes at Wanstead Park have been a concern for some months.
Please see our water levels update for a full statement on the current situation. This statement was last updated on 28 June 2017.
Health concerns, warnings and tree diseases
There are currently some public health concerns and tree diseases present in Epping Forest which visitors should be aware of.
Ticks and Lyme Disease
Ticks are especially active this summer and are a health hazard to people and pets. See our advice on ticks for information on avoiding and treating ticks and Lyme Disease.
Oak Processionary Moth nests
Spraying to destroy two Oak Processionary Moth (OPM) nests found at Hollow Pond began on 8 June. For more information, read our news release and our dedicated Oak Processionary Moth page.
Blue-green algae at Wanstead Park
Blue Green Algae has been confirmed as present in Perch Pond in Wanstead Park.
Please do not go in the water or allow your dogs to go into the water at Perch Pond.
Contact your doctor or vet immediately if you or your dogs become unwell following exposure to the lake’s water. The Environment Agency is monitoring the condition of the water and this warning will remain in place at least until colder weather commences, after which the algal bloom would be expected to reduce to safe levels or die out.
Phytophthora ramorum
Regular tree health surveys have identified ramorum disease at its very earliest stage in rhododendron bushes in Epping Forest. The outbreak has been found at the Warren plantation in the north of the Forest near to Waltham Abbey. For more information, please see our ramorum disease page.
Ash dieback
This new disease, caused by a fungus, which was confirmed in the UK in February 2012. We have been actively monitoring groups of ash since and, finally, in June 2016, a sufficient suite of symptoms was observed in at least two areas to confirm the presence of ash dieback. This will have implications for the Forest for years to come. To find out more, please visit our ash dieback page.