This site is made up of two distinct areas. The Fairlop Waters Country Park is a restored gravel extraction pit, including two lakes, areas of rough grassland and a golf course. To the east of this lies the larger expanse of Fairlop Plain, which is chiefly arable land. The whole site is particularly important for its birds, as well as other animals.Redbridge Walk to Health Initiative uses this site a Walking the Way to Health (WHI) scheme; see link for details.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Fairlop Plain and Fairlop Water
Borough: Redbridge
Grade: Borough Grade I
Access: Free public access (part of site)
Area: 595.45 ha
Description
Wildlife
The Country Park area supports nesting sand martin and little ringed plover. The lakes themselves support waterfowl including substantial numbers of diving ducks in winter.Fairlop Plain is important for nationally declining farmland birds, including breeding yellowhammer and skylark, as well as 12-15 pairs of corn buntings. This is the largest remaining corn bunting colony in London. In the winter, the regular flock of more than 1000 golden plovers on the site is of regional importance.The site also supports one of London's very few remaining populations of brown hares, another declining species in the UK.Facilities
Car parking; refreshments, fishing.
Brown hare © Andy Fisher
Corn bunting © P N Watts/English Nature
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