An abundance of flowers and dragonflies

2:06pm Friday 10th June 2005

Len Banister goes in search of orchids on the River Lea

Seek out works of art in miniature and experience the rich diversity the Lea Valley Park has on offer at this time of the year.

The focus for this walk is the site of an old gravel pit infilled with ash from local coal-powered power stations.

If this sounds pretty uninteresting you might be persuaded to have a look if you realised that the alkaline environment favours the growth of at least four kinds of orchids which are seen in their thousands during the first two weeks of June.

These wild orchids are perfect miniatures of those glorious single flowers which are used as gifts for special occasions.

For some, the orchids may be an acquired taste but there are plenty of other things to see in the Lee Valley Park at this time of the year. The young of the wild fowl are past the miniature stage but are still inexperienced enough to have to rely on their parents thus you will see signets, ducklings, goslings and particularly noisy young coots.

Other flowers in full display at this time are: the common comfrey; dog roses; and red and white water-lilies.

As if this abundance wasn't enough, you should also see a range of brightly coloured dragonflies.

Click here for map.

1. Start

Walk up to the back of the car park and turn left along the towpath by the River Lee Navigation. (Over to your left you will probably see young canoeists receiving instruction on Cheshunt Lake beyond there is a strangely shaped climbing wall.) Just before you reach a bridge, walk up the bank and turn left to walk along a surfaced path between lakes.

2. 0.6 miles/1km

At the end of the lakes turn right to keep forward passing two bridges on your left to pass under power lines, ignoring the turning to Fisher's Green on the right. Keep on this sandy path, ignoring all side paths and passing another bridge on the left. Eventually you swing to the right to reach a T-junction.

3. 1.5 miles/2.9km

Turn right you are once again walking along the bank of the canal passing the ruins of one bridge and passing under a wooden one. Pass Cheshunt Lock and, about 50 metres further on, go right through a gate onto a raised walkway which takes you on a tour of the orchid area.

4. 2 miles/3.2km Emerge through another gate and turn right. Walk along the wide lakeside path which eventually curves right to join a surfaced track coming in from the left (from a bridge).

5. 2.4 miles/3.8km

Cross a bridge and turn left. Where the path forks go right to arrive at a car park which you walk through to the road. Cheshunt Station is to your right. Turn left to walk down to Pindar car park.

Walker's notebook

Starting Point / Parking: Cheshunt Station or the Pindar car park of the Lea Valley Park.

The latter is reached by taking a turning, Windmill Lane off the B176 north of Waltham Cross Distance: 3 miles/5km

Time: 2 hours

Terrain: mostly good paths, many surfaced and adequate for push chairs and wheel chairs

Stiles: none

Near: Cheshunt

Refreshments: there is a cluster of three pubs just beyond Cheshunt Station

Public Toilets: at the start

Public Transport: Cheshunt Station is on the Tottenham Hale to Bishops Stortford Line and trains run every half hour

Map and Grid Reference: Explorer 174:367023

More Information: You can obtain a useful map of the area from Waltham Abbey to Broxbourne free by contacting the Lee Valley Park Information Service on 01992 702200. West Essex Ramblers: memberships and free programme of walks with leaders: 020 8524 2737 (Redbridge Group: 01708 456 771 and Lea Valley Friends who specialise in walks of 3 to 4 miles: 020 8529 7328).