Cornmill Meadows - Waltham Abbey, Essex, UK - Flora and Fauna Information Signs on Waymarking.com

The following extracts are taken from the information table that has many illustrations and map:

Cornmill Meadows

Dragonfly Sancutuary
Cornmill Meadows consists of seasonally flooded grassland, ditches, ponds, streams, woodland and hay meadows. It has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and over half the UK species of Dragonfly have been recorded here.

Pools
Shallow pools with muddy edges and tufts of vegetation provide and ideal habitat for many Dragonflies. Watch out for Black-tailed Skimmers zipping low across the water. Later in the summer Common Darters fly in tandem as the female lays her eggs into the water.

Ditches
A large number of ditches criss-cross the meadows. Their almost still waters lined with plants provide fantastic habitats and act as corridors along which Dragonflies hunt. Look out for Hairy Dragonflies, with their downy bodies. settled on vegetation or Ruddy Darters warming up in the sun on neatrby fence posts.

Ponds
The nymphs of many Dragonflies live in ponds. Above water the adults hunt from perches on surrounding vegetation. Broad-bodies Chasers hunt low over the water and you might also catch a glimpse of an Emerald Darnsefly lurking amongst bank-side plants.

The Lee Valley website tells us about Cornmill Meadows:

Cornmill Meadows is one of the best examples of semi-natural floodplain grassland remaining in the park. The mosaic of rivers, ditches and pools make this a fantastic place to see a variety of wildlife throughout the year. Hay meadows, woodland and a network of glades and rides can be found in the adjacent tree park.

Spring and autumn are excellent times to visit to see waders passing through the valley, with the possibility of interesting species such as Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit as well as Redshank and Common and Green Sandpiper.

Summer provides one of the best places in the region to see dragonflies, with over half the UK species found here, notably the White-legged Damselfly and Hairy Dragonfly. In late summer the woodland glades can be worth scouting on a fine evening for large numbers of Migrant Hawker Dragonfly. Follow the circular Dragonfly Discovery Trail which takes in a variety of habitats.

In winter there are magnificent views of large flocks of Wigeon and Teal. These are regularly joined by flocks of hundreds of Lapwing and Golden Plover.

A walk along the rivers and streams is interesting at any time of year. Look out for Kingfisher or dragonflies. The Banded Demoiselle is particularly striking.

No visit is complete without stopping at the Wake Hide to view the pools. Good numbers of Teal and waders can be seen in winter, whilst in summer Hobby hunt dragonflies overhead. You may even be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a Water Vole or hear the distinctive ‘plop’ as it dives into the water.