Walthamstow Wetlands
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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 Location within Greater London
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| Area of Search | Greater London |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | TQ350893 |
| Coordinates | 51°35′11″N 0°03′08″W / 51.586350°N 0.052353°WCoordinates: 51°35′11″N 0°03′08″W / 51.586350°N 0.052353°W |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 211 hectares (520 acres) |
| Location map | Magic Map |
| Natural England website | |
Walthamstow Wetlands is a 211 ha (520 acres; 2.11 km2) nature reserve, currently under development at Walthamstow Reservoirs, in north east London. Due to open in 2017, the site is particularly important for wildlife due to its position within the Lee Valley; a byway for migrating, wintering and breeding birds in the Greater London area.The site is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and once completed will be one of the largest urban wetland nature reserves in Europe. Visitors will be able to freely access the site’s unique natural, industrial and social heritage in one of the capital’s most diverse and densely populated urban areas.
The reservoirs, under the ownership of Thames Water, also form part of a larger Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation, noted for the mixture of aquatic and terrestrial habitats on site, and for their London-wide importance (especially for birds).
The Walthamstow Wetlands project is being delivered by London Wildlife Trust, in partnership with Thames Water and London Borough of Waltham Forest. The project was made possible after the Heritage Lottery Fund provided £4.4 million in funding. In total Walthamstow Wetlands has a value of £8m from capital works and revenue funding over five years, with Thames Water committing £1.84m to the project.
The Greater London Authority have also funded the Wetlands to Wetlands Greenway, improving the 3 km (1.9 mi) cycle links between Woodberry Wetlands in Manor House and Walthamstow Wetlands to encourage visitors to visit both sites.
The Walthamstow Reservoirs complex consists of ten operational reservoirs which are owned and managed by Thames Water. The reservoirs were built over fifty years between 1853 and 1904 by the East London Waterworks Company, growing in scale and height as the needs of the London grew.
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