Hall Marsh Scrape and Bowyers WaterHall Marsh scrape is situated off the A121 between Waltham Abbey and Waltham Cross. Please note, access has changed:- Prior to the work now being carried out on site for the proposed Olympic Games venue, access was from the LVRPA Highbridge Street and Showground car park, (the nearest postcade for this site is EN9 1AB.) However, this car park & access will be closed from May 2009 to enable the work to be continued. Access can be obtained via Fishers Green Lane, off B194, parking at the Hooks Marsh car park, and walking along the channel, along Walton Way, to reach the scrape. Alternatively, park at the main Fishers Green car park and walk around 70 Acres lake to the channel and then to Hall Marsh.
This area is of shallow water with shingle islands. Recently the area has been re-profiled, to allow water levels to be controlled easily by the LVRPA. There is a viewing screen and an open-backed hide.
Little ringed plovers arrive each spring, to raise their chicks on the shingle islands. In summer hobbies are seen flying over the water, and the area is popular with many ducks and gulls. There is a heronry near by and later in the year young herons can be seen fishing here. In Autumn, other seasonal visitors are lapwing, teal, shoveler and wigeon. Pintail have also been seen the past few winters here. Garganey were seen here in Autumn 2005, also greenshank and green sandpiper. Cettis warblers nest nearby, and can be heard at times from the viewing screen.
The area has good paths, suitable for wheelchairs.
Bowyer Water:
This is one of the oldest pits in the area and it is very shallow in parts. During the winter large numbers of ducks and gulls can be seen here most days, there is a new viewing platform. There is an orchid area alongside, well worth a visit. In 2009, a barn owl was seen hunting over this area.
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