Geology Site Account

Site of geological interest with potential for promotion of geology. The geology revealed by any significant excavations in the wood should be recorded.

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Site description

Larks Wood is an ancient, former coppice woodland covering two adjacent hills of London Clay. The northern hill is capped by a patch of what is known as Woodford Gravel, the origin of which is not entirely clear. The proportion of angular and rounded flint, and in particular of other rock types such as Lower Greensand chert from The Weald, indicate that it was deposited by a northward-flowing river. This theory is supported by the fact that there are other patches of Woodford Gravel in the vicinity (see also Knighton Wood) and they decline in elevation northwards. It therefore appears that the Woodford Gravel was deposited by a river flowing from what is now the Weald of Surrey northwards across East London to join the Thames which at that time flowed across north Essex and Suffolk. When this river was in existence is very difficult to determine but it was probably over 700,000 years ago.

Larks Wood is owned by Waltham Forest Council and is accessible at all times.