SLM WEEKLY DIGEST 20-11-14

There's joy and discontent this winter on the marsh... View this email in your browser

Let's start with this beauitful image of a heron taking flight after eating a fish. Captured and shared with us this week by one of our favourite photographers - Emma Cameron - who took one of the winning images in this year's calendar. SLM Weekly Digest Keep Our Marshes Open and Green! This is the Weekly Digest of Save Lea Marshes, an open group of local people who live in the Lea Valley area, wanting to keep the marshes and green spaces alive and thriving for wildlife and people now and in the future.  Find out more about our work via our website www.saveleamarshes.org.uk and help finance our work through our merchandising page, particularly the 2015 “What I Love About the Marshes” calendar. After a lull of not so much going on, there has been a sudden flurry of activity this week.  Here’s a selection of the happenings, developments and gleanings from email and other conversations this week... LVRPA VARIOUS - finally, we hear news of the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA) “having a scarf” – the long awaited scarifying of Leyton Marsh should be happening next week.  For those, not in the know, this is preparing the land for re-seeding, following the disastrous so called “re-instatement” after the Olympic Basketball fiasco. We have also heard from a local resident affected by the awful noise of the Ice Rink, that the noise prevention work should be completed by Xmas – just in time for some Silent Nights (sorry!). Over at the Waterworks it seems the empty extra paddock that has nary seen an ‘orse for a year is likely to stay – according to the LVRPA. The next ‘workshop’ meeting for locals to participate in and ask questions of the LVRPA is scheduled for some time in the New Year. AT CROSS RAILS – (1) We hear that Crossrail 2 after two consultation rounds is set to go to Dalston Junction via Angel, Seven Sisters and Tottenham – although some provision is also being made to possible incorporate Hackney Central into the system too.  To find out more about the consultation go to www.crossrail2@tfl.gov.uk or for further informationwww.crossrail2.co.uk  You may want to see how you might be affected as a resident or business person. (2) Meanwhile there were justifiably angry exchanges going on at the Waltham Forest Transport Liaison Meeting this week.  Firstly, regarding the length of time and the lack of proper research it has taken to get to where we are now and secondly about the access routes to the station.  There will be a Waltham Forest Lea Bridge Ward meeting at the Lea Bridge Library on Wednesday 3 December at Lea Bridge Library 6pm for 6.30pm – so another opportunity to put views across. FOUL AIR ABOUT CAR PARK PLANS – A new group in Hackney fighting air pollution, called ‘I Like Clean Air’, have just released results of their research into air quality in the borough; out of 55 locations in South Hackney, 26 breach EU limits on Nitrogen Dioxide. There have been 66 deaths in Hackney from air pollution this year alone:http://www.eastlondonlines.co.uk/2014/10/calls-to-tackle-hackney-air-pollution-after-66-deaths/ LETTER OF THE WEEK – Johnny Walker, Chairman of the Hackney & Leyton Football League, has put another one at the back of the net this week (Hackney Gazette p.14).  This week his ire is aimed at the Edible Park of Mabley Green.  Not a man of few words, Johnny says:  “I did hope at one time that we [user groups] could all work together but sadly its seems they want a war...”  Sadly, Johnny we think this is an own goal, we don’t want war and do want to work together, especially on getting all those pitches that were displaced to Mabley Green back on the (still) mysteriously fenced off East Marsh! BORIS’ GARDEN AIN’T NO PLACE FOR US COMMONERS – Boris’ plan for a Garden Bridge sound rather quaint and lovely. Until you look at the finer details – like the uprooting of 30 trees, the private nature of the space and the banning of cycles and protest (expect a Critical Mass if we’re paying for this folly, Boris). Read more here:http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2014/nov/19/londons-garden-bridge-the-public-park-where-groups-and-cyclists-arent-welcome EVENTS: Firstly, if you haven’t caught up on coverage (in today’s Guardian or the Hackney Gazette), the plight of the local New Era estate residents caught up in huge rent hikes and possible evictions before Christmas – do read.  It is a parable for our times.  If you want to take action in support of the residents there is a rally on the 24 November outside Parliament  at 3pm organised by GMB and a coalition of other groups. WINTER WALKS – (1) A winter walk to learn about natural remedies to fight of winter ailments will be happening on 13 December – meet either outside The Mill on Coppermill Lane at 10am or twenty minutes later at Coppermill Lane Car Park.  FREE. (2) Our friends at Hackney Tours have also got some interesting walks planned – this weekend at Hackney Wick and coming up in the weekend of 12/13 December a look at the “other side” of Queen Elizabeth Park.  Do go to the Tours page ofwww.hackneytours.com  and find out what delights await or go to Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/hackney.tours ABNEY PARK FUNDAY – Sunday 13 December from 11am - 3pm for fundraising frolics and see the SLM stall with sales of our calendar and other merchandise on sale, plus an opportunity to talk to SLM folk. I (Celia) will also be selling SLM calendars at the Mossbourne School Xmas Fair, near Hackney Downs, on Saturday from 12pm - 3pm as part of my business stall – Trashalamode. There’s a free Day School for activist groups on navigating the web to promote campaigning at beginning of New Year which you can register for now:http://peacenews.info/node/7821/weaving-our-own-web Next SLM meeting – 1st December at the Princess of Wales pub, Lea Bridge Road, E5 at 7.30.  All welcome.

Living landscapes, natural heritage and geology

Subject: FW: Free talk on Lea Valley heritage and Geodiversity

As you know, WF is being prioritised for HLF funding at present; this talk ties in with Joan Y's suggestion about applying for funding for a project on  historical pollen sampling, and could perhaps touch on my suggestions for 
heritage boundary trees replacement.  Although I suspect the talk will be quite wide-ranging and will cover the whole valley with emphasis on the Lower Lea.

Katy.


----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Sam Parry <Sam.Parry@Hackney.gov.uk>
To: Sam Parry <Sam.Parry@Hackney.gov.uk>
Sent: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 17:26:49 -0000 (GMT)
Subject: FW: Free talk on Geodiversity

A quick reminder that our next FREE biodiversity talk is coming up on December 1st at 7pm at the Hackney Marshes Centre. The talk is on "Living landscapes, natural heritage and geology."

The talk is by Alister Hayes, Living Landscape Manager (London Wildlife Trust), and will focus on the Lea Valley.

Places are limited, so please book your free talk now by contacting rvneste@wildlondon.org.uk or call 0208 802 4573.

Regards,

Sam Parry
Parks Development Manager
Health and Community Services
020 8356 4899
sam.parry@hackney.gov.uk
www.hackney.gov.uk
Hackney Council, 1 Hillman Street, E8 1DY

Winter Marsh Walk

A Winter Marsh Walk Saturday 13 December

Come walk the sere fields of Walthamstow marshes to seek out what rooty medicinal goodness is lying low in the earth, share knowledge about plant medicine remedies for the winter ailments and look forward to what's to come when the light returns...

Meet 10am in front of The Mill, 7-11 Coppermill Lane, Walthamstow E17 7HA 

or 

10:20 Coppermill Fields Car Park

Cost: Free

Energy: Fresh & cold!

Sustainable Green Infrastructure Conference

Hello,
As promised, please find below the link for you to access the video, slides & bonus content from The 2014 Sustainable Green Infrastructure Conference.
The team have been busy collating the materials and putting them all together under 1 easy to access resource for your benefit.
Click here
http://greensocialengineering.org/members/bonus-content/
 

Contents of the page above include the following presentations:

• Kirsten Henson – Opening Address
• Professor Paul Ekins – Green infrastructure for a green economy
• Professor Walter Distaso – Green infrastructure’s contribution to economic growth
• Professor Cedo Maksimovic – Planning for urban resilience & sustainability
• Dr Ambra Burls – Healthy Parks, Healthy People
• Dr Ian Mell – Financing Green Infrastructure in the UK in an era of competitive planning & fiscal austerity
• Jacques Soignon – To value a city with gardens
• Peter Massini – Greening a Green City
• Howard Wood – Sustainability & Budget Cuts in Green Space Management
• Rob Donald – Unlock the Secrets in the Soil
• Graham Duxbury – X Marks The Spot 
• Janet Pell – Wildflower’s Work
• Mike Wells – Green Infrastructure Good, Biodiverse Green Infrastructure Better
• Final panel Q&A & summary by Kirsten Henson

 
If you find the content useful then please talk about it & share with others. Similarly, if you have feedback or suggestions then please use the green link on the resource page to share your ideas.
Thank you again for your interest & support. The feedback has been very strong & we are already working together on next year's event.
 
Kind regards, on behalf of all the team
Tony Brophy
Chair of Trustees
www.GreenSocialEngineering.org

Draft Consultation

 

Park Development Framework

26th November 2014

Dear Consultees

Park Development Framework

Lee Valley Regional Park Act 1966 Section 14 Draft Area Proposals Consultation by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority on Draft Proposals for the Regional Park from

East India Dock Basin to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Area 1

Period of consultation 26 November 2014 to 21 January 2015

The Authority is in the process of preparing a suite of documents, the Park Development Framework (PDF), which will establish our aspirations and specific proposals for the future use and development of the Regional Park. 

The ‘Vision, Strategic Aims and Principles’ (July 2010) and the ‘Thematic Proposals’ (January 2011) set out development and management proposals on a broad Park-wide thematic basis and the Authority is now working to translate the thematic proposals onto area based maps in line with Section 14 of the Lee Valley Regional Park Act 1966 (the Park Act).  This will provide a set of specific area proposals covering the whole Park. 

This is a phased process with priority being given to areas where significant change within or adjacent to the Park is planned.  Once it has been completed it is intended that these area proposals will completely replace the Part Two Proposals of the Park Plan 2000.  In the interim where an area is updated it will specify which parts of the Park Plan 2000 it is replacing, the rest remaining in place.

For the local planning authorities in whose boundaries the Regional Park lies the importance of these proposals is that, once adopted by the Authority, section 14(2) of the Park Act requires their inclusion in their Local Plans or Local Development Frameworks. Their inclusion does not however imply approval of the local planning authority although clearly it is hoped that by reason of this process there will not be fundamental objection to them. It is anticipated that these proposals will be adopted for this particular area by April 2015.

The Authority has in place adopted Area Proposals for the section of the Park from Ruckholt Road/Hackney Marshes through to the M25/Rammey Marsh. We are now consulting on our proposals for the southern-most area of the Park from East India Dock Basin, adjacent to the River Thames, to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.  

We would like your views on the draft proposals for Area 1; these can be found on our web site via the following dedicated link:  www.leevalleypark.org.uk/go/consultation

The consultation runs from the 26^th November 2014 until the 21^st January 2015.  We hope that you are able to take this opportunity to comment on these important proposals for the future of the Regional Park. 

Comments are welcome by email to planning@leevalleypark.org.uk

Or by post to PDF Consultation, Myddelton House, Bulls Cross, Enfield, Middlesex EN2 9HG

Best Wishes

Stephen Wilkinson

Head of Planning and Strategic Partnerships

Data Protection

Responses to this consultation, including names (and supporting evidence), will be made public and may be used by the Committee as evidence in the scrutiny process, and may be published, unless respondents specifically request confidentiality.

Respondents should be aware that confidentiality cannot always be guaranteed. For example, responses, including personal information, may be subject to publication or release in accordance with the access to information regimes (primarily the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004).

Thoughts from the London Green Spaces Friends Groups Network

London Green Spaces Friends Groups Network (LFN)

The main topic of the meeting was Strengthening Friends Groups. Some good ideas came from the numerous reps from the London Boroughs. Here are some of the key points bearing in mind parks are not a statutory service:

It was felt most committees were made up of elderly members and they never changed, and many were inactive. Friends groups tend not to engage with other park user groups. How can this change as most groups are frustrated at being ineffective. Bring in the other groups with their agendas.

Work with commercial groups and make partnerships with Housing Associations etc. Make parks fun spaces. How do people know you exist? Build an activity day so that you do have something to say.

Don’t moan about lack of help the 10% rule is:

5,000 people – means 500 members – with 50 active and only 5 on the committee!

Friends groups should not just be a talking shops – good web site and use of social media for communicating. Organise a bat walk for Halloween when people are around rather than during the summer holidays when they are not. Use musicians to accompany bulb or tree planting – make it an event.

Be sure you are clear on your objectives – what’s the group for? And who are your providing it for? Set up sub groups for wildlife, community garden, parent/toddler group, art. Sign people up to get a commitment.

Concern was expressed about schools taking over parts of parks for their sports ground.

Get your park registered with the Fields in Trust – another level of protection. Get ready to lobby General Election candidates.

Fields in Trust

10/11/14

SLM WEEKLY DIGEST 6-11-14

A digest of the week's marshy goings on! View this email in your browser

SLM Weekly Digest Keep Our Marshes Open and Green! This is the Weekly Digest of Save Lea Marshes (SLM), a group of people who live in the Lea Valley area, concerned to keep the marshes and other local green spaces, open and green for wildlife and people. Just in time for Christmas, the What I Love About the Marshes calendar is now available via our website! The A3 calendar (A4 when folded) features all the winning photos from the competition in full colour, costs £4.99 and will be a stunning and useful addition to any home whilst helping to fund our work (all proceeds go to the campaign). You can see a sneak preview here, get yours quick as they are going like hot cakes! In the 'Shake'N'Mix' this week: STOKEY LOCAL FIGHT ON – at this Monday night’s meeting attended by 60 plus people, the vote was overwhelmingly to go on with the campaign and appeal against last week’s court decision, despite the financial cost.  Funds are urgently needed to meet court costs – so any donations welcome (and tell your friends).  However, the campaign is keen to raise funds by giving local people a good time to so is planning and open to ideas about events.  Further details go to www.stokeylocal.org.uk IN THE MEDIA – If you missed the excellent Shared Planet programme on Radio 4 this Tuesday morning, please go to the BBC iPlayer – there was an interesting item on beavers – including (veggie/ vegan alert!) they beaver can be discovered in “natural flavourings” used in strawberry flavours and ice cream (gulp!). Also featured was a very good debate regarding land costing and the environment – the pros and cons of putting a monetary value on our open spaces. In The Guardian on Monday 3.11, p.1 Science has spoken: UN call for action on climate – an official report makes clear that carbon emissions, mainly from burning coal, oil and gas, are currently rising to record levels, not falling; action is now critical. Also in The Guardian on Monday:  “Common birds losing out in Europe’s Conservation attempts; environmental impact fear as numbers fall by 420m.”  Tuesday’s Guardian quotes Environment Secretary Liz Truss saying that “Gardeners should let their grass go rogue to help save the bees..”  Hope the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority et al will take some notice instead of mowing the” bee-jeesus” out of the land. Meanwhile, Monday’s Evening Standard has an article on a project called Cody Wilds, which wants to put in a natural meadow in the Lower Lea Valley in the Canning Town/Bow area.  It awaits the results of funding from a “Grow Wild Competition”. We have asked if the re-wilding will involve any use of herbicides. LIGHT NOT FANTASTIC – SLM’s Halloween Bat Walk (complete with home-made bat costumes), was enjoyable but not very successful on the bat spotting front.  Unlike the butterflies, we felt that they may have got the message that the extraordinary warm weather was not really summer and had hibernated or it could have been the sheer amount of unnecessary background light that spills over from the Olympic site and other flood lighting that is putting them off.  However, we met some other interesting folk marking the traditional way of marking the winter in a Samhain festival on the filter beds... EVENTS Voluntary Action Waltham Forest is having its AGM on Thursday 27 November from 4-7 p.m. Included will be a workshop organised by the Young Foundation and in attendance will be Stella Creasy MP for Waltham Forest and local councillors.  All welcome but please RSVP to Barbara@voluntaryaction-wf.org.uk if you want to attend. London’s Friends Groups (LFGN) are meeting on Monday 10 November from 6-8 p.m.at Committee Room 2, City Hall (by cafe), Queen’s Walk.  The main topic will be “Buiding strong friends and users groups”.  All welcome.             There will be another Urban Harvest Walk, guided by Joan Yeadon on Saturday 15 November.  Meet by the Riverbank Cafe, Spring Hill at 1pm or Coppermill Lane Car Park at 1.15pm: walk around the Coppermill Fields and back around 4.00 to the same place or to another cafe (cafe will be closed by 4.00). Details from Joan on 07908398905.  She would love any recommendations on nearby cafes open on Sunday afternoons. 2015 World Wetlands Day is being planned – to see how you could get involved or help support this go to www.ramsar.org Next SLM Meeting – following last week’s Quiz (SLM’s team came second losing by four annoying points!), we will be back at the Princess of Wales on Monday 17 November at 7.30 for our normal meeting.  Newcomers and old friends welcome. Facebook Twitter Website

Copyright © 2014 Save Lea Marshes, All rights reserved. You signed up for this email by contacting us directly or ticking a sign up sheet on a petition. Our mailing address is: Save Lea Marshes c/o The Hornbeam Centre 458 Hoe St Walthamstow, London E17 9AH United Kingdom Add us to your address book

Online Trails

Create an online trail/walk for your green space - exciting, easy and free!The trails, and how to create one, are explained in this Step-by-Step Guide: 
http://www.natfedparks.org.uk/create-a-trail.html

Many groups have been thinking about creating trails and walk guides for their green space. Well, now all groups can do them!  Park users can access any trail through a mobile phone whilst walking there - via a free phone App. They can also enjoy any of the trails created by others from all over the country, and even view them on their pc if they wish. .. You can do one or more trails to highlight your trees, facilities, landscape and heritage features, or for a treasure hunt! 

The National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces has partnered with TiCL Media Ltd to ensure that every local Friends Group can create such trails easily and free. See all about the trails here: https://ticl.me/trails    Download the free App here: https://ticl.me/ticlapp 

The advantages to your group include: 

- the content is under your control and editable whenever you choose
- it's the same App for ALL Friends Groups, ensuring that members of the public can access trails in their favourite parks via the same app.
- although one App - it can be branded locally by individual Friends Groups
- you don't have to pay for it or pay for its maintenance - TiCL do it
- by incorporating your own weblinks your trail integrates with and adds value to what you're already doing
- it's fun and allows possibility of games, treasurehunts, geocaching etc... 'gamification' encourages participation.
- it's easy to do

The trails, and how to create one, are explained in this special Step-by-Step Guide for Friends Groups: http://www.natfedparks.org.uk/create-a-trail.html 

So why not create one this week?! And then publicise it to your members and local communities for them to access and enjoy...

best wishes

Dave Morris and Sarah Royal
National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces
c/o vice-chair@natfedparks.org.uk 

Funding the LVRPA

Raz Razzy has left a new comment on your post "Protect our Green Spaces":

As a Merton resident, I don't believe Merton council are justified in building on Dundonald Park or for cutting sports facilities provided to those local residents,HOWEVER, I do believe Merton would be in a stronger position to avoid this sort of cost cutting measure and develop another site; if we, and all the other residents of Greater London Boroughs didn't have to pay hundreds and thousands of pounds of OUR council tax, year on YEAR to Lea Valley. A park which is too far away and with which residents feel no connection whatsoever, and reap few benefits. We need to spend OUR revenue on redeveloping our own parks and areas. The Lea Valley tax is well overdue to be abolished. 

SLM WEEKLY DIGEST - 30-10-14

SLM WEEKLY DIGEST 30 OCTOBER 2014

This is the weekly digest of the Save Lea Marshes Campaign.  We are a group of people living in the Lea Valley area concerned that the lovely green marshlands and spaces that we enjoy are maintained and kept for future generations of wildlife and people to enjoy.  To find about more about our work, current activities and buy our fundraising merchandise go to http://www.saveleamarshes.org.uk/

Although we are in the season of merry fruitfulness and Halloween ghoulishness, the weather is unusually warm and I have seen two tortoiseshell butterflies on separate occasions this week.  Here’s a round-up of current stories and internet discussion ...

SPOOKY NO SHOW FOR PAVILION REPORT – SLM were expecting that Hackney Council might have put a report up on the Hackney Marsh North Pavilion plans for its November Planning Committee.  It is not on the next agenda, so we wait and continue to work on our arguments.

TOMBS-DAY? – I am greatly saddened to report that the Stokey Local Campaign’s case taken to the High Court against the building development set to overshadow Abney Park Cemetery, in Hackney, has been given the “thumbs down” by the judge Mrs (in) Justice Paterson in her written judgement last Friday on both grounds of challenge to the development scheme.  You can read the full ghoulish story in this week’s Hackney Gazette on p.2.  However, I do want to draw your attention to the shortfall in legal costs, that the group have incurred and really need some support on – to donate go towww.stokeylocal.org.uk.  There is also a meeting on Monday 3 November at 7. P.m. at St.Paul’s Church, West Hackney in Stoke Newington Road, to discuss the ruling. 

BACK OF A BOX IDEA – also featured on p.2 of Hackney Gazette is a story about Hackney Council in partnership with the Charity Groundwork, putting up giant white cubes in local parks (Hoxton Square, Mark Street Gardens and Hackney Road Recreation Ground), for people who live and work near Hackney Parks to have their say on how these spaces could be re-imagined.  The idea is that you write your suggestions on the cubes.  Hmmn. This could be a good idea but could also be another way to make money out of local parks – suggest we get to these parks and scribble about keeping parks as spaces for nature and places of quiet and exercise for local people...  You can also email your thoughts topackhack@groundwork.org.uk or tweet with the hashtag #parkhack.  Oh, and this has been funded with a £90,000 grant from Nesta.

HERBICIDE WATCH – this week’s Waltham Forest Guardian has a story about herbicide use leaking into someone’s garden see

 www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/wfnews/11566579.Train-track-herbicide-leaked-into-garden/

HAVE YOUR SAY 1. – our friends at Sustainable Hackney have drawn up a draft response (following the recent “Big Green Pow Wow), to Hackney’s Transport Plans.  There is still time to make any points either email viainfo@sustainablehackney.co.uk or go to the survey on the website http://sustainablehackney.org.uk/?xgsource=msg  2. If you live in the Waltham Forest area, the local Friends of the Earth group want to hear from you about what green issues you would like followed up e.g. solar panels in schools or more natural green spaces.  You can sign up for their newsletter on their website http://www.foeuk/groups/walthamforest

EVENTS

Bit short on news of events this week but if you would like to join us on our Halloween “We’re Batting for Hackney”, Bat Walk (fancy dress as a bat optional) on Friday 31 October, we’ll be gathering at about 7.30 at the Old Sports Pavilion on Hackney North Marsh (near the Cow Bridge), and probably going in the direction of the Waterworks Centre to start off with.  Bring binoculars if you have any.  We are aiming to see how many species of bat we can see.

Next SLM meeting – we’ll be having a quick discussion and then taking part in the Monday night quiz at the Crooked Billet in Upper Clapton Road, from 7.30, to raise funds for our campaign coffers.

Greater London Park

Become a Founder of the Greater London National Park #GLNPhttp://www.greaterlondonnationalpark.org.uk
Campaign update27 Oct 2014 ­ Hello,

Our campaign continues to make good progress! 

Let’s turn London into the world’s first National Park City. Sign this petition to become a founder of this new kind of National Park.
A Greater London National Park has the very potential to improve health, quality of life, education, prosperity, biodiversity, recreation, liveability, resilience, planning and design across the capital. It would allow for new thinking, solutions and opportunities, with the power to transform how we look after London’s environment, educate our children, design our gardens and much, much more.

London is an incredibly diverse place. 8.3 million humans speaking 300 languages share the city with 13,000 wild species as well as lots of cats and dogs. You may be excused of thinking there was not much space for all these Londoners, but 60% of London is open land and 47% of Greater London is green. As well as the 3,000 parks, 142 local nature reserves, 36 sites of special scientific interest, 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 2 National Nature Reserves within the city’s limits, there are 3.8 million private gardens. For its size, London is one of the very greenest cities in the world – something to celebrate.

Recruit your BoroughAre you in London? Can you recruit the support of your ward or council? Kingston Council and Northfields Ward are showing their support and they are the only ones we have properly asked. Councils asking for a report into the costs, benefits and options for a Greater London National Park creates precisely the kind of powerful support we need, so please do ask. For more details see http://bit.ly/1wCp5zU. 

Campaign meetingWe having a campaign meeting in Holborn on Wednesday evening. Come if you can. Full details are athttp://bit.ly/1FQmSXK. 

Reimagine London at City HallVisit the cafe in City Hall this week and you will be invited to reimagine London as a National Park. The Reimagine London exhibition includes 1,584 photos that were taken across all of the capital's 33 municipalities by 132 students from the School of Geography, Queen Mary University of London . For full details visit http://bit.ly/1xvC2f1. 

Are you at UCL?If you are a postgraduate at UCL or work with someone who is, take a look at the new Institute for Global Prosperity Challenge on how a Greater London National Park could influence prosperity. See http://bit.ly/ZTxMLc for details and how you could win £1,000 and the opportunity to co-author a report.

Do you blog or tweet?Please help to make some noise and raise the profile of our campaign by telling people about it. 80 organisations are now Friends of the campaign, but we could do with lots more names on this petition. Can you help?

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this update and for your support.

Have a great week!

Daniel
@DanRavenEllison
#GLNP
@LondonNP
http://www.greaterlondonnationalpark.org.uk/get-involved/help/