Wednesday, 26 August 2015

SLM Digest 28-5-15

SAVE LEA MARSHES WEEKLY DIGEST 28 MAY 2015

This is the Weekly Digest of Save Lea Marshes.  We are an open group of local people concerned about keeping the marshes and green spaces of the Lea Valley Area for the current and future benefit of wildlife and local people.  For more information about our work, please see our website www.saveleamarshes.org.uk
Firstly, a correction relating to last week’s digest.  The LVRPA workshop meeting is on SATURDAY not Sunday 6 June at the Waterworks Centre, Lea Bridge Road E10.  The agenda will include the Art Project for the Lea Bridge Road underpass and Essex Wharf.  Thank you to sharp eyed readers!
GIANT HOGWEED – this year’s crop spotted growing in the Nature Reserve, north of the fig tree at Middlesex Filter beds – sparked off a lively, on-line debate about invasive species and the rights and duties of landowners under the Wildlife & Countryside Act.  Section S.14 of the Act states that:  “It is only unlawful to wilfully plan or ‘cause it to grow’ in the wild.  DEFRA give no explicit obligation to manage invasive species not introduced into your land by your own actions”.  Conversations also included other species that have appeared on the marshes such as Ragwort (injurious to horses), and broad-leaved and curled docks (which I’m sure, most of us have used to ward off the itch of a nettle).  Readers will remember that other invasive species, Japanese Knotweed, which has been given as one of the causes of delay in reopening the Lea Bridge Road station.

IN THE PRESS - “Private Eye” has two stories of interest in this week’s edition (29 May-11 June), on page 39 – “Flop failure” on doom-mongering that a plague of flea beetles will devastate the UK’s production of oil seed rape. The National Farmers’ Union has asked the government to be excused from the EU-wide ban on neonicotinoid pesticides. Despite similar claims last year, however, figures show that UK (and French, German and Polish) farmers produced a bumper crop.  (Bee lovers note that going against the ban, would be a double whammy for the bees, not only the pesticides but also oil seed rape itself, can be harmful to bees).  The second story on page 13 about the outgoing Mayor of London, (three jobs Johnson), ditching his involvement with two mayoral developments, one of being the previously ‘all important’ London Legacy Development Corporation and its controversial Olympic stadium football plans. www.private-eye.co.uk
In Waltham Forest this week – the www.walthamforestguarian-series.co.uk  web page has a report by Zoie O’Brien on fundraising for a legal challenge against the “Mini-Holland” bicycle scheme through Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone by a group called E17 Streets 4 All.  The objection is centred on a stretch of Walthamstow “village”.  There is also report on the latest news concerning the long-running campaign to restore the EMD cinema.
Over in Hackney, the “Hackney Gazette’s” front page story by Emma Bartholomew under the headline of “Horror over canal ‘spaceship’ plans, on the planning application to build a futureistic seven storey building off Orsman Road, opposite Kingsland Basin, which will result in the loss of residents homes, workplaces and be potentially damaging to local wildlife. www.hackneygazette.co.uk
Hackney Residents – should receive along with their regular mailing of “Hackney Today” – a questionnaire from the Council, inviting views about the way the borough is changing and how it is affecting you.  This is also on-line at https://consultation-hackney.gov.uk or
www.hackney.dialogue-app.com  Presumably this gets around the conundrum of one survey per household?

ON AIR – NuSound Radio 92 FM features a broadcast with Mike Knowles, author of the Kindle book on saving Walthamstow Marsh – listen at

EVENTS
Wednesday 3 June at 6.30 – Hackney Planning Committee – on the agenda is the report concerning the plans for the Hackney sports pavilion and associated car parks on North and East Marsh.  Open to the public to attend.  The public can also attend the Planning Enquiry starting on Tuesday 16 June at 10.00 at Stoke Newington Assembly Halls, 186 Stoke Newington Church Street N16, where SLM will be putting forward its case against the current proposals.
Saturday 30-Sunday 31 May from 2.00-6.00 p.m., Hedge Herbs will be taking part in “Gone Wild” at the Herbal Health Bar at the Dalston Eastern Curb Garden, 13 Dalston Lane, London E8 3DF – lots of workshops, art events etc., to enjoy.  Also n on Sunday 31 May, Hedge Herbs will be taking part at an Organic Lea open Day at 115 Hawkwood  Crescent, Chingford, London E4 7UH, on the edge of Epping Forest.  Further details on these and a host of other events contact Rasheeqa on 07784 506 494 also on Facebook and Twitter @TwitteringHedge
Saturday 30 May, 2.00-3.45 p.m. Horticultural Hackney Walk (free), retrace the footsteps of gardeners and nursery men from Shoreditch and Hoxton from Tudor times to the present day.  Among other events being promoted by www.chelseafringe.com
6-7 June and 13-14 June, next door to the William Morris Gallery, Forest Road, Walthamstow, work resulting from last year’s “Hidden Voices Event” (attended by some SLM members) about what influences people to get involved in social action).  Further details
Saturday 6 June 2.00 p.m. onwards (one of those days when lots of things are going on..), if you fancy a cycle around Waltham Forest , there is the “Beating and Bicycling the Bounds” event with four different routes on offer concluding at the Ferry Boat Inn late afternoon.  For further details go to the joint organisers Waltham Forest Cycling Campaign www.wfcycling.org.uk or Walthamstow Historical Society www.walthamstowhistoricalsociety.org.uk  or contact katya@kay-oss.com 
Wednesday 24th June from 6.30-10.00 Sustainable Hackney will be having its AGM and also a Green Fair with stalls at Dalston Curve Garden, Dalston Lane E8.  For information and to apply for a stall go to info@sustainablehackney.org.uk

Next SLM meeting will take place at 7.30 at the Prince of Wales pub, Lea Bridge Road.  All welcome.  

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