SLM Digest 8-4-16

Save Lea Marshes is an open group of  local people concerned to keep the marshes and green spaces of the Lea Valley open and green for wildlife and local people.  For further information go to www.saveleamarshes.org.uk   View this email in your browser

A horrible sight shared by @deedeelea on Twitter this week - an oil tank ruptured, discharging 5,000 litres of diesel into the already polluted river Lea at Tottenham. SLM Weekly Digest Keep Our Marshes Open and Green!  This is the Weekly Digest of Save Lea Marshes.  We are an open group of people living in the Lea Valley Area keen to protect the marshes and green spaces of the Lea Valley for wildlife to survive and thrive and for local people to enjoy now and for generations to come.  To find out more about our work go to www.saveleamarshes.org.uk   DIRTY DIESEL – Neighbours have been left “extremely sad’ after an oil tank ruptured and spilt 5k litres of diesel into the River Lea near Markfield Park, which spread 2 kilometres to Tottenham Weir.  The Environment Agency (EA) and Thames Water are dealing with the clean up which is likely to be toxic all kinds of wildlife on the river. More on the story here THERE MAY BE RUBBLE AHEAD – an SLM member has just updated on the “mash-up” of vegetation that is happening on the Lea Bridge Road section of the Waltham Forest Mini Holland Scheme – already running behind schedule.  More trees cut down, vegetation trashed and lots of rubble .. no thought for the wildlife that thrive in habitat that some might not regard as tidy but acts as an important breeding ground and link to wider landscape.  Here’s just one photo courtesy of the photographer. KNOW THY TWITTERNS FROM THY BYWAYS?  Rights of Way, have not been fully mapped in Waltham Forest and as a new law which requires them being mapped by 2026 or lost forever has been introduced, local people are taking action.  A meeting has been organised for this coming Wednesday 13 April from 6.30-7.30 p.m. in the garden of the Nag’s Head, Orford Road, Waltham Forest to discuss the mapping process and make a start on some of the nearby byways and passage ways. A group of volunteers will be formed to take a grid, walk and map it and then add to a whole picture.  Even if you can’t do a lot, every little will help.  If you like the idea and want to come along to the meeting or offer help contact Abi: abigail.woodman@btinternet.com SURVEY -  Friends of the London Green Spaces Friends Groups have alerted SLM to a report on the state of UK Public Parks  compiled  in 2014 from a survey of Friends and local community groups involved with their local parks.  A new survey is now being carried out.  If you are a member of a local friends group please go to: https://www.snapsurveys.com/wh/s.asp?k=145856072517 FUNDING – also of interest to friends of parks and other community groups - The City of London Growing Localities scheme is offering £5k awards to projects based in any London borough, where people are using growing or green space to help improve their communities.  For details see: www.lemosandcrane.co.uk SUTTON LANDS – CPRE London have informed us of their petition to try and stop Sutton Council from building on 10 protected Green Belt and MOL lands in the area – of local and London-wide importance.  The closing date is 8 April but if this reaches you after this date it might be worth lobbing something in over the weekend just in case atplanningpolicy@sutton.gov.uk  Please find further details on the CPRE websitewww.cprelondon.org.uk ICE-SAY AGAIN -  A reminder about the upcoming opportunities to have your say about the Lea Valley Regional Park Authority’s proposals for a two-pad ice rink.  The meetings are: Wednesday 27 April 5 - 6pm  (primarily for Ice Centre users)   7 - 8pm for others at the Lee Valley Ice Centre on Lea Bridge Road Saturday 30 April 10.30-11.30am for Ice Centre Users at the Ice Centre 1.00-3.30pm at the Waterworks Centre, Lea Bridge Road for local people and community groups. This has been added on to the Workshop Meeting which will discuss other issues concerning the Lea Valley and LVRPA management. IN THE PRESS – The Waltham Forest Guardian features news that Jubilee Park in Ongar will be holding organised family fun day events every Friday in the summer. The Waltham Forest Echo – the area’s up and coming independent newspaper features an article on p.5 about the transformation of the Lea Bridge Road area and other interesting local stories.  www.walthamforestecho.co.uk  In Hackney www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news :  69 flats planned for site of ‘free school’ where a former fire station set to become new primary, p.9; Hackney Council wins top award from the Local Government Chronicle panel said “the council had shown areas of high deprivation can also be areas of high achievement and praised it for its commitment to the community renewing public infrastructure, securing a legacy from 2012 and improving education”. Also, p.9. Letters Page has a letter  calling on support to block the new Housing and Planning Bill email brandon.lewis@communities.gsi.gov.uk  and on the Property Page an advertisement for “Clissold Quarter” with a photo of “Lego-like” blocks that will be overlooking Clissold Park  Hackney Gazette 7 April,www.hackneygazette.co.uk/property Nationally: Pollution alert as heat-wave hits UK (last weekend)  - an ‘agricultural smog of toxic farm chemicals from Europe.. Sunday Times 3 April, www.sundaytimes.co.uk/news pp.1-2; Battle begins to stop Thames becoming ‘skyscraper canyon’ and another story about Bigger Gatwick ‘threatens re-wilding' p.16 and Hackney’s in a bit of a state; three flags put up spelling Hackney – Is - Fashion in the new fashion district of Hackney where locals viewed the one bearing IS with some suspicion.. Focus p.21. The Guardian 5 April p.17 Climate change will be worse than polio, says US health study, which includes the estimated numbers of heat-related deaths will increase by 11,000 by 2030. www.guardian.co.uk/international EVENTS –  our friends at The Mill have some great stuff coming up, which includes: “Tales from the Marsh” – drama/research workshops for Girls and Mothers starting Saturday mornings.  To book call Siobhan O’Neill on 07989519522 or emailsiobhan.oneill2014@live.rhul.ac.uk  and there is also a fundraising Concert on Sunday 10 April from 4.00-5.00 p.m. at St. Barnabas Church E17 8JZ.  Donations will go to The Mill.  For details of these and other events go to http://themill-coppermill.org/                                               There is also no-stopping Hedge Herbs for an interesting and ever expansive range of events.  Their April update includes:  Sunday 23 April from 12.00-2.00 pm the monthly guided herb walk across Walthamstow Marshes, meet at The Mill, 7-11 Coppermill Lane E17 7AH.  Fee is £7.00 (£5.00 concessions) which must be booked in advance from Rasheeqa on 0778450649 or rasheeqa@hedgeherbs.org.uk  Sunday 17 April in collaboration with Hackney Herbs and Gone Wild Herbs an event atCordwainers Garden, 182 Mare Street, London,E8 3RG from 2.00-5.30. The April update also includes news of the annual Radical Herbal Gathering on 3-5 June at Crabapple Community in Shropshire.  www.hedgeherbs.org.uk for further details. Next SLM MEETING ON MONDAY 18 APRIL AT 7.30 P.M. , PRINCESS OF WALES PUB, LEA BRIDGE ROAD.  New people always welcome.  We know it can be a bit daunting trying to catch up with the ‘minutae’ of SLM affairs but we do our best to get people up to speed – so don’t be shy, give SLM a try.

Copyright © 2016 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

SLM Digest 30-4-16

Save Lea Marshes is an open group of  local people concerned to keep the marshes and green spaces of the Lea Valley open and green for wildlife and local people.  For further information go to www.saveleamarshes.org.uk   View this email in your browser

SLM Weekly Digest Keep Our Marshes Open and Green! Little egret spotted on Hackney Marshes and shared on Twitter by @RoseStephensArt! This is the Weekly Digest of Save Lea Marshes.  We are an open group of people living in the Lea Valley area devoted to keeping the marshes and green spaces in good condition for wildlife and local people for now and in the future.  To find out more about our work go to www.saveleamarshes.org.uk This week’s round-up includes: MYSTERY HOUSE – no not as featured on “Escape to the Country” but the one on the edge of Hackney Marshes, next to the Travellers’ site that we reported on last week.  Further enquiries have revealed that this was sold by Hackney Council about ten years ago, so we are now following up on who owns it... CLIP CLOTS – one of our intrepid correspondents has had a response to an enquiry from Vibrant Partnerships otherwise known as the Lee Valley Trust Ltd., on the precise whereabouts of the signage board depicting the information about routes for horse riders on the marshes.  The reply states that it is: ‘at the entrance to the parks as one leave’s the paddocks and joins the Lee Valley pathway on the right-hand side’.  Furthermore, the letter states that the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (with whom previous correspondence has been conducted and the body which gets guidance on such matters from Walthamstow Marsh from Natural England), has had this role seemingly passed to the Trust.  Also, the Lee Valley Riding Centre is: ‘not responsible for monitoring riders’ and there ‘ have been no official reports made to the Centre’ (which it is not monitoring anyway) but there is a promised of (no date given)  a future review. ICE-SAY – the LVRPA are conducting their next round of consultations.  On Saturday 30 April from 10.30-11.30 a.m. there will be a meeting for Ice Centre users (presumably at the Ice Rink – check he LVRPA website www.leavalley.org.uk/events ) and another for other local people added on to the Workshop  at the Waterworks Centre, Lea Bridge Road from 1.00-3.30 (this is an extra half an hour to the previously advertised meeting).  Another date is also being fixed for SLM and other local groups possibly on the 26-27 March (we’ll keep you updated). PETITION OF THE WEEK – last week we mentioned the new Pesticide Free Hackney launch.  There is now a petition against use of glyphosate and other chemicals being used on Hackney streets.  Used for weed control, these substances have been found to be carcinogenic.  To sign the petition go to https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/pesticide-free-hackney-1 IN THE PRESS - “Bomb disposal unit explode grenades..” dog walker finds unexploded devices in a wooded area in Epping. www.guardian-series.co.uk/news “Seeds are finally planted for Britain’s biggest edible park” – feature on Mabley Green, p.14 Hackney Gazette, 31 March www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news  In The Guardian 31 March, “Member of EDF board urges power plant delay” and “£2.8bn effort to keep lights on in UK ‘wasteful and not working’ p.24 and “Hinkley C needs Plan B”, p.25 www.guardian.co.uk  and “Mild winter boosts tally of small birds visiting gardens” p.11 (good news) but terrible news of “Sea levels may rise more rapidly than forecast”, p.14 scientists find ice far less stable than was thought..  Also “UK and US to test nuclear plant resilience” p.14 www.guardian.co.uk FUNDING NEWS  - the National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces -  representing 5,000 local friends of parks and open spaces groups – has informed us of up to £12k for local green spaces improvements that have community benefit but do not charge for access, being administered by the Groundwork Trust via the Tesco ‘Bags of Help’ scheme.  This is money raised by charging customers 5p for plastic bags (which we hope will not end up in our parks and open spaces).   The scheme opens on 18 April and details found on http://www.groundwork.org.uk/tescobagsofhelp Our friends at Voluntary Action Waltham Forest have also sent us information on: (1) A Community Access Fund from the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (deadline 23 August 2016 for projects that must be scheduled before 1 September) to cover costs of group sports tester sessions and (2) Comic Relief Fund Local Communities Programme (rolling programme until 4 October 2016) for service-led groups empowering local people to make a change in their local communities.  Further details see http://www.voluntaryAction.net/services/fundraising EVENTS Advance news of the annual Walthamstow Garden Party on Saturday 16 July from 11.00 a.m. – 2.00 p.m.  NEXT SLM MEETING ON MONDAY 4 APRIL 2016 AT THE PRINCESS OF WALES, LEA BRIDGE ROAD AT 7.30 P.M.   Share Tweet Forward

Copyright © 2016 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

Ice Centre Redevelopment

Hi Abi

 

Here are dates for the IC stakeholder engagement sessions.

 

·         Wed 27^th April 5-6pm IC users; 7-8pm local community session

·         Sat 30^th April 1030-1130 IC users; 1-3.30pm Filter Beds & Marshes Group (existing group of local community/residents) plus local community

 

Sessions to held at the IC except for the Sat afternoon session which will take place at the Waterworks.

 

We will be posting notices around the IC/LBR area, using the various networks and also a leaflet drop at the IC and local residences, plus of course website.

 

Best regards

 

Shaun 

 

Shaun Dawson 

Chief Executive

Tel: 01992 709 848 

Lee Valley Regional Park Authority

Myddelton House, Bulls Cross, Enfield, Middlesex EN2 9HG
Tel: 01992 717 711 Fax: 01992 719 937 Web: visitleevalley.org.uk

SLM Digest 25-3-16

Save Lea Marshes is an open group of  local people concerned to keep the marshes and green spaces of the Lea Valley open and green for wildlife and local people.  For further information go to www.saveleamarshes.org.uk   View this email in your browser

Spring on Walthamstow Marshes shared by @Ms_Asifa on Twitter

SLM Weekly Digest Keep Our Marshes Open and Green! What a week!   Firstly, the terrible events in Brussels.  I am sure we are all united in expressing sympathy and solidarity with the people of the city but we should also be wary of the corresponding losses of freedom that we could all face as a result.  Secondly, things that have been rocking and rolling in Parliament following the Budget and Iain Duncan Smith’s resignation; a bit of a result but judging by Cameron’s all too real impression of Flashman from “Tom Brown’s Schooldays” during Prime Minister’s Question Time in the Common’s yesterday. We still have a long way to go in righting the wrongs of this government!  It has also been a busy week locally... EDIBLE BEGINNING ON MABLEY GREEN - This week community planting of an edible orchard began on Mabley Green and, unlike the expensive Astro-turf pitch, this orchard will be open to all. It is hoped local young people will be encouraged to explore the orchard and eat more fresh fruit. Read more here:  bit.ly/22AmQ3W MUCKING ABOUT ON THE MARSH –  a geotechnical engineering company (the same firm that worked previously on the Olympic site), was seen on Monday, drilling on Hackney Marshes and putting in gas pipes to test the amount of gas and taking soil samples.  This was on the site of the planned Pavilion and likely to be a sign of works progressing quicker than we’d hoped. HOUSE ON PARARIE  -  a spacious three bed house with front and back gardens (next to the travellers permanent site on the east side of the main Hackney Marsh), has been noticed as sold on Rightmove.com  for the relatively low (by current Hackney standards) price of under £600,000.  There would seem to be plans a foot to remove the house and put in a four storey block of nine flats.  This is on Common Land but the house mysteriously does not appear on the 1970 Common Land Registry Map, which shows the whole of the eastern corner of the Main Marsh up to the road and the River Lea.  We’ll need to follow up on this story. PESTICIDE FREE – SLM and other local organisations attended a first meeting to campaign for a pesticide/herbicide free Hackney – follow @Pan_UK and the hashtags #PesicideFree #Hackney.  News just in is that Brighton and Hove have voted to make their borough completely glyphosate free! Read more here: http://www.pan-uk.org/news/brighton-hove-to-stop-using-glyphosate Folk in Waltham Forest are also active in trying to keep the streets chemical free. CAMPAIGNS OF THE WEEK – London Fields Cycling Consultation.  Hackney LCC are backing Option 1 for the new road traffic management scheme.  The consultation closes on Sunday 27 March and details, background documents and the survey can be viewed on the Hackney Council website. Further information from http://hackney.cc/ SLM are members of the 150 year old Open Spaces Society, which  has a current crowdfunding campaign to try to stop Formula E car races happening in Battersea Park.  They fear not only the effect on the park but also future commercial large scale events in local parks elsewhere.  You can pledge your support here: www.oss.org.uk NEVER HAS SO MUCH BE PLANNED TO SERVE SO FEW -  CPRE (London) have launched their report concerning the threats to Green Belt and Metropolitan Open Land see http://www.cprelondon.org.uk/resources/item/2319-the-strongest-protection for the full horrific details of the increase in protected sites being given planning permission - a double in the amount of green space lost in one year.  Also the latest bulletin features how there is more planning in London than ever before... IN THE PRESS – locally, the Waltham Forest Guardian has a story about a man found burnt to death on Hackney Marshes; a picture feature entitled “Are these the ugliest buildings in the borough?” and for once a story of developers losing a battle to turn a pub into a block of flats www.guardian-series.org.uk/news   Stories in the Hackney Gazette this week include: p.2 “Thousands face loss of sunshine and light”  Report slams £800m Bishopsgate skyscraper plan; News Focus pp.4-5 on “Plans for dangerous junction slammed in the wake of crashes” at Stamford Hill;  “Public Loo in ‘village hall’ bid to raise £70k to revamp toilet block into a community centre on Clapton Common. www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news Nationally: The Guardian Tuesday p.2 “Carbon releases are at highest since age of dinosaurs, say experts and on p.10 National Section “Brilliant British Butterlies have worst year ever”;  on Wednesday p.8 National section “Double blight threatens to kill all Europe’s Ash Trees" and on p.23 Financial Section “Hinkley Point Secrecy battle to be resolved by tribunal” and on Thursday p.22, National “EDF refuses to set start date for Hinkley Point C". www.guardian.co.uk EVENTS  Last of the winter workshops from the Tree Musketeers on Easter Saturday 26 March from 10am-1pm at Hackney Tree Nursery; Sunday 27 March – new tree planting work on Hackney Marshes at 10.30am and go first to the Tree Nursery at 10am to pick up equipment.  Saturday 2 April there will be potting-up of baby trees from 10am –1pm again at the Tree Nursery.  Further details from www.tree-musketeers.org.uk Also on Saturday at 11am. over on Mabley Green there will be a chance to mulch the trees that were put in last week (sadly information came in about this after the digest had gone out) but there will be another opportunity on April 16 when there will be another Big Dig to put in more fruit trees and bushes. Meet at the Conservancy Road side entrance in Hackney. Next SLM MEETING WILL BE AT THE PRINCESS OF WALES PUB ON LEA BRIDGE ROAD AT 7.30m ON MONDAY 4 APRIL.  All welcome. Happy Holidays to all – stay well, safe and green!   Share Tweet Forward

Copyright © 2016 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

SLM Digest 17-3-16

Save Lea Marshes is an open group of  local people concerned to keep the marshes and green spaces of the Lea Valley open and green for wildlife and local people.  For further information go to www.saveleamarshes.org.uk   View this email in your browser

Flowers on Walthamstow Marshes shared by @withoutastitch on Twitter

SLM Weekly Digest Keep Our Marshes Open and Green! SMOG-ASBORD SPECIAL -   the BBC’s “Top Gear” was criticized this week for car stunts that were seen to be disrespectful to The Cenotaph.  Duh!  Cars speed past this every day.  What was disrespectful (if you saw the TV footage), was the huge amount of toxic fumes the stunt car was emitting – didn’t come across any mention of that in the press - although Jeremy Corbyn did raise in Parliament the fact that half a million will die if UK fails to meet its air pollution targets.  Today’s Guardian 17 March, p.25 has an article about Mexico City banning 1 million cars in smog alert – the country’s first in eleven years www.guardian.co.uk  and guess what folks, according to Yahoo News, there is a huge cloud of smoke from France that is set to engulf  the UK.   Asthmatics have been warned to be aware of high pollution levels in urban areas because of “still weather”.  IN THE PRESS – Could it be coincidence or a sign of  “contagious combustion” in reaction to the Budget, that both this week’s Hackney Gazette, p.14 “Car bursts into flames in Old Street” www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news  and the Waltham Forest Guardian “Car bursts into flames on North Circular”  http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/  have a similar stories?  Other stories I’ve spotted this week in the Waltham Forest Gazette new section are:  more protests against “Mini Holland” by traders and residents of the Forest Road area and a story about a change in water level in Herony Pond in Wanstead, which wildlife experts say made it easier for a dog to kill a swan. The Guardian’s G2  section, 17 March, p.2.  has a story about the consequences to wildlife of using creatures to mark occasions e.g. using white doves at weddings. CROSSRAIL II - well I think it is a toss-up as to what this line will be called.  My shortlist includes:  Duke of Edinburgh Line (favourite because it will be a “cross” line); Boris Line, Osborne Line or maybe Adonis Line.  Shall we start a competition?  However, if you want to find out the latest such as the feedback from recent consultation seewww.crossrail2.co.uk OLYMPICOPOLIS - last week we directed you to this Evening Standard story SLM members have been pouring over this in more detail in an a “Spot the Difference” sort of way and conclude that the details shown in this article are more or less identical to the original plan from 2009.  I can give you the answers on the difference (please read upside down because I can’t do it on t’computer) 1. There are two new tower blocks 2. Sustainable green features seemed to have been airbrushed out... TREE FACT – SLM are still supporting our local tree @tfortysix and @GreenpeaceUK have tweeted to share some useful research on why planting more trees can reduce flooding. ISSUES TO RAISE AT NEXT LVRPA WORKSHOP – a reminder, that this takes place on Saturday 30th April from 1.00-3.00 p.m. at The Waterworks, Lea Bridge Road.  SLM are gathering various questions to ask the Lea Valley Regional Park Authority such as:  “Who is in charge of the habitats included in the boundaries of sites that have been acquired by the new Trust”?  “What has happened to Park-watch” and “Can we stop the June mowing”? RECOMMENDED VIEWING  -  if you missed the excellent BBC1 programme on Tuesday night “The Estate We’re In”, I would thoroughly recommend watching it (with a hanky at the ready), on the BBC IPlayer  It featured an estate in Barnet but was very similar to recent events on Woodberry Down (another council estate backing on to a reservoir).  People sometimes accuse groups like SLM of  putting green space ahead of providing homes.  We are not against housing but we are against the cynical profiteering of developers, the problems with the planning system and the social cleansing that this programme illustrates so well and why we should all oppose the upcoming Housing Bill.  The battles of affordable housing and the availability of green space are pitched with the same opponents. EVENTS Future date for your diaries, there will be an Abney Park Spring Open Day on Saturday 28 May from 12.00-4.00 p.m. Next SLM meeting on MONDAY 4 APRIL at the Princess of Wales pub on Lea Bridge Road.  Come along.

Copyright © 2016 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

SLM Digest 10-3-16

Save Lea Marshes is an open group of  local people concerned to keep the marshes and green spaces of the Lea Valley open and green for wildlife and local people.  For further information go to www.saveleamarshes.org.uk   View this email in your browser

SLM Weekly Digest Keep Our Marshes Open and Green! This is the Weekly Digest of Save Lea Marshes – an open group of people living in the Lea Valley area who come together to try and keep the marshes and other green spaces as places for wildlife to thrive and people to enjoy.  To find out more about our work, please see our website www.saveleamarshes.org.uk ENCOURAGING NOISES – not just the mating cries of the local urban foxes in the early hours but a positive response from Eamonn Lawlor, the South Ranger for the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA), to a recent enquiry from SLM about the plight of the hedgehogs and other small mammals in the Lea Valley.  More research work is going to be done and volunteer help sought to help gather information and measure how populations are doing.   This may take some time but Eamonn would like people to let him and colleagues know of any sightings or information.  He says there is some data that can be found on http://bighedgehogmap.org  on Millfields Park.  There is also some progress on the Underpass Art Project being organised by the RARA group with up-coming workshops that will beautify the underpass near the Waterworks Centre.  SLM and the other members  of the working party are requesting that more contacts are made with relevant local groups in both Waltham Forest and Hackney before things are fully finalised.  We’ll keep you updated. EAST MARSH – members of SLM have been putting in a lot of work towards creating a biodiverse habitat area on the site of the car park, getting the gates removed and small electric bollards installed instead.  As reported last week, we still have some reservations about maintenance vehicles and soil compaction but in view of the composition of the made ground, we have agreed to see works go ahead, providing that there is regular monitoring to ensure that compaction does not mean the site is unsuccessful, thus paving the way for more car parking or a football stadium. PETITIONS OF THE WEEK -  “Kick Glyphosate out of Europe!”  Perhaps exclamation mark overuse but when you learn that one in three loaves of bread chomped down by U.K. citizens contains Monsanto’s branded name “Round-up”, with all its non-health producing properties, it does make you want to reach for one. To join others to try and stop Monsanto getting another 15 years of licence to use this product in Europe, you can join the Global Justice Now Campaign on Twitter or Facebook or contact them on 0207 820 4900.  They are also asking people to write to the Secretary of State for Rural Affairs, Liz Truss with your objections. Take action now to kick glyphosate out of Europe. Tell George Osborne where he can put his nuclear plant at Hinkley Point and recommend he looks at greener, safer and surprise, surprise, cheaper options.  Make your views known via https://secure.greenpeace.org.uk/no-hinkley WALTHAMSTOW WETLANDS - work is beginning on the site with boardwalks and car parking being constructed first, with work on the engine room building following.  The creation of reedbeds, it is hoped, will encourage the bittern and other bird life back to the wetlands. Rachel is the new Community Organiser in place and she can be contacted viaWalthamstow@wildlondon.or.uk   Tours on local history, wetland wanderings and bat walks are being arranged.  Local groups encouraged to request. See the new websitewww.walthamstow-wetlands.org.uk for further details. IN THE PRESS – the Waltham Forest Guardian has a story regarding a proposal for a new swimming pool, health centre and housing for over 55’s on the Roundhill site of Waltham’s Cross green space.  This should leave some recreational and sports space left on the site  www.guardian-series.co.uk/news   I thought this was worth including because it is an example of compromising green space.  Over on the Olympic site, latest proposals were featured in this Tuesday’s Evening Standard  Looks like lots of concrete and “lolly pop” trees by the waterside again folks!  Sunday’s Observer  6.3.16 pp.14-15 “Now stree view putting wild Britain on the web” about a project teaming up Walk Unlimited with Google featuring some of the most scenic trails in England and Wales.  Catch it while it’s still there ... EVENTS Our friends at Sustainable Hackney have a new newsletter out featuring news of the Hackney Fixer’s Restart Party on Saturday March 12, which includes clothing repair and also an invite to anyone interested in attending their regular monthly steering group meetings – the next one is on March 30 from 7.00-9.00 p.m. at the Rhodes Estate Community Hall in Hackney.  To find out more go to www.sustainablehackney.org.uk/events/event/list Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, Dalston Lane, just opposite the Overground station, continues to be an important part of the community in Dalston, this Sunday 13th March there is a chance to be part of The Quilt Garden, a project led by textile artist Katherine May in the Pineapple House from 2.00-5.00 p.m. – no need to book and no sewing experience necessary.  There is also a walk at 3.00 p.m. around the garden.http://dalstongarden.org/activities/ The next  SLM meeting at 7.30pm Monday 14 March at the Princess of Wales pub, Lea Bridge Road.  New people welcomed. DON’T FORGET THE CLOSING DATE FOR GETTING AN OBJECTION TO THE PROPOSALS TO BUILD ON THE INDUSTRIAL SITE AT 97 LEA BRIDGE ROAD IS 15 MARCH.  APPLICATION NUMBER 153834, OFFICER NICK EAGLE AT WALTHAM FOREST COUNCIL. Share Tweet Forward

Copyright © 2016 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

SLM Digest 4-3-16

Save Lea Marshes is an open group of  local people concerned to keep the marshes and green spaces of the Lea Valley open and green for wildlife and local people.  For further information go to www.saveleamarshes.org.uk View this email in your browser

A frosty morning on Walthamstow Marshes shared by @theRacingBear

SLM Weekly Digest Keep Our Marshes Open and Green! We were sent a lovely email this week from a former marsh campaigner, reminding us that it is important to stress that the Hackney Marshes is not only Metropolitan Open Space but registered common land and that this can make a difference when stating our case to fight of developers.  He wrote about plans from the 1980’s to save Millfields (also common land) from being enclosed as a City Farm.  Nothing wrong with City Farms but reclaiming industrial space is a better option than fencing off our remaining open spaces. Most of the remaining open space at Mudchute City Farm has just been fenced off and padlocked... It seems to be hard for the “powers that be”, to accept that city dwellers truly love their remaining open spaces, that these areas should be treasured and cared for as part of community life and not an adjunct to it.  There is a theme about this running effortlessly, through the digest this week: GOOD NEWS AND.. –  SLM was delighted to hear this week from Hackney Parks & Leisure Officers that they have agreed to install electronically-operated stumps, rather than gates on East Marsh, where a wild area is to be planted to replace the car park.  This is to allow Council vehicles and mowers on to the site.  However, SLM are still concerned that vehicle use will cause damage.  There are two schools of thought about whether it is good or bad to disrupt the land/habitat by churning it up – some wild plants do like disrupted soil (e.g., Japanese Knotweed!).  Ian Holland, Head of Parks on seeing the photo we put in the digest last week says that the Council tries to vary its routes so that land doesn’t get damaged in certain areas in wet weather conditions.  I’m sure he means well in theory, but in practise this does not seem to be the case.  Vehicles are not sticking to the circular pathways but overshooting at the edges of the green and what used to be a lovely wooded area now looks like The Somme in 1914-18. To get an idea of why soil should not get compacted see: http://www.extension.umn.edu/agriculture/tillage/soil-management/soil-management-series/compaction/ CANTERING ON – our SLM thorough-bred activist is still on the case of the behaviour of horse riders and whether they are adhering to the routes on the marshes, how the Lea Valley Regional Park Authority distinguishes reports and how it takes action when riders do not obey the rules. IN THE PRESS – we are very pleased that we are ahead of the curve this time in being able to write about a forthcoming editorial meeting of the newly established Waltham Forest Echo on Tuesday 8 March in the Le Delice Cafe, 114 Hoe Street E17 4OR.  So if you have something you would like to see in this community-minded newspaper, now available on the streets, head along, or if you can’t, the deadline for issue 13 in April is 24 March.  Amongst the stories in the current issue 12 is:  “Air pollution fear halts school building for Walthamstow Primary Academy". Further details see: www.walthamforestecho.co.uk or email WFEcho@social spider  if you have a story idea. The Waltham Forest Guardian has a story about “Epping Forest councillors have approved controversial plans for a 50 foot 4G phone mast at Chigwell Village Green against local’s wishes (hope those councillors feel truly masterful!). www.guardian-series.co.uk/news London/national stories “Build on Green Belt to Solve Crisis”, says a homeless charity Shelter, pp.1 & 4 Evening Standard Monday 29 February 2016www.eveningstandard.co.uk/news   (personally, think they are a bit misled about this one, as the kind of properties that would go up on green belt won’t be for people in greatest need judging by what else is going on at the moment).  The Times on Monday 29, p.7 has two stories, one about another culling of 50,000 badgers and another on the “Lesser spotted” hedgehog is a rarer sight than ever www.thetimes.co.uk/news   Badgers may prey on hedgehogs but this obviously doesn’t account for the loss of both species. There's only one species that can tragically impact so many other species and sadly we belong to it! EVENTS We recently covered the “walks and talks” being offered by a PhD. Student, about the memories and experiences of Walthamstow Marsh.  Siobahn is now extending into a 6 week series of workshops (barring Easter), at The Mill,  7-11 Coppermill Lane E17 7HAfor age 55 “plussers”, involving  exploring memories of the area, story- telling, writing and culminating in a performance on the Marsh and exhibitions at The Mill.  If you would like to get involved contact via email: siobahnOneill.2014@live.rhul.ac.uk or phone 07989519522 CPRE London have changed the location of the launch of their report on green belt and metropolitan land, this will now take place at The Gallery, 70 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6EJ at 9-10.30 on Wednesday 9 March.  They have also announced that Zac Goldsmith (Con), will be joining ex-deputy Mayor Jenny Jones and other party representatives. Free tickets from: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/green-belt-and-in-greater-london-the-real-story-tickets-1633033987 If, you have been wondering when the next LVRPA Workshop would be taking place – fear not, we now have news of one being held on Saturday 30 April from 13.00-15.00 at the Waterworks Centre, Lea Bridge Road.  Topics will include an update on the Underpass Art Project.  Eammon the new southern ranger also brings news of other events such as David Lindo (who sometimes can be spotted on BBC “Springwatch” and ”Countryfile”, is giving a talk on birds “Tales from Concrete Jungles” on Sunday 13 March from 2.00-4.00 p.m. again at the Waterworks.  For details of these and other events go to http://www.visitleevalley.org.uk/en/whatson/   There are also more volunteering opportunities on offer including this Saturday 5 March from 10-15.30 p.m., planting of trees and shrubs by the Ice Rink and a spring clean on 16 March from 10.00-3.00 p.m. again by the Ice Rink on Lea Bridge Road for details of volunteering go to http://www.visitleevalley.org/uk/opportunities/open-spaces-and-activities Eammon the man is also on twitter https://twitter.com/etlawlor1 NEXT SLM MEETING:  MONDAY 13 MARCH AT 7.30 P.M. AT THE PRINCESS OF WALES, LEA BRIDGE ROAD E5 You are welcome to join us.

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