SLM WEEKLY DIGEST 22-1-15

Tree planting, wassailing and more Park Authority skullduggery this week... View this email in your browser

SLM Weekly Digest Keep Our Marshes Open and Green! This is the Weekly Digest of Save Lea Marshes.  We are an open group of local people based in the Lea Valley area, trying to keep as much of our marshlands and green spaces for wildlife and future generations to enjoy.  To find out more about our work carried out on a completely voluntary basis see our website www.saveleamarshes.org.uk Hello.  Hope lots of you have been able to watch some of the BBC’s Winterwatch this week (finishes Friday), or will look at on the BBC IPlayer.  Really nice to see wildlife up close and find out things you didn’t know.   Items of interest this week include: Don't eat up our businesses! Lee Valley growers have expressed outrage over the Park Authority's plans to force out farms in the Lee Valley through compulsory purchase orders. See the article here: http://www.hortweek.com/lee-valley-growers-express-outrage-regional-park-authoritys-shock-compulsory-purchase-proposal/edibles/article/1329254 WHAT A WASSAIL! We had a great time traditionally toasting the trees with dancing, drinking and singing at the Ferry Boat Inn. Listen here to RadioPete's recording of the event: http://radiopete.org/ CROSSRAIL 1 – The Evening Standard (Wednesday 21st January 2015), ran two stories on p.12 on the Crossrail – one on the campaign that has been launched by the Twentieth Century Society to try and save the Paolozzi murals inside Tottenham Court Road Tube Station that have been there for more than 30 years, which will be affected by the installation of a new atrium.  Current plans would relocate/reconstitute some of it within a new design but there would be a loss of the work as originally intended.  The second is on the effect of house price rises, particularly in Whitechapel. REPORT BACK FROM THE LONDON GREEN SPACES FRIENDS GROUP – SLM is represented at the LFN meetings.  The last meeting discussed:  looking at ways of increasing involvement;  a change in procedure, to save time by pre-submitting reports to the meetings; how the cuts are hitting parks and spaces, London-wide and the Borough’s seeking more volunteer roles; the new Green Belt Map that has been launched by the London Green Belt Council, that is available via Stanfords at £9.99 (doesn’t include MOL though), available through http://www.stanfords.co.uk or the shop in Long Acre, Covent Garden.  Lastly, a new report called “Make Walking Safer and Easier”   The LFN have their Annual Meeting on Monday 23 March, 6-8 p.m. in Committee Room 4 (downstairs by coffee bar), City Hall, 110 Queen’s Walk, SE1 2AA. TRACKS OF OUR TEARS – If  go for a walk on the marshes and what you increasingly see are thick tyre, vehicle tracks.  Last Sunday, I walked from the Nature Reserve towards the Cow Bridge and noticed a lot of turf damage.  If you see any evidence and particularly if you have a camera to hand (which I didn’t on this occasion), please let SLM know.  Also, on Millfields (South), does anyone know what has caused the circular bare patches on the turf between the main path and the tennis courts? COURSES Naturewise are organising a weekend course in Forest Gardening 31st Jan – 1st Feb from 10.00 a.m. at Bekesbourne, near Canterbury.  It is being led by two passionate and experienced forest gardeners.  To find out more and/or book emailshavannabarker@yahoo.co.uk indicating in your subject line what you are enquiring about or go to www.naturewise.org.uk OPPORTUNITY – CAN YOU DIG IT? Growing Communities (who have just produced an excellent map to their sites), is offering 4 volunteer apprentice places (1 to 1 and a half days a week) with training, from the beginning of April to the end of September.  Download application forms from  www.growingcommunities.org.uk  Deadline 5 p.m. 18 February 2015. EVENTS The Tree Musketeers have some green events coming up to keep our spaces green and keep your body lean! There is a Wood Management Workshop this Sunday 25th January from 10am-3pm at Hackney Community Tree Nursery. On 31st January there is a Fruit Tree Planting on Daubney Green Orchard from 10am-3pm. More details here Sustainable Hackney are organising an evening of film, discussion, ideas and organisation in preparation for the next big Climate Change March on 12th February  from 6.30pm to 8.45pm at Homerton Library, Homerton High Street, E9.   Please note that the film will be up first  as the Library’s WiFi gets switched off with the library closure.  Further details here Next SLM meeting will be on Monday 26th January at 7.30 in the back of the Princess of Wales Pub.   New attendees welcome.  We generally do a run through of developments of each area and follow up action points and discuss up-coming plans.