SLM Digest 13-8-15

Sent: Thursday, 13 August 2015, 16:59
Subject: Keep Our Marshes Open and Green

Hackney's Marshes Important for wildlife 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 - concerned that the local marshes and green spaces of the area remain open and green for wildlife and people now and in years to come.  We also take a keen interest in environmental and housing issues which affect people locally.  To find out more about our campaign go to www.saveleamarshes.org.uk If there is a theme this week, it has to be energy sources.  Since the 2015 election the Conservative Government has demonstrated further moves away from supporting green and alternative energy sources and towards, nuclear, fossil fuels and the big energy corporations.  Here are some of the stories and information on fight back initiatives. FAST TRACK FRACK - The Guardian's front page today, 13 August, "Act quickly on fracking or we will, ministers tell councils".  Under new guidance, councils will be given a deadline of 16 weeks to approve or reject fracking operations or the Government will intervene. www.guardian.co.uk DIVEST - news of local campaigns to urge local businesses in both Hackney and Waltham Forest.  Divest Hackney is a new organisation aiming to get Hackney organisations, starting with Hackney Council and its pension funds, to divest investment in fossil fuels.  There is a petition http://campaigns.gofossilfree.org/petitions/divest-hackney-council-from-fossil-fuels in Waltham Forest, the Divest Waltham Forest campaign is being organised between Waltham Forest Friends of the Earth, 350.org and Go Fossil Free.  Waltham Forest FoE are forgoing their usual third Tuesday meeting and are instead organising a special meeting to launch and help shape the campaign on Wednesday 19 August at 7.00. p.m. at the Heathcote Arms pub, 344 Grove Green Road (near Leytonstone station).  Open to all.  Further information from info@foe.walthamforest@gmail.com GARDENER'S HACKNEY -  the Hackney Gazette, p5, has an article on a new "Pocket Park" for the Daubney Road area.  The new community growing area was featured as part of the annual Chelsea Fringe event and is also featuring in an exhibition of pocket parks until August 28 at the GLA, City Hall.  Another Hackney community garden - the Dalston Curve Garden, also played host to Radio 4's "Gardener's Question Time" last Sunday, with representatives from The Curve, Growing Communities, Hackney Herbal and the Tree Musketeers - with panellists visiting one of TM's sites, interviewing Russell Miller. p.6. You can also still hear the programme on IPlayer.  (SLM supports pocket parks but let's not let all our parks be pocket-sized!)  Other stories in the Gazette of interest are also on p. 6 "Campaign launched for farm".  As funding cuts bite and  Lottery Funding comes to an end, Hackney City Farm is looking for creative methods to keep the farm open and free.  Finally, "Victory in the battle to tackle bookie blight", gambling firms will now find it harder to open new betting shops, after a change in the national planning law is adopted by Hackney Council, p.2www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news   Could this be extended to Estate Agents .....? EVENTS - the Tree Musketeers (as heard on Radio 4's Gardener's Question Time above), have a busy maintenance programme set for future Sundays - from 10.30 to 2.00 p.m. (unless otherwise stated).  Volunteers are invited to water and tend trees (no experience necessary) on: Sunday 16 August at Hackney Downs (meet by Bowling Green) Sunday 29 August at the Tree Nursery, Homerton Road Sunday 13 September at Hackney Downs Sunday 26 September at Springfield Park (meet at the orchard) Saturday at 12.00 for a cycle ride around planting sites from Springfield Park Orchard to Spring Hall, Millfields, Hackney Downs, Daubney Fields ending up in the Tree Nursery around 2.00 for food an a bonfire (or go straight to the Nursery).  Bring Food to share.  More information from www.treemusketeers.org.uk Next SLM meeting Monday 17 August at 7.30 at the Princess of Wales pub, Lea Bridge Road E5.  All welcome.  Amongst the things we'll be discussing are a walk with a new Lee Valley Regional Park ranger to point out the things we are concerned about on the marshes, e.g. grass cutting regimes and further planning for an event to remember Katy Andrews on Wednesday 23 September at 6.30.   Share Tweet Forward Copyright © 2015 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