To: yahoo group <saveleytonmarsh@yahoogroups.co.uk>

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

SLM Weekly Digest

Keep Our Marshes Open and Green!

A PLANE STUPID JUDGEMENT - a national news story this week with local implications - the 'Heathrow 13' who took direct action against climate change at Heathrow airport last July in opposition to the recommended expansion of Heathrow have been found guilty of aggravated trespass. The judge, whilst recognising their 'passion' and 'good character' proceeded to recommend immediate custodial sentences, which means each of the defendants face the prospect of three months in jail. The Plane Stupid campaign are organising support, including donations to help cover costs. The group would like as many people as possible to attend Willesden Magistrates Court on 24th February when the sentences will be announced, for more information see: http://www.planestupid.com

HYPER LOCAL – where to begin? SLM organised a meeting with the Lea Valley Regional Park Authority on Monday to discuss the four local sites that will be assessed for the possible new Ice Rink. We pressed heavily for early and extensive public consultation and for maximum preservation of the green space. Interestingly, the LVRPA were vague about the London Borough of Waltham Forest’s future planning proposals and had only just found out about the Free School. More information can be found our old blog, where we will shortly be adding the maps of the 4 proposed sites, all on protected Metropolitan Open Land: www.saveleytonmarsh.wordpress.com.

IT'S JUST MORE CRICKET– on-going discussion and a meeting planned with Stoke Newington Cricket Club to talk about the escalating problems of a cricket pavilion so well designed it can’t house essential club equipment such as sight screens and pitch covers, deemed essential to club cricket yet not mentioned at the 4 day public inquiry or included in any of the planning documents.

We have also heard that a petition was taken to Hackney Council last week concerning creating a “proper” football ground (e.g. with a stadium, seating and car parking), somewhere in Hackney – the marshes and Millfields were mentioned. SLM, who are still in discussion with the Council about keeping East Marsh and other green areas as vehicle free as possible, will keep abreast of developments.

IN THE MEDIA

Winterwatch is back on BBC2 – this is great news for our cat (Assistant Editor), who watched the whole of it on Wednesday night, even the boring human bits...

The latest Hackney Today 25 January , p.3 “Have Your say on Bishopsgate Goods Yard proposals”, extended for the next 21 days email your concerns tobishopsgate@london.gov.uk/bgy

“Calls for a re-think on Crossrail 2”, p.13 on the Dalston area to view the proposals go towww.bit.ly/crossrail_vents

“Grow local and shop local”, details of the latest Growing Communities project, which is looking for trainees to learn how to grow organically. Applications close on 8 February, for more information visit www.growingcommunities.org

“Follow the porter’s path” on p.25, pictures and archive information on a path that use to run diagonally across from Walthamstow to Shoreditch via Clapton’s Millfields.

In Waltham Forest, the Waltham Forest Guardian has another update on the re-opening of the Lea Bridge Station set for early Spring.

Last Saturday’s Times of 23 January features Melissa Harrison’s Nature Notebook: “Starlings go hungry as bugs are wiped out” and more positively “Return of the native” (better news about Ash dieback disease and “Daffy weather”, about this winter’s challenging temperatures).

PETITION OF THE WEEK

Please sign Friends of the Earth's petition to make Waltham Forest 'fossil free' https://campaigns.gofossilfree.org/petitions/divest-waltham-forest

EVENTS

Sunday 31 January, 2-3pm there is an RSPB Bird Watch at the Dalston Curve Garden, 13 Dalston Lane, includes spotting, counting and, from 2-5pm, the opportunity to make a bird feeder.

Saturday 13 February – an event at Potters Field Park (next to the City Hall), with activities and guests including the writer Will Self, the aim is to draw attention to the loss of public open space to private control (e.g. this land is not your land). It's called 'Space Probe Alpha' and you can join the event on Facebook

Sunday 8 May 12-4pm, Whitehall, Sustainable Hackney are organising a backward walk to demonstrate the “going backwards on climate change of Government policy”. If you a member of Sustainable Hackney, you can RSVP here.

Monday 1 February, 7.30pm at the Princess of Wales pub, Lea Bridge Road, Hackney, the next SLM meeting. Lots to discuss concerning threats to the marshes and local green space – so leave the sofa and come and get involved!