News of Hackney Marshes 2005

News of Hackney Marshes WINTER 2005

Friday November 11th 2005 (148th meeting). Meeting with Manager. New notice boards to let people know about activities: on East Marsh, Mabley Green, Friends Bridge, Wick Woodland. Bike racks at South Changing Rooms to be replaced. Rubbish is cleared slowly after football at weekends and blows into conservation areas. Bid submitted for new rubbish and dog bins and benches. Cars and quad bikes are getting to the Marshes through gaps in fencing along Homerton Road. Wooden bollards have been purchased to fill gaps. Fencing around the Tree Nursery and Green Waste area in a poor state. They detract from the attractiveness of the Marshes.

Fencing round green waste area. Red berries are rowan berries.

To write to ELCRP about poor state of fence and lack of promised hedge around Green Waste area. Forest School: concern about plans to light fires in Wick Woodland. Path from Cowbridge to Millfields: poorly managed- needs to be resourced as part of the Marshes. Friends Bridge: concerns about its slippery state in wet and frosty weather. Next meeting with the Manager is on January 13th 11-12. Come and raise your issues or send any points you want to raise to HMUG c/o Anne.

Tree Nursery and Sensory Garden: Oct 28th & Nov 11th (147th and 148th

meetings). HMUG and Marsh Manager are creating a sensory garden and want to involve

local schools in projects linking the senses, food and wildlife. Planted acorns, plants, fruit trees and shrubs, mulched trees and hedge, and created a new bed. To create a pond, with funding from Parklife.

Sunday November 13th (149th meeting). Planting in Kingfisher Wood. With assistance from Rangers and gardeners, 10 volunteers filled some gaps with oaks grown from

seed in Tree Nursery, and mulched lots of trees with wood chip. The woodland, first started three years ago, is now growing well. A photo was published in Hackney Gazette.

Sunday November 20th (150th meeting). Potting Up at Tree Nursery. 13 volunteers from Tree Musketeers and HMUG put into pots young oaks grown from acorns planted by school children in 2004 and native black poplars cuttings taken from Wick Woodland in March 2005. They will be grown into trees to plant out in Hackney’s parks. Willows were planted to create a willow tunnel.

Friday November 25th 2005. (151st meeting). Tree Planting, Mabley Green. HMUG, Friends of Mabley Green, Park gardeners and Rangers, some staff from Groundwork East London, Meg Hillier, MP for Hackney South, staff and 150 children from Daubeney and Gainsborough Schools braved the cold weather and threatened snow to plant hundreds of young trees along the pedestrian and cycle path. The children and their helpers

dug holes, planted trees (field maple, hawthorn, hornbeam, rowan and ash) and mulched the trees with wood chip, Thanks to Step Bates and Helen Inman (Daubeney) and Linda Hood (Gainsborough school) and Esther Collins who organized the publicity, marquee, and hot drinks for helpers. HMUG prepared a leaflet about the trees of Mabley Green and how and why we plant trees. Funded by Mabley Green Public Art Project and Hackney Parks Forum.

Meg Hillier MP, helping children from Daubeney School.

Thursday December 1st 2005. (152nd meeting) Daubeney School visit Hackney Marshes. HMUG volunteers and Malcolm (gardener) helped children to identify birds along Lea Navigation and trees in Wick Woodland. At the Tree Nursery the children created a wood pile for minibeasts and planted bulbs along the hedge, assisted by Park Rangers and HMUG volunteers. Groundwork East London Green Team constructed a new bed with tree trunks which Park staff filled with soil.

Hugging one of Wick Woodland's massive plane trees

What tree?

creating a mini-beast pile at Tree Nursery.

Saturday December 3rd 2005. (153rd meeting). Tree Planting, Jubilee Wood. Eleven volunteers collected rubbish and planted trees to fill gaps and replace trees destroyed when a motorbike was set alight in Jubilee Wood. The rest of the woodland, started in winter 2001-2002, is growing well. Park Rangers transported equipment and helped to plant trees. The trees include hornbeam and oaks grown at the Tree Nursery, and bushes such as hawthorn, broom, holly and spindle to provide cover and an additional source of food for wildlife.

Tree Leaflets. HMUG are creating some new leaflets about the trees on the Marshes, Wick Woodland, East Marsh, and Black Poplars. We will try out the leaflets on walks. If you would like to help contract Anne on 0208 985 1256. The Trees of Mabley Green leaflet will go onto www.hackneyenvironment.org.uk

Management Plan for the conservation areas on Hackney Marshes, including Wick Woodland and trees on East Marsh has been commissioned. The areas around the edge of Hackney Marshes are designated as Sites of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation by GLA. Yet it is London Mayor with LDA who now want to cut down all the trees on East Marsh for an Olympics car and coach park, going back on his commitment (in ‘Green Compact’ for London Olympic Games) that no facilities, temporary or permanent, would be built on Hackney Marshes.

Community police and safety on Marshes. Motorbikes continue to speed through Wick Woodland and along towpath. The police tell us that the Marshes fall between two Community policing areas, although we are assured that the two teams work together across boundaries. The Main Marsh, East Marsh and Daubeney Green are in Kings Park and Wick Woodland, Arena Field and Mabley Green in Wick area. Report incidents to: Rangers at Marshes on 0208 985 9674. They keep a record of reported incidents. Marsh Manager says that police are visiting the Marshes more frequently. Kings Park: Local beat officer is PC Butt- control room 0208 721 2939 and mobile 07879 486 460 and Sgt Rob House. Wick Local Beat Officer is PC Buck on 0208 721 2938, mobile 07879 481 057 and Sgt John Booth.

Olympics Update. Two journalists came to talk to HMUG about the loss of open space, biodiversity and football pitches for an Olympic coach and car park. We still have no response from LDA to the issues raised by Meg Hillier, MP for Hackney South, for HMUG about exchange land for Arena Field, White Hart Field and East Marsh. LDA has posted notices about their intention to compulsorily purchase (CPO) these open spaces on Hackney Marshes and other land in Lower Lea Valley including OTV site near Princess of Wales to re-house businesses, travelers site and bus garages in Olympics Precinct. In a debate in House of Commons, Meg Hillier MP asked the minister to use his influence with the LDA to try to preserve at least some of the 350 mature trees around the edge of East Marsh.

Autumn colour of some of the trees due to be chopped down to provide Olympics coach and car park.

The minister gave no such commitment, but merely mouthed the usual phrases about being ‘committed to having the greenest Olympics ever’ and ‘conserving biodiversity and promoting environmental awareness and co-operation’. We were told that ‘once the games precinct is replaced by the successor developments’ we will have ‘an open river valley landscape of semi-naturalistic parkland, with increased biodiversity’. This suggests that the trees and the wildlife will be considered only in the years after the Games. Common Land legislation and the Planning Permission state that exchange land should be offered for Common Land prior to its loss – not 14 years later. No information about how this semi-naturalistic parkland (whatever that means) would be funded or managed. Not a response to provide any reassurance that issues of concern to local people are being addressed.

Wildlife of Hackney Marshes. The autumn colour continues: most of the poplars have lost their leaves, but there are still leaves and colour on maple, oak and ash trees. On Old River Lea, tufted duck and gadwall have returned from their summer homes to join the teal which arrived in October. Other birds to look for: little grebes, heron, cormorant, mallard duck, coot and kingfisher on the River. Greylag geese outnumber Canada geese on Navigation. On the grassland look for green woodpeckers, thrush, gulls, flocks of starling and wood pigeon. Pied (black and white) and gray (with yellow front) wagtails bob around on the River and in south car park. Robins sing from high up in trees and bushes.

Autumn colour in Crescent wood on west side of Hackney Marshes.

HMUG acknowledges a donation from Travelers Unit towards the pond for Sensory Garden; Housing for plants pots and two trees. Parklife, Hackney Voluntary Grants and Single Community Programmes supported our activities (publicity, trees and equipment).

*********************************************

HACKNEY MARSH NEWS AUTUMN 2005

September 4th 2005. Circular Walk round Hackney Marshes (140th meeting) About 25 people on this walk, including some people who were new to Hackney Marshes. A hot day - lots of butterflies, especially speckled wood. Birds- jay, kestrel, robin, wren. Cormorants, heron and mallards along the river. Caterpillar Buff Tip moth (Phalera bucephala) was found on path- its photograph appeared in the most recent newsletter of London Natural History Society.

Jubilee Wood. Motorbike was burned out and has destroyed some trees, although some are

growing again. Purple plastic ribbons mark the dead trees to be replaced. Jugglers have now lost all their glass balls. Mabley Green. Suggestion that plant bushes amongst trees near Lee Conservancy Road may attract sparrows which are about to lose to the Olympics their nesting and feeding area on Arena Field. Two attractive Raywood ash trees.

Red leaves of Raywood Ash near hard surface football pitch.

Arena Field. Many of the trees planted in the spring in a poor state. Good view of Wick Woodland. Field is covered with loose stones so not possible to mow it. LBH allowed a company to dump waste material but has failed to ensure that the company (Woodland Environmental) provided a sports area and changing facilities, in line with their agreement & planning permission. Walk part of a series set up by Hackney Parks Forum. Leaflet is available see walks in Hackney Parks.

Friday September 16th 2005. Open Day at Tree Nursery (142nd meeting). Local people and park staff visited the Tree Nursery & watched a display of wood working, including steam bending and bodging. The bodgers donated a stool to the Tree Nursery made from wood in Wick Woodland. Ecoactive & Tree Musketeers brought their displays. HMUG members potted up oaks trees planted by local school children in October 2004. Deb Hoy set up water sculptures powered by solar panels.

Saturday September 17th 2005. Open Morning, work session & AGM at Tree Nursery (143rd meeting). AGM. Report on activities in 2004 & 2005 and copies of leaflets about walks and wildlife of Hackney Marshes circulated. HMUG management group set up to meet with Marsh Manager and Tree Officer to discuss issues. If you would like to join the group and get involved in activities and meetings please get in touch.

Work sessions at Tree Nursery. September 9th and 23rd (141st, 144th meetings). Park staff have provided a working tap & a hose to enable us to water young trees, old cable drum for a table, and notice board next to south car park. We have created new beds for acorns and tree seeds and for a sensory garden with plants and trees which appeal to all the senses- sight, smell, sound, taste, touch.

Friday October 14th all day session at Tree Nursery with volunteers (145th meeting). 20 volunteers from a government department came & worked very hard in the Tree Nursery and Sensory Garden. They planted, watered and mulched over 20 standard trees (including larch, apple, rowan, walnut, Judas tree), weeded and mulched the hedge round the Tree Nursery, potted up masses of young oaks and tree seeds, moved zinc tanks, weeded tree beds, filled containers with soil, and planted ivy along fence. Thanks to Rupert Bentley-Walls, Park staff & Rangers who helped with preparations and on the day: digging holes, providing mulch, helping with tree planting, moving wheelbarrows, providing access to toilets, to Housing who gave us pots for planting up young oaks, and to nine HMUGers who helped all day. Set up through CVS (Community Service Volunteers).

Posing for a photograph by one of the newly planted trees.

Weeding and mulching the hedge.

Saturday October 15th (146th) Autumn Walk round the Marshes. 15 people walked through the varied wildlife habitats of Hackney Marshes: woodland, waterways, and open grassland, identified trees, plants and birds, and noted the start of autumn. There are still lots of flowers, including dead nettle, burr marigold, mayweed, mallow, ragwort, black horehound, & scabious and knapweed on meadow. Lots of self seeding trees in Wick Woodland. Some autumn colour – leaves of horse chestnut, silver maple, mulberry & Raywood ash on East Marsh, & poplars including black & grey poplars. Fruits and seeds on plants such

as mugwort- sold in Germany to accompany roast duck. Elderberry, rowan, yew & spindle seeds looking good (some spindle seeds taken to grow). Apples and hazel nuts have all been taken, by people and squirrels. Birds: jay, kestrel, birds on water- cormorant, mallard, heron, and teal which have just arrived on river for the winter. Information now available on four sculptures round the Marshes. Lots of positive comments about them- photos on the website. Some issues to raise with Marsh Manager: notice board for Wick Woodland, seats in WW and elsewhere, dog bins, complaints about tacky fencing round Recycling area - what happened to proposal for hedge? Friends Bridge: graffiti needs cleaning. New leaflet about the wildlife of Hackney Marshes launched- will soon be available to download from website.

Julia Popp (minister at Kingsmead Church, at Wally Foster Centre) is retiring. Julia organised Soul in the City visit to Hackney in summer 2004. Their volunteers helped with tasks around the Marshes. We wish her well in her retirement.

Forest Education are hoping to run an education programme based in Wick Woodland.

Tree Calendar 2006.

Tree Musketeers have a Tree Calendar for 2006 which includes several photos of the trees of Hackney Marshes. Calendars are available at Bookshop in Stoke Newington High Street and other places (£10 each). Contact Tree Musketeers TM@km551818.demon.co.uk for more details.

Capital Ring Walk. The north section of this walk was officially ‘opened’ on September 21st. Group including many Hackney walkers started at Hackney Wick and walked sections 12 and 13 to Highgate Wood for official ceremony. Section 12 includes Lea Navigation towpath. Copies of guides are available at Library.

Reports of attacks along Lea Navigation towpath continue. People are saying that if they dial 999 to seek help, they are asked for a post code before the incident will be dealt with. Hackney Marshes are in E9, except the northern end which is in E5 (it is suggested that mention Millfields). The only place on the Marshes with a full post code is the Depot - E9 5PF. Report incidents to police (Local beat officer is PC Naiem Butt- control room 0207 739 1212) and to Rangers at Marshes (0208 985 9674) who keep a record of reported incidents. Marsh Manager says that police are visiting the Marshes more frequently. Motorbikes in Wick Woodland and along towpath. Police were called out to group of bikes speeding through woodland on Sept 8th. Police arrived with several vehicles and chased the motorbikes off site. Scramble bikes, scooters and quad bikes regularly speed round the Marshes. Take care.

Olympics Update. Issues raised with Meg Hillier, MP for Hackney South. She contacted LDA for comment but there is as yet no reply from them and no news about exchange land for Arena Field, White Hart Field and East Marsh. Meg Hillier has received a response from Richard Caborn (Minister) about football on East Marsh which merely repeats what was said when Planning Permission was granted and makes no reference to the permanent loss of trees & part of East Marsh, White Hart and Arena Fields.

White Hart Field with trees along Ruckholt Road.

East Marsh Trees. A recommendation has been made for TPOs (Tree Preservation Orders) on ash trees along Ruckholt Road, Black poplars on Spitalfields edge of East Marsh and gateway Black Poplar trees at Lea Interchange.

Ash trees along Ruckholt Road- with white Hart Field soon to be lost to permanent land bridge from East Marsh.

London Olympics Bill went through very quickly and with little discussion. We were not allowed to present submissions. It sets up ODA (Olympics Delivery Agency) to prepare for and deliver the Games, protects sponsors and Olympics logo but does not place any obligation on ODA to return or provide new open space after the Olympics. At a meeting in September Cllr Guy Nicolson confirmed that Olympics Bill only makes reference to ‘due regard for’ legacy, ie there is no obligation on ODA to provide an open space legacy. LBH have an Olympics Delivery Unit to oversee many aspects of the Olympics: it was suggested ‘green spaces’ is considered

as an issue in its own right. Paying for the Games. Community charge payers will begin to pay for Olympics from April 2006. There has been discussion about trying to limit the amount community charge payers would have to pay up if the Games go over budget.

Cycle Circuit. There is a suggestion that Eastway Cycle Circuit will be moved to Rammey Marsh (just south of M25), now home to orchids.

Compulsory Purchase Order. Notice has gone up about compulsory purchase of land in Lower Lee Valley and Hackney Marshes. It seems that the land grab predicted in Times (Death by tarmac: the sorry fate of Hackney Marshes in pursuit of our Olympic dream, Sept 28th 2005) has started. Details of the Compulsory Purchase order can be seen at Library in Stratford. Objections to be submitted to Government Office for London by November 15th.

One set of pylons will go, but the two heading north will remain.

Waiting for a call from David Beckham. His agent claims that when Beckham said "I played football on Hackney Marshes as a kid, so I'm very keen to support the 2012 bid," (June 11th 2005- London 2012 Press Release) he knew nothing about plans to tarmac over parts of Hackney Marshes for a coach and car park. In an article in Mail on Sunday (Sept 25th) his agent claimed ‘Until now he has been completely unaware of this issue. David will happily speak to the group (Hackney Marsh User Group) and London 2012 to see what assistance he can provide’. We are still waiting for a call- Google provides HMUG contact details in seconds!

HMUG gratefully acknowledge support for their activities from Single Community Programme, Hackney Voluntary Sector Grant, & Park Life.

************************************************

HMUG NEWS Summer 2005.

July 9th (136th meeting) Work Walk. Wick Woodland. Wide paths allow good views of foxes and birds. Many seeds and berries forming- rowan, alder buckthorn, cherry. Some black poplars and willows would benefit from

cutting back and coppicing to let light in. By south car park some dead rowan need replacing. Kingfisher Wood- teasels looking good, lots of skipper butterflies. Work needed to replace trees which have died and plant more understorey plants such as vibernum. Cut back oriental plane in poor condition North Woodland- cleared undergrowth round wayfaring tree. Whitebeam has two kinds of leaves – native and Swedish. Speckled wood and meadow brown butterflies. Meadow flowers- carrot, scabious, knapweed, mallow, yarrow. Lots of grasshoppers. Fencing has been removed. North car park. Newly planted trees on one island (hornbeam, oak, horse chestnut and service tree). Flowers - blue vetch, cranesbill, pineapple mayweed. Friends and Jubilee Woods: field maple growing well. Kestrel sitting on new trees. Yellow cinquefoil flowers, lots of butterflies. New elm tree needs a guard. Elm along path has died back. Crescent Wood: noted grey alder, skippers and other insects on flowers of dwarf elder. Blue butterflies. Galls on many oaks.

swans on Navigation and dwarf elder with skipper butterfly.

July 22nd, August 12th and 26th (137, 138 and 139th meetings). Work sessions in Tree Nursery.

Lots of watering and weeding young trees. A new bed created for planting acorns and other seeds, and one for young trees until they are planted out on the Marshes. Acorns and horse chestnuts sown by children at Open Day in October 2004 are growing well- will soon start to put into pots to grow for another year or two before being planted out. Plans for the winter include planting fruit trees in the Tree Nursery, part of a new sensory garden. Thanks to Marsh manager for new notice board and to park staff and tree gang for moving trees, filling the new beds with soil and plumbing work to enable us to water the young trees. A book about growing trees from seeds has been donated.

Roses in flower along Homerton Road.

We are joined in the Tree Nursery by a fox

To find out about the Tree Nursery and join in activities come along to the Open Days on Friday September 16th 12-3 or Saturday September 17th 10-12. We have displays of photographs of trees and plants and copies of leaflets about walks, trees and food chains. On Saturday we will also be planning activities for the winter and spring.

Events.

Seven Aside Football event was cancelled.

Half marathon event in August.

KICC took over car park and parked all along Homerton Road for over a week. Complaints from people who come to the Marshes by car that they have not been able to use the car park. If this event happens again, some spaces need to be set aside for regular and for disabled Marsh users. Café lost a week of business because vehicles of their regular customers could not stop near the caravan. They say they were given no warning. HMUG to write to manager to report on these concerns. HMUG was not told that the car park would be out of action for Marsh Users and so was unable to raise issues with Hackney Parks.

Walks. Walks round Hackney Parks. Several walks set up with Hackney Parks Forum included Hackney Marshes. Last walk in the series is a circular walk round Hackney Marshes including Arena Field before it is lost to the Olympics, Mabley Green, Daubeney Green as well as the path along the River and East Marsh. Leaflets to guide people round the walks will soon be on www.hackneyenvironment.org.uk September 21st Capital Ring Walk. To celebrate the completion of the north London section of Capital Ring. 10.45 from Hackney Wick Station. Walk around Olympics area with Ramblers planned for March 12th 2006.

News from around the Marshes Summer 2005

Rubbish- rubbish from May football event is still in conservation areas. Car park was awash with rubbish the week it was taken over by KICC.

Dog bins. Dog walkers would like more bins including one near bridge onto East Marsh.

Attacks and threatening behaviour. There have been several reports, from cyclists, walkers, dog walkers and even a park ranger. Dog walkers do not like themselves and their dogs being threatened by footballers playing near south car park. Several people have reported being threatened by youths at the north end of the Marshes, especially in the early evening. We are told that police are visiting the Marshes more frequently, but people say they would be more reassured if there were more ranger presence.

Jubilee Wood near north changing rooms: vehicle burned out in the woodland, destroying some young trees. Another damaged seat and bin. These removed- new ones are needed as this is a favourite sitting spot.

Cycle and pedestrian path along Lea Navigation now complete.

Wick Woodland. HMUG have been successful in their bid for an event in spring 2006 to celebrate Woodland’s tenth birthday. The trees have grown fast, especially the row of rare native black poplar trees which are now up to 10 metres high. More details later.

ripe cherry fruits in Wick Woodland.

Along the River Bank. There is a good view of Temple Mills bridge works. The gardeners have been cutting back some trees and undergrowth in this area to let in more light, and cleaning up some of the mass of rubbish blown in from road.

Arena Field. The grass on Arena Field is growing well. Some of the recently planted trees are OK, but many suffered in the dry heat earlier in the summer. Path from Eastway to towpath is now complete and barrier has been removed.

Mabley Green. A Friends group for Mabley Green has been set up. They are talking about ideas for skate park in the hard surface area under the motorway and a community garden on Mabley Green. Bulbs and more young trees will be planted on Mabley Green this autumn and winter. For more information contacthackneyparks@onetel.com

Path from Cowbridge and Millfields. A lovely path along the Navigation. HMUG cleared the path in 2004-5. Now needs to be looked after by Parks. We have tried- so far unsuccessfully- to get cleansing depot to stop the leakage of rubbish onto the path.

Impact of Olympics on Hackney Marshes. Undergrounding the power cables. The contractor for tunnels for electricity supply has been announced. About 50 pylons to be removed from Olympics Precinct. We have asked whether the pylons on Hackney and Leyton Marshes will also be removed. In a press release the London Mayor says he has received ‘clear assurances of Government funding’ for clearance and demolition on Olympics Precinct, and work on Underground and North London line ie Londoners will not have to pay all the costs. London Olympics Bill is going through Parliament. This will set up ODA (Olympics Delivery Authority) and give it planning and compulsory purchase powers, and will limit the use advertisers can make of Olympics name and symbols. Hopefully before the Bill becomes law it will also say a bit more about the duties of ODA to deliver Games which have an element of sustainability and a duty to restore open space after the Games. HMUG have written to Cllr Guy Nicolson (Hackney Cabinet Member for Regeneration) and Meg Hillier (MP for Hackney South) about concerns about loss of open space and wildlife habitats on Arena Field. We have a meeting with Cllr Guy Nicolson in September. For more information about the impact of Olympics on Hackney’s open spaces go

to www.hackneyenvironment.org.uk We are hoping to save the sparrows which live around Arena Field- see wildlife.

Sensory Garden. It has been suggested that we set up a sensory garden on Marshes, based at Tree Nursery. In September HMUG will submit a bid for funding to work with local schools and groups to design and plant a sensory garden and to create a leaflet about plants and trees which appeal to all the senses – sight, sound, smell, taste and touch – on the Marshes. It would use recycled materials. If you would like to get involved, please get in touch.

Hackney Marshes wildlife. Recording butterflies. Butterfly conservation group are looking for people to record butterflies around Hackney Marshes. If you would like to know more contact Anne. Butterflies did well in hot days of summer (see notes from Work Walk) but cold days in August are not so good for them.

Late summer flowers include some aromatic plants- meadowsweet, ladys bedstraw, black horehound, carrot, knapweed, scabious, woody nightshade, ragwort, yarrow, mallow. Orchid flowered again.

Seeds and fruits starting to colour up- red rowan berries, hawthorn, also blackberries.

Sparrows near Arena Field. Our flock of house sparrows are under threat from Olympics. When Arena Field and shrubs by towpath are lost to Olympics loop road the sparrows will lose their home and food supply. HMUG is trying to get some funding to set up nesting boxes and plant bushes on Mabley Green to try and encourage the sparrows to move across the canal.

River and Navigation. Carp and bream reported. Young Canada and Greylag geese arriving from their nesting area at Walthamstow reservoirs. Tern along Navigation. Lots of coot and moorhen youngsters- some second broods. Cockateel and weasel reported. Two ferrets left in Wick Woodland rescued by gardeners and RSPCA, also grass snake found in south car park. No sightings of crocodile reported in national press along Hackney stretch of River Lea!

This newsletter funded by Park Life.

Pears on East Marsh and wasp spider photographed in North Car park.

***********************************************************

Newsletter Spring and Summer 2005.

HMUG Meetings. April 17th 2005 (132th meeting) Mulching Trees in Jubilee Wood. Many of the young trees were mulched to help them get established. Some of the Field maples are now growing well- some up to a metre and a half.

Saturday April 30th 2005. Walk from Hackney Marshes to Allens Gardens. Walk followed Lea towpath to Millfields, Conservation area around Princess of Wales, Springfield Park, Clapton Common to Allens Garden- Hackney’s secret garden. The first in a series of walks connecting Hackney’s Parks set up by Hackney Parks Forum. Self-guided leaflets will be put on hackneyenvironment.org.uk website.

Young trees in Jubilee Wood, looking east towards trees along the bank of River Lea.

Young Black poplars in Tree Nursery.

Sunday May 1st 2005 (133rd meeting). At the Tree Nursery. A joint session with Tree Musketeers. The beds with acorns and chestnuts (planted by school children in October 2004) and black poplar (cuttings taken from Wick Woodland in March 2005) were weeded. Trees raised from seeds and acorns were put into larger pots. Parks Tree staff helped to move large trees into shade to prevent them drying out. A compost heap was started.

May 12th 2005 (134th meeting) Evening walk. Through Wick Woodland and along River bank.

May 29th 2005. Tree Care in Kingfisher Wood. (135th meeting) A warm day, lots of butterflies, and sound of Green woodpecker.

Trees in Wick Woodland.

Lee Navigation: boathouse on left. Trees on Arena Field and area to right to be lost to Olympics precinct.

Saturday June 25th 2005 Walk round Hackney’s canals and southern border. From Well Street Common via Victoria Park and Lea Navigation to Arena Field, Wick Woodland and Hackney Marshes. Third in series of walks connecting Hackney’s parks and open spaces set up by Hackney Parks Forum.

HMUG News Spring and Summer 2005. Decision to hold 2012 Olympics in London. The immediate impact is that Arena Field will soon be lost to Olympics precinct- a high fence and road for heavy vehicles moving contaminated soil will run close to Lee Navigation. Businesses, bus garages, travellers site and Church along Waterden Road will be moved as area is turned into a massive building site. Open land and allotments on east bank of River Lea will be turned into sports venues. White Hart Field (open space between A12 and Ruckholt Road) and a large chunk of East Marsh (both Common Land and Metropolitan Open Space) and trees along Ruckholt Road will soon be lost under a huge land bridge. In spite of questions asked through GLA member, London 2012 have given no information about what land will be provided as exchange land for the loss of this Common Land. Walk on September 4th walk will go round these areas soon to be lost as public open space.

Undergrounding power cables. There is a proposal to put power cables from Millfields electricity sub-station to West Ham underground. Two shafts to provide access to the tunnels will be built at Millfields sub-station, one to be accessed along Millfields Road and another across South Millfields Park. HMUG has objected to the increase in heavy vehicles across South Millfields Park. Drilling was undertaken on the Marshes. We have asked about the pylons from Millfields to Leyton Marsh, but have received no response. It would seem that these will remain and that any improvements for Hackney and Leyton Marshes will be minimal.

Arena Field- hawthorn blossom and view of St Mary at Eton.

Path along Lee Navigation between Millfields and Cowbridge.

Path by Cleansing Depot. HMUG volunteers including young people from Soul in the City have cleared this path over the last year. It now needs to be looked after by the Parks Department to ensure good sightlines and the doorway under the bridge sealed up properly to enable people to feel safe walking and cycling along it. The Cleansing Depot need to work on their fence to stop their rubbish creeping into the planted area and making it look a mess.

Scrambling and quad bikes. Lots of complaints about the noise and risk to people.

Local Beat Officer. PC Naiem Butt, Kings Park Community Beat Officer, Hackney Police Station, 2, Lower Clapton Road, E5 0PA 0207 217 3374Naiem.Butt@met.police.uk.

Trees on East Marsh attacked. Six trees on East Marsh were hacked about with axes or machetes and the tops of trees left on the ground beside the trunks. There is real concern about the people who can carry out such sustained and wanton damage. We have suggested that the trees are replaced in the winter and the grass under the trees allowed to grow longer. This would improve the appearance and biodiversity value of the edge of East Marsh. Isolated trees are more at risk of vandalism to reduce the future risk.

Notice board by south changing rooms has been lowered so we can make use of it. Suggested places for three more boards.

New Head of Parks and Leisure Services is Joyce Guthrie. She will be working on Hackney’s Green Spaces Strategy and Hackney Physically Active- strategy for sports and physical activity.

Football and football events. History of football on Hackney Marshes. Article in Hackney Gazette, based on research by Colm Kerrigan (published in Hackney History Volume 6 2000). Eton Mission in Hackney Wick encouraged youngsters to play games including football and played big part in getting the Lammas rights to the Marshes purchased in 1894 and registered as Common Land. This is the land which is now to be lost to Olympics Precinct.

Football event. A badly managed football event on May 21st brought lots of unauthorised vehicles travelling at speed across the Marshes, putting other users at risk and destroying their quiet enjoyment of the Marshes. They left masses of rubbish behind which still has not been cleared- we photographed on Work Walk on July 9th 2005. We asked for information about insurance position if unauthorised vehicles injure Marsh users. We have received no response from LBH. The advice we have received from elsewhere if that if vehicles are off road, their insurers are unlikely to pay for any damage or personal injury. People are advised to claim from London Borough of Hackney because they have failed in their duty of care in allowing the Marshes to be used in ways which put users at risk.

July 16-17th Seven Aside Event. Seen in Hackney Gazette - HMUG have not been informed, so for details see website: www.london7s.com

Cycle Path along Lea Navigation is more or less complete. There are still concrete barriers at the entrance to the path at Eastway which makes it difficult to get onto the towpath.

Cowbridge still closed. No news on when it might be repaired or replaced.

Geocache. A geocache has been placed in Wick Woodland, and there is a proposal for some markers to form and orienteering course. There is a websitewww.geocache.com

Wildlife on Hackney Marshes.

Birds: there are lots of young birds around the Marshes. Blue tits and great tits are eating the cow parsley seeds. The warblers and long tailed tits have nested around the Marshes and coots and moorhens along the River and Navigation. The swans had seven babies on their nest site by A12 bridge. The four survivors are now quite big, with lots of brown feathers. Next year they and the sparrows which nest along Lea Navigation are under threat from disturbance from Olympics Precinct.

Coots and swans with young.

Insects and butterflies. The warm dry weather has been good for many insects and butterflies. Lots seen on walks and work days including brimstone, meadow brown, speckled wood, skippers, small tortoiseshell, six spot burnett, dragonflies, bees, crickets and grasshoppers.

Dwarf elder with skipper butterfly and other insects.

Burnett on daisies in meadow.

Flowers. Some great flowers on the meadow. Cowslips in the spring, oxeye daisies, scabious St John Wort, knapweed, meadow cranesbill, salad burnett, ragwort, mallow, and wild carrot, giving the meadow a white appearance. Orchid flowered again this year. To ensure that the meadow continues to be good for flowers, the grass needs to be cut once a year and the cuttings removed, to keep the soil as infertile as possible. Also look for teasel, willowherb, large white bindweed flowers and white dwarf elder flowers which attract bees and butterflies.

Giant Hogweed. Take Care. An attractive but nasty plant- liquid from stem can cause bad burns, especially on sunny days. There are many plants across the river on Waltham Forest bank. Lee Valley Park has sprayed plants along the river bank by Pitch and Putt course. There are a few on Marshes, mainly along the east side, close to the native hogweed, which has smaller leaves and flowers and is not as dangerous as its Giant cousin. Giant hogweed was grown in a garden in Clapton in C19, and has spread since then.

Trees and Shrubs. Wick Woodland is looking great: the paths have been cut wide, making it easy to walk along them and watch the birds (and even a fox if you are lucky) as they flit across from the bushes along the path. Some of the bushes in Wick Woodland and North Wood are well established and have fruit and berries, including buckthorn (black fruit), alder buckthorn (red berries, a food source for brimstone butterflies), vibernum (clusters of white flowers and red berries), spindle (pink and orange seeds), and apple. On July 9th walk we found lots of ripe cherries and some sloes on the hedge along Homerton Road. More of the mulberry trees on East Marsh have produced fruit this year. The fruit of the black mulberries is good to eat- and is quickly eaten by blackbirds. The white mulberries were grown as food for silkworms- their fruit does not taste too good. Some of the rowan trees planted near south car park have died: would be good to see them replaced and grass allowed to grow under them to create Rowan Wood.

Cherry in Wick Woodland.

Mulberry, East Marsh.

**************************************************************

HMUG Newsletter Spring 2005

February 24th 2005. (128th meeting). Camelot Team Challenge. On a cold and

wet day, HMUGers worked with Groundwork Green Team and Team Challenge group from Camelot. Team Challenge group helped to thicken up Jubilee Wood, mulched the hedge in Tree Nursery, helped to create a bed for keeping young trees, and care for some Black Poplars in Wick Woodland, and mulch sweet chestnuts at the north end of the Marshes. They came to show their support for 2012 London Bid- but went away with a better understanding of why local people do not want their open space built over and turned into car and coach park. Since then HMUGers have since completed the mulching of the sweet chestnut trees and hedge along Homerton Road.

Working in Jubilee Wood and in Tree Nursery.

February 26th (129th meeting). Planting and Mulching in Kingfisher

Wood. HMUG planted about 10 standard fruit trees (apple, cherry, and pear), filled in gaps

with young trees (hawthorn, filed maple and hornbeam) and mulched many of the trees. Hackney’s tree gang delivered lots of wood mulch: some was used at this meeting and the rest in future activity days.

Mulching young trees in Kingfisher Wood.

March 12th (130th meeting). Work on Black Poplar in Wick Woodland. A small

group HMUGers worked hard cutting back the lower branches of Black Poplars along the Main Avenue in Wick Woodland. These Black Poplars were planted about nine years ago. They have grown quickly and are now over 7 metres tall. Some trees have very heavy lower branches which are splitting off from the trunk, putting the health and well-being of the trees at risk. We hope this work will encourage them to put on growth higher up.

Working with native black poplars in Wick Woodland.

March 13th Ramblers walk from Mile End to Clapton Common took in Lea Navigation,. Arena Field, Wick Woodland, and Old River Lea.

Gainsborough School. Two classes of children from Gainborough School have been working in Wick Woodland. They braved snow and cold weather to identify trees, measure tree growth, look for birds and mini-beasts, and find out about the history. The children produced some great work including maps of Wick Woodland, collages of materials from trees, drawing of minibeasts and food chains. This work was supported by Green Gateway and Events in Parks funding.

Looking at trees and birds on snowy days in Wick Woodland.

Identifying and drawing mini-beasts found in Wick Woodland.

FEBRUARY 2005.

Activities supported by Green Gateway.

Frost and rainbow on Hackney Marshes

Saturday January 15th 2005 (124th meeting). Walk following Capital Ring from Hackney Marshes via Springfield to Clissold Park. This walk linked some of Hackney’s parks and green open spaces. Through Wick Woodland, newly planted woodland areas and the meadow. Millfields: new trees and the largest collection of elms in Hackney. Lea Bridge area and 1840s school for the barge children. Tall blocks planned at OTV dock and banks of River Lea, and two storey school on MOL near Springfield Park. Springfield Park: views over Marshes. Lebanon cedar and mimosa blossom in front garden. Russell Miller (Tree Musketeers) guided us round some trees in Abney Park including Bhutan pines and yellow buckeye. For walk round Abney Park click here. To Clissold Park: row of gingkos, large holm oaks, plane with five trunks. For information about the Capital Ring see www.tfl.gov.uk

Black poplar on Hackney Marshes and mimosa in garden near Jubilee school.

Sunday January 23rd and Saturday February 5th 2005 (125th meeting). Two walks around the northern end of the proposed Olympic Precinct.

Thirty one people considered sites and facilities, what would be destroyed, and potential legacy. East Marsh: trees to go and pitches concreted over for land bridge and coach and car park. For tour of East Marsh click here. Eastway Sports Centre: trees to be destroyed, velodrome as legacy. Road being cleaned up for IOC visit. White Hart Field- home to over 204 kinds of invertebrates, including a UK BAP species will be covered in concrete. Cycle Circuit (lots of children and adults cycling) and Bully Point nature Reserve to be flattened for hockey pitches. Cycle Circuit to be restored in parkland afterwards. Waterden Road to be widened for Stratford City Development, and covered by concourse for Olympics. Arena Field (sparrows live in bushes) will be lost to high fence, sports in industrial sheds, one of which would be retained as legacy.

Saturday January 29th and Sunday 30th January 2005 (126th meeting). A weekend of tree planting and tree care.

18 people worked in Jubilee Wood (close to Jugglers and Daubeney Bridge) mulching and planting trees, and collecting rubbish. Woodland (first planted in 2001/2) was thickened up with ash, hornbeam, hazel and dogwood and four standard trees (elm, rowan, and birch).

Work in Jubilee Wood

Thursday February 10th. 2005 (127th meeting). Tree Work in Wick Woodland. Nine volunteers joined the Tree Gang to prune the Black poplars in Wick

Woodland. Cuttings were taken to grow new trees in the Tree Nursery.

Lifting the crown of a Black poplar in Wick Woodland

*******************************************************

Hackney Marsh News Winter 2005.

2012 London Olympics Bid. Independent (Jan 1st 2005) discussed local concerns

about the loss of open space and Common Land, trees and football pitches. This (and other articles) can be read at www.nolondon2012.org. Follow up piece in Avenues had a photo of HMUG volunteers in Wick Woodland. Hackney and Leyton League were on Sky Sport and HMUG and footballers were interviewed for a film for Office of Deputy Prime Minister. IOC is visiting London on February 16-19th. They seem happy to receive comments at IOC, Chateau de Vidy, Case Postale 356, 1001 Lausanne, Switzerland. Non-Olympics Plan. In spite of a commitment to produce Non-Olympics Plan at same time as Olympics Plan (January 2004), there have been delays and this Plan will be not be published

before July 2005. This means there is no Plan B in place if London does not get the Bid, leaving businesses in limbo.

Tree Preservation Orders are being considered for seven Black Poplars and row of 24

ash trees on East Marsh and seven Gateway trees (six Black Poplar and ash) at Lee Interchange end of Wick Woodland.

Starlings roosting in ash trees along Ruckholt Road

Lee Interchange and Waterden Road. Planning Application to increase size of this

junction was reduced slightly to ensure that no Metropolitan Land was lost and the road did not threaten the seven Gateway trees (January 31st 2005).

White Hart Field. Between Ruckholt Road and A12 motorway, White Hart Field is part of

Hackney Marshes, Common Land and Metropolitan Open Space. Some of the Field was compulsory purchased for M11 Link Road. It now seems that the rest has been bought up by LDA for Olympics Bid. HMUG were not notified of the purchase. We are trying to find out what exchange land was offered when the Field was purchased. If the London Bid is successful this open space would be covered in concrete.

East Marsh. For a virtual walk round East Marsh www.hackneyenvironment.org.uk. Trees

featured include 100 year old black poplars, mulberries, cherries, ash and pear trees. They would be chopped down for Olympics car and coach park.

Arena Field. Woodlands Environmental who have been working on Arena Field say they

are going to seed and plant trees over the next few months. They will water the trees if the summer is dry and replace any losses in October 2005.

Storm clouds over Arena Field

Work continues on Temple Mills Bridge and Pedestrian and cycle path.

Bridge: one part of old bridge has been demolished. Work has started on the new bridge- concrete bands protect the work on the river bed. Cycle path: to the south of A12 bridge the mallow bush with pink flowers has been cut down. The contractors assure us that they will not cut down the trees and bushes where the sparrows roost.

Danger: vehicle speeding round Marshes at weekends. Seems to be

delivering food for sale on Sundays at north changing rooms. Complaints were made but the vehicle was seen traveling just as fast the following weekend.

Model Aircraft. A sign is going up soon to make it clear that flying model aircraft is not

allowed. This should make the Marshes safer and quieter. Some of the aircraft have wing spans up to two metres. The noise can be heard all over the Marshes.

HMUG activities on Hackney Marshes under threat. We have been told that

we may be charged fees and may have to provide deposits and indemnities to undertake our activities. HMUG is joining other Park User groups in objecting to this. Businesses running commercial events and events financed by large grants rightly have to provide deposits to cover any damage or pay for clearing up their rubbish. Our activities such as tree planting and collecting rubbish help to improve the Marshes and our walks encourage people to use Hackney Marshes.

Wildlife and Hackney Marshes. A survey of the wildlife of Hackney Marshes finds: • Native Black Poplar population along the banks of the River Lea, is almost certainly the largest in the London area. • White Hart Field has very significant floristic and invertebrate biodiversity: these include the spectacular metallic green chafer Cetonia aurata, and another chafer Trichius zonatus which is very rare in southern England, and the scarce bumblebee Bombus humilis (the Brown-banded Carder Bee). This bee is a UK BAP species that tends to occur only in sites with large areas of suitable habitat. • This scarce bumblebee Bombus humilis (the Brown-banded Carder Bee) was also found on meadow.

• The rare fly Myennis octopunctata associated with poplar wood and known from only a handful of records in the UK was found on the wood-pile in the south car park. • The old Crack Willows growing along the River Lea are an important site for mosses. Mosses reported include Orthotrichum tenellum, new to Middlesex.

Meadow: the grass has been cut. To ensure a good display of wild flowers, the grass needs

to be removed. Otherwise the soil becomes more fertile and sustains fewer kinds of plants and

flowers. Lower Level: some elders have been cut back to let light in and encourage a greater

variety of plants. Two acacia trees have been planted near Depot. A lime tree uprooted by strong winds has been cut up and left on site. Lesser spotted woodpecker: possible sighting on the Marshes. Much less common

than the greater spotted woodpecker (black, red and white and hammering sound) and green woodpecker (green and red, swooping flying pattern, feeds on ants). First signs of spring: white flowers on prunus on East Marsh and at Marshgate Bridge.

Hawthorn leaves coming out. Flowers on white and red dead nettle (near Daubeney Bridge).

Pussy willow on large tree in depot and on East Marsh. Song thrushes singing in tall trees round the Marshes – East Marsh, Wick Woodland,

Lower Level, and near North Car Park. Also song from great tit, robin, and chaffinch.

early prunus flowers snowdrops

hawthorn leaves alder catkins