tree planting on millfields south - sunday 3rd feb

email from the MUG's chair:

On Sunday 3rd Feb six new trees will be planted on South Millfields.

Do come along and help we start at 10am probably till about 2pm. The session will be run by The Tree Musketeers.

Even if you can't help do come along and learn how to plant a tree correctly.

slow club - hackney marsh

Wintery Wetlands Walk: East Reservoir 11am on 2 February

the battle for the people's marshes

indigo

As well as inspiring musicians and being used for song videos, the marshes and the lea have also captured the imagination of film-makers. A short film called Indigo by Jack Price was partly shot on walthamstow marshes and the lea towpath a couple of years ago. If the trailer makes you feel you'd like to watch the film - it's available for download on itunes (for a couple of quid). It's really powerful, we really enjoyed it and would highly recommend it.


INDIGO Trailer from Jack Price on Vimeo.

balance strength weight

Wassail at Ferry Boat Inn apple orchard: Saturday 19 January

this event is still going ahead, despite the snow - it should help make it a magical evening!

Email rec'd from Katy Andrews (local activist & historian) 

A Wassailing visit will be made to the ancient apple orchard at the Ferry Boat Inn on Forest Road N17 (bus 123, 230, nearest station Tottenham Hale 8 minutes walk), to bless the trees and encourage them to grow and bear a good crop of apples in the coming year. 

Wassailers will meet from 5.30pm at the Inn for apple tree wassailing this coming Saturday 19th Jan, with the ceremony starting at 6.00pm with Morris dancing. There will be singing, dancing, toasting the apple trees, making a lot of noise, etc. 

Behind the Inn is one of the oldest surviving orchards in north-east London, but it’s now quite small so the event will be fairly short. Wassailing hasn't been done at the Ferry Boat Inn within living memory, so the ceremony will be based on other traditional Wassails which have been carried out annually for centuries in the cider-apple orchards of Kent and the West Country. 

The Blackhorse & Standard Morris dancers will give a short display, then a wassail (“waes hael!” is Old English for “Be healthy!”) will be given to the pub. Then the apple trees in the orchard will be wassailed by singing to them and toasting them individually. Everyone will then make as much noise as possible, to dispel any lurking evil spirits in the branches! 

The Wassailers will then return to the Inn for hot mulled cider and any other refreshments they care to buy. Please come along and join in to watch; accompanied children are also very welcome. 

Song-sheets will be provided. Bring a pocket torch and something to make a noise with! Please wrap up very warm and wear sensible shoes and thick socks!! 

Katy Andrews

'love lost' on walthamstow marshes

The last song in our musical interlude. This one, by the excellent Temper Trap, was filmed on walthamstow and leyton marshes a couple of years ago. Brings back memories of school PE runs along the lea from stonebridge lock.

'home' on walthamstow marshes

Really enjoying Russell Swallow and The Wolf's Sunrise Mountain EP, which includes this track 'Home'. The EP is said to have been "born out of Sunday roast dinners, long bright walks across Walthamstow marshes and late night whiskey sessions".

state of wonder - a hymn to the river lea

Scanners' new song State of Wonder - a hymn to the river lea - is available for free download at Dim Mak.