millfields orchard path destroyed

Back at the end of 2011, we did a posting on our opposition to Hackney Council's decision to build a path through the orchard on south millfields: millfields to lose its pastoral character Our view remains that Millfields is common land and building on it should be resisted.

A reminder of what we had:

 .... and what Hackney Council delivered:

 And this is the damage done by Council heavy vehicles treating the path as a road:

The interlocking panels of hexagonal cells which hold the gravel are in pieces and will need to be replaced. Extra gravel has been poured on top of the path over recent days in a clumsy attempt to hide the underlying damage. The heavy vehicles using the path maybe be compressing the roots of the nearby trees that the "low impact" path was supposed to safeguard.

Losing hackney marshes?

Save Lea Marshes has launched a petition calling on Hackney Council to safeguard Hackney Marsh.

The Marsh is common land: Free to roam across; open to all; a place to appreciate nature; walk the dog; in all  seasons.

The Marsh is also an invaluable year-round sport and leisure facility: for amateur football clubs; cricket teams; joggers; and power walkers.

Hackney Council, entrusted with the stewardship of our Marsh, now propose to close the Marsh for an entire season: this year and every year; to make money to fill their coffers.

Please do take a look at the petition and lend your support.

Also take a look at this youtube trailer from 'Losing the Marshes' (by Kim Oser) about the impact of the (then pending) Olympics on the marshes.

People's personal testimony on the importance of the Marsh to their physical, mental and spiritual well-being presents a compelling case for active resistance to the on-going threats to one of east London's most important green lungs.

tender for millfields mobile café

Good news: Hackney council has issued a parks catering tender for temporary mobile café facilities for Millfields (and its other parks).

The closing date for applications is 5th April. We understand the emphasis in the selection of the successful bid(s) will be on supporting small local businesses and sustainability. If you do know any small businesses (a local narrow boat?) you think might be interested - please do let them know. 

The council has advised the café facilities will be trialled in several locations in the park to see where works best in terms of footfall.

Metropolitan Water Board Works by Cyril Mann

We popped along to the Vestry House Museum last weekend to see the Walthamstow High Street exhibition - extended until 12 May and worth a visit.  We particularly liked the photographs of Chris Dransfield and Jon Stephenson that capture the diversity and vibrancy of the market today.

Whilst there, we were really also pleased to see Cyril Mann's painting of Lea Bridge Waterworks on display (the copy of it above doesn't really do it justice). There's a really interesting video about Cyril's life and work on the Lea Bridge heritage website: the view from the bridge. Do check it out.

rewind (on walthamstow marshes)

Devlin FT. Diane Birch - Rewind from Gas&Electric on Vimeo.

the future of Hackney marshes under threat

spaghetti (the wave pictures)

Spaghetti - The Wave Pictures from Darren Hayman on Vimeo.

millfields users group agm: wed 20 march

venus (nick mulvey)

Nick Mulvey - Venus (live) from Greg Taylor on Vimeo.

look at Miss Ohio (nick mulvey)

walthamstow wetlands consultation event

London Wildlife Trust are holding a consultation event on establishing the creation of Walthamstow Wetlands. LWT advises it is "a chance to gain further ideas and opinions from the local communities in regards to the creation of Walthamstow Wetlands, following on from the previous consultations in December. We would like to engage with the Friends of Waltham Forest, Hackney and Haringey again and would like to offer them a chance to walk around Walthamstow Reservoirs, discussing the site as we walk. Therefore, there will be some questionnaires and discussion involved during the walk."
LWF has also set up a Walthamstow Wetlands website where you can take part in a survey and leave comments. The website doesn't include details on the proposed projects for the Wetlands but you can find more details in:  Upper Lea Valley Landscape Strategy (part 1) and Upper Lea Valley Landscape Strategy (part 2).