Introducing the LoveLea Festival

Our River Lea is at the heart of so many communities, but it faces huge challenges—from pollution, invasive species, and habitat loss to the need for greater access and care. In response, local residents, organisations, and community groups have come together to build a stronger alliance for collective action.

From Saturday 17 May to Sunday 8 June, a series of events will take place across the Lea catchment, each planned and delivered independently by different groups but united by a shared commitment to protecting and celebrating the river.

Leaside Spring Open Day - Saturday 17 May

11:00 - 16:00

Leaside

34 Spring Lane

Hackney

E5 9HQ

www.leaside.org.uk

Join Leaside’s Annual Spring Open Day!

Kick off the LoveLea Festival with a day of adventure, community, and celebration! Try out paddling, biking, and canal boating with our fun taster sessions, or get hands-on fixing your bike at the Bike Kitchen workshop.

Pip Rowlandson from Paddle UK will be running hands on Floating Pennywort Workshops and INNS talks to raise awareness of the Invasive non native species harming our river Lea.

ecoACTIVE will lead children habitat exploration activities such as invertebrates hunting and pond dipping.

Enjoy delicious food, live music, and inspiring stalls featuring local organisations dedicated to the River Lea. We will have talks, short film screenings, and practical environmental activities for all ages.

Come along, try something new, learn and take action, connect with your community and have a LoveLea time by the water!

Booking

Free to attent.

£2 taster sessions can be book here

Beating the Bounds of the Old River Lea - Sunday 25 May

14:00 - 16:00

Save Lea Marshes

https://www.saveleamarshes.org.uk/

Beating the Bounds of the Old River Lea!

‘Beating the Bounds’ is a traditional event on Rogation Sunday that was resurrected locally by the New Lammas Lands Defence Committee. It traditionally involves a walk to mark significant boundaries, like the boundaries of a parish, a manor, commons or another important public open space.

This often takes place during Rogationtide, in springtime, when prayers for a good harvest are offered. Willow sticks decorated with flowers and ribbons are carried and used to hit important boundary markers.

Save Lea Marshes hosts the event, with a modern twist, every two years. This year, our walk will be river-themed and we will mark the boundaries of the Old River Lea which meanders through Hackney Marshes, exploring its rich history, and possible futures.

There will be three options for the walk (short, intermediate and long). The complete walk is 2.44 miles, ending at Hackney Marshes User Centre.

Booking

No bookimg required. Meet at 14:00 on the towpath outside The Princess of Wales pub - see the route here

Lee Navigation Boat Trip - Monday 26 May

12:00

East London Garden Society

https://www.elgs.org.uk/

Free boat trip organised by East London Garden Society

Boarding @ The Limehouse Cut, Limehouse, Town Hall, 646 Commercial Road, E14 7HA (nearest stations, West Ferry DLR and Limehouse DLR and C2C).

The trip will include speakers from East London Garden Society, Friends of Roding River, Save Lea Marshes and Hackney Buzz Line. It will pause at Three Mills Island and finish at the Hackney Marshes, with maybe some time for a short walk.

There is a limit of 50 people on board this trip.

Donations accepted via the East London Garden Society website.

This event is also supported by Go Parks London.

Booking

Limited spaces. Book by emailing eastlondongardensociety@gmail.com

London Rivers Week Guided Tour of Walthamstow Wetlands - Thursday 5 June

11:00 -12:30

London Wildlife Trust, Walthamstow Wetlands,

2 Forest Rd,

London,

N17 9NH

Join us to learn about the reservoirs, ponds & streams that make up Walthamstow Wetlands and the different wildlife that inhabit them.

Booking

Book your free space here

Sketch the Wetland - Saturday 7 June

13:00 - 14:30

Chestnut Fields Wetland

Thames 21 and High5 Workshops

Join us for a wonderful day of creativity and nature at Chestnuts Field Wetlands! Whether you're a pro artist or a complete beginner, this relaxed sketching session is the perfect chance to explore the beauty of the ponds and the nearby Dagenhambrook.

What to bring: we will be providing materials but please bring your own if you desire. We will be sketching from picnic blankets on the ground so please bring a little cushion if you want to be more comfortable.

Let’s unwind, create, and connect with the natural world together!

Saturday 31 May

10.30 - 17:00

We the Lea

London National Park City

The walk begins at the picnic benches in Walthamstow with an event from Craft. We will follow the Lea Valley route along the river for six miles, until we reach Cody Dock.

The walk seeks to bring together communities and celebrate the wonder of the Lee Valley and what it means to those who live by it. We hope to showcase the work of local groups dedicated to restoring and protecting the river and enhancing the environment for people and wildlife.

We invite individuals and community groups to join us, bringing symbols of our collective dreams for the valley under the banner 'We The Lea'. The route is flat and divided into sections by access to public transport so you can join for as much as you like!

Booking

Book your FREE space here

Get active in the Lee Valley

Lifewalk - Fishers Green - 22 April

Cheshunt Wellbeing Walk

Lifewalk - Lee Valley White Water Centre - 24 April

Our Parks: Beginners Bootcamp

Lifewalk - Gunpowder Park -25 April

Turnford Brook Wellbeing Walk

Our Parks: Legs, Bums and Tums

Lifewalk - Lee Valley White Water Centre - 27 April

Lifewalk - Hooks Marsh - 29 April

Cheshunt Wellbeing Walk

Our Parks: Beginners Bootcamp

Our Parks: Legs, Bums and Tums

Cheshunt Wellbeing Walk

Our Parks: Beginners Bootcamp

Turnford Brook Wellbeing Walk

Our Parks: Legs, Bums and Tums

Cheshunt Wellbeing Walk

Our Parks: Beginners Bootcamp

Our Parks: Legs, Bums and Tums

Cheshunt Wellbeing Walk

Our Parks: Beginners Bootcamp

Live Longer Better in Broxbourne Celebration Day

Turnford Brook Wellbeing Walk

Our Parks: Legs, Bums and Tums

Cheshunt Wellbeing Walk

Our Parks: Beginners Bootcamp

Our Parks: Legs, Bums and Tums

Cheshunt Wellbeing Walk

Our Parks: Beginners Bootcamp

Turnford Brook Wellbeing Walk

Our Parks: Legs, Bums and Tums

Cheshunt Wellbeing Walk

Our Parks: Beginners Bootcamp

Our Parks: Legs, Bums and Tums

Cheshunt Wellbeing Walk

Our Parks: Beginners Bootcamp

Turnford Brook Wellbeing Walk

Our Parks: Legs, Bums and Tums

Cheshunt Wellbeing Walk

Our Parks: Beginners Bootcamp

Take a read of our blog

Easter celebrations for everyone!

Spotlight on... spring wildlife

Spotlight on... working for wildlife

Upcoming events

Lifewalk - Fishers Green - 22 April

Cheshunt Wellbeing Walk

Lifewalk - Lee Valley White Water Centre - 24 April