The nature conservation task on Sunday 2nd January 2022 is at the Waterworks Nature Reserve, off Lea Bridge Road, and will involve scrub management. We will be removing buddleia and bramble. 

The task will reclaim the meadow areas from the encroaching scrub to create mosaic basking areas for the resident reptile population. The task will also exposed the dormant soil seed bank. Recent plant sightings at the nature reserve have included the unusual broomrape (Orobanche L.) which is a parasitic plant that has no chlorophyll and relies on its host for nutrients and water. 

The task will create safer areas for the nature reserve’s reptiles to be able to bask and increase the sizes of the many hibernaculum in the Waterworks Nature Reserve. 

Recently bird sightings have included firecrests, bullfinches, treecreepers and common snipe in the nature reserve.

All are welcome to join us and no experience is required. If You are curious about what happens on a LBCV task, one of our regular volunteers did the following live video on the October 2020 task

Please wear appropriate clothing and stout footwear for the task and weather. We will be working in an area with bramble and nettles, so closed shoes/boots and long trousers and sleeves would be best. Kneeling will also be required so if you have knee pads please bring them.

Everybody is welcome to volunteer with LBCV. No  experience is required. Please wear sturdy waterproof footwear and appropriate clothing for the work and weather. We will be working with brambles and nettles and sharp tools and the paths are wet at the moment. 

We are out of lockdown but some restrictions still need to apply for LBCV to safely be able to run volunteer tasks in the Lea Valley Park, with the restrictions below.

• If you are ill, feel ill or have been in contact with somebody who is self-isolating please do not volunteer.
• Please take a test if you are not sure.
• Please wash your hands before the task in warm water or hand sanitiser.
• Use gloves when handling all tools, touching gates or other items in the park
• Please maintain a social distance of at least 1m in the container.
• Wash your hands before eating or drinking in warm water or hand sanitiser

LBCV can supply  wellington boots to work in, please arrive in plenty of time at the Waterworks, to select your pair.

LBCV will provide tools, training, gloves, coffee, tea and biscuits. Please bring some lunch and water.

Please arrive from 9:30am onwards at the Waterworks Centre Lammas Road, off Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, London E10 7QT, for a 10am departure to collect tools and gloves. The meeting place is by the bike racks in front of the Waterworks Centre, across from the former Greyhound Public House on Lea Bridge Road. If you use what three words ///guises.manage.entry is the location.

Please lock bicycles to the stands in front of the Waterworks Centre. There is ample free car parking. Dogs are not allowed in the Nature Reserve so please do not cross the bridge with dogs or ride bicycles in the nature reserve. Dogs are still welcome on some tasks, but not this one, as we are in an enclosed nature reserve.

We should be finished by 3-4pm.

Volunteering and doing a conservation task with LBCV in North East London, is great way to meet new people, learn new skills, use old skills, be more active, get closer to nature, make a difference and have some fun with like-minded people in the Lea Valley Regional Park.