Tag Archives: first Sunday

October 2024 Nature Conservation Task

Walthamstow Marshes Ditch
Walthamstow Marshes Ditch

Walthamstow Marshes – willow removal along ditches

On Sunday, 6th October 2024, LBCV will be working alongside the ditches on Walthamstow Marshes to remove willow in this SSSI Nature Reserve. To join us, meet at the Waterworks Centre on Lammas Road from 9:30 am to 10 am.

Everyone is welcome to volunteer with LBCV. No experience is required. Please wear sturdy footwear and appropriate clothing for the work and weather conditions, and apply sunscreen—some will be available in the welfare bucket. Waders will be provided for those working in the ditch. We will be working near brambles, close to nettles, and with sharp tools. We only conduct tasks on the first Sunday of every month, so a little bad weather will not stop us. We are no longer in lockdown.

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August 2024 Conservation Task

Walthamstow Marshes Ditch
Walthamstow Marshes Ditch

Sunday 4th August                   

Walthamstow Marshes Reedmace removal in ditches

On Sunday 4th  August 2024, LBCV will be in the ditches on Walthamstow Marshes to remove reedmace to open up this waterway for dragonflies and the watervole communities in this SSSI Nature Reserve. To join us, meet at the Waterworks Centre, Lammas Road from 9:30am – 10am.  Conservation Task Details The aim of the task is to remove some reedmace by either pulling the rhizomes or cutting below the water level to drown it. This will provide open water areas for dragonflies to hunt. While doing the task we need to cautious as the ditch contains the invasive azolla, mosquito fern, duckweed fern and we must take precautions to stop it spread to other parts of the ditch and nearby waterbodies.  We will work around any nesting birds. The photos show a moorehen nest with 5 eggs and the moorhen sitting back on the nest as we packed away in 2021 Water Voles – Full Legal Protection In England & Wales Water voles were given full legal protection in England & Wales on the 6th April 2008 by provisions under section 9 of Schedule 5 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). Schedule 5 of this Act makes it an offence to intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to any structure or place that a water vole uses for shelter or protection. It is also an offence to disturb, kill or injure a water vole or handle a water vole without a licence. (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981). Disturbing or harming a water vole, damaging its habitat or destroying or blocking water vole burrows could lead to prosecution. Offences carry a maximum penalty of £5,000.

Everybody is welcome to volunteer with LBCV. No  experience is required. Please wear sturdy footwear and appropriate clothing for the work and weather – please wear sunscreen some will be available in the welfare bucket. Waders will be provided for those working in the ditch, We will be working with brambles close to  nettles and with sharp tools. We only do tasks on the first Sunday of every month so a little bad weather will not stop a task. 
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
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. 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, including this one, as we are in an open nature reserve.
We should be finished by 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.
Moorhen eggs Ditch Walthamstow Marshes

March 2023 Volunteer Nature Conservation Task

Sunday 5th March 2023

Walthamstow Marshes Bramble and scrub control

Nature conservation task on Walthamstow Marshes. This is a change to March’s planned task as the nesting season has started early this year, so the scrub management and bramble bash task will not go ahead. Instead we will be adding to the marshes’ hibernaculum and helping to stop the increasing of the nutrient content of the marsh’s soil structure, leading to greater fertility and a loss of this unique ecosytem in the Lea Valley.

This is the final task in our 2022/23 calender more tasks will apear when our 2023/24 list becomes available. As always we will be runnng volunteer nature conservation tasks on the first Sunday of every month from the Waterworks Nature Reserve in North East London.

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January 2023 Conservation Task

Sunday 8th January 2022

Waterworks Nature Reserve (park pathway) Blackthorn Scallop and dead hedge

## PLEASE NOTE ## THIS TASK IS NOT ON THE FIRST SUNDAY ## Happy New Year !

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January 2023 Nature Conservation Task

Sunday 8th January 2023 Lea Bridge Conservation Volunteers will be moving cut reed to increase the hibernaclum on Walthamstow Marsh, increasing the biodiversity. 

There may be a bramble bash too. 

Coppicied coup 2022
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 October's 2020 task

Please wear appropriate layered clothing and stout footwear for the task and weather. We will be working in an area with bramble and sharp reeds, so closed shoes/boots and long trousers and sleeves would be best.

Join Us
Wet Marsh 2023
Everybody is welcome to volunteer with LBCV. No experience is required. Please wear sturdy footwear and appropriate clothing for the work and weather. We may be working with brambles, sharp reeds and sharp tools and the marsh paths are very 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.
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. Best to bring an extra pair of socks to avoid blisters. 

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 must be kept on a lead while they are in the area of the task on the North Marsh.

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.

Goodbye Charlie
Charlie 2012 - 2022
It is with great sadness, I have to report Charlie will no longer be popping by to visit us on our marsh tasks, as he passed away at the end of 2022. 

My deepest sympathies go to his owners Ivo and Peter, 
Wet Marsh 2023
Wet Marsh 2023

December 2022 Volunteer Coppicing Conservation Task

Sunday 11th December

### CHANGE OF DATE NOT 4TH ###

Walthamstow Marshes Coppicing Horseshoe Thicket

Our annual coppicing task creates biodiversity in the thicket by creating different light levels via the changing the canopy cover. We will also create a valuable ecosystem of lying deadwood with the felled trunks becoming a carbon store. Standing deadwood is not possible in such a public woodland.

A walk around the thicket will enable you to see the various coups (coppiced areas) from previous years’ tasks, last year’s coup being the most verdant as the seed bank has been exposed to light for the first time in over a decade.

LBCV have been coppicing Horseshoe Thicket for over 20 years. All people (18+) are welcome to join us no experience necessary. Just turn up at the Waterworks Centre, around 9:45am, to help us move the tools to the site. We do the monthly tasks in all weathers, so please dress for the weather.

Copicing Novemeber 2020 task

October 2022 Conservation Task

Another year'ss willow removal
The willow removers

Sunday 9th October

Walthamstow Marshes Scrub/ Willow removal along ditches

Please note a change to our usual first Sunday task date.

October 2022 Nature Conservation Task




On Sunday 9th October 2021, Lea Bridge Conservation Volunteers will be doing a nature conservation task on Walthamstow Marshes. ( See below for more task date changes ) The work on this Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is being done as part of the Higher Level Stewardship agreement with Natural England.

The task is scrub management, which will involve removing invasive willow and ash from along the ditch, which will aid the Water Vole population. Removing the scrub will maintain the marsh as a wetland meadow habitat. There will also be a litter pick but the focus of the task is removing the willow and larger bramble stems. 

No experience is needed. LBCV will provide the training and tools along with the tea, coffee and biscuits. Bring your own packed lunch and water. Volunteers should wear sturdy footwear and appropriate clothing for the task and weather.Join UsEverybody is welcome to volunteer with LBCV. No  experience is required. Please wear sturdy footwear and appropriate clothing for the work and weather. We will be working with brambles, thistles and nettles and sharp tools. 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 volunteerPlease wash your hands before the task in warm water or hand sanitiser.Wash your hands before eating or drinking in warm water or hand sanitiserLBCV can supply  wellington boots to work in, please arrive in plenty of time 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, including this one.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.Dates UpdateThis October task is a week after the usual first Sunday date. If you turned up last week apologies but the Website, Twitter account and  Facebook pages were updated and a warning task email was sent. Where else do look for information about LBCV. Also LVRPA Volunteers were also sent notification. MORE DATE CHANGES The coppicing task due to be on Sunday 4th December will be on Sunday 11 December The January 2023 task will be on 8th January not New Year’s Day. 

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September 2022 Conservation Task

Filter Beds
Waterworks Nature Reserve -Filter Bed

Sunday 4th September

Waterworks Nature Reserve reed bed management

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September 2022 Nature Conservation Task

On Sunday 4 September 2022, LBCV will be in the reedbeds at The Waterworks Nature Reserve preparing the filter beds for the winter migratory birds by helping the rangers open up channels in the reedbeds and stopping the beds from drying out  from too much dead vegetation. Depending on volunteer numbers there may also be a chance to help preserve some architectural heritage by preventing decay caused by the invasive vegetation on/in the bed walls To join us, meet at the Waterworks Centre, Lammas Road from 9:30am – 10am. See below for more details. 
Join Us
Everybody is welcome to volunteer with LBCV. No  experience is required. Please wear sturdy footwear and appropriate clothing for the work and weather. We will be working with sharp reeds and possibly nettles and bramble – so please, please wear long trousers and sleeves. We are out of the lockdowns 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 wash your hands before the task in water or hand sanitiser.
Please maintain a social distance of at least 1m in the container.
Wash your hands before eating or drinking in water or hand sanitiser, 

LBCV can supply  wellington boots to work in, please arrive in plenty of time to select your pair. How wet it is under foot, depends upon the rain between now and Sunday. LBCV will provide tools, training, gloves, coffee, teas, with decaf alternatives available 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, just not this one.
We should be finished by 4 – 4:30pm.

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.

August 2022 Conservation Task

Walthamstow Marshes Ditch
Walthamstow Marshes Ditch

Sunday 7th August                   

Walthamstow Marshes Reedmace removal in ditches

On Sunday 7th  August 2021, LBCV will be in the ditches on Walthamstow Marshes to remove reedmace to open up this waterway for dragonflies and the watervole communities in this SSSI Nature Reserve. To join us, meet at the Waterworks Centre, Lammas Road from 9:30am – 10am.  Conservation Task Details The aim of the task is to remove some reedmace by either pulling the rhizomes or cutting below the water level to drown it. This will provide open water areas for dragonflies to hunt. While doing the task we need to cautious as the ditch contains the invasive azolla, mosquito fern, duckweed fern and we must take precautions to stop it spread to other parts of the ditch and nearby waterbodies.  We will work around any nesting birds. The photos show a moorehen nest with 5 eggs and the moorhen sitting back on the nest as we packed away in 2021 Water Voles – Full Legal Protection In England & Wales Water voles were given full legal protection in England & Wales on the 6th April 2008 by provisions under section 9 of Schedule 5 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). Schedule 5 of this Act makes it an offence to intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to any structure or place that a water vole uses for shelter or protection. It is also an offence to disturb, kill or injure a water vole or handle a water vole without a licence. (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981). Disturbing or harming a water vole, damaging its habitat or destroying or blocking water vole burrows could lead to prosecution. Offences carry a maximum penalty of £5,000.

Everybody is welcome to volunteer with LBCV. No  experience is required. Please wear sturdy footwear and appropriate clothing for the work and weather – please wear sunscreen some will be available in the welfare bucket. Waders will be provided for those working in the ditch, We will be working with brambles close to  nettles and with sharp tools. We only do tasks on the first Sunday of every month so a little bad weather will not stop a task. 
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
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. 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, including this one, as we are in an open nature reserve.
We should be finished by 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.
Moorhen eggs Ditch Walthamstow Marshes

July 2022 Conservation Task

TBA Sunday 3 July 2022

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Sunday 3rd July UPDATE !

The Sunday 3rd July 2022 nature conservation task will be to help the orchid areas on Walthamstow Marshes along Coppermill Path.

The task will help the rangers control and protect the orchid areas from invasive scrub. We will have a chance to explore the SSSI nature reserve, working first on South Marsh removing Goat’s rue growing on Sandy Lane, then moving to the Coppermill Fields and Path, to remove Bramble and scrub in areas where bee and pyramidal orchids grow.

All are welcome to join us and no experience is required. Please meet us at the Waterworks so we can provide enough tools and gloves. 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 which is long sleeves and trousers NO SHORTS, especially with white socks, as we are handling bramble and wear stout footwear for the task and weather. We will be working in an area with long grass and possibly nettles, so closed shoes/boots and long trousers and sleeves would be best.

Waterworks Nature Reserve
Waterworks Nature Reserve