Every week a London Wildlife Trust volunteer will be keeping us up to date on The Greenway Project, our year long mission to green up an important, but somewhat neglected, stretch of land in east London.  Read the latest entry here.

Running from Wick Lane in Tower Hamlets to Beckton, the Greenway is a traffic free route that passes by historical buildings and along peaceful waterways. The Greenway is an utterly unique stretch of East London that is a haven for wildlife.

Unfortunately fly tipping and invasive shrubs have become a problem in some parts of the Greenway. London Wildlife Trust and partners are working together to help local people to reclaim ownership of this important stretch of land.

Together we can transform the Greenway into a safe, clean and attractive park for people and wildlife. Let’s enhance the habitat for London’s wildlife and improve the route for pedestrians and cyclists.

Where?

The yellow line shows the Greenway, stretching from Wick Lane to the Thames.

 

 

 

 

 

Did you know?

A few fascinating facts...

• The Greenway is just over five miles long and covers 30 hectares

• It crosses four waterways : River Lea, City Mill River, Waterworks River and Channelsea River

• It was designed by Joseph Bazalgette in the mid 1800s

• It passes by the Abbey Mills Pumping station, the East London Cemetery and Beckton Alps

The main habitats and notable species along here are:

Grassland
Scrub (typically of bramble)
Dwarf elder and hawthorn
Sycamore woodland
Common broomrape
Common lizards
Bats
Kingfishers and house sparrows

Plan of action

Work will be carried out by teams of volunteers, supported by a London Wildlife Trust Greenway Warden. Volunteers will receive training in practical conservation, land management and health and safety. This specialised training will look great on your CV!

Greenway volunteers will have the use of four mountain bikes and four trailers to move up and down the site, transporting materials and equipment.

Around 20 volunteers will be participating in one six-hour session per week, and will have access to other volunteering opportunities, especially ones linked to the 2012 Olympics.

Volunteers will be...

• Planting native hedgerow species, infilling native meadow-mix planting and insect-friendly, non-invasive exotic plants

• Installing bird and bat boxes

• Creating log-piles from dead trees for invertebrates and reptiles

• Clearing invasive plants such as buddleia and snowberry, and clearing up any fly-tipping

Good for wildlife

In his London Plan, the Mayor of London has identified green spaces as integral in improving the quality of life of Londoners. The Greenway has been identified as a target for improvement and forms an essential link in London’s Green Grid network.

Good for you

By becoming a Greenway volunteer, you will not only be involved in an important project to protect London’s wildlife and wild spaces, you’ll also gain valuable conservation and land management experience.
Getting involved has many benefits, including the opportunity to receive training in wardening duties, including basic plant and animal identification and surveying, health and safety, habitat assessment and habitat enhancement, and the removal of invasive species.

You’ll gain team working skills, as well as the chance to develop links with key organisations and stakeholders that include London 2012, London Borough of Newham, Thames Water, London Wildlife Trust and local businesses. Volunteers will also have access to other volunteering opportunities, especially ones linked to the 2012 Olympics.

Get involved!

Interested in becoming a Greenway volunteer? Work sessions take place every Tuesday from 10am - 4pm, starting on 22nd April. Refreshments and protective clothing is provided.  Contact our volunteering officer for more information today – email or call 020 7261 0447

Partners
London Councils
London Borough of Newham
Thames Water