Hackney Pearl Flower Planter

A million thanks to everyone who turned out to help repair & replant the Hackney Pearl Planter in Wallis Road on Sunday!

This poor planter has been a bit unloved for a few months now - and had a very dry summer - but together - all these neighbours gave it a bit of a spruce-up.

We all know that the whole street scene is about to change enormously around these streets - but that doesn't mean that we should just leave this planter to disintegrate! The weirdest thing is we found someone locals passport buried under one of the dead flowers - how spooky was that?

Anyhow - thanks everyone! But please remember that anyone can help water & care for this planter - anytime they want. Next time you leave home - fill up an extra litre water bottle - and give the flowers a good soak as you leave for work.

Together - we'll all make the Wick a much lovelier place to walk through.

Seed Bomb Hackney Wick this Sunday 17 Nov

Those of you who helped create the Sunflower Avenue (http://leabanksquare.blogspot.com/2009/04/leabank-square-takes-part-in-hackney.html) last year will be pleased to know that we are doing a Wildflower Avenue this year as well.

In preparation for next spring - we are seed bombing a path all the way from Mabley Green Meadow (http://mableymeadow.blogspot.com/) - through Hackney Wick - to Viccie Park.

Besides just wanting to make our streets look lovlier - one of the other reasons is to have a beautiful path to follow either way - to the meadow & rock (http://leabanksquare.blogspot.com/2008/08/mabley-green-boulder-by-john-frankland.html) - or to Viccie Park.

We have made all the seed bombs (http://leabanksquare.blogspot.com/2010/10/brilliant-open-day-for-purple-garden.html) - so all you have to do is turn up at the Mabley Green Rock on Sunday at 11am - and take a stroll with us along the route - and bomb Hackney Wick.

There will be a cuppa waiting for you in the Leabank Square Purple Garden at the end - and you can simply chill looking at the world drift by on the River Lea.

Greenway Planting Day - Friday 29 October 2010

The Hackney Wick end of the Greenway has been completely changed in the last few years. Gone is the muddy, burned-out motor-bike, overgrown, lawless, ASBO populated path of old. Some may say that they loved it that way - but families, cyclists & some of Hackney Wicks longer term residents are happier as it is slowly becoming.

The whole area has been severely hard landscaped - and although a few landmarks like the Second European War Pillbox (http://hackneywick.blogspot.com/2009/03/is-this-pill-box.html) and some of the apple trees we planted years ago - are still there - but it's time to start replanting.

We tried some guerrilla planting a few weeks ago - but the whole area is infested with Olympic guards now - every time we pulled out a shovel - a pair of jackboots was soon on the scene.

Of course we will always continue to plant local & indigenous plants all over the Wick including the Greenway - but here's an opportunity to do some spying:

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) are doing a voluntary planting day this Friday 29th along the Greenway. This is an ideal way to see what is being planted by them - so that we don't duplicate some of our efforts. Plus - you get a free lunch in the bargain from our good friends at the View Tube Cafe (http://www.theviewtube.co.uk/) into the bargain.

It's open for all - though the very short notice is somewhat suspicious - so please come along.

Meeting up at the View Tube Cafe at 10am for a quick chat & introduction. Planting then takes place between 10.30am & 1.00pm - with everything supplied by the ODA. Then your free lunch at 1.00pm - with the day closing at 2.00pm.

So please come on down and enjoy a bit of time with fellow Wickers - and you'll get to be part of the future landscape of Hackney Wick!

Free Crocus Bulbs!!

The Evening Johnson yesterday illustrated the current 'Nature is in crisis as a third of animals and plants face extinction' story - with a pic of some crocuses. I'm not too sure that they fall into the one third category - but just in case - please get down to Trafalgar Square tomorrow at 11.00am.

The International Flower Bulb Centre, The Eden Project and Rotary International have clubbed together to give away thousands of Ruby Giant crocus bulbs in Trafalgar Square.

Even if these beauties are not under threat internationally - Hackney Wick has just 14 of them growing in Leabank Square - none anywhere else!! So - I URGE you to take your lunch break in Trafalgar Square tomorrow - and try & get as many as you can. Then go maaaaad all over the Wick!!

Check out http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/whatson/big-bulb-plant-at-trafalgar-square-article-10180.html for more details.

Go on - adopt a (free) bulb - Hackney Wick needs you!!

Seedlings for Mabley Green Meadow!

The amazing Chris from the Mabley Green Meadow crew delivered loads of trays, seeds, pots, compost & enthusiasm to the Leabank Square Nursery over the weekend - and work is under way to seed stunning flowers!

He worked very hard getting this great grant from B&Q - and now the amazing Mabley Green Meadow is soon to look a whole heap colourful.

Chris - thank you for doing all this really hard work - you are truly one of Hackney Wick most community spirited residents!!

Best Looking Bus Stop in All London

Is this the most beautiful bus stop in London or what?! Incredibly fragrant blossoms drizzle down on you while you wait.

Please check it out - about half-way down Berkshire Road - right opposite Leabank Square.

Mabley Green Meadow is So Beautiful!!

A great day out was had by all yesterday - at Hackney Wick newest garden.

Thank you to Chris King for organising such a successful launch. And of course - thanks to everyone who turned up to help, weed, dig, clear, barrow - & plant the soon-to-be stunning wildflower meadow.

There is still quite a lot to do - so if anyone wants to still help out - please call Chris @ 07747 437 236. So whether its gardening, weeding, planting, donating - or even just caring - please get involved with your new local garden.

It's there for all of us to enjoy!

Mabley Green Meadow - Hackney Wick's Newest Garden

Please come down to the gap of land between the back of the Eastway Terraces & the A12 Flyover - to help plant up Hackney Wick newest community garden. Chris King is organising a group of local residents to get started - but could really do with many more. So - if you have a few spare hours free on Saturday 17th April - then please take a stroll down to the Mabley Green Meadow after 10.30am.

Remember - this is all of our wildflower meadow - you will enjoy it so much more - when you can walk around spotting flowers & trees you helped plant!!

Please read Chris's message - and then see if you can free up a few hours this coming Saturday - you will love it!!

"Hi everyone,

With funding secured, materials ordered and a morning with big tractor scheduled in by the council, the Mabley Green Meadow is full steam ahead.

But to get things really started, we'll need to do a short day of digging and sowing.

From the looks of things, the best day to do that would be Saturday 17 April from about 10.30am. So if you're free and keen to lend a hand, that'd be great.

The things we need to do are:
- Dig over the smaller parts of the site to loosen up the soil before sowing
- Make temporary fences to protect our seedlings (bamboo and string will do)
- Erect signage to tell people what we're up to
- Sow the seeds
- Have a cup of tea.

We have pretty much everything we need. But a couple of things still outstanding are a wheelbarrow and a rake. If you have access to either of those, please let me know. And if you have a big garden fork you could bring along, please do.

The more people we can get to help, the quicker and easier it'll be. So feel free to spread the word and invite anyone who might be interested.

I look forward to seeing you soon!
Cheers,
Chris
07747 437 236"

Update (15.04.10):

Hello all,

If you want to get stuck in and help turn part of Mabley Green into a colourful field of wildflowers, come down for some digging and seed sowing on Saturday from 11am onwards.

The key tasks for the day will be to:
- Dig over the ground to make it more seed-friendly. If you have a large garden fork, please bring it along.
- Sow the seeds. This is a bit trickier than it sounds, so we might leave that to our resident expert.
- Make temporary fences out of bamboo and string to protect our young seedlings.
- Erect a sign to tell everyone about what we're doing.
- Drink tea and have a chat.


Exciting news about the Growing Scheme!
Early on Saturday morning, we'll also be heading to B&Q to collect a truck load (literally) of free stuff to start our Community Growing Scheme. The scheme will be to grow woodland plants in pots, that will be transplanted into the shady parts of the site in autumn. So if you have a free window-sill or a spare corner of your garden for a pot or two, we'll set you up with everything you need. Also, if you know anyone else who might be keen, please do let them know: the more people growing plants, the bigger and better the meadow will be.


If you're reading this email and have no idea what's going on...
This summer, Mabley Green Users Group is transforming a section of the green into an urban wildflower meadow. The area we're using is the triangle of land between Eastway and the A12 flyover, which you can access via Lee Conservancy Road. On Saturday, we'll really get things started. So in a few months, we'll have a colourful field of flowers for both us and wildlife to enjoy.

Until now, I've only been sending updates about this to members of the Users Group who I've met at the previous two meetings. But since Martin sent out the last minutes, I now have all the members' email addresses, past and present. Which is why I've sent this to you now - sorry for not getting in touch earlier. So if you're around on Saturday, it'd be great to meet more members and get everyone involved. If not, I'll keep you posted about future events and volunteering days.

See you there!
Chris King
07747 437 236

Free Seeds From BBC Dig In 2010

The amazing people at BBC have once again saved the summer for all of us by donating free veggie seeds directly to you!!

Remember - this is paid for by your licence fee - so please take advantage of it.

This year they are sending out free French Beans, scrumptious Salad, comely Carrots, curvy courgettes and beautiful aromatic Basil. Imagine all that on your dinner plate in a few short weeks?!

Come on Hackney Wick - even if you really don't have green fingers (& everyone does!) - then please order them anyway - and guerrilla garden you way around the neighbourhood. That ramp up to the station could do with some aromatic Basil, the wasteground below the A12 footbridge is crying out for beans growing all up the fence - you could even sneak the carrots into any public flower beds - and come back at midnight in July to lift them out for a feast!

Aaaaaaanyhow - here's the link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/digin/ and happy digging in!!

Wick Woodland Management Day - Sunday 28

Heaps of green volunteers are hosting a woodland management day around the corner at the Hackney Community Tree Nursery tomorrow.

Steve and Annie are great friends of Hackney Wick - and have donated many items for our gardens - so the least we can do is return the favour - and help out between 10.30am and 2pm tomorrow.

So if you are interested in this lovely way to spend a Sunday morning - please meet at the Tree Nursery in Hackney Marshes. Just turn off Homerton Road - into the car-park where we all get our compost. On the right hand side you'll see the nursery.

You will be amazed at what you can learn about coppicing, wood management, mushrooms, and of course - just how much more space is being taken away by the Olympic Juggernaut!


Please come on down.

‘A Great African Scandal’ a film by Dr Robert Beckford

We are currently in the midst of the annual fairtrade fortnight where all the great people, groups, charities and foundation, get together to promote the many invaluable reasons why we should all buy as much fairtrade products as possible.

If you’d like to know more please check out

http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/get_involved/fairtrade_fortnight/

As a celebration of fair-trade fortnight, Hackney’s famous Arcola theatre has got together with the tower hamlets and hackney FT groups to present a free screening of ‘The Great African Scandal’. The film sees lecturer and broadcaster Dr Robert Beckford investigating Ghana’s economic poverty despite its natural wealth in minerals and stable democracy.

The film will be screened at

St Mark's Church Hall,
Colvestone Crescent, Dalston,
Hackney, E8 2NL (between Sandringham Road and Ridley Road)

Tuesday 2 March 2010

6.30pm -7.30pm

Film goers will be invited to stay and chat after the film screening and enjoy a cup of Fairtrade tea or coffee and a slice of cake.

For more information, please contact Rachel Carless, Arcola Theatre’s Sustainability Projects Manager, at rachel@arcolatheatre.com / 0207503 1645

We've just had a brilliant invitation to help clean up the canal with British Waterways.

I know some of us have been invovled in these annual clean-ups before - but we need many more volunteers to help out this year. It is always a lovely fun-filled day - and we get to meet many more of our neighbours from up & down the canal!

Felicity McClintock from British Waterways says: Hackney’s event will cover the stretch from Leabridge Road (Princess of Wales Pub) through to the towpath opposite you on Saturday 13th March.


*********** Towpath Tidy London 1st to 14th March 2010 *****************

We are calling on volunteers to come and help us spring clean our waterways.



Volunteers are needed to put on their boots and take part in British Waterways’ Towpath Tidy 2010 – coordinated activity days which will take place along targeted stretches of the capital’s waterways between Monday 1st and Sunday 14th March 2010.

Everyone is welcome, with activities ranging from litter picking, planting, painting and graffiti cleaning, floating litter removal to cutting back towpath vegetation.

To find out how you can get involved and to register for one (or more) of the events, contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Karen Fishwick on

mob 07917 424590, email: karen.fishwick@britishwaterways.co.uk

or visit www.waterscape.com/towpathtidy

to visit all Towpath Tidy listings and locations in the country. You may also want to follow Towpath Tidy on Twitter and Facebook.



Eight London locations

Brent Reservoir (Monday 1st March)
Bishop’s Stortford, Stort Navigation (Monday 1st March)
Ealing (3 sites), Grand Union Canal, Paddington Arm (various dates)
Hackney, River Lee Navigation (Saturday 13th March)
Kingsland Basin, Regent’s Canal (Saturday 13th March
Slough Arm, Grand Union Canal (Wednesday 3rd March)
St Pancras, Regent’s Canal (Saturday 6th March)
Stockley Park, Grand Union Mainline Canal (Thursday 18th March)


Please note numbers may be limited at some locations depending on works and facilities so it is important you let her know if you would like to join us.

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me.

Felicity McClintock
Water Quality & Environment – Project Coordinator
Lower Lee Valley Waterways

British Waterways London
1 Sheldon Square, Paddington Central, London W2 6TT
Mob: 07 500 226 139

www.waterscape.com

Come on Hackney Wick - let's get the other side of the canal all cleaned up as well!!