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Hackney Parks and Green Spaces Newsletter

Abney Park Restoration Project - Meet the Architect
To celebrate the start of the Abney Park Restoration Project this Summer, we are inviting you to a presentation by Mike Kaner of Kaner Olette Architects. The talk is being put on in partnership with Abney Park Trust, and will give you an opportunity to learn more about the project to restore Abney Park, and to see what the refurbished chapel and new cafe building will look like.

Join us for free on 14 June at 7pm

Register for free tickets.



Protecting Hackney Marshes
Since last year, increasing numbers of people have been discovering the beauty of Hackney Marshes. Unfortunately the high numbers of users are causing damage the valuable habitat there. We have recently launched a campaign warning people of the dangers of swimming in the River Lea, as well as highlighting the damage that such activity is causing to wildlife habitat.



We have also started protecting some of the dead wood piles at the Marshes - these provide valuable habitat for invertebrates and small mammals. Thank you to the volunteers who have helped us.



New Litter Picking Events

Hot on the heels of last month's webinar, a number of new litter picks have been launched. Hackney Downs User Group have launched one on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of every month. If you would like to help out, the first litter pick is on 30 May at 10am. There is also a new Hackney Marshes litter pick on 15 May (details below).





Step it up Hackney – active walks, jogging and running programme
Step it up is a dynamic series of walking sessions spread across 3 distinct areas of Hackney.

We are encouraging people who may not be very active to get out of their homes and enjoy the benefits of their nearest green space by walking at pace and challenging themselves to get from their couch to cover a distance of 5K.

The walks will be led by friendly local coaches and instructors who will get your heart pumping, lungs working and putting that spring in your step.

This is a 12-week programme that will get you up from your sofa to completing a 5K distance. We will even signpost you to activities you can do yourself to help meet that 5K goal.

For further details please contact Onur Coskuner (info@activewithin.com) or Natasha Simpson (info@baducic.org)


 

Fit 4 Health Scheme – Return of the Slow Paced Walk!
Our Fit 4 Health Slow Paced session resumed on 14 April 2021. The walk, which takes place in Clissold Park on Wednesdays between 11:30 – 12:15, is open to clients who have suffered a stroke or have mobility issues. 

The session helps clients to maintain their levels of physical activity whilst reducing their risk of social isolation. The walk is able to cater for clients with a range of mobility issues including those who are wheel-chair bound.


 

Abney Park Volunteering
The Abney Park Trust are restarting volunteering now that Covid 19 restrictions are being eased.

Current volunteering opportunities include the Abney Park User Group Monthly Litter Pick (second Saturday of the month) and Commonwealth War Graves maintenance and cleaning (Wednesday 11am to 1pm). In future they will be offering other voluntary roles such as opportunities for designers, videographers and photographers.


Activities for the over 50s
The SHARP End (Seniors Health & Active Retirement Project) provides activities for adults over 50s years of age and living in Hackney.  As the lockdown is being eased, they are slowly resuming activities, starting with weekly social gatherings at Dalston Curve Garden on Tuesdays (11am to 1.30pm). Contact them for further info: 020 7923 0350.

Kingsland Basin 
Congratulations to the Wildlife Gardeners of Haggerston - their floating gardens of Kingsland Basin were recently featured on BBC Countryfile (42 mins in).

Nature and wildlife groups
Do you live in Stoke Newington? Are you interested in wildlife? Follow a new group called the Stoke Newington Naturalists. If you are interested in birds, why not join Hackney Swifts?

Iveagh Close
The Guinness Partnership are currently bidding for funding for a new Community Garden in Iveagh Close (next to Victoria Park).

To help develop the site they are looking for local community members to get involved and help shape their vision. If you live nearby, please fill in their questionnaire.

Park Pictures
Thank you to Marco and Kate for these amazing pictures of Albion Square's tulips



Housing Services have been helping lay a new green roof on the Great Eastern Building


They have also been busy planting bulbs - 485 m2 last year. Here are the results in Park Side Estate


They've also been busy creating new wildflower meadows - such as at Fellows Court Estate


Springfield Park blossom by Michael and Catherine:


Coco in London Fields, by local photographer Sean Pollock


Clissold Cafe Composting
All of Clissold Park Cafe's takeaway packaging is now 100% compostable, including coffee cups and lids.

Their handy ‘compostable waste only’ bins are dotted around the perimeter of the Cafè, and all compostable waste is collected and taken to an "In Vessel Composting Centre" where they are turned into plant fertiliser and new disposable packaging.

Events
  • 15 May - Mabley Green edible bed maintenance (11.30 - 14.00). Email mableyediblegarden@gmail.com 
  • 15 May - Hackney Marshes Litter Pick (see poster above)
  • 18 May - TALK - Delivering multi-functional green infrastructure. Register here
  • 20 May - TALK - The Story of Abney's Arboretum Survivors with Russell Miller. Register here.
  • 22 &29  May - Mabley Green edible bed maintenance (11.30 - 14.00). Email mableyediblegarden@gmail.com 
  • 30 May - Hackney Downs Litter Pick
  • 30 May - River Lea & Hackney Marshes Litter Pick. Register here.
  • 13 June - Hackney Downs Litter Pick (see poster above)
  • 14 June - TALK - Abney Park Restoration Project - Meet the Architect. Register here.
  • 27 June - Hackney Downs Litter Pick (see poster above)
And finally... This newsletter reaches over 1000 people each month. Do you want your news featured in the next newsletter? Email sam.parry@hackney.gov.uk.
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