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Find out more about parking in our open spaces and the charges that all help manage and maintain the park we all love Parking in the park Car park tariffs apply at several car parks in and around River Lee Country Park. See who manages the car parks, how to pay and our permits. Contact us carparkingpermits@leevalleypark.org.uk Check the latest visitor information > Car parks in the park How to pay Annual car parking permits Blue Badge parking Blue Badge Holders Parking in ParkingEye car parks Free parking is available for all Blue Badge holders in ParkingEye managed car parks. You’ll need to register your details with us to be eligible. To register: Please email us at carparkingpermits@leevalleypark.org.uk with the following information: Full name Contact email address Car registration (up to two registration numbers can be registered) A scanned copy or photo of both sides of your Blue Badge Please allow seven days for your registration to be activated. Parking in Broxbourne Borough Council managed car parks Free parking is available for all Blue Badge holders in Broxbourne Borough Council managed car parks. Please display your Blue Badge on your dashboard. ParkingEye managed car parks Clayton Hill (location ref: 806337) Cornmill Meadows (location ref: 806335) Fishers Green (location ref: 800969) Gunpowder Park (location ref: 806338) Hooks Marsh (location ref: 806328) Waltham Abbey Gardens (location ref: 59780) Broxbourne Mill & Meadows (location ref: 806339) Cheshunt Country Walk (location ref: 806341) Pindar (location ref: 806347) Turnford Brook (coming soon) Methods of payments for day tickets You can pay for your parking tariff in four ways at the end of your visit: At the payment machine in the car park - all of our machines are card only due to constant vandalism of those which took cash. If the machines are not operating, please note charges still apply and an alternative method of payment should be used. You have until midnight on the day you park to pay for your ticket online if you're unable to pay whilst on site - you'll need the site location code to do this (see car park list above for location codes) Automatically using Evology app -This is Parking Eye's payment app that allows you to set up auto payments. You can read the FAQs on auto payment. Online at paybyphone.co.uk – there’s an extra administration fee for using this service however you'll still only pay the advertised fee for parking as the Authority covers the administration cost. Find out more about how it works here By phone 0330 400 7275 - there’s an extra administration fee for using this service however you'll still only pay the advertised fee for parking as the Authority covers the administration cost How do I appeal if I have received an Penalty Charge Notice with ParkingEye? Please be aware that Lee Valley Regional Park Authority is not involved in the issuing of, or the appeals process for, any Penalty Charge Notice given. The car parks are run by ParkingEye and in the event of a visitor appealing their Penalty Charge Notice all appeals are dealt with directly by them. You would need to contact ParkingEye as per the details on their charge letter, which is via one of the following methods: In writing to Appeals Department, ParkingEye Ltd, PO Box 117, Blyth, NE24 9EJ Via the online appeals at the parkingeye.co.uk/appeal Broxbourne Borough Council managed car parks Broxbourne Riverside (location ref: 801288) Methods of payment for day tickets You can pay for your parking tariff in three ways: At the payment machine in the car park when you arrive and display your ticket in your windscreen Online at RingGo – there’s an extra administration fee for using this service By phone 0330 400 7275 – there’s an extra administration fee for using this service How do I appeal if I have received a Penalty Charge Notice with Broxbourne Borough Council? Please be aware that Lee Valley Regional Park Authority is not involved in the issuing of, or the appeals process for, any Penalty Charge Notice given. The car parks are run by Broxbourne Borough Council and in the event of a visitor appealing their Penalty Charge Notice all appeals are dealt with directly by them. Details are available at broxbourne.gov.uk/parking There's multiple car parks in and around River Lee Country Park, which are operated by different companies. Please see the list of the different operators, locations and charges. Car parking tariffs are also payable at Lee Valley White Water Centre. The annual car parking permits are not valid at this venue. See Lee Valley White Water Centre's parking charges > Here you can find out all about our annual permits, where they are valid, how to renew and change details as well as discounted permits for clubs in River Lee Country Park. Annual car parking permits Pay once and park for a whole year for less than 22p a day at ten car parks in and around River Lee Country Park. Our £80 annual pass means that if you’re a frequent visitor to the many attractions of the 1,000 acre park and think that you’ll pay to park for more than an hour more than 38 times a year it’ll be cheaper for you to buy a permit. The car parks in the scheme are: Broxbourne Old Mill and Meadows Cheshunt Country Walk Clayton Hill Cornmill Meadows Fishers Green Gunpowder Park Hooks Marsh Pindar Waltham Abbey Gardens Turnford Brook Please note, the annual car parking permits are not valid at Lee Valley White Water Centre or at Broxbourne Riverside car park. You can see more about parking at these car park in the 'River Lee Country Park car parks' tab Our car parks are managed with ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition), so there’s no need to display your permit in your car. Please keep this email for your reference. Please note it will take seven days to be valid from when you buy it. Please factor this in to your visit. Please ensure you read the Car Parking Permit Terms and Conditions and the Terms and Conditions of Sale. Buy a permit > Car parking permit renewal In order to ensure continued cover you need to renew your car parking permits at least seven days prior to the expiry date. You can check the expiry of your car parking permit online by following the steps below: Please visit our website Select My Account > Log in Select My Memberships on the left tab View your current Car Parking Membership with their expiration date Check expiry > Renew permit > Changed your car? Update us with a new registration number by selecting the change car registration option. There's a £10 admin charge for this.Please note the change of registration can take up to seven from the date you apply. If you are Blue Badge Holder this is free of charge and please email carparkingpermits@leevalleypark.org.uk Discounted permits We give discounts for angling club members who regularly fish our waters, and for members of clubs which are tenants of the park in recognition of the licence fee paid. These are: Broxbourne Model Railway Club Hoddesdon Model & Railway Club Lee Valley Model Yacht Club These cost £25 a year and you’ll need to contact your club for us to be able to issue you a membership number before you can buy a discounted permit. Take a read of our blog Valuing volunteers in the valley! Its #VolunteersWeek and we want to shine the light on the unsung heroes of the park, our volunteers. From repairing and restoring vital assets to litter picks and planting – see what’s involved in being a volunteer in Lee Valley Regional Park. Jun 2 Spotlight on... summer wildlife See the summer wildlife and fauna highlights in our 10,000 acre park Jun 1 Love cycling Discover the best cycling experiences in Lee Valley Regional Park this #BikeMonth! From scenic family friendly routes to adrenalin pumping sessions at Lee Valley VeloPark, get tips, bike hire info, and route ideas for all skill levels. Perfect for summer adventures! Jun 1 Upcoming events Totally Wild UK Forage and Cookery Course - 12 June Date: 12 June Time: 10:00 - 16:00 Lee Valley Almost Wild Campsite See more > Lifewalk - Lee Valley White Water Centre -12 June Date: 12 June Time :10:00 Lee Valley White Water Centre See more > Our Parks: Beginners Bootcamp Date: 12 June Time: 09:00 Walthamstow Marshes See more >

Find a new way of exploring River Lee Country Park with the orieteering trail. There are 34 post throughout the 1,000 acre park and you can purchase a map and begin exploring Orienteering River Lee Country Park Open 24/7 Explore River Lee Country Park using you map and compass from four different starting routes throughout our 1,000 acre park. Check the latest visitor information > Find your way around the park armed with map and post numbers! This course is great for family groups and individuals alike! What are you waiting for? Purchase a map and start exploring the 1,000 acre River Lee Country Park. Self guided orienteering You can join at any one of our four starting points Waltham Abbey Gardens (EN9 1XQ) River Lee Country Park, Fishers Green (EN9 2EF) River Lee Country Park, Pindar (EN8 9AJ) Lee Valley White Water Centre (EN9 1AB) All you need is a map (£4), post descriptions and a score card which you can order online. Buy a map Orienteering for schools and youth groups Our Learning and Engagement Team can provide an amazing range of experiences on the course from map based orienteering to GPS! Orienteering Orienteering is the ultimate activity to help your group bond and gain confidence. Find out more > Things near by River Lee Country Park 1,000 acre park crossing over Essex and Hertfordshire packed full of fun, flora and fauna See more > Waltham Abbey Gardens & Cornmill Meadows These historic gardens are packed full of stories and nature See more > Lee Valley White Water Centre Watch the rapids roll as you soak up the atmosphere at this iconic venue See more > Take a read of our blog Valuing volunteers in the valley! Its #VolunteersWeek and we want to shine the light on the unsung heroes of the park, our volunteers. From repairing and restoring vital assets to litter picks and planting – see what’s involved in being a volunteer in Lee Valley Regional Park. Jun 2 Spotlight on... summer wildlife See the summer wildlife and fauna highlights in our 10,000 acre park Jun 1 Love cycling Discover the best cycling experiences in Lee Valley Regional Park this #BikeMonth! From scenic family friendly routes to adrenalin pumping sessions at Lee Valley VeloPark, get tips, bike hire info, and route ideas for all skill levels. Perfect for summer adventures! Jun 1 Upcoming events Totally Wild UK Forage and Cookery Course - 12 June Date: 12 June Time: 10:00 - 16:00 Lee Valley Almost Wild Campsite See more > Lifewalk - Lee Valley White Water Centre -12 June Date: 12 June Time :10:00 Lee Valley White Water Centre See more > Our Parks: Beginners Bootcamp Date: 12 June Time: 09:00 Walthamstow Marshes See more >

From visiting the park to using it for business and events, here you will find all the information on how to make the most of the green playground Your park This is where you will find all the information on using the park, from parking to volunteering, from Countryside Code to event hire. Enjoying the park See how you can make the most of your visit and follow Countryside Code. See more > Dog walking licences Are you a commercial dog walker? You'll need a permit to operate at our sites. See more > Keeping safe around water There are many waterbodies in the park which hold dangers to visitors - here's our Byelaws and advice. See more > Event hire and filming We've great spaces that are perfect for events and filming. See the spaces and send a request. See more > Parking in the open spaces Find out about our 10 car parks in and around River Lee Country Park. See more > Volunteering Find out about the different opportunities on offer and about an amazing volunteers team. See more > Take a read of our blog Valuing volunteers in the valley! Its #VolunteersWeek and we want to shine the light on the unsung heroes of the park, our volunteers. From repairing and restoring vital assets to litter picks and planting – see what’s involved in being a volunteer in Lee Valley Regional Park. Jun 2 Spotlight on... summer wildlife See the summer wildlife and fauna highlights in our 10,000 acre park Jun 1 Love cycling Discover the best cycling experiences in Lee Valley Regional Park this #BikeMonth! From scenic family friendly routes to adrenalin pumping sessions at Lee Valley VeloPark, get tips, bike hire info, and route ideas for all skill levels. Perfect for summer adventures! Jun 1 Upcoming events Totally Wild UK Forage and Cookery Course - 12 June Date: 12 June Time: 10:00 - 16:00 Lee Valley Almost Wild Campsite See more > Lifewalk - Lee Valley White Water Centre -12 June Date: 12 June Time :10:00 Lee Valley White Water Centre See more > Our Parks: Beginners Bootcamp Date: 12 June Time: 09:00 Walthamstow Marshes See more >

This month we’re celebrating the joy of cycling and all the different ways you can enjoy Lee Valley Regional Park by bike. With longer, brighter and warmer days June is the perfect month to hop on a bike and explore our stunning and diverse 10,000 acres of parkland. And whether you’re looking for a scenic cycle or keen to follow in the tracks of the Olympians and put your skills to the test at Lee Valley VeloPark – we have a cycling experience for everyone. June 9–15 is Bike Week We’re joining the UK’s biggest celebration of cycling and bringing you a guide to cycling in the Lee Valley. Read on for helpful tips, our best cycling routes and cycling experiences for everyone – no bike or experience necessary. Before you set off We asked staff for their tops tips on preparing for a bike ride – here’s what they had to say: Visually inspect your bike. Tyres should be at the recommended pressure. Look out for cracks or signs of excessive wear. Always give your breaks a squeeze, are they working smoothly? Loud squeaking could suggest a problem. Check your chain, is it working effectively? Look out for signs of dirt build up and rust Safe to cycle . If you’re cycling in low lighting you’ll need to have a clean and functioning front and rear light, check them before you set off Pack the essentials . If you’re heading on one of our longer rides be sure to pack a puncture repair kit and small handheld pump and make sure you know how to use them. You may also want to pack water, snacks and sunscreen Dress for comfort . Thin layers are perfect because you’ll soon get warm. Don’t forget high visibility clothing if you’re riding at dawn or dusk Check your route . It’s always a good to have an idea where you are heading so you can plan a manageable route, check the terrain and ensure there are no works taking place which may impact your route.   ℹ  Good to know… for cycling in and around River Lee Country Park. A basic toolkit and bicycle pump is located on the site of Lee Valley White Water Centre Need some inspiration?   We’ve pulled together a few of our favourite cycle routes across the park, including top picks from our colleagues and partners. ⭐Top staff pick –  Fishers Green Foray  River Lee Country Park, Fishers Green. Matt Ewings, Events Manager explains, “This route is a personal favourite, it doesn’t use any highways, the paths are predominantly tarmac and it takes in some lovely scenery through the park”. At 12 miles it’s one of the longer rides in our collection but there’s plenty of stopping points along the way and cafés to refuel 🚌  Accessible by public transport  – Urban Oasis  Tottenham Marshes. You’ll easily forget you’re in London as you take in the diverse wildlife and natural landscapes along this 3.5 mile route. A short hop from Northumberland Park train station and well served by bus this easy to access route will take you on a figure of eight through Tottenham Marshes via a mix of surfaced pathways, towpath, bridges, large cobbles and walk-around gates. For a shorter circuit of 1.5 miles check out Walk on the Wild Side 🚲Keeping little ones amused - The Artway Route 3    River Lee Country Park, Fishers Green.   This route is a firm family favourite. At 3 miles it’s suitable for all and there’s plenty to keep younger cyclists entertained with sculptures dotted along the route which can be touched, climbed and played with. There’s toilets nearby in Fishers Green Car Park. ✨ Partner’s Pick  – We asked our friends at Cycle Sisters, a Muslim womens' cycling charity for their favourite route. Deryn, a ride leader for Cycle Sisters shared details of a regular group ride through Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Hackney Marshes, continuing on to Walthamstow Wetlands, “This is one of my favourite places to ride in London. You forget you're even in London as you ride through the wooded areas and listen to the sounds of birds singing!" You can take in these sights for yourself with our 5.5 mile Golden Circle  route.   🥪Pedal and picnic  – It’s National Picnic Week 14 – 21 June. Cycling is hungry work, why not combine a bike ride with a good old fashioned picnic? You can filter all our cycling routes  for those that offer scenic picnic spots or picnic benches. Take things up a gear at Lee Valley VeloPark This iconic London 2012 legacy venue is open to everyone, seasoned cyclists to complete beginners and offers an impressive four cycling disciplines in one spot. Bike Week Offer: 50% off Pay and Ride sessions at Lee Valley VeloPark . Monday to Friday 09:00 – 17:00. Sunday 07:00 – 20:00. Redeemable only at the venue on the day Where will you head? Iconic Velodrome Track  – One of the fastest tracks in the world, frequently graced by the world’s best. Enjoy the thrill of track cycling at a coached Velodrome taster experience or book on to a drop-in session. Little ones can learn to ride in the most inspirational setting with VeloBalance session in the track centre. Epic BMX course – Show off your tricks on the remodelled Olympic BMX track. Learn the basics, hit the berms or practice your skills at one of our open sessions. Premium road circuit  – Cruse around this smooth, scenic route in the heart of east London. This one mile floodlit circuit is perfect from early morning through to evening. Pay and ride to work on your cycling skills or fitness. Beginners can check out the adult one-to-one learn to ride lessons. Graded mountain biking trails  – Tackle the terrain of our mountain bike trails, graded like ski runs into blues, reds and black. Develop your skills in a coached session or pay to ride and test your limits. No bike, no problem! Owning a bike shouldn’t be a barrier to enjoying the joy of cycling. There’s several options to hire bikes and helmets in the park. The Cycling for Health programme is a series of sociable weekly led rides on traffic free routes in and around River Lee Country Park, Gunpowder Park and Chingford delivered by Epping Forest MTB and Epping Forest District Council. Bikes and helmets are available for those choosing to ride and hire (£12) or you can bring your own bike and helmet (£7). For more information please visit:  Cycling for Health - Epping Forest MTB . Lee Valley VeloPark offers bike hire with all booked sessions, including pay to ride. Bike and helmet starts at £13 for adults and £9 for under 18s  Lee Valley Canoe Cycle , Broxbourne offers bike hire for all the family and is conveniently located for exploring the stunning scenery in the north of the park Santander Cycles has a number of docking stations spread across Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, find out more at TFL Cycling for all We’re committed to breaking down barriers and together with partners are delivering funded programmes that provide access to cycling for a wide variety of groups. This has included dedicated cycling sessions for deaf cyclists, programmes to make cycling more accessible for Muslim women delivered with Cycle Sisters , a confidence giving road cycling course for young people living with or in remission from cancer being supported by Teens Unite   and regular track cycling sessions for people who experience mental health issues, delivered in partnership with Core Arts , a leading mental health creative education centre. These sessions foster a love of cycling and commitment to health and wellbeing which extends beyond the programme. Many Core Arts participants now join weekly cycle rides in and around Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. "A great opportunity to experience so many different styles of bike riding. It's made me more confident. Thoroughly enjoyable." - Core Arts participant “It’s amazing we’ve been able to bring deaf people to experience this for free in such a fantastic setting. It’s good for confidence and gets people out enjoying themselves.” - Alice, an Empowering Deaf Society Project Worker You can find out more about working with use on cycling sessions here . Start planning your summer cycle today!

What you may see in the park this summer Our March blog showed you the park's spring highlights it's now time for us to showcase summer 🌞 The weather's warmed up, the days have got longer and the wildlife and fauna that you can find out and about in our 10,000 acres have changed too. Read on to find out more. Wildlife Here's a few highlights that you might see between June and August in the park's protected habitats: Common Tern returned to the valley in spring having spent the winter in Africa. They lay their eggs in late spring, early summer on the artificial rafts that mimic the coastal shingle banks where they traditionally nest. They lay 2-3 eggs, which are well camouflaged against the shingle, they hatch after around 22 days. The adults catch fish to feed to the young who are fledged after 28 days and are fully independent by 2-3 months and build up their strength for the long migration back to Africa. Head to the Wildlife Discovery Centre where our friendly volunteers will point out the Common Tern. Read more > The non-venomous Grass Snake is the only snake regularly recorded in the Lee Valley. They’re good swimmers and can often be seen hunting their prey of amphibians, fish and small mammals along ditches, through reedbeds or ponds. In summer they lay up to 40 eggs in piles of rotting vegetation, they hatch in late summer into miniature versions of the adult The White Letter Hairstreak butterfly , which gets its name from the ‘W’ shape on the underside of its wings, can be a difficult butterfly to spot as it spends most of its time flying around the tops of trees, particularly Elm. A decline in numbers coincided with Dutch Elm disease which swept the country in the years after it was first imported in the 1960’s. Where there are still Elms on sites, such as Cornmill Meadows Tree Park or on Holyfield Hall Farm, look high in the branches to spot them – binoculars can help if you have them Essex and Small Skipper are closely related butterflies that can be easily confused. The best way to tell them apart is by looking at the tips of their antenna, the Essex Skipper has distinctive black tips whereas the Small Skipper has brown or orange tips. Look across the grasslands of sites such as Walthamstow Marshes , Tottenham Marshes or Cornmill Meadows to see them feeding on nectar There are nine species of bat found in the Lee Valley. Look low across the waterways for Daubentons , sometimes called the Water Bat as they scoop prey from the water’s surface. The Soprano Pipestrelle , the UK’s smallest bat is also found in the park – it weighs the same as a 2p! Bats feed on small insects eating up to 3,000 in one night. We've installed bat boxes around the park on trees and buildings to provide roosting areas Dragonflies are amazing hunters both when they are larvae underwater and as adults on the wing. When flying they can move very fast, patrolling a stretch of waterway and hunting prey. If you are patient they may land on a perch – helping you get a better look. The Hairy Dragonfly , emerges from the water early in the season and if it stays still long enough look at its body and you might just see the hairs that give it its name. Head to Cornmill Meadows Dragonfly Sanctuary or Amwell Nature Reserve to see over half of the UK’s dragonfly species The Oak Processionary Moth (OPM) is non-native moth, first recorded in 2006 having arrived on imported Oak trees. The caterpillars are active between April and July and can be seen moving in a procession around the trees, striping them of their leaves. The caterpillars have hairs that irritate the skin causing rashes, eye irritations and breathing difficulties and you should avoid contact with them. They build nests in early summer, in order to pupate into the adult moths. The nests can see a build-up of the hairs. If you spot an OPM nest or caterpillars, please contact our Ranger team on 03000 030 610 (select option 2, then option 1) Flora Creeping Marshwort is one of the rarest plants in the UK found only at two other locations in the country and discovered at Walthamstow Marshes in 2002 by a local botanist. Our Rangers carefully manage the area throughout the year to provide the optimal habitat; they're aided by Redpoll cattle from the Authority’s farm A number of orchids can be found amongst the grassland of the park. Bee Orchids are in flower from June to July, so called as they mimic a female bee to attract the males to attempt to mate and pollinate the plant. Unfortunately, this country is outside the range of the bee and they self-pollinate. Also look out for Pyramidal Orchid , named as its flower head is pyramidal in shape. Sites such as Rammey Marsh or Bowyers Orchid Meadow in River Lee Country Park are good places to visit. Read more about the management of orchids > Flowering throughout the summer, the bright yellow flowers which are tinged with red of the Birds Foot Trefoil are an excellent source of nectar for insects. Later in the year look at their seed pods and you’ll see why they are called ‘birds foot’! The purple heads of Common Knapweed can be found across the parks meadows and verges; it provides an excellent source of nectar for insects and in turn the seed heads provide food for birds such as Goldfinch Flowering Rush can be found around ponds or pools on wetland habitats such as Walthamstow Marshes, Fishers Green and Hall Marsh Scrape. Its tall green stems have a cluster of pretty pink flowers in July and August. It was introduced into America and is considered invasive but here it is native and a real jewel of the wetlands Floating Pennywort is an invasive non-native plant found in some of the waterways of the park. Originally from the Americas, it grows at a phenomenal rate here – up to 20cms per day! It can outcompete native plants and spread across our waterways depleting them of oxygen and making navigation difficult. There's a fantastic project in the Lee Valley working in partnership to eradicate the Floating Pennywort, the partnership is always looking for new volunteers Upcoming planned events Throughout the year the park runs special wildlife themed events. Up coming events include LoveLea Festival 17 May - 8 June East London Festival of Nature - 25 June - 5 July Bee focused event – summer Water Vole guided walk – September 2025 London Rivers Week – October Bittern Roost Watch – January 2026 The park will also be at the Global Bird Fair  (11 – 13 July) held in Rutland. Know the latest If you want to be kept up to date with our events or wildlife sign why not sign up to our enewsletters. We have specific enewsletters so you only get sent information of interest to you. Find out more and sign up today  >

Its #VolunteersWeek and we want to shine the light on the unsung heroes of the park, our volunteers. From repairing and restoring vital assets to litter picks and planting – see what’s involved in being a volunteer in Lee Valley Regional Park . Opportunities for all The park is so varied with open spaces, gardens, sporting venues, marinas, fisheries and more, so whether you have an existing interest or are looking to explore something new, you’ll be able to take your pick. Here’s just a selection of the opportunities on offer in the park: Walk Leaders and Supporters Conservation Volunteers Wildlife and Public Information Assistants Myddelton House Gardens Volunteers Learning and Engagement Volunteers Rye House Gatehouse Assistants Day in the life Hear from our volunteer, Linda, who is an honorary warden at Silvermeade, Broxbourne. She gets stuck into habitat works and has been monitoring Water Voles in the area too Rob and Olivia use prongs to tackle a large sedge root ‘ Under the expert guidance of Ranger, Rob Hawkins and Assistant Ranger, Olivia Chamberlain, volunteers have been improving the habitat at Silvermeade for Water Voles and getting the site ready for conservation grazing later in the season. Regular volunteer days have enabled fast progress. Ditches in the enclosures are cleared on a six year cycle, so that Water Voles and other species are able to move to adjoining water courses if they are disturbed. The ditch cleared in recent months was home to this Water Vole last summer, and there was plenty of evidence that the resident population is thriving. Water Vole at Silvermeade who will benefit from these habitat improvements Water Vole at Silvermeade will benefit from these habitat improvements. Water Vole droppings, which are known as a ‘latrine’ when the Water Vole repeatedly revisits the same spot. Next was some tree works. Clearing trees or pollarding older stumps helps to increase the light levels reaching the water and encourages emergent vegetation such as sedge to grow. Water Voles feed on the sedge (and hundreds of other plant species) and use it as cover, as well as sometimes weaving nests from it. The artistically created wood pile with its creators Claudia and Bob, volunteers. Arisings from volunteer work stays on site, and wood from pollarded trees is used to create dead hedges or log piles, great habitat sites for invertebrates. While we created this one, we were lucky to see a Goldcrest in a neighbouring tree, who will no doubt be pleased at the increase in food source that this pile will bring. The artistically created wood pile with its creators Claudia and Bob, volunteers Thank you to Lee Valley Regional Park for providing the opportunity to take part in activities which improve the state of nature by increasing biodiversity.’ Valuing our volunteers Making sure our volunteers feel valued and part of the team is so important to ensure they’re motivated and want to continue to lend a hand. Here are some of the things we have in place: Uniform provided Tea and coffee while working Departments arrange thank you events and trips – most recently our Ranger arranged a scavenger hunt for the volunteers Providing training Tiered benefits system that includes discounts at our venues Annual volunteer awards to recognise those who go above and beyond Here are some quotes from our volunteers that show how much they feel valued in their role: ‘…the fact that Lee Valley has put in a system which recognises, incentivises and rewards its volunteers ” – Sonny, Events volunteer “…I look back when I have finished the job I have done and I can see that I have made a difference to Lee Valley (Regional) Park, but I also think that the Rangers and the people who run the Lee Valley (Regional) Park Authority do express their gratitude, so I think that we are all well aware that we are appreciated” –   Murray, Conservation volunteer for the Rangers​ To ensure we’re providing the best for our volunteers our organisation is assessed by Investing in Volunteers, we have now held this accreditation for eight years. Hear from our Volunteers Officer Jess about how this accreditation has helped our volunteer service #VolunteersWeek got you inspired? Apply to become a volunteer today