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Walking and running are a great way to explore the park. Whether you're exploring a new area of the park, following one of our routes or joining in one of our guided walks and running events Wildlife watching The Lee Valley is home to a range of wildlife and its great facilities mean it’s accessible to everyone. The mosaic of habitats, from lakes to reservoirs, reedbeds and grasslands, woodlands and rivers provide a home for a range of wildlife making it the perfect place to get up close to some amazing wildlife spectacles, whatever time of year you visit wildlifesightings@leevalleypark.org.uk Contact us Submit your sightings Contact us About Season highlights Season hotspots Lastest sightings Archive The former gravel pits of River Lee Country Park now make up an internationally important wetland, part of the Lee Valley Special Protection Area. Look amongst the reedbeds of Seventy Acres Lake and North Met Pit in the winter months for Bittern, a large heron-like bird and one of our most secretive winter visitors. Head to the Wildlife Discovery Centre where our knowledgeable volunteers will help you see them. In summer the lake comes alive with a noisy Common Tern and Black-headed Gull colony nesting on the man-made rafts. The reservoirs of Walthamstow Wetlands offer views over large expanses of water attracting a wide range of wildfowl and waders throughout the year, all just a short stroll from Tottenham Hale station. The myriad of waterways that wend their way through the Lee Valley provide excellent wildlife corridors linking our important wildlife sites. RSPB Rye Meads, Fishers Green or the Old River Lea at the WaterWorks Fields are all great places to spot a Kingfisher. Listen out for the shrill call and flash of cobalt blue as a Kingfisher darts by close to the water’s surface You never know you may also spot an Otter too! In summer, these wetlands are also home to dragonflies, small in size but fierce predators patrolling the waterways. Sites with a range of waterbodies are perfect dragonfly habitat, visit Amwell Nature reserve, Silvermeade, Cornmill Meadows or Walthamstow Marshes. to see up to 24 Species from the striking metallic colours of the Banded Demoiselle to the majestic Emperor Dragonfly patrolling its territory. At Cornmill Meadows take time to look over the floodplain meadows, in summer Lapwing with their distinctive ‘peewit’ call breed near the muddy scrape and in winter Wigeon, one of our visiting ducks, graze the lush grassland. Water Voles, much-loved as ratty in the Wind in the Willows have become one of Britain’s most endangered mammals, however the waterways of the Lee Valley are a good place to try and see one. Although secretive in their nature look out for the signs they are here such as their burrows, little piles of their feeding remains or even their droppings! You may hear the distinctive ‘plop’ as one dives into the water, visit sites such as Amwell Nature Reserve, Silvermeade, Walthamstow Marshes and Walthamstow Reservoirs and you may be lucky enough to see one. Working landscapes such as Lee Valley Farm can also provide valuable wildlife habitat. Special areas have been planted with a mixture of plants providing an important food source for birds such as Linnet and Yellowhammer throughout the harsh winter months. The grasslands of the Lee Valley come alive in the warmer months with the buzz of insects busily feeding on the nectar rich plants. In early summer look amongst these grasslands for orchids, six species are found in the Lee Valley. Rammey Marsh is a good place to see Pyramidal and Bee Orchids or head to River Lee Country Park where Bowyers Orchid Meadow has six species of orchid. Visit Gunpowder Park to hear the tumbling song of the ground nesting Skylark or stroll through the flower-rich meadows of the tree Park looking out for butterflies feedig on the nectar-rich flowers. Step back in time to the historic Walthamstow Marshes to escape the hustle of the city and watch Lee Valley Park’s herd of heritage cattle grazing the meadows as would have been done here for hundreds of years. Urban The Waterworks Centre nature reserve is an urban oasis with a beautiful meadow perfect for insect encounters. The reserve has one of the largest bird hides in London offering views across a series of former filter beds each with its own unique character. The filter beds are a great place to get up close views of ducks such as the UK’s smallest duck the Teal and wading birds such as Snipe probing the muddy areas for food. Some areas have been allowed to form dense stands of scrub and are home to Blackcap and Chiffchaff. The tidal nature of the River Lee in its lower stretches exposes swathes of mud. From Bow Creek Ecology Park look over the exposed areas at low tide for wading Redshank feeding on insects and worms in the food-rich mud. Spring is an exciting time in the park. As the days grow longer and hopefully warmer the Lee Valley welcomes the arrival of its summer visitors. Listen out for the rhythmical song of the Reed Warbler, deep in the reedbeds at Stanstead Innings, River Lee Country Park or WaterWorks Nature Reserve. This small bird travels to the UK each year from Africa where it spends the winter. As you walk along the parks’ waterways look amongst the vegetation for signs of the charismatic Water Vole. You may hear the distinctive plop as they enter the water or you might even be lucky enough to see one at sites like Silvermeade, RSPB Rye Meads or Walthamstow Marshes. Some birds drop in to the valley on their migration, the wet meadows so characteristic of the Lee Valley on sites such as Hall Marsh Scrape and Cornmill Meadows are good places to see wading birds like Common and Green Sandpipers feeding on insects in the mud Seasonal hot spots Broxbourne Old Mill and Meadows See history and nature come together See more > Gunpowder Park This former MOD is site in now a wonderful open space with paved routes and varied habitiats See more > Walthamstow Marshes Discover the different wildlife and habitats in the capital in this wonderful open space See more > Wildlife gallery We have a wonderful community of wildlife watchers in the park who share their sightings for everyone to enjoy and also contribute to our recording efforts. We welcome everyone to send in their sighting and join our gallery. Have lots of sighting to share? You can email them into the team here. Submit your sightings Fishers Green 12/04/25 17:00 Black Swan Riza Unal Cheshunt 24/03/25 16:30 Singing Chiffchaff By the stone bridge across the River Lee at Cheshunt David Hooks Marsh Lake ///Trick.exit.crash 17/03/25 11:15 Robin Matthew Taylor Farm fields near Fishers Green substation ///Loud.races.rigid 17/03/25 13:00 Egyptian geese Matthew Taylor Myddelton House Gardens 10/03/25 13:30 Frog with frogspawn in small stream along bottom of gardens Dawn Richardson Wildlife Discovery Centre, Fishers Green 01/03/25 14:30 A happy Muntjac that appears to be enjoying his habitat Suze Cousins Fishers Green, Goosefield 14/02/25 12:30 Green-Winged Teal (top left bird). Stuart Fox RSPB Rye Meads 27/03/25 12:50 Bee-fly (Bombylius major). Several about the Reserve; first of the season! Graham C Cheshunt 24/03/25 16:50 Song Thrush sings by the stone bridge at Cadmore Lane wver the River Lee. David Bowyer’s Water ///Sands.wire.chill 17/03/25 10:15 Chiffchaff Matthew Taylor Waltham Common Lock 10/03/25 08:30 Pair of Grey Wagtail Dawn Richardson Waltham Abbey 06/03/25 12:30 Peacock butterfly - on pavement beside A121 between Lee Navigation and Whitewater Centre main entrance. Later that afternoon Brimstone butterfly in my garden in Waltham Abbey. David Moir Tottenham Marshes, Wildmarsh West 16/02/25 Dartford Warbler - reported on 14th and 16th February Lee Valley Staff Hall Marsh Scrape 08/02/25 12:00 Male Smew H E Fleming By the WDC on the river 24/03/25 14:30 Great Crested Grebe on the river by the Wildlife Discovery Centre, Fishers Green David Cheshunt 24/03/25 16:30 Two Jays just before the stone bridge across the River Lee at Cheshunt David Cornmill Stream 17/03/25 11:15 Great Crested Grebes Matthew Taylor Hall Marsh Scrape 10/03/25 20:45 Water Rail at north end of site in front of Plover Wing viewpoint. Dawn Richardson Sewardstone Marsh 03/03/25 11:00 3 Goosander ( 2m, 1f) on the flood relief Channel Dawn Richardson Seventy Acres Lake, Fishers Green 16/02/25 11:30 Shelduck Dawn Richardson Filter by Month tag April 2021 April 2022 April 2023 April 2024 April 2025 August 2021 August 2022 August 2023 August 2024 December 2020 December 2021 December 2022 December 2023 December 2024 February 2021 February 2022 February 2023 February 2024 February 2025 January 2021 January 2022 January 2023 January 2024 January 2025 July 2021 July 2022 July 2023 July 2024 June 2020 June 2021 June 2022 June 2023 June 2024 March 2021 March 2022 March 2023 March 2024 March 2025 May 2021 May 2022 May 2023 May 2024 November 2021 November 2022 November 2023 November 2024 October 2021 October 2022 October 2023 October 2024 September 2021 September 2022 September 2023 September 2024 Fishers Green 12/04/25 17:00 Black Swan Riza Unal By the WDC on the river 24/03/25 14:30 Great Crested Grebe on the river by the Wildlife Discovery Centre, Fishers Green David Cheshunt 24/03/25 16:50 Song Thrush sings by the stone bridge at Cadmore Lane wver the River Lee. David Hooks Marsh Lake ///Trick.exit.crash 17/03/25 11:15 Robin Matthew Taylor Cornmill Stream 17/03/25 11:15 Great Crested Grebes Matthew Taylor Waltham Common Lock 10/03/25 08:30 Pair of Grey Wagtail Dawn Richardson Myddelton House Gardens 10/03/25 13:30 Frog with frogspawn in small stream along bottom of gardens Dawn Richardson Sewardstone Marsh 03/03/25 11:00 3 Goosander ( 2m, 1f) on the flood relief Channel Dawn Richardson Tottenham Marshes, Wildmarsh West 16/02/25 Dartford Warbler - reported on 14th and 16th February Lee Valley Staff Fishers Green, Goosefield 14/02/25 12:30 Green-Winged Teal (top left bird). Stuart Fox Flood Relief Channel, adjacent to the WDC, Fishers Green. 30/01/25 12:30 A lovely Kingfisher in the rare sunshine! Graham Waltham Abbey Church 25/01/25 14:40 Solitary Redwing David Moir Wildlife Discovery Centre, Fishers Green 20/01/25 10:45 Bittern Lee Valley Volunteers Wildlife Discovery Centre, Fishers Green 19/01/25 15:20 Goosander (male) Dawn Richardson Flood Relief Channel Fishers Green 16/01/25 15:00 Male Goldeneye David Flood relief channel opposite the Wildlife Discovery Centre, Fishers Green 14/01/25 11:30 Kingfisher - young male fishing on the overhanging willow branches Bekah W Fishers Green, on edge of car park 11/01/25 12:50 Treecreeper Dawn Richardson North Met Pit, near Cadmore Lane (///melon.pose.grows) 10/01/25 10:30 Red-crested Pochard - 2 pairs Bekah W Wildlife Discovery Centre, Fishers Green 10/01/25 12:22 Bittern - in reedbed all day Lee Valley Volunteers Wildlife Discovery Centre, Fishers Green 08/01/25 15:59 Bittern Lee Valley Staff Fishers green 28/12/24 14:30 Silver Wood Duck Louise Sanders Wildlife Discovery Centre, Fishers Green 28/12/24 11:30 Water Rail Paula Moore Knights Pits (Sugar.Broker.Casual) 20/12/24 12:00 Adult Cormorant, around three or four of them on the lake Callum Molloy Nightingale Wood, River Lee Country Park 19/12/24 10:45 Siskins in a mixed flock of 20-30 birds Matthew Taylor Admirals Walk Lake 16/12/24 10:30 Black-necked Grebe Stuart RSPB Rye Meads 27/03/25 12:50 Bee-fly (Bombylius major). Several about the Reserve; first of the season! Graham C Cheshunt 24/03/25 16:30 Singing Chiffchaff By the stone bridge across the River Lee at Cheshunt David Cheshunt 24/03/25 16:30 Two Jays just before the stone bridge across the River Lee at Cheshunt David Bowyer’s Water ///Sands.wire.chill 17/03/25 10:15 Chiffchaff Matthew Taylor Farm fields near Fishers Green substation ///Loud.races.rigid 17/03/25 13:00 Egyptian geese Matthew Taylor Hall Marsh Scrape 10/03/25 20:45 Water Rail at north end of site in front of Plover Wing viewpoint. Dawn Richardson Waltham Abbey 06/03/25 12:30 Peacock butterfly - on pavement beside A121 between Lee Navigation and Whitewater Centre main entrance. Later that afternoon Brimstone butterfly in my garden in Waltham Abbey. David Moir Wildlife Discovery Centre, Fishers Green 01/03/25 14:30 A happy Muntjac that appears to be enjoying his habitat Suze Cousins Seventy Acres Lake, Fishers Green 16/02/25 11:30 Shelduck Dawn Richardson Hall Marsh Scrape 08/02/25 12:00 Male Smew H E Fleming Wildlife Discovery Centre, Fishers Green 29/01/25 Bittern Lee Valley Volunteers Hooks Marsh Lake, southern end 25/01/25 15:25 Male Smew David Moir Wildlife Discovery Centre, Fishers Green 19/01/25 16:30 Water Rail x2 Dawn Richardson Seen from the Wildlife Discovery Centre, Fishers Green 16/01/25 15:45 Male Smew David North end of Seventy Acres Lake, Fishers Green ///ropes.nation.sound 14/01/25 14:00 Kingfisher Kath Knight Flood Relief Channel, Hooks Marsh (///rungs.exit.radar) 13/01/25 16:45 Male Smew on the river spotted at dusk Bekah W Seventy Acres Lake, Fishers Green 11/01/25 10:20 Large numbers of birds gathered in the only unfrozen section in the middle of the lake. This included 328 Shoveler, 20 Teal, 14 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Little Grebe. Dawn Richardson Fishers Green 10/01/25 11:30 Fox Stuart Fox Wildlife Discovery Centre, Fishers Green 10/01/25 14:00 Bittern Ron B Wildlife Discovery Centre, Fishers Green 28/12/24 10:00 4 Goosander seen from green bridge Paula Moore Admirals Walk Lake 28/12/24 09:30 Black-necked Grebe Paula Moore Knights Pits (Trio.Codes.Decks) 20/12/24 12:00 Grey Heron Callum Molloy Nightingale Wood, River Lee Country Park 19/12/24 10:45 Goldfinches among a mixed flock of 20-30 birds Matthew Taylor Nightingale Wood, River Lee Country Park 19/12/24 10:45 Redpoll in a mixed flock of 20-30 birds Matthew Taylor Ashley, River Lee Country Park 28/11/24 12:00 Goosander Matthew Taylor Wildlife sightings Your name Your email Location - please include what3words if you can Date of sighting What did you see - species, number and any other details you have Upload photo I agree to the terms & conditions. View terms of use Submit > Your content has been submitted An error occurred. Try again later Take a read of our blog Easter celebrations for everyone! Check out the different things that are happening the park this Easter holidays for all age groups – even for those big kids. Mar 27 Spotlight on... spring wildlife Discover the wildlife and flora you can see in the park this spring Mar 19 Spotlight on... working for wildlife See what habitat works are being done throughout the park this spring Mar 19 Upcoming events Capital Car Boot Sale Date: 16 April Time: from 07:00 Picketts Lock See more > Cheshunt Wellbeing Walk Date: 16 April Time: 10:30 - 11:30 Pindar See more > Practical Conservation at the Paddock Date: 16 April Time: 10:00 - 15:00 The Paddock See more >

< Back Road to Gold Distance: 3.5 miles Terrain: predominately tarmac with some gravel paths Starting point: Lee Valley VeloPark, Abercrombie Road, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London E20 3AB Total elevation gain : 56ft Cycling time *: 21 minutes Calories burnt *: Around 130 calories * Cycling time and calories burnt are calculated using a cycling speed of 10mph and a weight of 10 stone. See the route > Also available as a GPX file Things to note The route requires you to use the cycle lane of the pavement at Lea Bridge Road before re-entering the park. This six mile route starts at the stunning Lee Valley VeloPark then heads north through taking in the local marshes. This route will help you discover the important role the filter beds played in London’s history. Along the route you’ll find… Lee Valley VeloPark Built for the London 2012 games and host venue for the track and BMX events this iconic building now offers visitors the chance to enjoy four cycling disciplines, track, road, BMX and mountain biking all in one location. Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre Just before you cross over the bridge from Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park you’ll see the fantastic union jack hockey pitch of Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre. Used during London 2012 for the Paralympic tennis events and subsequently remodelled to include two water-based hockey pitches as well as indoor and outdoor tennis courts. Eton Manor The powerful poem ‘Eton Manor’ by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy adorns one of the external walls at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, bringing the rich history of this site to life. This unique sporting venue also houses a war memorial that serves as a tribute to Eton Manor Club members who fought and died in the First and Second World Wars. The memorial was restored as part of the work on the venue. Hackney Marshes These marshes are steeped in history and have seen many developments over the years leaving us with the areas you can see today. The north and south marshes are renowned as the home of Sunday league football and boast 82 football, rugby and cricket pitches. The area is owned and run by London Borough of Hackney. Middlesex Filter Beds This once industrial area used to house filter beds that provided clean water for London. Following an outbreak of cholera in 1852 these filter beds, along with a sister set at the WaterWorks Centre were built to ensure that Londoners had access to clean water to help with the prevention of disease. The filter beds were in use up until 1969 when they were closed. Since their closure they have been turned into a wildlife haven offering a thriving mix of open water, reedbeds and wet woodland habitats. It’s a great area to spot amphibians, dragonfly and damselfly plus a whole host of different species of bird. Toilets: Lee Valley VeloPark Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre Refreshments: Lee Valley VeloPark Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre (vending machine) Alternative starting points: Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre – E20 3AD sat navs, please use E10 5SQ You can ride these routes on any type of bike but the best ones to use would be either a mountain or hybrid bike. Please cycle responsibly in the park, for more information check our cyclists code of conduct. Previous Next

< Back Golden Circle Distance: 5.5 miles Terrain: tarmac and gravel paths Starting point: Lee Valley VeloPark, Abercrombie Road, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London E20 3AB Total elevation gain : 82ft Cycling time *: 33 minutes Calories burnt *: around 200 calories * Cycling time and calories burnt are calculated using a cycling speed of 10mph and a weight of 10 stone. See the route > Also available as a GPX file Things to note This route involves crossing sections of road. At just under six miles this route starts at the stunning Lee Valley VeloPark then heads north taking in the local marshes. This route will help you discover the historical links the filter beds and marshes have for the city of London. Along the route you’ll find… Lee Valley VeloPark Built for the London 2012 games and host venue for the track and BMX events this iconic building now offers visitors the chance to enjoy four cycling disciplines, track, road, BMX and mountain biking all in one location. Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre Just before you cross over the bridge from Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park you’ll see the fantastic union jack hockey pitch of Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre. Used during London 2012 for the Paralympic tennis events and subsequently remodelled to include two water-based hockey pitches as well as indoor and outdoor tennis courts. Eton Manor The powerful poem ‘Eton Manor’ by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy adorns one of the external walls at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, bringing the rich history of this site to life. This unique sporting venue also houses a war memorial that serves as a tribute to Eton Manor Club members who fought and died in the First and Second World Wars. The memorial was restored as part of the work on the venue. Hackney Marshes These marshes are steeped in history and have seen many developments over the years leaving us with the areas you can see today. The north and south marshes are renowned as the home of Sunday league football and boast 82 football, rugby and cricket pitches. The area is owned and run by London Borough of Hackney. Middlesex Filter Beds This once industrial area used to house filter beds that provided clean water for London. Following an outbreak of cholera in 1852 these filter beds, along with a sister set at the WaterWorks Centre were built to ensure that Londoners had access to clean water to help with the prevention of disease. The filter beds were in use up until 1969 when they were closed. Since their closure they’ve been turned into a wildlife haven offering a thriving mix of open water, reedbeds and wet woodland habitats. It’s a great area to spot amphibians, dragonfly and damselfly plus a whole host of different species of bird. Information boards around the site will allow you to find out more. Walthamstow Marshes This riverside nature reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest site and is very important for certain rare plants and other wildlife. The site today is a fragment of once extensive marshes and traces of Ice Age river channels can still be see when the water table is high. Looking to the skies you may see Kestrel, Linnet, Reed Bunting or Green Woodpecker soaring above, or on the water Grey Heron and Little Grebe to name but a few. On the ground look out for Bee Orchid, Yellow Ice, Penny-Royal and even the very rare Creeping Marshwort. Look out for our information boards around the site which will give you more information on this fantastic area. The Walthamstow Wetlands is just next door to the marshes and lets you extend your cycle ride. A V Roe - underneath these arches Sir Edwin Alliott Verdon Roe built his tri-plane and undertook flight experiments on these very marshes. In July 1909 the first all-British powered flight was made right from these marshes by A V Roe and his team. The plane used in this flight is preserved at London’s Science Museum. A blue plaque is placed on the viaduct to commemorate this achievement. Toilets Lee Valley VeloPark Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre – 2 minutes from the route Lee Valley Ice Centre - 2 minutes from the route Refreshments Lee Valley VeloPark Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre – 2 minutes from the route Lee Valley Ice Centre - 2 minutes from the route Alternative starting points Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre – E20 3AD - sat navs, please use E10 5SQ You can ride these routes on any type of bike but the best ones to use would be either a mountain or hybrid bike. Please cycle responsibly in the park, for more information check our cyclists code of conduct. Previous Next

What you may see in the park this spring With 10,000 acres of habitat the wildlife changes with the seasons and offers an array of things to look out for. Wildlife The park is renowned for its important and protected habitats and the species that make them their home – some highlights that you may see from March to May are: Swifts  as they return from Africa to start their breeding season, listen out for their ‘screaming’ calls as they feed on insects. They can be seen across the valley feasting on the insects especially over waterbodies. We’ve installed Swift boxes in the walls of the Lee Valley Ice Centre and play recordings of their calls to draw them in, hopefully one day they'll nest here. Read more > Nightingale are secretive birds known for their melodic song who love scrubby or coppiced woodland. They are Red Listed due to their decline in numbers – there has been an estimated 42% decline in breeding numbers over the past 30 years. They return to the park each spring having spent the winter in west Africa, a great place to listen and look out for them is Fishers Green Barn Owls can be seen quartering the grasslands on the hunt for their prey of small mammals. If walking the park pathway from Fishers Green to Clayton Hill in River Lee Country Park keep an eye out over the farmland particularly at dusk Kingfisher , these lovely bright cobalt blue birds can be seen throughout the year, listen out for their shrill call as they fly low over the waterways or look out for them on perched on branches over the water. Good locations for spotting them are WaterWorks Centre nature reserve , Tottenham Marshes and the Wildlife Discovery Centre in River Lee Country Park at Fishers Green. This species is part of our Biodiversity Action Plan and we have installed special features in banks to encourage them to nest. Read more > House Sparrow are small noisy social birds that can be found in the park all year round. Sadly, their populations are in decline globally but can still be found throughout the park – listen out for their noisy ‘cheep cheep’ call as they gather together in bushes Skylark  with their distinctive small crest and streaky brown feathers are known for their aerobatics being able to fly vertically in the air. Their long rising and falling warbling song, is so evocative of this time of year.  They are a Red List species (which means it’s in critical danger) and are year-round residents in the park, loving our farmland and grassland areas on Gunpowder Park , where they nest on the ground Cuckoo , their distinctive call heralds the start of spring as they return from their African wintering grounds. They lay their egg in another birds nest, it hatches after 12 days and pushes out the hosts eggs and chicks so that it gets all of its adoptive parents attention. A great place listen for their calls are Glen Faba or Cornmill Meadows Pollinators such as bumblebees come out of hibernation and start to do their great work pollinating the spring flowers. The park is a haven for such species and they can been seen hard at work up and down the park. Look out for the scarce Brown-banded Carder bumblebee, the queen emerges from hibernation from April onwards   Flora The open spaces burst back into life in spring, from the buds on the trees bring back their leafy canopies to flowers in wildflower meadows making a reappearance. Notable for spring are: Cuckooflower so named as it blooms from April onwards, coinciding with the arrival of Cuckoos. With its delicate pale pink flowers its easy to see why they are also called Lady’s Smock– they love damp meadows, ditches and river banks. In the park you can see these flowers on the floodplain meadows at Silvermeade , Cornmill Meadows and Walthamstow Marshes Cowslips’ bright yellow flowers can be seen from April to May and are an important early nectar source for insects. This native plant is a member of the primrose family can easily be found throughout grasslands of the park such as WaterWorks Centre nature reserve , Gunpowder Park and those at our sporting venues such as the Lee Valley White Water Centre Upcoming planned events Throughout the year the park runs special wildlife themed events. Up coming events include Water Voles and Wetlands - See the details BioBlitz – summer Bee focused event – summer London Rivers Week – October Love the Lea - 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 >

Throughout the year a range of works are undertaken to manage the great diverse and important habitats within the park. Discover the type of works that will be done this spring. Habitat management works being done As we come out of the cold winter months there’s a raft of work that our Ranger and Biodiversity teams look to undertake – this is on top of their day-to-day management of the wonderful park. Some projects over the coming months are: Animals grazing our environmentally sensitive sites – we use these natural lawnmowers to great effect in many areas of the park. The cattle, which are from the park’s own farm, can be seen at Walthamstow Marshes , WaterWorks Centre nature reserve , Cornmill Meadows , Glen Faba as well as at Ryegate Farm. Old English Goats are used on Cheshunt Marsh as they’re great managers of the harshe r scrubland  habitats. Read more about Old English Goats > Common Tern rafts can be seen on Seventy Acres in River Lee Country Park at Fishers Green. Common Tern return to the valley from west Africa each summer to breed. Larger numbers are found nesting on shingle along the coast however they have also moved to inland waters such as the Lee Valley and nest on artificial rafts designed to mimic the coastal habitats. In spring we’ll prepare the rafts for their arrival   Wildlife monitoring – surveys Throughout the year a team of people, from our Ranger and Biodiversity teams, volunteer and partner organizations undertake a programme of surveys which allows us to monitor what’s going on in the park. The following survey will be happening over the coming months: Owl box checks – we have installed a number of owls boxes around the park. In spring we’ll check them all in readiness for the breeding season. The checks are carried out under a special licence to ensure that disturbance is minimised Orchid surveys take place  in late spring on Bowyers Water and Rammey Marsh to monitor their numbers, there are six species recorded at Bowyers orchid area, including the Early Marsh Orchid which is one of the Lee Valley Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species Each year we take part in the national Heronries census organised by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). Volunteers visit sites up to three times a year – in March, April and May – to look for and to count Heron nests.  They also note if Little Egrets or Cormorants are nesting.  This data is fed back to the BTO, in 2024 there are over 9500 Grey Heron nests recorded in the UK. Where possible the chicks are ringed by a licensed bird ringer.  This involves putting a numbered ring around their leg so they can be easily identified in the future – this helps the ongoing monitoring Water Vole   surveys are undertaken in key locations along the rivers, ditches and lake edges within the park, we look for signs of Water Vole including their feeding remains, burrows and even their poo! As a species under serious threat from predators such as American Mink as well as habitat loss, the Water Vole is one of our Biodiversity Action Plan priority species Wading birds such as Lapwing, Redshank, Little Ringed Plover and Oystercatcher often attempt to breed in the park on wetland sites such as Amwell Nature Reserve , Cornmill Meadows and Ponders End Lake (Located on Lee Valley Golf Course) . You may see them probing the muddy margins of wetland scrapes to look for invertebrates. Our Rangers and volunteers monitor key sites to see if breeding attempts are made and if any chicks manage to successfully fledge There are nine species of bat recorded in the Lee Valley and regular   Bat surveys help us monitor how they're using our sites. All bats are protected by law and are highlighted as a priority in Biodiversity Action Plan Dragonfly surveys  are undertaken by our volunteers in areas such as Cornmill Meadows Dragonfly Sanctuary (a Site of Special Scientific Interest) where many of the UK native species of dragonfly have been recorded   Upcoming planned events Throughout the year the park runs special wildlife themed events. Up coming events include Water Voles and Wetlands - See the details Bioblitz – summer Bee focused event – summer London Rivers Week – October Love the Lea - 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 >

As the park starts to awaken from it’s winter slumber and the spring shoots start to appear it’s the ideal time to start thinking about your Lee Valley adventures over the coming months. There are hundreds of days out for every visitor from the sporting fanatics looking for their next adrenalin rush to nature lovers wanting to soak in all the season has to offer – keep on reading and be inspired for your next day out  For nature Lee Valley Regional Park is renowned for habitats and its residents and as the fauna begins the emerge, the whole park wakes up! Somethings you might spot: Blossoms 🌸 – cherry, plum, hawthorn, apple – the list goes on! Great places to sport these are Waltham Abbey Gardens and WaterWorks nature reserve Song birds 🎶 – the sounds of song begins the fill the sky with calls from the Blackbird, Robin and if you’re lucky enough to hear the call of the Nightingale. Perfect places to sport them is Fishers Green, River Lee Country Park and Walthamstow Marshes Bugs and bees 🐝 – the park is an amazing magnet for bug life as bee crawl out of burrows and nymphs emerge from the water. Cornmill Meadows and Middlesex Filter Beds are great places to see these You can learn more about the wildlife in the park this spring! Read about the wildlife you might see here and learn about the great work we're doing for wildlife here . For sport After the hibernation of winter this is the perfect time to get more active. From upping your step count with regular walks, getting your muscles pumping with a workout or enjoying some of the great sporting activities on offer at our venues. Splashing into spring 🐦 – Lee Valley Regional Park is the home of watersports with lots of venues up and down the park offering safe experiences on water. From The Olympic standard rapids at Lee Valley White Water Centre to paddling at Herts Young Mariners Base and hopping aboard the Mega SUP at ESSA Water Activity Centre – plus rowing and sailing clubs too! Dust off those wheels 🚴‍♀️ – there’s miles of traffic free trails ideal to cycling or if you want to feel the thrill head to Lee Valley VeloPark where you can try your hand at track, BMX, MTB or road cycling Build up your fitness 💪 – whether you want to pump iron at a one of the high standard gyms or get a kick start on your fitness journey with a FREE Boot Camp with OurParks – there’s a level for everyone to join in on Soak up the remerging nature 🍃 – walking is a great way to boost your mental and physical wellbeing while getting moving. You can check out our wonderful open spaces , our walking routes or perhaps join in our LifeWalks , which you can take at your own pace Get your foam fingers are the ready 🏑 – the FIH Hockey Pro League is back at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in June and you can get the mid week match for less. Use code PROLEAGUE10 for Wednesday 18 June match and you can get 10% off blue and white tickets. Book yours today   For discovery There’s so many different adventures where you can learn, explore and discover more about the Lee Valley. Wildlife Discovery Centre 🔍 – based at Fishers Green in River Lee Country Park, this state of the art centre is ideal for learning about the different habitats around you, look at views over Seventy Acre Lake and have a spot of wildlife watching in the hide Myddelton House Gardens 🌷 – at this time of year the garden truly shines, packed full of snowdrop, daffodils and soon we’ll see the appearance of Silla and the Bluebells will begin to take over Make a weekend of it ⛺ – with so many things to discover, why not stay for a short break? From touring, glamping and luxury lodges to an back to nature  almost wild campsite -  all be found at our four Lee Valley Campsites. Check out the different options and any special offers Looking for a new challenge 💚 – volunteering , free health walks, educational opportunities are all are your finger tips With all this and more on in the park, you’re set to have a cracking spring out in the park 🌸