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What you may see in the park this summer 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 Willow Emerald is a striking metallic green damselfly of still or slow-moving water, and a species worth watching for in late summer around ponds, lakes, canals and ditches with overhanging trees. Unlike many damselflies, it often rests with its wings partly spread rather than folded neatly together. Look at branches overhanging the waterways and you may see small, raised bumps which are scars where the female has cut into the woody stems of trees such as willow to lay her eggs. The Willow Emerald is a relatively new arrival in the UK with the first breeding populations recorded in East Anglia in 2007 and recorded first in the Lee Valley at Amwell Nature Reserve in 2014. Since then they have been recorded at a number of sites including Myddelton House Gardens and Rammey Marsh. 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) The Hobby is a slim, elegant bird and a classic summer sight over wetlands. It's a migrant to Britain, arriving in spring from Africa and often seen hunting over the open water of valley’s gravel pits where dragonflies are abundant. Scan the sky above the water and watch for quick, agile bursts of flight as a Hobby twists and turns in pursuit of insects or small birds. Look for its distinctive scythe-shaped wings shape, a dark hood, pale cheeks and distinctive rusty-red ‘trousers’ on its legs. The Cetti’s Warbler is more often heard than seen! This small, stocky brown bird lives low in dense vegetation beside water, especially reedbed edges, willows and tangled scrub. It has a warm chestnut-brown back, greyish underparts and a pale line above the eye. The easiest way to spot one is to listen first: its song is a sudden, explosive burst from deep cover, often delivered from a hidden perch before the bird slips away again. It was first recorded as a breeding bird in the UK in 1972 in Kent but has since spread and is now resident year-round and present along the length of the Lee Valley. The Reed Warbler is a classic bird of summer reedbeds and one of the voices that brings wetland margins to life. It is a small, brown bird with buff underparts, a pale throat and a short pale line in front of the eye, but it is usually easier to hear than to see. Its rhythmical song is a lively, chattering stream of notes delivered from deep within the reeds, often from April to early autumn. Listen out for them in tall reedbeds around lakes, ditches and sheltered channels on the wetlands of River Lee Country Park, East India Dock Basin or Glen Faba. Watch for a slight movement low among upright reed stems, or a bird briefly climbing up to sing before dropping back into cover. Its secretive behaviour means patience and listening are the best ways to spot one! The Water Vole is a charismatic wetland mammal, although they are easy to miss if you rush past. They have chestnut-brown fur, a blunt nose, small ears and a furry tail. They favour slow-moving ditches, streams and pond edges with lush bankside plants to feed on and hide in. Rather than expecting a long view, watch quietly for signs: a neat plop into the water, short-grazed patches of vegetation, or little feeding stations where stems have been nibbled. Early morning or evening is often best, and patience is essential. If you stand still by a calm bank in the Lee Valley, a Water Vole may reappear to swim across open water or sit briefly among the bankside vegetation. Barbel are powerful river fish, well adapted to life in clean, fast-flowing waters. They are usually golden-bronze above with a pale belly and reddish-brown fins, with four whisker-like barbels around the mouth, which they use to search the riverbed for their prey of insect larvae, crustaceans and molluscs. In the Lee Valley they are found in the Old River Lea at Fishers Green. Spotting one can take patience, but in clear conditions you may see a long, streamlined fish holding position near the bottom or moving slowly over gravels where they lay their eggs. The Little Ringed Plover is a small, wading bird of shallow freshwater margins, especially gravel pits, reservoirs and muddy edges. They return to the UK in summer from their African wintering grounds. Look for them on bare shingle, muddy islands or sparsely vegetated shorelines, where they run in short bursts before stopping suddenly to peck at insects. In the Lee Valley, look for Little Ringed Plover on the bare islands on Amwell Nature Reserve or the shingle islands on Hall Marsh Scrape. 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 Meadowsweet is one of the signature flowers of damp summer meadows and waterside edges. In midsummer it produces frothy clusters of creamy-white flowers held above tall stems, often giving off a sweet, almond-like scent on warm days. Its leaves are dark green and sharply toothed, with a paler underside. In the Lee Valley you may find it along wetter paths, floodplain meadows and ditch margins where the ground stays moist, including on sites such as Walthamstow Marshes and Silvermeade. Water Mint is a wonderfully aromatic plant of wet ground, ditch edges and pond margins. It has rounded clusters of lilac to pinkish flowers and soft green leaves arranged in opposite pairs along the stem, in summer it is often alive with pollinators. If a leaf is gently rubbed, it releases a clear minty scent. Its fresh scent and rounded flowerheads make it easier to recognise than many other waterside plants. Upcoming planned events Throughout the year the park runs special wildlife themed events. Up coming events include BioBlitz - Summer 2026 Bittern Roost Watch – January 2027 The park will also be at the Global Bird Fair (10 – 12 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 >

Litter is countrywide issue that impacts how we think and feel about the places we’re visiting – it spoils landscapes, harms wildlife and can fuel wildfires. Keep Britain Tidy’s Rubbish Reality report found that 90% of the places people visit are littered and 42% of people think parks and green space are the worst for littering. In fact, only 9 out of every 100 place they surveyed where actually litter free. What is classes as litter? Rubbish that hasn’t been disposed of properly – from sweet and crips wrappers to cigarette butts and dog poo! This also includes things ‘placed’ such rubbish bags left by dog poo bins, cups on benches and dog poo bags hung on trees. What should I do with my rubbish in the park? In the park, we follow the Countryside Code, which mean if you bring it to the park, you must take it home with you. You won’t find many refuse bins when you’re out and about – there are dog waste bins but these aren’t for general rubbish. Bringing a picnic? Pack all your rubbish up and dispose of it at home Walking your dog? Pick up after them and pop the bag into a dog waste bin when you come across one Enjoying a coffee? You can take your cup to the shop to be recycled, use a reusable cup or if it’s rubbish take it home with you to dispose of Super simple, your rubbish is your responsibly and we ask you to leave the park with no physical trace that you’ve been there. Taking your litter away with you is small action that makes a huge difference. What are we doing to combat littering? In 2024-25: Spent over £125,000 clearing rubbish Over 52,115 bags of rubbish were clear from Lee Valley Regional Park We would much rather spend this money and resource improving the park for both our visitor and the wildlife that calls it home – and we’re sure you would too! Here is how you can do your bit to help: Take everything you bring to the park home with you – super simple! Encourage other to do the same – this is how we change how people think about rubbish Educate children in your life on the importance of clearing up after themselves and caring for open spaces – great way to set up good habits for life Volunteer on a litter pick – you can see how to sign up for our litter picks here or head on your own self led one

Over recent years the number of wildfires has increased in the park. In 2025 London Fire Brigade (LFB) had its busiest summer since the extreme heat of 2022. In 2025-26 there was 44 reported fires in the park, this is double the amount reported in 2023-24. What damage does it cause? Grass wildfires only need a small spark to start and can spread very quickly making them uncontrollable as well as unpredictable. The fires can destroy land, habitats and the biodiversity of the area as well as killing the local wildlife. Fumes pollute the air and debris can enter waterways. Close to Lee Valley Regional Park land there are many residential areas, if the wildfires spread into these areas it could cause untold damages to people’s home and can put lives at risk. Why is the number growing? Climate change: we’re having hotter and drier summers which creates the perfect conditions for wildfires. Human behaviour: LFB reported that the majority of fires they attended were caused by human behaviour whether that’s accidental from BBQ, cigarettes, leaving a glass bottle on the ground or deliberately through arson. What can you do to help? Don’t discard cigarettes on the ground or throw them out of car windows – they may not be out and could ignite a fire if they land on dry grass Don’t BBQ in parks and open spaces – no BBQs are permitted within Lee Valley Regional Park Take all your litter home – glass bottles left in the sun can ignite a fire. If you bring it in with you, please take it home to dispose of If you discover a wildfire: Ensure you are in a safe location (away from vegetation and smoke) Stay calm and call 999 immediately If you’re in your car, close all windows and vents Be as specific as you can about the location, the size and any other relevant information. Apps like what3words can help fire crews to get there quickly Do not attempt to tackle the blaze yourself Stay well away from wildfires as fire can smoulder or spread underground. What we’re doing? Our Ranger teams work hard to help manage the risk of wildfires, you may see the team: Doing additional patrols especially in the really hot weather Cutting fire breaks in meadows Working with local partners and fire services to help spread awareness Please keep safe over the summer months and take a read of London Fire Brigade Extreme Heat guide to have a safe and enjoyable summer. References London Fire Brigade's Extreme Heat Guide BBC - London summers: Wildfires and scorched earth BBC - London Fire Brigade sees busiest summer since 2022

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: Sand Martin are the smallest member of the swallow and martin family and return from their African wintering grounds each year to breed. They can be seen hunting for insects over our waterways. They nest in colonies, excavating nest holes into the sandy banks of rivers, at Tottenham Marshes they nest in drainage holes on the banks of the Pymmes Brook. Whilst the majority of butterflies overwinter as eggs or larvae some, including the Peacock, overwinter as adults in cool dark locations such as holes in trees. We often find them in WWII Pill Boxes that have been converted into bat hibernacula such as at Green Lane, Hall Marsh Scrape or Gunpowder Park. As soon as the weather starts to warm the butterflies emerge seeking out early sources of nectar to feed on. 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. The distinctive call of the Cuckoo 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. When temperatures start to warm in spring Grass Snake become more active. It’s a good time to see them, they are cold blooded and need to bask in the sun to warm up. They are excellent swimmers and can often be seen alongside ditches, rivers or lakes gracefully sliding into the water if disturbed. They hunt their prey of frogs, toads and newts amongst the many wetlands of the Lee Valley. Frogspawn can be found in ponds in early spring (even earlier in milder winters). It forms a large clump of jelly - if you see a string of spawn then this is toad spawn. The black dots will hatch after about three weeks, feeding on the jelly before moving on to algae and then small insects. Frogs can lay up to 2-3000 eggs per year but only a small percentage make it to adulthood, the others fall prey to predators such as fish, newts and dragonfly larvae. It’s important not to move frogspawn between ponds as this can spread diseases. As the days warm look out for damselflies, newly emerged from ponds and lakes where they spend up to two years as larvae before they climb up emergent vegetation and undertake an incredible metamorphosis into their adult form. Smaller and more delicate than dragonflies, damselflies have a more fluttering flight and hold their wings closed along their bodies as they rest. The Blue-tailed Damselfly is a common species – named after the blue segment towards the end of its abdomen and can be found across the park. Head to Cornmill Meadows Dragonfly Sanctuary, Amwell Nature Reserve, or WaterWorks Nature Reserves to see a range of species that emerge across the spring and summer months. 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 it’s 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 Coltsfoot is an early sign of spring, flowering in February and March. Unlike most plants the flowers which look similar to dandelions and have a scaly stem, are visible long before the leaves emerge and are an important early source of nectar for pollinators. Visit the same location in summer and only their distinctive leaves will be visible. Another bright yellow flower of early spring is the Lesser Celandine, a low-growing member of the buttercup family. There is also a flower called Greater Celandine but don’t be fooled as they are unrelated with the Greater Celandine belonging to the poppy family. Lesser Celandine can be found across the park from shaded woody areas to alongside ditches and in meadows. In early spring Blackthorn trees across the park burst into flower – covered in bright white flowers before the leaves appear. Watch out though as the Blackthorn has sharp spikes and forms dense thickets – perfect for wildlife. Alder trees thrive in damp conditions and are found across the valley. The male catkins which dangle off the tree in early spring provide an important early source of nectar. The small red upright female catkins turn into dark cones once fertilised. Those that suffer from hayfever will be well aware of the abundance of pollen produced by grasses. The flower heads of Yorkshire Fog can be seen from May onwards, look out for their purple hue across grasslands. The base of their stems have a purple stripe – people often say they are wearing striped pyjamas! It is the main foodplant of the Small Skipper butterfly. Working for wildlife Throughout the year, our teams work maintain the diverse and important habitats in the park. Here is the list of projects our biodiversity team are working on this year Installing two new rafts on Seventy Acres Lake in River Lee Country Park. Owl box checks Orchid surveys Heronries census Water vole surveys Monitoring breeding wading birds Dragonfly survey Butterfly surveys Moth events You can read more about our work here Upcoming planned events Throughout the year the park runs special wildlife themed events. Up coming events include Water Voles and Wetlands – Date to be set BioBlitz – summer Bee focused event – summer London Rivers Week – October Love the Lea - October Bittern Roost Watch – January 2027 The park will also be at the Global Bird Fair (10 – 12 July) held in Rutland. See all our events > 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 >

Competition is now closed We're awaiting the winners to confirm and we'll announce the winners. Celebrate English Tourism Week with our exclusive prize draw! English Tourism Week is the perfect opportunity to shine a spotlight on the incredible places, experiences and hidden gems that make our country such a fantastic destination. Here in the Lee Valley, we’re proud of our long-standing reputation for delivering unforgettable adventures, inspiring landscapes and welcoming holiday locations that people return to year after year. To mark this national celebration, we’re giving you the chance to win one of two brilliant prizes - ideal for anyone who loves the great outdoors, trying new activities or simply enjoying time away with family and friends. Whether you dream of unwinding at one of our beautiful campsites or fancy an adrenalin-filled day of rafting, cycling or horse riding, this is your moment to get involved!   How to enter Getting your name in the draw couldn’t be easier. Simply enter your details on our free prize draw form and you’ll be in with a chance to win - no catch, no purchase, just a great opportunity to enjoy more of what the Lee Valley has to offer.   What you could win We’re excited to offer two fantastic prizes: £250 voucher  to use at any of our Lee Valley campsites Perfect for a weekend getaway, a family break, or a peaceful escape surrounded by nature £50 experience voucher  for Lee Valley VeloPark , Lee Valley White Water Centre , or Lee Valley Riding Centre Ideal for thrill‑seekers and adventure lovers looking to try something new Whether you're planning a short break or looking for your next adrenaline rush, these prizes are an ideal way to celebrate English Tourism Week with us.   Terms and conditions apply.   Keep up to date Want the latest news, events and offers delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our e‑newsletters and choose the topics you’re most interested in.

This weekend is International Women’s Day and we’re celebrating great women in sport – from those on the world stage winning medals to local legends breaking down barriers in grass roots sport. New research  from Women in Sport shows only 23% of girls aged 13 – 24 dream of reaching the top in sport, that's the lowest rate since the charity started recording results in 2020.  In Lee Valley Regional Park, we have a wide range of activities to help women stay fit and healthy. Whether in our Olympic  legacy sports venues or women only fitness sessions, the park offers many opportunities to help women feel empowered to unlock their sporting potential. Sports to get involved in Lee Valley Athletics Centre  – Athletics, Gym Lee Valley Ice Centre  – Ice Skating and Ice Hockey, Gym Lee Valley VeloPark  – Track Cycling, BMX, Mountain Biking, Road Cycling, Pickleball, Gym Lee Valley White Water Centre  – Kayaking, Canoeing, Rafting, Open Water Swimming Lee Valley Riding Centre  – Horse Riding Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre  – Field Hockey and Tennis Women Only Sessions Weekly women only tennis sessions   Women’s track cycling   Women’s ice hockey with Lee Valley Vampires   Stories to inspire Beatrix Boutique  began skating at two and now trains at Lee Valley Ice Centre, competing both solo and with Team Phoenix. Despite dyslexia, dyspraxia and undergoing open heart surgery in 2024, she returned to the ice with determination. She’s now aiming to represent Great Britain at the World Inclusive Para Skating Championships, earning high praise from her coaches for her resilience and passion. At 74, cancer survivor Linden Porter  has taken on the demanding sport of freestyle kayaking at Lee Valley White Water Centre. After surgery and radiotherapy in early 2025, she worked hard to rebuild her strength and now trains on the Legacy Loop with coach Sam Wilson. Kayaking has helped her regain confidence, fitness and joy, and she’s using her journey to raise funds for a new cancer screening unit in South Bucks. Linden says she’s proof that it’s never too late to take on a challenge — and she’s determined to keep improving, stay upright, and learn to roll.

Spring is finally here, that wonderful moment when the world wakes up again. Bulbs begin to sprout, blossom bursts into life, and the trees start showing off their first buds of the year. As the weather brightens and the days grow longer, it’s the perfect time to step outside and discover everything Lee Valley Regional Park has to offer and to love spring with us. With so many fantastic places to explore, one visit is never enough. Make this the season you rediscover your  Lee Valley.   Parks, nature and wildlife Spring is a magical time for wildlife across the park. Keep an eye out for speedy Swifts, graceful Barn Owls, electric‑blue flashes of Kingfishers and the uplifting songs of Skylarks. And if you listen carefully, you might even hear the iconic call of the Cuckoo. Bumblebees and other pollinators are also back from their winter rest, buzzing busily between spring flowers as they kick‑start the season.   As the park shifts from winter greys to vibrant greens, it becomes the ideal place for a peaceful walk, refreshing cycle or a relaxed picnic with friends and family. Start your spring adventure at one of our top spots: River Lee Country Park, Fishers Green (EN9 2EF) Gunpowder Park (EN9 3GP) Tottenham Marshes (N17 0XD) WaterWorks Centre nature reserve (E10 7QB) Bow Creek Ecology Park (E16 4ST)   Want to explore even more? We’ve created a great range of walking, running and cycling routes - perfect for discovering the park in bite‑sized chunks.     Activity sheets Bring the park to life with our downloadable activity sheets - great for families, schools or just curious explorers. Bird ID sheet   For younger adventurers: Spring I Spy Spring Scavenger Hunt Give adventure a go Looking for something a little more exhilarating? Our venues offer unforgettable experiences from rafting  the same waves as Olympic paddlers to cycling the legendary track once raced by Wiggins, Hoy and the Kennys. You can even enjoy a horse‑riding session to get back in the sa ddle.   Know someone who’d love an adventure? Treat them to a gift voucher! Let’s walk Prefer to explore with company? Join one of our free guided walks running throughout the park. They’re friendly, social and perfect for meeting like‑minded people while enjoying gentle exercise.   Find all upcoming walks on our event listings . Time for a holiday Thinking about a spring or summer getaway? It’s never too early to plan the perfect break. Lee Valley offers four unique campsites , each with a distinct atmosphere from the urban buzz of Edmonton to the woodland calm of Sewardstone, the riverside charm of Dobbs Weir and the back‑to‑nature feel of Almost Wild.   Choose from: Touring or camping pitches Pre-pitched tent, camping and glamping pods Holiday lodges and houses   All with great road and public transport links, making it easy to explore London and beyond.   With only a small deposit needed and the balance due just before your stay, booking your holiday couldn’t be simpler. Keep up to date Want the latest news, events and offers delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our e‑newsletters and choose the topics you’re most interested in.

We’ve made it halfway through the darker months, and soon longer days, blossoms, and waking wildlife will signal the start of sunnier seasons. This is the perfect time to take learning outdoors and nurture children’s curiosity in nature. Here are four inspiring reasons to explore the 10,000-acre classroom in the Lee Valley: 1. Engage the senses From smelling fresh grass, listening for bird calls, spotting colours in bloom, and feeling the textures of the natural world—outdoor learning is a full sensory experience. Our Forest School  and Habitat Discovery Days  provide pupils with hands-on opportunities to connect with nature and immerse themselves in their surroundings through their senses. 2. Boost physical health Fresh air, sunlight, and movement all contribute to better physical health, reduced stress, and improved wellbeing. On our Rivers and Lakes Discovery Day , pupils explore the meandering River Lea and the straight River Lee Navigation, observing the wildlife along the way. For active, motor skills, the Stone Age Discovery Day  has children identifying plants from the Stone Age, trying fire-lighting, and experimenting with primitive art. 3. Build confidence and emotional wellbeing Outdoor learning encourages independence, confidence, and teamwork whilst discovering the outdoor world. Our green spaces allow children to develop their social and emotional skills while exploring. Our Mindfulness and Natural Art Discovery Day  includes watching nature’s rhythms, making mud faces, and trying Hapa Zome. For a challenge,  our Orienteering KS2 programme takes children on an adventure by testing their map reading skills and to finding the answers to our nature quiz. Bonus: Connecting with Nature With the world becoming more online, it is more important than ever to get children to connect with nature. T ime outdoors helps children rediscover a sense of wonder and inspires them to continue their natural science learning. Also, by bringing children closer to nature it helps promote environmental responsibility. Our Plant and Habitat Discovery Day brings minibeasts and plants up close, helping pupils appreciate the world around them. Ready to get your class learning outdoors? Explore all of our programmes —including sessions at our sports venues and bespoke learning days—on our website. Our team is on hand to answer any questions. Get your pupils out of the classroom and into the fresh air this spring and summer— book your programme today!

During Christmas and New Year it can be easy to stay cooped up at home; but this is the perfect time to explore the park around you. Lee Valley Regional Park offers a wide range of things to do that will keep you busy until the new year rolls round. Explore new walking routes Nothing beats blowing away the cobwebs after you have finished all the Christmas cheese! We have some great routes in the park to suit all abilities. Here’s some suggestions: Artworks routes 1 , 2 and 3 - varying in different lengths these are great trails that will get your steps in during the holidays and keep the kids interested Golden Circle – On this walk that incorporates the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, you’ll pass many iconic legacies of the London 2012 games before heading into our internationally important open spaces in North London. Gunpowder Woodland Trail - it’s a great short walk, perfect for little legs, where you’ll explore the osier marsh on well maintained paths and boardwalks. Winter wildlife watching Believe it or not, the park is full of wildlife during the winter months! (We know we would prefer somewhere hotter too). The Wildlife Discovery Centre at Fishers Green in Waltham Abbey is the perfect place to spot our feathered and furred visitors. Enjoy views over Seventy Acre Lake from the top of the tower and learn about the wildlife that calls the park home in the Discovery Room or just enjoy a cuppa in the hide. This is the perfect spot to set off on your winter visit. Get your skates on Lee Valley Ice Centre has a range of festive skate sessions running over the Christmas break until 5 January. Make the most of that festive feeling and get yourself booked in for a session today. Join our active community The Twixmas break is the perfect time to start those New Year’s resolutions early and our Life Walks are the perfect starting point. These are regular walks around different areas of the park that you can take at your own pace. The walk leaders leave helpful markers so you know where to go and there are lots of chatty members that will keep you entertained on the way round. See the dates and locations of these walks here . Festive fairways Lee Valley Golf Course is open throughout the Christmas holidays (except 1 January) and nothing beats a catch up with friends on the greens. Book your session and check the course conditions here . We hope this has inspired you to step outside your front door during the Christmas break, and don’t forget there are thousands of great days out in the Lee Valley so start planning your 2026 trip today .

With frosts in the air and leaves on the ground winter is a wonderful time to explore - see the park unmasked from it's foliage and the wildlife that make it their home for these months with our spotlight on the winter wildlife. Winter wildlife and habitats The wetland habitats of the Lee Valley are hugely important for waterbirds, designated on a local, national and international level. In winter numbers of waterbirds swell as migratory birds leave harsher climates to overwinter in the Lee Valley.   Tufted Duck The resident population of Tufted Duck swell in winter as birds arrive from Iceland, Scandinavia and the Baltics to spend the winter in the Lee Valley – a journey of up to 1,200 miles. Tufted Ducks can live up to 14 years which means they could travel up to 33,600 miles in their life! Bittern  The Wildlife Discovery Centre at Fishers Green is one of the best places in the country to see overwintering Bittern. A member of the heron family, Bittern are a buff-brown colour and superbly camouflaged against the winter reeds. Each evening they roost by grasping clumps of reed in their feet and climbing up to the top. Join our Conservation Team in the Wildlife Discovery Centre for the Bittern Roost Watch event  on Sunday 18 January 2026 - find out more  > Barn Owl Winter weather can make it more difficult for Barn Owls to catch their prey of small mammals; in particularly harsh winters they can face starvation. You may see them hunting on sites such as Cornmill Meadows  or Gunpowder Park  during the day as well as at dusk as they up their hunting frequency. We have installed Barn Owl boxes across many sites including Glen Faba , Ryegate Farm, River Lee Country Park and Walthamstow Marshes  which are used as roosting and breeding sites.   Water Vole The Lee Valley is a hotspot for Water Vole, Britain’s most endangered mammal. They live along the valley’s ditches, lakes and rivers, burrowing into banks and feasting on a wide range of wetland plants. Winter is the time that our Rangers work hard to improve the habitat for Water Voles, clearing sections of ditches that have become overgrown or removing trees and scrub that are starting to overshade the ditches. Water voles can be seen at Walthamstow Marshes , Silvermeade  and Cornmill Meadows .   Redwing As the weather turns colder the winter visitors start to arrive including Redwing, the UK’s smallest member of the thrush family. Over 700,000 flock into the country each year from their Scandinavian and Icelandic breeding grounds. They can form large flocks and are often seen alongside Fieldfare, another member of the thrush family. They love to feast on berries on trees and bushes. They have a white stripe over the eye and a red flash on their side and underwing – giving them their name. Elms in the park Despite widespread loss of English Elm in the 1970’s across the UK due to an aggressive strain of Dutch Elm disease, there are still Elms to be found in the park.  Whilst there are a couple of mature Elms there are many more Elm hedgerows across sites such as Holyfield Hall Farm  and Cornmill Meadows Tree Park . Elm trees, foodplant of the White Letter Hairstreak, seem to remain free of the disease until they reach about 10 – 15 years old but then the disease resurfaces and they slowly die off. In winter the dead Elms are cut back to the ground a section at a time to stimulate healthy regrowth. Surveys Dedicated volunteers count bird numbers on these wetland habitats as a part of the BTO’s Wetland Bird Survey. These surveys have been undertaken each month in the valley for the past 30 years and provide invaluable information about how key species use the lakes and help guide our management on a local level and understanding of birds on a national level. These counts take place across many sites in the Lee Valley including Glen Faba , Admirals Walk Lake , Middlesex Filter Beds and East India Dock Basin . Site management Invasive non-native species can cause many problems if they spread onto wildlife areas. Although invasive plants and animals can be spread by natural means such as on the feet of animals we need to be very careful that we don’t add to the problem so we have strict biosecurity procedures. This can include cleaning vehicles and footwear before entering, moving between and leaving site and careful treatment of cut material to make sure it doesn’t spread across or between sites.   Winter is a busy time for site management, with many species less active it is the perfect time to undertake routine maintenance such as pond management. Ponds offer a fantastic resource for a range of wildlife but left unmanaged natural succession would mean that they vegetate over and eventually dry up. We undertake rotational management on our ponds at sites such as Middlesex Filter Beds , WaterWorks Nature Reserve  and Fishers Green , this can include vegetation removal by hand to maintain open water, undertaken by our dedicated volunteers. This year we have restored two ponds one at Fishers Green and one on Holyfield Hall Farm.   With the Common Terns safely back in the winter warmth of Africa after a summer spent in the Lee Valley, our Rangers will clean their nesting rafts on Seventy Acres Lake . The gravels where they lay their eggs in shallow scrapes are washed clean and piled in the middle of the raft, this helps prevent vegetation growing so that in spring they can be raked flat ready for the returning Terns. They have also nested on the island at Ponders End Lake . This year our Rangers will remove saplings that have grown, exposing the bare gravels ready for the Terns return in spring. Britain’s Hedgehogs are in decline, so much that they are now classed as ‘vulnerable’. There are a number of factors that have contributed to their decline including loss and fragmentation of habitat which can mean that they struggle to find somewhere to hibernate. When our Rangers undertake tree and vegetation management they often use the cut material to create habitat piles, a perfect place for hedgehogs to hibernate. In some areas such as near the Lee Valley Ice Centre the Authority has installed some artificial hibernation homes to help provide more habitat.  Want to hear all the latest from the park? Sign up for our enewsletters where you can pick your interests and get updates, events and offers delivered straight to your inbox 📧

It’s that time of year when you may consider hibernating like some of the wonderful wildlife in the park – however if you want to get out and explore there’s still loads to do. Love winter in the Lee Valley!   Exploring nature The wildlife in the park changes with the season with many migratory birds using our wonderful lakes and their winter vacation hot spot. Head out into the park to see what you can spot – many of our open spaces have bird hides and screens offering you ideal views over key wildlife areas. Don’t forget there’s always the Wildlife Discovery Centre with its accessible hide and viewing tower as well as its discovery room with loads of information, plus games for the kids too. Changes can also be seen in the habitats within the park – from leaves falling from the trees leaving that unmistakable bear branch look of winter to the edges of the lakes losing their green flush of plants making it easier to see the wildlife on them.   Read our winter spotlight on wildlife blog to find out more > Something for the kids Keep the kids entertained when you’re out and about in the park with our winter themed I Spy and Scavenger Hunt sheets. Download them today: Winter I Spy Winter Scavenger Hunt     Taking on a challenge Whether you want to battle white water rapids , unleash your inner Kenny (Laura or Jason) track cycling , try your hand on BMX bumps and berms or take the plunge with open water swimming , you can do it all at our Lee Valley venues.   Not your cup of tea but know someone who would love it? How about gifting it to them!   Health and wellbeing activities Moving more can be difficult in the winter and motivation can be hard to find when you look out of the window and the sun’s not quite shining as you’d like.   The miles of surfaced traffic free routes within the park can take the mud away from outdoor explorations whether on foot or by bike. To make it easier we’ve pulled together some of our favourite routes which you can filter by length, location and facilities.   How about taking some time to meet up with like minded people, chat, stroll and get exercise in without even realising it? Our range of free guided walks, that run in different locations up and down the park are ideal for this. Find out more about the walks available on our event listings.   Looking for gym or fitness classes – we have three venues that offer these facilities within them: Lee Valley VeloPark in Stratford Lee Valley Ice Centre in Leyton Lee Valley Athletics Centre in Edmonton   Planning that next getaway Set the scene - the rain’s hammering against the windows, you’re tucked up inside dreaming of having a holiday – let’s get planning the next adventure. The Lee Valley’s campsites offer a fantastic range of accommodation options from pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes and camping pods, to glamping, holiday cottages and lodges (some even with hot tubs).   Book now and beat any price rises for 2026 stays – all you’ll need to pay is a small initial deposit with the balance due a few weeks before your stay.   Want to hear all the latest from the park? Sign up for our enewsletters where you can pick your interests and get updates, events and offers delivered straight to your inbox 📧

As soon as the clocks strike 12 on Halloween night, the sound of Christmas bells come into the air - slowly getting louder until we reach the ominous diary date of Black Friday. The constant bombardment of adverts and influencers telling us what we must have can be overwhelming, especially over this weekend so we’re inspiring you to take a new look at the last weekend in November as a way of getting outdoors - renaming it Fresh Air Friday. Each day will take on a new theme to get those ideas flowing and you stepping over the threshold and into the great outdoors. Fresh Air Friday It’s the beginning of the weekend and we’re sharing some more unusual ideas to get you out of the house whether - that’s for five minutes or an hour. Forage the last of the berries Create mud sprites with the kids Go on a scavenger hun t to see what fallen treasures you can find Play a game of I spy with our I Spy sheet Take a moment for yourself and practice some mindfulness breathing techniques Enjoy your coffee alfresco   Cycling Saturday We have miles of traffic free trails up and down the park so you can get exploring your patch of Lee Valley. We have a list of routes, many of which are paved so you can avoid running through too many muddy puddles while pedalling through the park.   Sunday stomp Nothing beats a traditional Sunday walk to blow away those cobwebs of the weekend. Our walking routes range in different lengths so you can pick the best one, whether it’s for little feet or muddy paws. We’d love to see your #FreshAirFriday adventures so tag us in them on social media using the handles below. X: @LeeValleyPark | Facebook: @LeeValleyRegionalPark | Instagram @leevalleypark | Threads @leevalleypark | BlueSky @ leevalleypark.bsky.social Want to hear all the latest from the park? Sign up for our enewsletters where you can pick your interests and get updates, events and offers delivered straight to your inbox 📧 We hope our ideas help you bring the magic of the outdoors into the season ready for the most wonderful time of the year.