After a short hiatus, the Volunteers Calendar is back for 2027 and Lee Valley Regional Park’s 60th year. Over the past year, our volunteers have snapped photos as part of our Volunteer Photo Competition opening a window into the different areas, activities and wildlife you can see throughout the seasons. A winner is voted for each of the categories and the favourites have their monthly staring moment in the final calendar. Buying your 2027 Volunteers Calendar Calendars cost £7 (discount available for Lee Valley Regional Park staff and volunteers). You can pick calendars up from: Myddelton House Gardens https://www.visitleevalley.org.uk/wildlife-discovery-centre Or order online and have it sent direct to you (there's a £2 delivery charge for this option). Our category winners You can see the winners below and purchase a calendar so you can enjoy the vistas over 2027. Canoeist at Lee Valley White Water Centre. Image by Lesley Alsford. Winner of Sport and Leisure category Honey Bee on Yellow Gazania at Myddelton House Gardens. Image by David Gilbert. Winner Overall and Nature category Amwell Walkway in Ware. Image by Debbie Arnold. Winner of Views and Landscape category

We know we’ve only just got into the swing of autumn but we can already hear the Christmas carols calling. Check out how we can help you get your shopping list ticked, creating your own decorations and get into the spirit. Gift voucher for our sporting venues You can choose whether you want to gift a digital gift voucher for a monetary amount or give an experience they'll never forget. Check out the different options below: Digital Gift Vouchers - Available in £10, £25, £50, and £100, these vouchers can be redeemed for select activities at Lee Valley White Water Centre and Lee Valley VeloPark. Vouchers for Lee Valley White Water Centre White Water Experience for One - £65 White Water Experience for Two - £130 Lake Activity Experience - £17 Vouchers for Lee Valley VeloPark VeloPark Experience - £46 VeloPark Experience Plus - £59 BMX, Road or MTB Experience - £17 Vouchers for Lee Valley Riding Centre Junior Have a Go Experience Gift Voucher - £35 Adult Have a Go Experience Gift Voucher - £40 Equestrian Simulator Gift Voucher - £50 PSSSTT...also keep and eye out for Black Friday deals on gift vouchers 🤫 Make your own Christmas Wreath Join us at Myddelton House Gardens, where our Head Gardener will be leading a session using natural materials to adorn your front door this festive season. Dates: 27 and 28 November, 4 and 5 December Time: 10:30 – 12:30 Price: £50 Feel the festive spirit in the gardens Head to the courtyard at Myddelton House, where the Enfield Brass Band will be playing festive tunes. Seasonal treats will be for sale in the Bowles Tea Room, and you can purchase natural decorations from the gardens too. Date: 12 December Time: 16:30 – 18:30 Price: FREE Enjoy a festive treat with a afternoon tea Get a rare opportunity to see inside the Grade II Myddelton House and enjoy a festive-themed Afternoon Tea. Date: 19 December Time: 12:00 and 14:00 Price: £35

As summer slips away and we head into the cooler and colourful autumn months the parks flora and fauna once again changes - read on to find out more about the park's autumn highlights. Autumn migration Autumn is a time of movement for many of our bird species. As summer draws to a close our summer migrants begin their journey back to warmer wintering grounds and our first passage and overwintering birds start to arrive. Keep an eye on our Wildlife Sightings page for the seasonal highlights. Sites with insect-rich muddy margins, so tempting for wading birds, such as Cornmill Meadows, Amwell Nature Reserve, WaterWorks Centre nature reserve and Hall Marsh Scrape are always worth a speculative visit. By late September, Redwing arrive from their Scandinavian breeding grounds. The distinctive red patches along their flanks and underwings make them stand out - especially when they’re feasting on berries or probing fields for worms. They’re often seen alongside Fieldfare, another charismatic winter thrush. Flora and Fauna highlights Bittern The Lee Valley is an important site for wintering Bittern, a secretive buff-brown member of the heron family. Bittern spend much of their time hidden in reedbeds where they feed on fish such as Rudd and Perch. Bittern return to the valley from September onwards, one of the best places to see them is from the Wildlife Discovery Centre at Fishers Green in River Lee Country Park. Volunteers and staff are on hand to help you spot one – they are particularly well camouflaged amongst the golden-brown autumnal reeds. Once extinct in the UK, concerted efforts from a number of conservation organisations has meant that numbers have now increased to over 283 booming males in 2025. ‘Booming’ is the name given to the call the male makes to attract a mate and mark its territory. While breeding hasn’t been recorded in the Lee Valley yet, we're working to make the reedbeds better every year… so watch this space! We will be hosting the annual Bittern Roost Watch event on 18 January 2026 where you can join us to find out more about these amazing birds and have a chance to see one roosting in the reeds. Barn Owl If you spot a pale, silent figure gliding over the grasslands at dusk, it’s probably a Barn Owl. With exceptional hearing and soundless flight, these graceful hunters seek out voles and mice in the twilight. Its Latin name is Tyto Alba – which is quite literally – white owl. You may notice Barn Owl boxes that have been placed on trees and poles around the park. These boxes supplement natural roosting and nesting features, such as hollow trees and old barns, which are becoming scarcer. Each year a licenced bird ringer checks our boxes and rings any young, which are known as owlets and are initially white and fluffy before developing the distinctive heart shaped face. This helps us to learn more about the population in the park and their movements. Water Vole Over the summer Water Voles have maintained their territories and may have reared up to five litters. As the days grow shorter, breeding stops and the Water Voles start to prepare for winter. Autumn sees their focus turn to fattening themselves up for the winter months, storing energy for cold periods which they spend in torpor – these are periods of dormancy to conserve energy when food is scarce. They will also start to create food stores in their burrows that they can eat during the winter months. In partnership with the Herts and Middlesex Water Vole and Invasive Species project, we undertake the second Key Sites Survey of the year on our important Water Vole sites Silvermeade and Cornmill Meadows. These provide a useful overview of how the Water Voles have fared throughout the breeding season. If you would like to find out more about these charismatic animals why not book onto our Water Voles and Wetlands event on 20 September 2026 - see event detail > Floating Pennywort The invasive non-native plant, Floating Pennywort is native to the Americas and has become established in the waterways of the UK having rapidly spread from garden ponds. It grows at a prolific rate – up to 20cms in a day - creating dense mats, reducing sunlight and depleting oxygen, in turn killing native fish, invertebrates and plants. There is a fantastic project in the River Lea Catchment to eradicate Floating Pennywort which has been pioneered in the River Stort by Whoosh Canoes. The project is led by Paddle UK, The Angling Trust and supported by partners including local paddle clubs, statutory bodies and other agencies, utility companies and many volunteers. They organise tasks where Floating Pennywort is removed from the river by canoeists and paddle boarders supported by volunteers on the bank. All fragments of the plant need to be removed as it can quickly recolonise from just a small fragment. Autumn is a good time to clear areas as waterbirds will have stopped nesting. Habitats and their management Reedbed management Reedbeds are a hugely important habitat in the Lee Valley and are home to a wide range of species including reedbed specialists like Bittern and Reed Bunting. If left unmanaged they would eventually turn to woodland. During the autumn months management of reedbeds can start to take place as the nesting season has finished. Willow scrub that has started to establish is removed and in some areas swathes of reedbed will be cut and removed to encourage new fresh growth and prevent the development of a deep layer of leaf litter. Ditch management Ditches need regular management otherwise they become clogged with vegetation and eventually may dry up. After the breeding season management can take place to remove some vegetation from the channels, the Rangers are careful to programme work sensitively, working on areas in rotation so that habitat is always retained on site for wildlife to use. By maintaining a balance of open water and emergent vegetation, ditches provide excellent habitat for species such as Water Voles, dragonflies and Grass Snake. Surveys Wetland Bird Survey The Wetland Bird Survey or WeBS as it is known is a long-running national survey organised by the BTO, undertaken monthly to monitor waterbird populations in the UK. Counts are undertaken on the majority of waterbodies found the Lee Valley, where volunteers note every wetland bird they see, providing invaluable data to assist with our management. The counts can take place all year, but the core dates are from September to March. Upcoming planned events Throughout the year the park runs special wildlife themed events. Up coming events include Discover Bats, Moths and More - 4 September 2026 Water Voles and Wetlands – 20 September 2026 Guided Walk: Birds of River Lee Country Park - 24 September 2026 Guided Walk: Birds of River Lee Country Park - 22 October 2026 Guided Walk: Birds of River Lee Country Park - 26 November 2026 Bittern Roost Watch – 17 January 2027 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 >

We’ve reached October, and coming up with ideas for a week, or even two, of activities can be difficult. To help, we’ve put together some inspiration, from sporting activities and wildlife adventures to free family fun to help keep costs down. Sporting days out Get the kids burning off some energy and maybe even trying a new sport over the holidays. Minithon 📅 24 October 📍 Lee Valley Athletics Centre 💷 £18.50 Get your little athletes to test out their skills at Lee Valley Athletics Centre's Mini Olympics. Make a splash at Lee Valley White Water Centre 📅Various dates and times throughout half term 📍Lee Valley White Water Centre 💷From £17.50 Squeeze in one last water session with weekend activities including kayaking, SUP and Water Wipeout on the lake. Young adrenaline seekers can even tackle the rapids with Hydrospeeding, kayaking and rafting sessions also running throughout the half term. Multi-activity camp at Lee Valley VeloPark 📅Throughout half term 📍Lee Valley VeloPark 💷From £30 Looking for a varied holiday camp? Rising Stars are hosting a multi-activity camp at Lee Valley VeloPark. Test out the different tracks on two wheels 📅Various dates and times throughout half term 📍Lee Valley VeloPark 💷From £21.50 From track cycling to BMX, your little Bradley Wiggins can hone their skills and try something new. Take a glide on the ice with daily sessions 📅Various dates and times throughout half term 📍Lee Valley Ice Centre 💷From £13 This seasonal favourite is a great way for the kids to have fun and take a break from screens. Get ready to cause a racquet at the Tennis Camps 📅26 to 30 October 📍Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre 💷£29 per day Try out different tennis skills and put them to the test in a mini tournament at the end of the session. Wildlife adventures Get the kids outside and enjoying the season, seeing the wildlife around them and of course crush those crunchy leaves. Wonderful Wildlife Weekends at Walthamstow Wetlands 📅25 October 📍Walthamstow Wetlands 💷FREE - donations welcome Kids can get hands-on with nature and discover what wildlife they can find. Autumn Nature Discovery at Walthamstow Wetlands 📅27 October 📍Walthamstow Wetlands 💷FREE - donations welcome Take in the sights of autumn, from crisp fallen leaves to seasonal wildlife preparing for winter hibernation. Nature Storytime at Walthamstow Wetlands 📅27 October 📍Walthamstow Wetlands 💷FREE - donations welcome Enjoy an interactive, nature-themed storytime session for young children. Sensory Walk 📅28 October 📍Lee Valley Ice Centre 💷FREE Tune into your senses with this wellbeing walk. It's a great activity for both children and adults. Download our autumn wildlife sheets Take the kids out to explore your local open spaces and discover nature with our FREE autumn activity sheets. For the adults Take some time to take in London nature yourself with this walk round East India Dock Basin and Bow Creek. A Walk on the Wild Side 📅28 October 📍East India Dock Basin and Bow Creek Ecology Park 💷£3.70 Discover these hidden wildlife oases with our Biodiversity team.

We love autumn! Wildlife wakes from its summer siesta, we watch the start of nature’s colourful transformation and cooler temperatures mean more time can be spent exploring the 26 miles of Lee Valley Regional Park – and we have a packed schedule of free and low cost activities to keep you busy this season. Join our autumn wildlife events We’ll kick off with our Discover Bats, Moths and More event happening this Friday 4 September. Uncover the secrets of the Park’s nocturnal creatures with our conservation team at our Wildlife Discovery Centre. There’s just a few spaces left. Discover the Hidden world of the Water Vole on Sunday 20 September by joining a walk at one of their favourite wetland habitats in the Park - Silvermeade in Broxbourne. In decline across Britain but here in the Lee Valley, thanks to ongoing efforts, we have a thriving population of water voles. Join our experts on a Water Voles and Wetlands walk and learn about these charismatic creatures. With the return of autumn, the series of Bird Walks returns to Wildlife Discovery Centre. Join a expert birder for a walk around Seventey Acres Lake on 24 September, 22 October, 26 November to see the visiting winter wildlife and learn about them. Can’t make our events but want to immerse yourself in nature? Take a walk around one of our many lakes or wetland habitats and catch the first glimpses of our over wintering birds as they begin to arrive. The illusive Bittern has been seen as early as September on Seventy Acres Lake. Our Autumn wildlife blog provides lots of tips on what to see where. Winter learning offer – Book now for 20% off It’s back to school for teachers and students this week. If you’re looking for opportunities to enrich learning this autumn and winter we’ve got a special offer on our winter learning programmes. Book now and get 20% off sessions between 1 November 2026 – 28 February 2027. We have a huge variety of outdoor learning experiences tailored for KS1 – KS4 plus adult learning and community groups and bespoke SEND sessions. Find out more on our Learning and Engagement page. Open House Day – Step inside Myddelton House You may be familiar with his beautiful gardens, but a once a year opportunity to step inside Myddelton House – the lifelong home of esteemed botanist Edward Augustus Bowles – will be on offer to visitors on Saturday 19 September. The Grade II listed house that stands at the centre of Myddelton House Gardens in Enfield will be open to visitors as part of the National Open House scheme. Take a free tour with the E.A.Bowles Society who will be on hand to share its history and fascinating facts. Try Thai Chi for free Our Get Active programme of free health and wellbeing sessions that take place daily throughout the park has just added Thai Chi, Qigong and Qi Wu to its schedule. These ancient health and movement classes are open to all levels and abilities and are taking place every week at locations in the north and south of the park (outside at Lee Valley White Water Centre and Lee Valley Ice Centre). Delivered by our partners at Dao Lu CIC, sessions are around 60 minutes and followed by a hot drink for those also looking for social interaction. Find out more about classes, dates and times on our Lee Valley ‘What’s On’ page. The Park’s Get Active programme has dozens of opportunities every month to take part in free health and wellbeing activities – including walks for all levels, cycle rides, group exercise sessions, Nordic walking and open water swimming. Find an activity that’s right for you here. Walk, run or cycle Of course, you don’t need a specific reason to visit Lee Valley Regional Park. Autumn is the perfect season to take a walk, run or a bike ride and discover new areas or revisit favourite spots. There are hundreds of trails to meander and if you need some inspiration, here’s some of our favourite walks and runs and bike rides.

This competiton is now closed Our winner is Daniella Jullado Win two tickets to All Points East festival at Victoria Park (London E3) on 29 August 2026. It’s gonna be a great day out with the following performing during the day: Headline act: Tyler, The Creator Supported by: Daniel Caesar Baby Keem Dijon Plus a host of others - check out their website to see who's there on the day How to enter It’s free to enter, just complete and submit the form below – it’s as easy as that. Be quick the competition is only open until 30 July 2026 – don’t miss out submit your entry today! T&Cs apply – read them here >

Summer’s hit us with a bang and what better way to embrace the season than exploring Lee Valley Regional Park and all it has to offer. With hundreds of wonderful days out the Park is paced with great activities, sights, experiences and holiday destinations! Jump to the section best for you: For nature Our top five picnic spots For sport and experiences For discovery Sign up to our database For nature 🌳🦢🦋 The Park’s 10,000 acres give visitors so many different areas to explore, we’re a tapestry of open spaces and nature reserves from urban nature reserves to scenic riverside wildlife havens. Some key spots are River Lee Country Park. A mammoth park with has a mixture of nationally important wildlife habitats, peaceful lakes and waterways plus riverside trails. It’s extensive path network makes exploring easy. Key area highlight: The Wildlife Discovery Centre with its accessible tower giving 360° views over the scenic Seventy Acres Lake, large bird hide and discovery room Myddelton House Gardens. An eight-acre formal garden and ancestral home of the renowned horticulturist E.A. Bowles, explore the eclectic mix of plants that he loved so much. Key area highlight: the wonderful diverse collection of plants plus the tea room that serves great snacks and cake Gunpowder Park. A clue to this open space’s history is in the name – once an explosive testing ground this site has been transformed with accessible pathways, bird hides and wonderful wildlife habitats. Key area highlight: the Osier Marsh supports a range of different wildlife. For runners - how about taking park in one of the Saturday parkruns Tottenham Marshes. This large open space has water running through its heart and a mosaic of trees, shrubs and rough grassland which are great for the local wildlife. Key area highlight: three great walking routes to help you easily explore the site – see all our routes > Lea Bridge Road nature reserves. Along this busy road nestle four different open spaces that are great for exploring choose from WaterWorks Centre nature reserve, Middlesex Filter Beds, Leyton and Walthamstow marshes. From London’s last remaining wetland meadows grazed by cattle at Walthamstow and Leyton marshes to the history laden WaterWorks Centre and Middlesex Filter Beds that were used to purify London’s water. Key area highlight: check out the Red Poll cattle that graze the marshes or visit the large bird hide at the WaterWorks Centre nature reserve Bow Creek and East India Dock Basin. The Park’s southern gateway - these inner London sites offer urban wildlife habitats and vital open space in a built up area. Key area highlight: exploring the wildlife that makes these urban open spaces their home – you’ll be amazed at what thrives amongst the hustle and bustle Our top five picnic spots 🥪🧃 Here’s our top five spots: Rye House Gatehouse. Picnic with a history Grade I listed building as your backdrop. If the house is open explore its history that dates back to 1443 – from royalty and ghosts to an assassination attempt River Lee Country Park, Fishers Green. With open spaces peppered with benches or peaceful hideaway spots just crying out for you to relax on a rug, this is a great unwind spot. The Wildlife Discovery Centre is close by if you fancy a spot of nature watching Waltham Abbey Gardens. Home to the ruins of an Augustinian monastery, formal gardens chock full of wonderful roses and lavender, a large open space with huge trees for shade this is an ideal location for the kids to enjoy the great outdoors Gunpowder Park. The wide open spaces of this park are great, whether you’re looking to run off excess energy or fancy pulling out a blanket and chill with a book – this could be the place for you WaterWorks Centre nature reserve. This dog free open space gives you the best of both worlds, great grassy areas plus some tucked away habitat trails to explore Along the Park’s 26 miles there’s numerous perfect picnic spots – have a read of our special picnic blog to discover more > Getting the kids outside this summer! We know it can be hard in the summer holiday to keep things interesting and the kids occupied. We've created our summer activities download to inspire you to create adventures outdoors. For sport and experiences 🚴‍♀️🐴🌊🚴‍♀️ The Park has some of the most stunning sports venues around sitting in beautiful open spaces that offer walking, cycling and running routes. Here’s just a few ideas of what you can do at our sports venues: Watersports at Lee Valley White Water Centre. From white water rafting, kayaking to paddleboarding and an inflatable obstacle course this venue offers something for everyone no matter your age. Prices from £17.50. Kids Star Track academy at Lee Valley Athletics Centre. Ideal activity for any budding athletes wanting to try their hand at different athletic disciplines. £26 per session. Horse riding at Lee Valley Riding Centre. Have a go session give you the chance to get in the saddle with our well schooled horses - prices from £35. Or if the kids want some hands on time with ponies check out our Meet the Minis or Own a Pony sessions – from £17.50. Ice skating at Lee Valley Ice Centre. The coolest place to be on a hot summer’s day! Glide through the day as you take the ice and show off your moves. Prices start from £10. Cycling at Lee Valley VeloPark. With four different cycling disciplines on offer as well as learn to ride sessions for kids there’s no better place to get your pedals turning. Tennis at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre. With four indoor and six outdoor tennis courts, a smashing time is guaranteed for all those who play. Court hire starts from £11 per hour. There’s tennis courses too. Three of our venues also offer Health and fitness sessions! No need to be a member, they offer pay as you go classes such as yoga, HYROX, cardio sessions and spin – or how about a game of Pickleball. Sessions available at: Lee Valley VeloPark Lee Valley Ice Centre Lee Valley Athletics Centre This is just a snapshot of what’s on offer – to discover more about what they offer just click on their names. For discovery ⛺🚶‍♀️🎭 Lee Valley campsites. With four sites to choose from this could be your home from home trip where you can unwind and make memories that last a lifetime. Whether you’ve got your own kit and are just looking for a pitch or want something already set up you’ve come to the right place – we have touring pitches, camping pods and pre-pitched tents, glamping, lodges and holiday rentals. We even have a back to nature campsite where you can cook over an open fire. Find out more > Check out our current special offers > Exploring the waterways. Our Lee Valley marinas offer moorings, quayside services, skilled engineers and a well stocked chandlery. There’s also places where you can hire electric boats, row boats, canoes, try sailing and wind surfing. Events in the park. There’s a range of events, many of them free, that would make an excellent day out – from guided walks to bug hunting and open air theatre. Check out what’s going on in the Lee Valley > Walking, cycling and running routes. There are miles of pathways crisscrossing the Park which you can explore at your own pace. However if you want a hand to navigate your ways through the miles of Park check out some of the routes that we’ve put together. Don’t forget about our guided walks too which are listed in our events pages. Discover our routes > Volunteering. Looking to do something with like minded people? How about jointing our brigade of volunteers? We’re always looking for people to get stuck in and help with wildlife and conservation tasks or assist at our leisure and sports sites. See volunteering opportunities available > 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 >

Looking to step out your comfort zone with activities that target both your fitness and wellbeing? Our Lee Valley Wellbeing Walks programme is the perfect place to start. Our Active Communities team have created a progression where you can start off on shorter, slower pace walk, working your way up to more endurance activities. All our programmes are affiliated with Ramblers Wellbeing Walks, ensuring they are led by experienced walk leaders. Lyndsey, our Community Health & Wellbeing Officer, states: “Our wellbeing walks are free, with varying lengths and an amazing social aspect. We’ve participants who have joined us for over 200 walks. Registering your interest is simple—just send us an email, and our team will ensure you feel welcome and comfortable when you join your first walk.” Here is the progression of the walking programme: Tea, Walk and Talk - these are shorter routes around some of our smaller sites with a focus on the social element and enjoying a cup of tea after. Life Walks - we’re beginning to step up the pace! We asked walkers to walk slightly faster than the normal walking speed and we’ve routes of varying in length so you can find the perfect trail for you Endurance walks for wellbeing- these are walks are over four miles and push the walker stamina and give them their amazing fitness boost. You can join us for one of these walks listed on our website. Just drop the team an email to let them know that you will be attending.

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 >