The Lea River Park is a LONG term project.  Very long term, if you also think of the sites which will become part of the park in the coming decades, like the wonderful gasholders at Twelve Trees, which may one day be a vertical garden, skatepark, victorian garden, who knows!  However it is developed, it will certainly be unique!

I have worked on long term projects before.  Nevertheless I do always seem to forget the ups and downs, struggles and stresses that are an inevitable part of these projects.  In the end you only remember the positive outcome, which is actually quite great for a set of memories!

It really feels like the Lea River Park is getting somewhere now.  Submitted for planning permission this month, I can suddenly visualise the day it will become reality.  Keeping everything crossed work could start on the ground this autumn.  Check out our Planning Information Pack on the 'Fatwalk' page for a user friendly guide to the proposals.

It would be hard to pick a favourite aspect, but the feature I'm most looking forward to seeing develop are the lift and stairs onto Twelve Trees Crescent bridge from the towpath below.  Not only because this will make a huge difference not just to me, but to hundreds of other workers and residents in the area.  Also because I'll be able to watch fantastic link take shape from our office at Bow Lock, and I can't wait.

Not an alternative to the roast, or a new craze of Christmas gift, but some small charges that I have been looking after during the holidays.  These fish usually reside in our office, awaiting the launch of this year’s Fish in the Classroom project in April.  With nostalgic feelings I packed them up for their trip.  It was just like being back at school, getting the chance to take the pet home for the holidays.  I felt some trepidation, as although they can live in a dirty water habitat, they’re actually rather fragile beasties who don’t like change.  Would they take to the holiday home I’d set up for them in the spare room? 

They almost didn’t survive to see my spare room at all.  I decided to drive them home on the 21^st December, the day that a good snowfall came over London just about at 5pm, causing chaos on the roads and turning a short journey into a marathon adventure.  After 1.5 hours on the road I was beginning to panic that the fish would be poaching nicely in the plastic bags in the boot.  So I turned the heating off and spent the next 2 hours sitting in a freezing car, still panicking that the fish would be floaters when I finally made it home.  

With joy and relief I finally reached home, and nervously opened the boot to find the fish were still alive and seemingly well.  Phew. 

At last released into their tanks that night, they have been happy since.  I’ve found them quite easy to look after, just changing a few jugs of water every other day or when I’ve noticed a distinct aroma from the water.  Not pleasant to think of them swimming in their own waste products!

It’s been a pleasure to observe them, their beautiful silvery sheen and spines that stick up when they’re excited to be fed, propelling themselves through the water at super-speed or just showing off.  I’ve also noticed that each tank has its own collective fish character.  The right hand tank contains shrinking wallflowers who hide away for most of the day, whereas the left tank has bold fish that could pack a punch to any predators taking on them and their spines. 

To any schools out there wondering if you should join in and offer some hospitality to sticklebacks this spring, I would definitely recommend it.  Twelve schools took part last year and found the experience a great one to enliven their pupils with local environmental issues and discussions.  Places are limited this year so get in touch asap if you want to take advantage of this (free) opportunity!  Call Vicky on 0207 515 3337 or email Vicky.dsouza@thames21.org.uk

I have waited 10 years for a sustained cold spell, to see what effect it would have on the birdlife at EIDB. On the 9th, the water in the dock was partly frozen, and the mud completely frozen. Just a few Teal were present, and this was almost reduced by one, as a Peregrine swooped down and made a grab for a Teal, but failed. A single Lapwing was on he Island, the first record of a bird on the dock, rather than flying over. Redwings were scudding across the dock with a few Fieldfare, some landing on trees. Seven Shelduck were present, and a Pochard flew in. A walk down Bow Creek revealed many Teal and a few Redshank. Four Common Snipe were flushed from the stream and marsh area at Bow Ecology Park, and 3 Meadow Pipits were feeding in the same area. I consider myself a hardy type, but today was cold, and the area deserted.                                      

   10th Jan:  With high hopes I ventured again to to the Dock. the site was very quiet so decided to try the Ecology Park. Twenty  Redshanks were roosting at Bow Creek with a Lapwing. Checked the stream area again, and flushed a small snipe, which was a Jack Snipe, the first recorded in the area. Also a Common Snipe and the Meadow Pipits were still present. Returned to the Dock and met up with David Callahan, who also had seen the Jack Snipe. A few Redwing were moving and 6 Fieldfare flew west. We decided to do a watch on the Thames in the hope of Wildfowl and Waders. A Great Cresred Grebe swam past, and Teal were constantly moving about the river. I saw a group of 6 ducks flying west, which I presumed to be Tufted Ducks, but as they flew past us, light grey mantles were evident, and we realised that we were viewing a group of Scaup, a scarce London visitor. A few minutes later a female Wigeon swam past, our first record of this species. So after waiting 10 years the cold conditions have had quite an effect on the birdlife in the area, and there maybe more to come.

Gary James

One of the most unlikely findings on my trails in the Lea Valley Park is the Bow Creek Ecology Park otter ramp. If you walk to the south end of that park there is a bit of a wilderness which is fenced off, and if you look closely, there's a note explaining how this is a great potential otter habitat. I've discussed this with a few colleagues, we think the chances of there being otters by the Thames here are pretty unlikely. One joke was that it would make a great city break for them, particularly with the excellent local transport routes (you can see the DLR track on the photo)! Still, I can't help watching that ramp just-in-case. Would be delighted to hear more about this. Do we have otter guests?

Sunday 15th November 2009 Arrived at 08.00 in cloudy weather, but it soon warmed up and became an almost spring like day. Only 25 Teal were present, but as the tide flowed the numbers increased to a high tide count of 154. Most flew in from further up the Lea, but a small number arrived from the east, along the Thames. Also present were 5 Redshank, feeding on the mud, and 10 Greylag Geese (my highest count here). Finches were moving along the hedgerows (mainly Greenfinch), and a Reed Bunting was in the reeds. Shelduck should return later in the month, and if the weather turns cold, wildfowl should increase.

We first came across East India Dock Basin when my friend noticed a little sign just off the Lower Lea Crossing pointing to a bird sanctuary. It seemed pretty unlikely but sure enough, we followed it through the sculptured gates into that eerily beautiful park. My friend said, 'this is the sort of place you see Kingfishers' and sure enough, one chose that moment to fly past us. That's how I got hooked, now I walk through whenever possible on the way to work. It's a bit of a detour but going through that fantastic gate in the morning, seeing which birds have chosen to visit the dock that day, still feels like entering Narnia.

Had a great day yesterday at a 'Volunteering and the Inland Waterways' conference. Accompanied by Pat from the Community Board, we spent the day hearing a wide variety of speakers share their thoughts and ideas on engaging volunteers with our waterways.

A fab way to get some inspiration and be reminded of those great plans we all have that get pushed by the wayside under the general day-to-day work. Some excellent ideas were discussed in the day so watch out for some exciting new schemes and events coming soon!

Thanks to the Association of Inland Navigation Authorities for organising the day, and providing the best conference food I've had yet!