The New Lammas Lands Defence Committee is based in Leyton, in the north-east of London.
It exists to defend and preserve the ancient Lammas Lands of Leyton as public open space, free from enclosure, encroachment, and inappropriate use. We also aim to promote their use and enjoyment, and increase understanding of their history and significance, by such means as guided walks, historical talks and social events held on the Lammas Lands. We are the re-formation of the original Leyton Lammas Lands Defence Committee founded in 1892 to "promote the interest of the inhabitants of the Parish in the Leyton Marshes or Lammas Lands".
The Committee holds monthly meetings at the Hornbeam Environmental Centre, in Hoe Street, London E17 9AH. Membership of the committee is open to anyone who supports our aims and pays the annual subscription (currently £12/£6 concessions).
| Sat 27th June | ||
| 12.00 - 4.00 p.m. | Consultation about Walthamstow Marshes future management masterplan | Horseshoe Thicket Picnic Area, Sandy Lane, Walthamstow Marsh |
| Sunday 28th June | ||
| 2.00 p.m. | Historical Walk - history of the marshes, with Dr. Neil Houghton, Chair of Walthamstow Historical Association | Coppermill Lane car-park (by the Cattle Creep), Coppermill Lane, Walthamstow E.17. |
| Tuesday 30th June | ||
| 10.00 a.m.prompt | Public Inquiry into the right to enclose part of Hackney Downs common land (former Lammas Land) | Hackney Town Hall, Mare Street, Hackney E.8. (Buses 48, 55, W15 from W/Forest) |
| Sunday 5th July | ||
| 9.30 a.m. | Conservation work with LBCV at Bomb Crater Pond, Walthamstow North Marsh | BTCV Depot, Connaught Close, off Lea Bridge Road, Leyton E.10. |
| Weds 8th July | ||
| 6.30 p.m. | Walthamstow Marshes and LeaBridge Area Users' Forum meeting and walk | Waterworks Centre, Lammas Road, off Lea Bridge Road, Leyton E.10. |
| Evening | Consultation on Northern Olympic Fringe Legacy Masterplan (LBWF event). This is the start of a 6-week public consultation period! | Score Centre (Team Leyton), Oliver Road, Leyton E.10. (Near Leyton Orient football ground). (Buses W15, 58, 69, 97, 158 nearby) |
| Sunday 12th July | ||
| Afternoon | Commemoration event for A.V. Roe's first all-British powered flight 1909 | Railway arches, Walthamstow South Marsh and Porter's Field, Sandy Lane |
| Weds 15th July | ||
| 8.00 p.m. | Investiture of Father Steven Saxby as Parish Priest of Walthamstow - we are all invited to attend! | St. Barnabas Church, St. Barnabas Road, Walthamstow, E.17. (Near Boundary Road and Hornbeam Ctr.) |
| Thurs 16th July | ||
| 8.00 p.m. | New Lammas Lands Defence Committee monthly meeting | Hornbeam Environmental Centre; Hoe Street, Leyton Green E.17. |
| Sunday 19th July | ||
| 2.00 - 7.00 p.m. (Gates open 1pm) | Waltham Forest Green Fair | Entrance from Winns Terrace, Aveling Park Road and Brettenham Road; Aveling Park (behind Lloyd Park); Nr. Forest Road, Walthamstow E.17.; (Buses 34, 97, 123, 212, 215, 275) |
| Weds 29th July | ||
| 10.00 a.m. - 12.00 | Wildlife Walk on Leyton and Walthamstow Marshes (for children) | Lee Valley Ice Centre car-park, Lea Bridge Road, Leyton E.10. |
| Thursday 30th July | ||
| 7.30 p.m. onwards | Hackney Environmental Forum Green Drinks informal meeting and networking | Pembury Tavern, cnr Dalston Lane and Amhurst Road, Hackney E.5. |
| 7.30 p.m. | Outdoor Performance of Romeo & Juliet - bring a picnic! Tickets £12.00 (£8.00 children and concessions). | Waterworks Centre, Lammas Road off Lea Bridge Road, Leyton E.10. |
| Sun 2nd August | ||
| Afternoon | Lammastide Picnic and Walk Bring a picnic and games to play! |
Marsh Lane Fields (near Eton Manor Cottage picnic area), Leyton E.10. |
| Thurs 20th August | ||
| 8.00 p.m. | New Lammas Lands Defence Committee monthly meeting | Hornbeam Environmental Centre, Hoe Street, Leyton Green E.17. |
About 30 adults, ten children and a dog set off as this year's Gang of Boundsmen to beat the bounds of Leyton Marshes. This is the 16th year that the Lammas Lands Defence Committee has been organising this annual procession to remind people of their boundaries, and this year the theme was the importance of urban green spaces in minimising the "heat island effect" that is making cities worldwide up to 10 degrees hotter than the surrounding countryside. This will obviously be very important given that the world seems to be getting steadily warmer.
We were led by Father Steven Saxby, the Area Dean, who blessed the Boundsmen and their stripped and beribboned willow sticks at the Waterworks Visitors Centre entrance in Lammas Road. We were also accompanied by Hackney councillor Barry Buitekant, who was elected as one of our ten Thegns for the afternoon.
It was a very windy day, though for once it didn't rain. The Boundsmen went first around to the Walthamstow Parish Boundary and found a lot of fences to climb over at the rear of the Lee Valley Riding Centre. The Lee Valley Park had promised to put in a path here back in March 2005, but that has never happened and every year there are more and more fences.
Midway long the Parish boundary several children were bumped, turning them upside down and banging their heads three times on the ground. Unfortunately I haven't been sent any photographs of this although I know some were taken.
The Gang then walked along the western boudary of Leyton Marshes on the River Lee Navigation towpath, where the boundary becomes Clapton and then Hackney Wick. At the King's Head Bridge walkers found the oldest (Brian Weller) and youngest (Oliver Saxby, 3) Boundsmen present. They then "pacified the waters" by beating the river three times with their willow sticks. A short prayer was said by Father Steven, asking for safety on the river in the coming year, and we moved on back across Lea Bridge Road to perambulate the southern end of Leyton Marshes.
The Old River Lea was pacified at the boundary with Hackney Marshes, and the by now rathre soggy willow sticks were finally cast into the waters of the Dagenham Brook in Leyton, by the Eton Manor Cottage where there is a plaque commemorating the great riot that took place against enclosure of the Lammas Lands on Lammas Day (1st August) 1892.
Everyone had an enjoyable time, and we hope to carry out this community procession again next year.
Katy Andrews
Vice-Chair, NLLDC.
0790 415 9398.
The recent World Wetlands Day walk was a success: read about it here!
New Lammas Lands Defence Committee invite you to bring food to share and join a gentle ramble around the former Lammas Lands.
Public transport: buses 58, 158, 48, 55, 56
Contact: Katy 07904159398; nlldcmail@googlemail.com
Cost: free
Children: families welcome
New Lammas Lands Defence Committee invite you to join our annual Samhain Walk around the Marshes. Stout footwear essential.
Contact: Katy 07904159398; nlldcmail@googlemail.com
Cost: free
Children: families welcome
New Lammas Lands Defence Committee invite you to join our annual walk for UN World Wetlands Day. Waterproof footwear essential.
Contact: Katy 07904159398; nlldcmail@googlemail.com
Cost: free
Children: families welcome
There is a group devoted to publicising the latest happenings around the Marsh Lane fields area, called Marsh Lane (natch). If you'd like to participate in the discussions, keep up with the latest news, and get involved with the NLLDC, subscribe by entering your email address below. When the listowner approves your membership, you'll be able to receive the list news and post to it as well.
Games Monitor, who keep an eye on the 2012 Olympics.
The Planning page on the Waltham Forest website, from which the main page can be accessed and on which are links to the pages for each application.
New Lammas Lands Defence Committee
c/o Hornbeam Environmental Centre
458 Hoe Street
Leyton Green, London E17 9AH