Wetlands in Hackney and Waltham Forest to be linked by ‘green corridor’

The new greenway will link wetlands sites in Waltham Forest and Hackney

Two new wetland wildlife reserves in Waltham Forest and in Hackney are to be linked by a “green corridor” route after more than 1,700 people voted for the scheme online.

The Wetland to Wetland project was one of seven national projects to win funding from the Mayor’s Big Green Fund and has been awarded £120,000 after residents voted in an online poll.

The two nature reserves, Woodberry Wetlands in Hackney and Walthamstow Wetlands in Waltham Forest, are approximately 3km apart allowing the possibility for visitors to experience both sites in the same day.

The new greenway will be delivered by Hackney Council in partnership with LB Waltham Forest and London Wildlife Trust and aims to create a clearly-signed and greener route between the two sites and nearby public transport hubs (Manor House and Tottenham Hale).

A map of the proposed greenway route

The project will include road safety improvements, streetscape enhancements and additional tree planting to create a new route through local parks and on quiet roads, to encourage access to both sites by foot and cycle.

Cllr Feryal Demirci, Hackney Council Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods said: “Hackney is thrilled that the Wetlands to Wetlands Greenway proposal we have been developing in partnership with Waltham Forest Council and the London Wildlife Trust has won funding from the Big Green Fund public poll.

“This scheme will create a new green corridor between the two new exciting wetland destinations in north-east London and provide a fantastic opportunity to bring people closer to the wonderful landscape of the Lea Valley and connect the thriving communities of north Hackney and Waltham Forest.”

David Mooney, Regional Development Manager- East London, London Wildlife Trust added: “ As reserve managers, everyone at London Wildlife Trust can’t wait to show visitors around these wonderful urban wetland nature reserves and signpost people along the new ‘Wetland to Wetland’ greenway route, avoiding all the heavy traffic along Seven Sisters Road”