Love the Lea festival returns to Walthamstow Marshes
Ben Fenton, who is organising Love the Lea festival. Photograph: Thames21
The local marshes are set to host another festival this summer, but unlike the infamous weekend parties of 2013, Love The Lea paves the way for a new and environmentally friendly breed of event.
This year’s festival, due to take place from 11am to 7pm on Sunday 23 August, returns to Walthamstow Marshes picnic site (below Springfield Marina), just across the river from Springfield Park.
New investment from Lee Valley Regional Park means it’s likely to attract higher attendance this year, thanks to its bigger musical line-up. Band The Wave Pictures and singer Darren Hayman will be joined by ex-Hackney author Gareth Rees.
The River Lea is one of the most polluted rivers in the UK and Thames21’s major work involves educating children and adults who live near the river about the local ecology.
The festival includes hands-on demonstrations of pond dipping, water quality testing, and taking photos or films underwater, all done by those working for Thames21. Experimental musician Rob St John will also demonstrate how to record sound underwater.
Save Lea Marshes approves
Organiser Ben Fenton of Thames21 says that any profits from the bar at the event will be going back into Thames21’s practical work to and build drainage that reduces pollution into the river and plant “pollution-busting” vegetation, like the floating reed beds launched recently on the Lea in Tottenham.
Fenton insists that the event won’t create any litter or pollution, and organisers intend to leave the site as they find it: “As an environmental charity we are very keen on making this festival as ‘green and clean’ as possible.
“With the exception of one band, the acts performing are all acoustic so noise levels won’t be too intrusive for people and wildlife, and we’re also finishing the festival at 7pm.”
Thames21’s festival comes hot on the heels of successive festivals that have been criticised for environmental damage.
In 2013 a petition by Save Lea Marshes got near 1,000 signatures, begging Hackney Mayor Jules Pipe to stop using the marshes for major events.
Many felt that local residents’ concerns stopped the Council from applying for for the special planning consent it would have needed to host large parties last summer.
But Save Lea Marshes showed support for the festival, saying: “Love The Lea seems focused on the environment, and we support community events like it as long as they do no damage to the environment and litter is picked up afterwards.”
Fenton promises that the festival will go to any lengths to show respect for the site: drinks will be served in recycled compostable paper cups, recycling bins will be provided, and volunteers will undertake a litter pick throughout. The organisers are also making a note of all posters displayed so they can ensure all signage is removed following the event.
Local caterers from Clapton Club Mexicana will provide food on the day, with Tottenham brewery Redemption pulling pints and Bethnal Green-based East London WI serving cakes.
Festival season
The week after Love The Lea, another popular canal festival returns to the borough. On Sunday 30 August, the Floating Cinema will host a workshop and open-air screening on the canal near Andrews Road (the section of canal between Broadway Market and Mare Street).
But while both Love The Lea and the Floating Cinema have made successful comebacks this summer, Hackney Wicked cannot afford to hold its annual festival this month. The borough’s homegrown art festival has been a highlight of the London arts scene for years.It was forced to cancel this year’s event due to rising production costs.