Lower Leyton Lammas Lands: beating the bounds

Today I went to help beat the bounds of the Leyton Lammas Lands. I did the first bit, the southern section. This is usually done second, so I hadn't done it before. It is the most accessible section for pushchairs, people relying on walking sticks, etc, so they decided to do it first this year. Others went on to do the upper section which would involve fence climbing.

Large group of us ambling along in the sunshine, learning a bit of history, bumping the heads of two youngsters at strategic points. A lot of people there that I know slightly.

One section, that used to be a pitch and putt, that was used for camping over the Olympics, is going to be closed off and the Lea Valley Authority are going to build holiday cabins there. The Authority has allowed lots of bits of encrouchment over the years - which is why these annual walks are so important. At the end of the walk we were asked to use our local open spaces - use it or lose it!

I did have a photo. Recently I couldn't get a photo from my computer to my blog. I can't get this photo from my camera to the computer! I might have another go later.

Beating the Bounds bonanza!

I haven't been beating the bounds of the Lammas lands of the Leyton Marches for several years, but the weather was nice and I wasn't elsewhere so off I cycled. Arrived in plenty of time to find I'd missed the beginning as the election of the thanes had already taken place. Then discovered the 2.15 walk I had been aiming for was the Walthamstow Marches beating the bounds, this was the Leyton Marches one. As I was there and Leyton is after all where I live I decided to go on that one. Here we are being warned of the dangers of giant hogweed:

But then I found that part of the route would not be suitable for a bike (over a fence and along a right of way through the paddock of the riding stable) so I went back to join the Walthamstow beating of the bounds. Not as much fun as the Leyton one - no electing thanes, no bouncing of children upside down on suitable boundary markers - even though we had a small child to use!) but I enjoyed the walk in some lovely weather. Only two people I knew, Laurence and Adrian, both of whom I'd last seen at a 65th birthday party only last weekend. Here is me before we beat the waters of the Lea Navigation. We then strip the wands of the ribbons and toss them into the Navigation. In the background is the temporary (we hope) basketball practice court they've built on Leyton Marsh. Even if they keep their promises and return the land to us, it is a dangerous precedent.

As well as the two groups beating the bounds of the Lammas lands, there was a group from St Saviours Church beating their parish boundaries, so at one point there were 3 groups on the marshes!