Spring has arrived in Hackney and the Buzzline is buzzing back to life! Warmer days are bringing out bees and butterflies to forage among blossoms and flowers in our parks and gardens. How many kinds have you seen?

150 passionate young people came together for the first-ever Youth Summit—a milestone moment where nature, community, and climate action took centre stage. Under the inspiring theme of ‘Nature Unlocked’, we asked: What happens when we reconnect young Londoners with green spaces? The answer was clear: we unlock bold ideas, shared purpose, and a generation ready to lead.

We’re proud to announce that ecoACTIVE has been awarded funding from the John Lewis Partnership Nature Fund to support our ambitious projects that bring together early years children, young people, and community members across East London.

The We The Lea Walk invites you on a rich journey along the River Lea, tracing the untold stories of restoration, resistance and rewilding. This full-day linear walk links key sites of ecological importance and community action — from the rare grazing marshes of Walthamstow and Hackney’s buzzing pollinator trails, to the Olympic Park’s reimagined landscapes and the thriving volunteer-led oasis at Cody Dock.

Help us bring environmental education to schools that need it most

At ecoACTIVE, we believe in the power of education to create lasting environmental change. Every child deserves the chance to learn about the planet and how to care for it—no matter where they live or how much their school can afford.

Spring has arrived in Hackney and the Buzzline is buzzing back to life! Warmer days are bringing out bees and butterflies to forage among blossoms and flowers in our parks and gardens. How many kinds have you seen?

We believe that real environmental change starts in our own communities—with young people getting their hands in the soil, neighbours reconnecting in shared green spaces, and schools embedding sustainability into everyday learning.

In a groundbreaking move, Kingsmead Primary School in Hackney has formally twinned with a school in Kampala, Uganda, uniting their Buzzline projects in a global commitment to protect pollinating insects and enhance biodiversity.

This Earth Day, take meaningful action that empowers young people and helps build a sustainable future. By supporting our initiatives, you can create lasting change in local communities while investing in the future of our planet.

On February 4th, 2025, the Palace of Westminster became the stage for a crucial conversation on environmental justice. Hosted by Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP, the event, Toxic Air and Social Justice: The Unequal Burden of Air Pollution, gathered political leaders, activists, and experts to address the stark reality: air pollution disproportionately affects marginalised communities, exacerbating health inequalities.

Speakers, including Rosamund Kissi-Debrah, Baroness Jenny Jones, and Siân Berry MP, shared powerful insights and personal testimonies, reinforcing the urgency of action. Discussions spanned policy advocacy, corporate accountability, and grassroots activism, with a collective call to make clean air a legal right through Ella’s Law.

The message was clear—air pollution is not just an environmental issue; it is a matter of justice.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year and all the best for 2025! Hoping that the frosts will be good for our gardens. See below for news about how to join us on a trip to Kew Gardens, a funding opportunity from Grow Wild, and Traineeships at Growing Communities. Read our latest Newsletter for news and seasonal tips from your Network. We would be really grateful if you could complete our Survey to let us know more about what you have been doing and what you'd like to see happen next.

As we step into 2025, we’re thrilled to share the latest updates, stories, and opportunities from the ecoACTIVE Community Garden Network. Our network of thriving green spaces continues to grow, bringing together gardeners, nature enthusiasts, and local communities across Hackney to connect, create, and cultivate.

We are passionate about creating opportunities for communities to connect with nature, learn sustainable practices, and thrive together. Thanks to the generous support of The Julia Rausing Trust, we are expanding our mission to foster vibrant community gardens and empower individuals through education, collaboration, and environmental stewardship.

Welcome if you’ve recently joined our mission to create a flower corridor in Hackney, buzzing with bees and butterflies.  

With the help of many dozens of volunteers, we’ve set up an amazing four new pollinator havens on the Hackney Buzzline this autumn. 

Hackney residents, it’s time to get buzzing in 2025! In Spring 2024 we launched The Hackney Buzzline project, an exciting community initiative to bring our borough together in the name of biodiversity. As we move towards the second year of our project we’re launching the next stage: a collaborative Community Map. By sharing photos of your pollinator-friendly spaces, you’ll help us build an inspiring, interactive map showcasing Hackney’s green contributions. From balcony planters to garden makeovers, every effort makes a difference—and we can’t wait to see yours!

We’re passionate about creating a greener, more sustainable Hackney where communities and nature can thrive together. Over the years, our projects have fostered environmental awareness and engaged local communities in preserving urban biodiversity. Now, with the support of our incredible partner GrowN22, we’re able to expand this work and bring wildlife-friendly gardening and community greening to even more people.

Hackney’s Nightingale Estate now hosts its first-ever estate parklet, a lush green haven at the corner of Napoleon Road. Designed to be a social gathering spot and a vital ecological resource, this parklet brings greenery and pollinator support to the heart of the estate, thanks to the collaborative efforts of residents and local partners, including Possible, ecoActive, and Giambrone Design. The project aims to increase urban greenery, provide a community space, and connect Hackney’s Buzzline, a pollinator corridor stretching across the borough.

Is your school committed to preparing students for the jobs of tomorrow? ecoACTIVE’s Green Career Workshop is an exciting, hands-on course that you can book for your secondary school students. This workshop introduces students to the world of sustainability and green jobs, helping them explore the fast-growing green economy and the crucial role they can play in building a sustainable future.

Welcome to the The Buzz, our new Hackney Buzzline newsletter. Help us to create a new flower corridor, buzzing with bees and butterflies.

The Hackney Buzzline is an exciting, much-needed project. In this country, pollinator populations are crashing and we’ve lost 97% of our wildflower meadow

Outdoor education offers countless benefits for students. It provides them with a fresh perspective, away from the traditional classroom setting, and allows them to engage with the world around them in a hands-on, practical way. These experiences are not just about learning facts; they’re about cultivating a deep connection with the environment, developing essential life skills, and fostering a sense of responsibility towards our planet.