Hackney’s Daubeney Fields was buzzing with excitement as schoolchildren, councillors and community volunteers gathered to plant the borough’s first chalk wildflower meadow and celebrate its 33rd Green Flag Award. Year 1 pupils from Kingsmead School and Daubeney’s eco-team led the planting with support from the parks team, councillors and the Mayor of Hackney, Caroline Woodley.

We believe that real change starts in our communities, with young people getting their hands in the soil, neighbours reconnecting in shared green spaces, and schools embedding sustainability into everyday learning. Our 2025 Impact Report is a celebration of just that: the collective action, partnerships, and passion that fuel our mission.

We’re delighted to announce a brand-new phase for ecoACTIVE’s Community Garden Network, made possible through an exciting grant from the Bupa Foundation!

Over the next year, we’ll be boosting the skills, confidence and leadership of volunteers across our network through a special programme of 10 expert-led training events. These sessions will be hosted by community gardens themselves, creating fantastic opportunities for learning and for celebrating the brilliant green spaces already flourishing across our neighbourhoods.

We’re excited to share some brilliant news - ecoACTIVE is now an official ISEP Training Partner!

This means we are recognised by the International Sustainability Education Programme (ISEP) to deliver high-quality environmental skills training that equips young people with the knowledge and confidence they need to step into a future full of green career opportunities.

We are delighted that our Community Ecologist, Gerry Tissier, is featured in the Primary Science Teaching Trust’s A Scientist Just Like Me resource. Below, we explore who the Primary Science Teaching Trust is, their mission, and why resources like this are so valuable for teachers, and for the children they inspire.

Discover how volunteers have transformed a concrete car park into a thriving wildlife garden. From ponds and pollinator beds to hedgehog tunnels, Leaside is now buzzes with biodiversity and community spirit

On 26 May 2025, we set off by boat along the Limehouse Cut and River Lea, spotting kingfishers, swans and the historic Three Mills along the way. The journey wasn’t just about the scenery—it was also a chance to hear from inspiring local groups including ecoACTIVE, Save Lea Marshes, the River Roding Trust, GoParksLondon, and CPRE London, all working to protect and celebrate East London’s green and blue spaces.

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.