Lost in Nature: An East London Boat Journey along the River Lea
On 26 May 2025, a group of us embarked on a magical 3½-hour boat journey along The Limehouse Cut and down into the River Lea, disembarking at Stratford. It’s perhaps the only slice of London where you can drift from canal to river to park and truly feel immersed in nature, if only your eyes are open to look.
We left behind the urban echoes of Limehouse for a quieter world—passing through Ropemakers Walk, wandering past the historic, Grade II-listed St Anne’s Church, whose churchyard bursts into a carpet of crocuses in early spring, and whose restored enamel window glints in the soft daylight.
As we entered the River Lea, nature put on a show: a flash of blue revealed a kingfisher, and further upriver swans drifted with their cygnets in tow. Emerging from the industrial history of Three Mills, our journey shifted from landscapes to ideas, with short presentations highlighting projects striving to enrich East London’s urban and wild spaces.
Meet the Changemakers: Supporting East London’s Green Heart
ecoACTIVE
We’re an environmental education charity that offers hands-on workshops for schools, families, and community groups. From forest schools to sustainability campaigns like the Hackney Buzzline, we aim to inspire communities to become agents of change. Based at Leaside in Clapton, where we embed environmental learning alongside stunning views of Walthamstow Marshes
East London Garden Society (ELGS)
The London Garden Society is here to promote urban gardening and to put views forward to protect the environment in which we all live. The Society has come a long way since it was formed in September 2011.
Save Lea Marshes
Dedicated to protecting the Lea Valley’s marshlands, integral to biodiversity and flood resilience. Save Lea Marshes campaigns actively, hosting events like their “Beating the Bounds” walk along the Old River Lea. They oppose proposals that threaten Green Belt and Metropolitan Open Land, providing resources and lobbying for better protections
River Roding Trust
Focused on the River Roding, not far from our route. The River Roding Trust works on litter picking, habitat restoration, tree planting, and pollution monitoring. Their volunteers build wildlife refuges, test water quality, and clean-up debris. All this contributes to healthier rivers that people can enjoy sustainably
GoParksLondon (a CPRE London initiative)
As part of CPRE London, GoParksLondon helps people discover over 4,000 parks and green spaces across London. It features an interactive map, resources for local "Park Friends" groups, connecting people with nature and green space in creative ways
CPRE London
CPRE London (Campaign to Protect Rural England) London is the countryside charity for the capital. It campaigns for protecting green belt land, London’s countryside heritage, and promoting green connections like the London Tree Ring. It provides policy support, resources, and grassroots networks for green defenders across the city.
Reflections on the Water
Against the backdrop of historic waterways, we heard stories of passion and perseverance, from bringing nature into inner-city schools, defending marshlands, cleaning rivers, to mapping parks and defending green spaces at a policy level. Each group plays a unique role, and together they form a tapestry of guardianship across East London.
For many aboard, it was their first boat trip, but surely not their last. Inspired by the landscape and the voices that protect it, we’re buoyed by the thought of turning this into a regular journey in 2026, a moving classroom and celebration of East London’s wild beauty.
Final Call to Action
Should you wish to be part of this green movement, whether by planting, learning, campaigning, or simply showing up, each organisation welcomes support:
Join the East London Garden Society to grow gardens and community awareness.
Connect with ecoACTIVE for educational workshops and youth engagement.
Back Save Lea Marshes in protecting vital marshlands through campaigning and events.
Volunteer with the River Roding Trust in on-the-ground river restoration.
Explore and share green spaces via GoParksLondon.
Take part in CPRE London campaigns for greener, healthier city planning.
