There were 57 walkers on this morning’s Walk London walk down the Lea Valley Walk from Tottenham Hale.

There was bright sunshine. We made up for the cold by walking quite briskly. I hope we did not go too fast but everyone kept up. In warmer weather there might  be time for longer stops and even a picnic stop.

We all stepped into Tesco at the end. What a pity that the Three Mills cafe was closed. It is open in the week.

It was good to meet people with such different experiences of the Lea Valley. One person had spent four years with the guide book slowly walking the 50 mile route. Another once worked at Sutton House which I mentioned in passing when we stopped at former Matchbox Toy factory.

I guess we could repeat the walk during the next Walk London weekend. It is good to see how the countryside changes and how the Olympic arena grows.

Thanks to everyone who made it such a good day out.

Today I have been checking the route for Saturday’s Walk London walk from Tottenham Hale to Three Mills.

It was a wonderful sunny morning and the forecast suggests we shall enjoy another on Saturday.

The new High Bridge at Spring Hill was due to be craned into place today. We shall find out if that happened. The Olympic arena looks dramatic in its half finished state.

The free walk starts at 11am outside Tottenham Hale Station. We shall reach Three Mills between 1pm and 2pm. The time depends on weather and numbers.

There is a Tesco, toilets and an underground station (Bromley-by-Bow) at the end. 

I am looking forward to meeting old and new walkers.

This morning there is  a reminder of the time when the Lee Valley was ‘London’s greenhouse’.  

The Daily Telegraph has an obituary of Bert Hazell who has died aged 101 and was the oldest living former MP.

A former president of the National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers, he first joined the union staff in 1937 looking after members working in Lee Valley glasshouses. It was this market gardening which persuaded Jack Cohen to have the Tesco headquarters at Cheshunt.

See page 88.

Tottenham Marshes, Leyton Marshes and the Middlesex Filterbeds are three of the 21 sites in London where sparrows are to be encouraged.

The attempt to restore London’s declining sparrow population is being made by the RSPB.

Working in partnership with six local authorities and organisations, a £170,000 SITA Trust funding will allow the Society to see whether long grass, wildflower meadows or arable flowers provide the food-rich habitats that  sparrows require. 

It is suggested that the new habitats will bring a host of other benefits for urban wildlife by attracting and supporting butterflies, bees, grasshoppers and other garden birds like tits and finches.  

This is good news for the River Lea. Sparrows are seen on the Thames Path near the Oxo Tower.

See pages 102 and 112.

Just back from a briefing for  the Walk London ‘Winter Wanders’ at the end of the month.

On Saturday 31 January I shall be leading the walk from Tottenham Hale Station south along the Lea Valley Walk to Three Mills.

Just after Old Ford we shall divert to see how work on the Olympic stadium is going.

It’s always a pleasant morning stroll and Three Mills is an attractive place to end for lunch. There is even a Tesco and toilets. Bromley-by-Bow Station is nearby.

The walk is free. No booking needed. Meet at 11am.