Great Amwell Church has confirmed that its doors are open every Sunday afternoon 3-5pm until the end of September.

Tea and biscuits are available.

See page 71.

The Lea Valley Walk really now ends at Hackney Wick due to the closures caused by the Olympic preparations.

There is even a diversion to the diversion at Hackney Wick which is enough to make you go for the train.

However, it’s worth pushing on south a little bit further.

The current route south from Red Post Lane bridge, where the path is blocked off, is:

From the towpath go up on to the bridge and cross the water. Keep ahead and take the second turning on the left. (Or go right for the station.)

Go right and left to follow Wansbeck Road. After a junction keep on to a bend and go right up steps. At the top turn sharp left on to the Greenway which gives the best view of the Olympic Park.

At the far end is the View Tube cafe. And nearby is Pudding Mill Station on the Docklands Light Railway.

See page 114.

Opposition to flats being built on Essex Wharf at Lea Bridge is continuing to gather strength.

Essex Wharf is opposite Middlesex Wharf where the Lea Valley Walk leaves Walthamstow Marsh to the cross the river and pass the bottom of North Mill Fields.

Four blocks across the water from the Fields would spoil the rural feel of the area.

The Lee Valley Park Authority is opposing the planning decision.

The latest is here.

Ses pages 108 and 109.

The amount of weed in the Lea in Hackney as you approach the main Olympic site has caused comment long before the Olympic Games were known to be coming to the Lea Valley.

Now a study by Thames21 and University College London suggests that this is caused by a very high level of phosphates. A clean up is suggested.

Further south there is good news about the revived reed bed at Cody Dock.

See pages112 to 115.

Olympic refurbishment is now being felt as far north at Waltham Cross where £2.6m is being spent on improving the railway station.

This is of course because of its proximity to the Olympic white water centre but it will be a lasting legacy for those on the Lea Valley Walk wanting to break off at Waltham Abbey. Work should be completed by the end of this year.

See pages 89-90

Stanstead Abbotts old church is now open on summer Sundays from 2.30pm to 5pm.

It is best approached up the toll road from Rye House.

See pages 74-75 & 80.

Myddelton House garden, a diversion off the Lea Valley Walk, is now open with no admission charge.

The grounds of the Lee Valley Park Authority have been restored following a two year Heritage Lottery Funded project. There a new visitor centre and tea room.

On election day last week the Duchess of Cornwall made a little reported visit to the garden which is famous for being looked after by a member of her family Edward Augustus Bowles.

He lived in Myddelton House from 1865 to 1954 and introduced the unusual and exotic plants. The 108 year old Wisteria flowers this month.

The gardens are open daily from 9.30am to 6pm; free.

See pages 97-98.

The death of Michael Peet, Rector of Bow, has highlighted the 700th anniversary of the church on the edge of the Lea Valley.

The church, in the middle of the road just before the Bow Flyover, was attended by George Lansbury whose funeral was held there in 1940. He will be remembered with the unveiling of plaque in the church on Saturday 7 May, just two days after the rector’s funeral.

The Bow Church 1311-2011 anniversary year the church will be open on the first Saturday of the month until November.

The 700th anniversary is being kept on Thursday 17 November.

The night before there will be a peal of bells. This is important for it is sometimes claimed that those born between the sound of Bow Church bells and St Mary-le-Bow bells in the City are cockneys. Of course those Bow Church bells could be easily heard across the River Lea before the days of heavy traffic.

Michael Peet was born at Brocket Hall in the Upper Lea Valley.

See pages 45 and 177-118.

The Lower Lea will change with Olympic improvements to the landscape but The Guardian has a disturbing report about a threat to water traffic and river residents.

The towpath between Hackney Wick and Three Mills is likely to be closed on two stretches from next Monday 21 February.

First, path resurfacing from Hackney Wick to just below Old Ford Lock will mean that a diversion will be in operation. So far there is no temporary way marking but the best route is:

Having passed under the road at Hackney Wick cross the White Post Lane road bridge to take the towpath on the far side. This leads round into the Hertford Union branch. After a few yards take the ramp and cross the bridge.

Once on the far side on Fish Island go ahead to go right into Wyke Road. Where this bears left keep ahead down Smeed Road. At the end by the peanut factory go right to find steps leading up to the the start of the Greenway.

Follow the Greenway towards to the Olympic site. On crossing the river go right down a ramp to rejoin the towpath.

(But keep ahead on the Greenway to enjoy more Olympic views and visit the View Tube Cafe.)

Second, having crossed the main road at Bow, where you also go under the flyover, it may be necessary to stay on the road and take not the first left but the second to reach Three Mills beyond Tesco. This diversion is to allow work on building a path in the tunnel under the road and save walkers from dodging traffic above.

All work should be finished by 26 June.

See pages 114 to 119.

Starting on Monday