The marshes of the lower Lea Valley are a beautiful, amazing, unique open green space, a place for people to reconnect with nature and let their imaginations run wild right in the heart of the city. We want to make sure they remain for future generations to enjoy. To do this, we must protect them from development.

The marshes are designated as Metropolitan Open Land and this should automatically protect them. Sadly, that is not always the case. And we need to be prepared to fight development plans as soons as they emerge.

A little over five years ago, Save Lea Marshes launched a CrowdJustice campaign to stop the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA) selling off the Waterworks Centre and surrounding land for tall blocks of flats. Appointing a solicitor and raising money so quickly enabled us to demonstrate to Waltham Forest Council that we would fight any attempts by the LVRPA to obliterate our precious open green space. The Council did not change the land designation to facilitate the development, and we think that was a direct result of our work.

We know that the LVRPA is more interested in building an empire of large leisure venues than looking after our precious green lung. And we know that other local landowners care very little for biodiversity and open green spaces. Everywhere we see nature thriving, they see an opportunity to build and make money. But we will not tolerate attempts to rob us of our green spaces. We will fight to protect them.

We know, with certainty, that having a solicitor in our corner, able to act quickly when a threat emerges, is essential to our ability to fight and win. So please help us continue to build our fighting fund to protect the marshes.

The Waterworks Centre, Waterworks Nature Reserve and Waterworks Meadow are part of the marshes of the lower Lea Valley.