Lee Valley’s Volunteer Awards 2026

The dedication and passion of Lee Valley Regional Park’s 997 volunteers was celebrated at the Park’s annual Volunteers Awards evening.

Volunteers from across the Park were nominated by staff and volunteering colleagues for their outstanding support and the winners were presented with certificates by our Chair of the Board, Ross Houston, at the event hosted at Lee Valley White Water Centre in Waltham Cross, Herts.

From honorary wardens, hockey makers, gardeners and goat checkers to bat surveyors, walking and conservation volunteers - Lee Valley Regional Park’s army of volunteers gave an incredible 30,000 hours to help care for the Park last year.

Around 60 volunteers joined staff and board members for the awards evening. Chief Executive Shaun Dawson thanked them for their contributions to the Park, particularly those who supported our open spaces teams during the unprecedented hot, dry summer.

The top 5 contributing teams to our volunteer hours were also given special thanks:

• Ranger service – which includes roles such as conservation volunteers, honorary wardens and goat checkers

• Hockey Makers for England Hockey at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre

• Wildlife Discovery Centre team

• Paddle UK at Lee Valley White Water Centre

There were awards for the three category winners in our Photography of the Year competition. Twenty five volunteers entered photos taken in the Park and the best have been collated into a 2027 calendar to mark the Park’s 60thanniversary in 2027. Congratulations to Debbie Arnold (Views and landscapes), Lesley Alsford (Sport and leisure) and David Gilbert (Nature and overall winner).

Group Winners

• Bat Surveyors of Gunpowder Park and Tottenham Marshes

• Goat Checker volunteers

• Nordic Walking volunteers in River Lee Country Park -

  • Alison Richmond, Frank Merrigan and John Sewell

• Lifewalk Leaders in Lee Valley’s open spaces -

  • Cath Burgess

  • Erika Needham

  • John Sewell

  • Kevin J Mason

  • Steve Littlebury

• Linda Butterfield and Mark Smith our Scarce Tufted-sedge Champions at Silvermeade

• Rob and Olivia’s Honorary Wardens who help look after our North and Central Open Spaces

• Wildlife Discovery Centre volunteers

Individual Winners

• Edd Lee, Matthew McCarthy, Susan Adams - Hockey Makers at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre

• Brenda Chanter, Wildlife Discovery Centre volunteer

• Caroline Leonard, Honorary Warden volunteer

• Daniel Smith, Learning and Engagement volunteer

• Jess Chandler, Admin volunteer

• Pam Goodchild, Litter picker in the north and central areas of the park

• Sue Cavanagh also known as Science Sue, Myddelton House Gardens volunteer

• Sue Hooper, Sensory Walk Leader at Gunpowder Park

• Terri Moss, Wildlife Discovery Centre volunteer

• Yvonne Brewster, Wildlife Surveyor

• Bella and Jasmine Aamli, Tottenham Marshes litter picking volunteers

• Chris Dallison, Conservation volunteer and Honorary Warden of Tottenham Marshes

• Chris Pearcey, Learning and Engagement volunteer

• Dee O’Sullivan and Sheree Lester, Myddelton House Gardens volunteers

• Penny Dixie, Honorary Warden of River Lee Country Park

• Kathy McGowan, Honorary Warden of Tottenham Marshes

• Jill Kidger, Myddelton House Gardens volunteer

• Nicky Gritten, Myddelton House Gardens volunteer

• Sarah Lea, Wildlife Discovery Centre volunteer