
Middlesex Filter Beds in Leyton
Lost wetland ecosystem at Middlesex Filter Beds restored
Release date:
19 September 2024
Middlesex Filter Beds has been restored as a wetland habitat, after a two year project to return the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority owned nature reserve to its former glory.
The Authority’s team worked with park volunteers, conservation experts and civil engineers from Pick Everard on the preparations to reclaim this lost wetland resource off Lea Bridge Road in Leyton. It is hoped we will now see the return of amphibians such as frogs, toads and newts, dragonflies and water birds to the filter beds.
It’s been a long-term aim of the Authority - owner of the 26 mile long Lee Valley Regional Park - to have water running back into the filter beds, after repeated thefts of equipment meant the water source from the River Lee dried up six years ago.
Built in the 1800s in response to the devastating cholera outbreaks that killed thousands, Middlesex Filter Beds cleaned London’s water and saved many lives. But as the population grew, increased demand for clean water was met by a new treatment facility, and in 1969, the filter beds were closed and abandoned.
They became a key wetland resource when they moved into the custodianship of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, but despite huge efforts to keep them filled with water, the spiralling cost due to the theft of equipment, made this difficult.
This tailored approach with Pick Everard to develop a bespoke secure pumping solution for maintaining the water source for the filter beds, means we have successfully restored the wetlands ecosystem, that will not only benefit local wildlife but maintain the historical integrity of the site and its link to the surrounding water and environment.
“Despite wetlands being one of the most vital environments for wildlife and people, these dynamic ecosystems are some of the most threatened habitats in the world,” said Paul Roper, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority’s Head of Project and Funding Delivery.
“With global warming, pollution and urbanisation impacting the number of wetlands in the UK, we knew there was a real need to restore the wetland habitat at Middlesex Filter Beds, which will increase biodiversity to this green corner of urban east London.
“We are delighted we have now achieved this and the site can once again be enjoyed by both wildlife and the local community.”
The rewetting of the site was completed this week after a team of volunteers from Lee Valley Regional Park, together with volunteers from Clapton Green Gym, Lea Bridge Conservation Volunteers and Haggerston Gardeners, under the guidance of the Authority’s park ranger and conservation teams, spent months clearing the undesirable scrubland habitat. This provided space for the native flora and fauna of a wetland ecosystem to thrive, and we are already recording early signs of returning wildlife.
Ends
Further Information:
Alison Moore, Senior Corporate Communications Officer
M: 07909 000 316 E: amoore@leevalleypark.org.uk
or
Jackie Tolland, Senior Communications Officer
M: 07785 303 718 E: jtolland@leevalleypark.org.uk
Note To Editors:
About Lee Valley Regional Park:
Lee Valley Regional Park stretches 26 miles along the River Lee from Ware in Hertfordshire to East India Dock Basin on the Thames and offers a range of great activities, days out and attractions from cycling and white water sports to ice skating, horse riding, hockey, tennis and camping, alongside award winning nature reserves, green spaces, heritage sites and riverside trails, attracting around eight million visits a year.
· The 10,000 acre park was created by a unique Act of Parliament as a “green lung” for London, Essex and Hertfordshire.
· Just over 50 years ago much of the area around the River Lee was derelict, neglected and unloved, home to redundant industry, sewage works, gravel pits, rubbish dumps and railway sidings. Over the last five decades Lee Valley Regional Park Authority has, with partners, led the transformation to award winning open spaces and world class sporting venues.
· Our open spaces include eight Sites of Special Scientific Interest, a designation reserved for the most important areas for nature across the UK. Four of these form the Lee Valley Special Protection Area, the designation for sites in Europe with habitats that are important for migratory birds. They also form a Ramsar site, an area which has been globally recognised as an internationally important wetland.
· Nine of Lee Valley Regional Park’s open spaces, gardens and heritage sites retained the prestigious Green Flag Award in 2024. A tenth Green Flag was awarded to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which is jointly managed by The London Legacy Development Corporation and Lee Valley Regional Park Authority. This internationally recognised award signifies quality open spaces. Myddelton House Gardens in Enfield also retained the coveted Green Heritage Site Accreditation, in recognition of the Authority’s successful management of this historic venue.
· In further recognition of the Authority’s dedication to providing high quality open spaces, eight sites across Lee Valley Regional Park were awarded the highest Gold accolade from the prestigious London in Bloom Awards in 2023. This included a special Best Biodiversity and Environmental Innovation award for the newly constructed Lee Valley Ice Centre in East London, a cutting edge facility aspiring to become the most sustainable ice venue in the UK.
· Lee Valley Regional Park Authority owns three London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games venues: Lee Valley White Water Centre in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire which hosted the Canoe Slalom event during London 2012 and Lee Valley VeloPark and Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in east London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.