New community action group Clean Up the River Lea (CURL) invite you to walk the Lee Valley and help protect one of London’s most important ecological corridors.

The walk begins at the picnic benches in Walthamstow with an event from Craft. We will follow the Lea Valley route along the river for six miles, until we reach the Thames at Cody Dock. CURL invites individuals and community groups to join us, bringing symbols of our collective dreams for the valley under the banner ‘We The Lea’. The route is flat and divided into sections by access to public transport so you can join for as much as you like!

We are walking to bring together communities and celebrate the natural wonder of the Lee Valley and what it means to those who live by it. We will showcase the work of local groups dedicated to restoring and protecting the river and enhancing the environment for people and wildlife.

Despite the beauty of the valley itself, the River Lea is now one of the most unhealthy and polluted rivers in England. Once home to animals such as otters, beavers, and eels, it’s waterways are today full of sewage, pesticides, agricultural run-off, plastic waste, and litter.

The river’s poor water quality threatens public health and devastates local ecosystems, depleting biodiversity and killing fish and other aquatic species. The once common eel was famous as the staple of the iconic London pie and mash dish. Now it’s a critically endangered species – populations have declined 90% since the 1960s and are one step away from extinction. In London, action taken to protect it is woeful.

As part of our walk, we will take direct action by litter picking along the route and launching a petition to protect and restore the eel population. By working together, we can advocate for cleaner waterways and save the species who live there.

The We the Lea walk marks the final week of the LoveLea Festival, a month-long celebration of the Lee Valley. It also coincides with London Rivers Week, an initiative from Thames21. This year’s theme of nature recovery and water quality focuses on the importance of good quality blue and green spaces.

We are also proud to be part of Beach of Dreams, a UK-wide festival celebrating the heritage, culture and future of our coastline.