There are always challenges with gardening and we often turn to our friends and family to help us with them. But, when there are community challenges, politics come into play. Such challenges may be sewage in the rivers, glyphosate being sprayed which pollute the soil and water, planting trees in the wrong place, plus many more.
Politics have let us down on many occasions, but thankfully we have communities that care, and who are willing to push the agenda further than ever before. One example is the Bethnal Green Mulberry Tree in Tower Hamlets where not all the information was provided to make the correct decision. As a result, planning for development was passed.
We all have to be aware of what is going on around us and make those in power aware of our views. But frequently the politicians do not want to hear us, so the protection of our natural environment and the value it holds is down to us. Not only for our generation, but others to come.
If you value having someone campaign on your behalf to protect the environment and having access to useful articles about gardening and local environmental matters, please make a donation to help us with the cost of maintaining The East London Garden Society.
Foraging near rivers provides a rich variety of life. Many plants grow well in or around water. Some are aquatic, while others grow along riverbanks and in wetland areas. A classic example is the prolific riverside plant Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera).
But foraging in these areas has risks, mainly due to water pollution. Assessing water quality before gathering plants is crucial. Contact your local Environment Agency to check the safety of your local rivers.
If you forage now and then, this doesn't matter much. But if you often forage in the same spot, it's something to consider. Water quality varies greatly depending on your location. For example, rivers in the Scottish Highlands are usually cleaner than those in busy cities like London.
A key practice in sustainable foraging is rotational gathering. Look for many locations where the same plant grows. Avoid harvesting from the same spot many times. This ensures that plant communities are not over-harvested and allows ecosystems to regenerate.
While foraging might seem widespread, very few people rely on it as a primary food source. As a responsible forager, you should let plant populations recover, which is what other grazing animals do.
One should approach foraging in a way that mimics natural grazing. Animals like horses and deer don't clear an area completely. They eat a bit at a time, which helps plants to regrow. A simple rule is to only gather for today and tomorrow, but don't follow this when getting ready for winter storage.
Even then, avoid excessive stockpiling, focusing instead on selective preservation. A handful is usually enough for a meal. Foragers often mix many plant species with cultivated foods in their meals.
Foraging is about improving daily life and well-being, not making it an extreme lifestyle. Beyond nutrition, foraging has significant mental and emotional benefits. It encourages slowing down, being present, and spending time outdoors.
This is especially important in the darker months when natural light is essential. Foraging isn't just about finding food, it's also a way to practise self-care. It lets you pause, breathe, and reconnect with nature.
You must develop a deep knowledge of your local landscape to forage safely. This means knowing what's underground, what could be polluting a river, and what's happening upstream.
Some think that clear water is safe to drink. But, without knowing what's a mile upstream, you cannot be sure. The only way to gain a deep understanding of your environment is to conduct research on it. Contact your local Environment Agency. Check out industrial activities along your river. Find out about possible sources of contamination.
Knowledge is key, whether from official environmental reports or personal observations. The more you know about your local rivers and their areas, the better you can forage.
By Robin Harford
One of the most sculptural looking of flowers, stands out in the garden.
The Calla Lily, scientifically known as Zantedeschia, originated in southern Africa, particularly in areas like South Africa and Malawi. The plant's journey to Europe is somewhat unclear, but it was introduced to the Royal Garden of Paris by 1664.
The genus name Zantedeschia honours Italian botanist Giovanni Zantedeschi, who studied the plant in the 18th century. The plant's name Calla Lily was initially a misnomer as it's not a true lily, but rather belongs to the Araceae family, which includes plants like philodendron and caladium. The name Calla is derived from the Greek word for beauty
Each individual Calla Lily actually houses a series of flowers. The single outside petal, technically called a spathe, swoops around and protects those inner flowers in an elegant swirl shape.
Calla Lilies have been featured in art, literature, and religious symbolism. They have a timeless and classical beauty that has made them a favourite among artists and florists alike.
They can multiply and spread over time, but they do so through their rhizomes rather than by producing seeds. Rhizomes are underground stems that store nutrients and energy for the plant.
Calla Lilies are poisonous if consumed. All parts of the plant, including the roots, leaves, and stems, contain calcium oxalate crystals which can cause severe burning and swelling in the mouth, throat, and other parts of the body. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and difficulty swallowing.
Once the Calla flower begins to die, it rolls up into a tube, often turning green on the outside. These spent blooms are finished and have no purpose so should be cut off.
The East London Garden Society has been prominent in arguing for cleaner air, and protecting our natural environment, but failures occurred primarily in Tower Hamlets.
Whatever happened to Pocket Parks? Several years ago Mayor Khan of the GLA offered councils £50k to create pocket parks. Tower Hamlets council created a pocket park in Chicksand Street, Spitalfields, and since they were not prepared to manage the site they looked for participants to do the job for them. Having not engaged with the local community, it failed.
A pocket park at Oxford House which also received funding from the same source had a certain degree of success, although its maintenance is somewhat lacking.
The Limehouse Triangle, part of the old borough of Limehouse which had a lively nature area which included protected species such as bats, was turned into a desert in order to build flats on the site. The bat boxes were thrown onto the ground!
An area which had applied for SSI status was decimated to allow this building without consultation. What occurred was against the strict national environment laws which should have incurred unlimited fines and/or a term of imprisonment, but no penalties were placed on anyone at the council or the then Mayor.
In readiness for the new laws on food waste recycling, we have been working on a pilot scheme. After trying to engage with Tower Hamlets over a five year period, we were totally ignored, despite making progress. They are now running a pilot scheme of kerbside bins.
However, we are informed that many types of refuse are being disposed of in these bins, so Tower Hamlets are introducing a locking mechanism on the bins to prevent this happening.
The new food waste laws are going to affect everyone in the UK, but it appears that the local community is not being given the opportunity to be involved. There will inevitably be extra costs which will be borne by the residents and local businesses.
The East London Garden Society has also been involved with The London HIghline and The Great Eastern Parks Route. This route is pan borough from Bishopsgate to Purfleet in one direction and to Ware in Hertfordshire in another. We tried to put the walking/cycling route to the GLA, but were refused a meeting.
These are examples of the problems that we as a local group have to deal with, but with your support we can show that the local population is interested in improving our environment.
The East London Garden Society is pleased to join Save The Lea Marshes for the festival of the River Lea with a boat trip, showing the value of many groups' efforts in protecting east London's nature.
It had been noticed that many people in east London and elsewhere had no knowledge of what nature and history can tell us.
Apart from nature there are places which you can explore or relax with friends or by yourself and enjoy a break from the hubbub of modern city life. You can also travel the waterways, walkways and cycleways as well as learn about the history of the area.
We have organised a boat trip to enjoy the beauty of east London’s nature from the waterways, walkways and cycleways as well as learn about the history of the area. The boat trip planned for May is fully booked but we hope to create an app so that others may also enjoy the wonders of nature using The Great Eastern Parks Route to travel through east London.
Our thanks to all those who helped make this boat trip come to fruition. It is the first of its kind, in this part of the London.
The hot spicy flavours of nasturtium leaves are the ideal ingredients for this recipe. But eat this peppery herb in moderation.
If you are only making a small batch then use a pestle and mortar and add the ingredients gradually mashing as you go. If you want to make a large batch then add the ingredients to your food processor and whiz it all together until roughly blended.
If you like a little texture, keep some of the nuts back and add them at the end. Bottle into a clean screw top jar, cover with a layer of olive oil to keep the air out and keep in the fridge. It will keep for about two weeks.
