17.04.2023 Blue Spaces!

The Greening Network met on the 17^th of April to talk all about the borough’s blue spaces!

Firstly, we were joined by Will from Thames 21 who shared some of the amazing things they have been working with Barking and Dagenham Residents to achieve. Including their Rewilding the Rom project to reconnect the River Rom’s floodplains so that when it rises it can flood into a new series of wetlands and create low wetland habitats. Thames 21 runs monthly volunteering sessions at the Rom, if you want to get involved take a look at there events page here.

Will also spoke about a proposal that Thames 21 have submitted to uncover the Goresbroook River which runs through Parsloes park but was buried in the 1930s. This project would involve excavating a new channel for the brook within the eastern section of Parsloes Park, with associated wetland areas for people to enjoy and wildlife to flourish in. Thames 21 have been busy at work this year, working with people who live near or use the parts to come up with designs for how the river will look once it has been restored. Thames 21 will want to hear what the community thinks about these designs once they are complete – so watch this space!

Finally, Will encouraged everyone to get involved in helping to look after our borough’s rivers. Thames 21 are running a training course in June to help people do just that. Their 2-3 day ‘Leading Action for Healthy Rivers’ training course gives you everything you need to plan and run safe, effective, enjoyable river improvement events and to champion healthy rivers. If you would like to take part, email will.oliver@thames21.org.uk to join the waiting list.

See the slides from Will’s presentation here.

We were then joined by Paul Powlesland from the River Roding Trust who dialled in live from the River Roding. Paul set sail for the river Roding in 2017 and has lived there on his houseboat since. Paul spoke about Friends of the River Roding, which was formed in the summer of 2017 as a community-led effort to restore the River Roding. Paul showed us some of the amazing improvements the Friends of the River Roding have made along the river – including some trees they have planted! The group have also removed significant amounts of Rubbish from the river and installed benches and flower beds and re-opened riverside pathways for local people to enjoy.

If you want to get involved with the Friend’s of the River Roding you can join the Facebook page here.