Hackney Marshes Improvements
The Hackney Marshes Programme team is working in partnership with various partners to deliver projects that will see sporting, recreational and environmental improvements at Hackney Marshes and Mabley Green.
Hackney Marshes Centre
The new Hackney Marshes Centre located on South Marsh is nearing completion and includes new sporting facilities, educational activities and a café. Rooms at the Centre are available for hire. To find out more see Hackney Marshes Centre.
Future plans
In addition to the new Hackney Marshes Centre, a pavilion with new changing and catering facilities is scheduled to be built during 2012/13 on the North Marsh. This will serve the three new turf pitches and seven non-turf cricket pitches as well as the adult and junior football pitches.
East Marsh is no longer available for sports use. It has been leased to the Olympic Delivery Authority so that it can be developed as the Northern Spectator Transport Mall for the Olympic Park. Pitches will be reinstated and ready for play for the start of the 2013 football season.
Recreation
Plans are underway to ensure that the Marshes can be enjoyed by all and that access to and within the Marshes is improved. A series of major improvement works are taking place to encourage wider use of the Marshes by both Hackney residents and visitors.
Cow Bridge Refurbishment
Cow Bridge, linking Mandeville Road to the North Marsh, is currently being refurbished. The bridge and surrounding roads will be closed for public access until mid Spring 2012.
Footpath across the Marshes
A footpath across the Marshes that connects the Lea Navigation towpath to the River Lea footpath is proposed. The path will provide improved accessibility to and from the East side of the Marsh. The Planning Inspectorate has granted permission for this development.
Biodiversity and protecting the environment
Hackney Council has worked with Thomson Habitats to create new habitats that attract a diversity of wildlife to the waterways and open spaces on Hackney Marshes, leading to an increase in biodiversity and encouraging walkers and birdwatchers.
Thomson Habitats are specialists in wildlife habitat creation and ecological contracting, with experience of working on industrial brownfield sites, urban green spaces and rural green field areas. As well as creating new habitats, they help to increase the resilience of native and endangered plants and animals. Works were completed in April 2011 on the Eastern fringe of Hackney marshes including planting trees, shrubs and new meadow areas, and installing bat and bird boxes on the site.
For more information about other biodiversity in Hackney see Biodiversity.
Tree planting scheme.
To find out more about 2012 on Hackney Marshes call 020 8356 3621, email hackneymarshes@hackney.gov.uk or see 2012 Games.
Image at top of page: The Hackney Marsh Centre.
Page updated: 30 Jan 2012
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