Flytipping disaster!

If you've been past the meadow recently, or seen some of the many media reports, you'll have noticed that our community park has gone from this:

 To this:

(Image from ITV)

Illegal flytippers have dumped a whopping 49 tonnes of rubbish on Mabley Meadow, destroying the small orchard and edible herb area, and potentially killing all the bluebells and daffodils we've worked so hard to plant.

So this is a terrible day for everyone who's volunteered, joined the gardening-club and enjoyed using the meadow. But there's good news here too.

Hackney Council have already started the clear up, so it'll look much better soon. And some of our plantings are gone forever, some will come back fighting. So stay tuned for spring.

Best of all though has been the amazing support that's flooded in from people all over Hackney. Adversity really has brought us together, and proved how important and loved the meadow is. So thank you to everyone who's had a kind word to say or made an offer of help.

For now, we have to leave it to the council to get the site clear. But in spring, we'll do a seed sowing and get our meadow back. And in 2014, it'll be better than ever!

If you go down to the meadow today...

You're in for a nice surprise. It's looking incredible!

The thick grass is a haven for butterflies, birds and insects - and perfect for a picnic.

Look closely and you'll see native bluebells all over the meadow - so all our had work planting bulbs is paying off!

The wild herbs planted by the gardening club last summer are thriving - and the fruit trees love their new home.

Look closely, and you'll find wild garlic growing in the long grass.

Currants! These will be delicious in a couple of months.

Unlike lawns, in a meadow, the more dandelions the better - bees love them, and they look amazing en masse.

Come take a stroll down our flower-lined paths, then take a seat on our hand-carved bench and enjoy a bit of wild London!