River Lee Country Park

The River Lee Country Park is located in the Lee Valley Park and is managed by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority. Covering convert|1000|acre|ha|abbr=on acres on either side of the River Lea between Waltham Abbey and Broxbourne. An area of lakes, watercourses, open spaces and two Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) linked by footpaths and cycle tracks.

History

Since the 1930s the area which was originally part of the River Lea flood plain has been the centre of the sand and gravel industry, as a result there are many mature gravel pits. Unfortunately some of the lakes were used for land fill purposes. In a joint effort by the St Albans Sand and Gravel Co Ltd and the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority the area has been transformed, with much of the park a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) [ [http://www.leevalleypark.org.uk/en/content/cms/Leisure/Nature_Reserves___Pa/river_lee_park/river_lee_park.aspx River Lee Country Park] Retrieved May 19 2008]

Olympics 2012

The park at the Showground site, Highbridge Street A121, Waltham Cross is the chosen venue for the 2012 Olympics canoeing events. The site will be known as the Broxbourne White Water Canoe Centre.

Watercourses

* Cornmill Stream Flows fom the Lea at Fishers Green to rejoin the Lea at Waltham Abbey
* River Lea
* River Lee Flood Relief Channel (Horsemill Stream)
* River Lee Navigation
* Small River Lea

Lakes

The following are some of the larger waters that can be visited in the park. Some of them form the Turnford and Cheshunt Pits SSSI. [ [http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/2000066.pdf Turnford and Cheshunt Pits SSSI] Retrieved September 05 2008]

* Bowyers Water. Believed to be hand dug in the 1920s, and one of the oldest lakes in the Lee Valley.gbmappingsmall|TL3664401519
* Cheshunt Lake. Home of the Herts Young Mariners. gbmappingsmall|TL3682002633 [ [http://www.hymb.com/ Herts Young Mariners] Retrieved May 23 2008]
* Friday Lake A carp fishery
* Hall Marsh Scrape. The lake was specifically constructed for the use by wildfowl.
* Holyfield Lake. The lake incorporates part of the River Lee Flood Relief Channel.
* Hooks Marsh Lake The over- wintering bittern can be found here between December and March.
* North Metropolitan. Better known as North Met Pit. Due to the many islands and inlets, the lake has an estimated shoreline of 4 miles. gbmappingsmall|TL3679403257
* Seventy Acres Lake. The bittern and the otter can be seen here.
* Turnford Pits

References