Totally Thames 2021: Lighting up the Lea

As part of Totally Thames 2021 we’ll be “Lighting up the Lea”. Come and join us for a family friendly celebration of the River Lea and its fantastic heritage, its biodiversity and its local community.

On the 4th of September we will have a day of live music, fun workshops, exciting tours and plenty of delicious homemade food, with heritage tours carrying on until Sunday 5th.

Have a look below to see what’s on…

Lighting up the Lea flyer

Live music

On Saturday a variety of artists will take to the stage to play their own original songs and covers showcasing the vibes of East London at Cody Dock:

Arch 1 presents:

Chevonne Jones

Chevonne Jones, a talented jazz vocalist, soul guitarist and songwriter will be performing at 1:30pm

Robert Clarke

Robert Clark will be playing some jazzy beats and singing live at 2.30pm

Stamford Hill BillyStreet Band

A funky quartet, inspired by funk, jazz, ska, Caribbean and South African melodies, what more could you expect from the East End! From 4.30pm.

London Sea Shanty Collective

A community choir who bring us back to the past through song, while keeping it contemporary and looking ahead to the future keeping the sea shanties alive! Join them for a workshop and live performance at 12.00pm and 15.30pm.

Food & Drink

Why not try some delicious home-baked goods made by our volunteers, with gluten free and vegan options available! Don’t miss out on the fragrant and aromatic onion bhajis, freshly cooked and sold in the picnic area!

The Riverside Cafe will be open throughout the event serving refreshing drinks, delicious coffee however you like it, freshly made panini’s, homemade tagine, chilli, cakes and much more… and if the weather is good you can visit them for an ice cream too!

Visit the small pop up bar located in the sensory garden’s outdoor classroom for a refreshing drink – because who doesn’t deserve one at the weekend?! Offering a range of alcoholic beverages from beers, ciders and wines, and for those who don’t drink, a range of delicious soft drinks.

Activities and Tours

Check out some of the fantastic volunteer activities that run throughout the year at Cody Dock, see behind the scenes of some of our biggest projects, learn about local biodiversity, heritage and find out how to forage in the city!

Cody Makers

Discover Cody Makers! Join the Makers Space and learn some cool and handy crafts using recycled materials and simple techniques. Get some great tips about how to create your own style, use less and create an impact.

Cody Makers will run throughout Saturday.

Dock Restoration

Go on a journey to discover the foundations of Cody Dock, the last brick-lined dock in London! Check out the work being done to restore it and hopefully become inspired to join the action and volunteer in the process.

Session’s start at 1:30, 3:00 and 4:30pm on Saturday and Sunday, meet at the Dockside.

Wildlife Bingo

Meet the environmental team for a chat and take part in their fun wildlife bingo game. Wildlife in the city can be hard to find, but that isn’t always the case. We will point you in the right direction and show you how wild urban East London really is!

Wildlife Bingo is open to all throughout Saturday.

Foraging Walk

Join an experienced forager and herbalist on a walk through Cody Dock and Cody Wilds to discover the potential bounty urban greenspaces have to offer. Get info, and advice on the dos and don’ts of urban foraging.

The Foraging Walk will take place on Saturday, 2pm.

Honey Spinning

Join our resident Bee Keeper Simon Nicholson, who will show you how to harvest our amazing local honey. From hive to jar, have a go at spinning the last crop of the season!

Drop in sessions from 1pm. Dockside workshop!

Cody Dock’s Secret Places, Hidden History and Evolving Nature

Want to learn more about the heritage of the Lower Lea valley? Now’s your chance! This one hour guided walk will take you along the River Lea to see the transformation of disused sites into nature havens, find out about their industrial past, and historical legacy.

The Secret Places Walk will take place at 11:00am, 1:00 and 3:00pm on Saturday & Sunday, meet at the Info Point.