Wildways at Aldriche Way Estate

Wildways at Aldriche Way Estate is a collaborative project to transform the outside spaces for nature and residents. Working together with East London Waterworks Park and Waltham Forest Council, residents will take part in co-design workshops to create a plan for greener, more welcoming and enjoyable outdoor spaces on the estate. We’ll talk about simple ideas like more planting, spaces for wildlife and areas that feel calm, safe and enjoyable to spend time in.

East London Waterworks Park (ELWP) is a volunteer-led organisation bringing communities together to create welcoming, vibrant green spaces that support nature and people. You can read more about them here.

We will update this page with details of upcoming events and the progress of the project. Some activities that have happened so far:


Welcome Event and Listening

In April, ELWP volunteers visited all homes on Aldriche Way Estate and helped host a welcome event to share details about the project. Many residents attended these sessions which were design to listen to resident views, understand how the outdoor spaces on the estate are used, and what could be improved.

  • 29th March: Welcome event where the team presented the project and listened to residents. Online survey opened.

  • 23rd April: Focus group with TRLA & Wellbeing Club - 15 people attended.

  • 30th March and 2nd April: Door knocking All (303) doors knocked. 82 residents responded.

  • 10th April: Online survey closed. 40 surveys received.

  • 27th April: Focus groups - Youth club 7 young people attended.





What you told us

The information shared at these sessions had fed into the plans as they developed.

Greenery & Nature
Community Water
● Strong demand for more planting● Positives: quiet and friendly ● Floods and drainage issues spotted on the estate
● Wildflower and colourful raised beds - beauty matters alongside biodiversity ● Benches and BBQs as top priorities, as well as events and shared spaces● Residents feel disconnected from the River Ching - littered, poor access, never heard of
● Interest in growing food● Communal spaces are infrequently used● Access to water on communal spaces for watering plants and maintenance.
● North-East side of the estate identified as less green● No space or activities attractive to teenagers
● Feeders & houses for wildlife● Safety issues with cracked pavements and some instances of neglect (e.g. bins)
● Accessible green spaces● More spaces for pets


“It is all one community - you want it to flow”



Ecology Survey

In April a team of volunteers carried out a survey to see what plants and wildlife are already present at Aldriche Way. We were happy to find 14 different wildflower species in the quadrats. These were all indicative of a maintained grassy roadside area, but it was good to see some diversity in particular the geranium family members (Herb Robert, Small-flowered crane bill).

We also observed a hairy-footed flower bee: once in a quadrat, as well as several other individuals across the wider site. These were ground-nesting in the grassy areas south of Hartwell Drive. This is a sign that these areas have the potential to support a small pollinator population already.

We counted 16 species (38 individuals) of trees in the inner section of the estate (precise locations noted in the results), which is a reminder that there is already a lot on offer.


Co- Design Workshops

Three co-design workshops are being held at Aldriche Way Community Centre, facilitated by ELWP volunteers.

  • Workshop 1 (21st May) focussed on types of landscapes and planting residents would like to see on the estate - 30 participants joined

  • Workshop 2 (18th June) zoomed into specific areas on the estate in more detail - 18 participants joined

  • Workshop 3 (16th July) will share concept designs with residents for final comments

  • End July: final presentation to residents


In between the co-design sessions volunteers from ELWP have been working hard to transform residents’ vision for the outside space into a plan to take forward. A team of landscape architects, hydrologist, ecologist and inclusivity specialists have all contributed their time and expertise to bringing this together.

Who can view the 'community vision summary' that was shared in workshop 2 by clicking on the link to the righthand side. This gives a visual overview of the priority spaces for changes and the input from residents up to that point. This is not a fixed plan or design but captures the conversation and workings behind the process.




Wildways at Aldriche Way Estate is a collaborative project to transform the outside spaces for nature and residents. Working together with East London Waterworks Park and Waltham Forest Council, residents will take part in co-design workshops to create a plan for greener, more welcoming and enjoyable outdoor spaces on the estate. We’ll talk about simple ideas like more planting, spaces for wildlife and areas that feel calm, safe and enjoyable to spend time in.

East London Waterworks Park (ELWP) is a volunteer-led organisation bringing communities together to create welcoming, vibrant green spaces that support nature and people. You can read more about them here.

We will update this page with details of upcoming events and the progress of the project. Some activities that have happened so far:


Welcome Event and Listening

In April, ELWP volunteers visited all homes on Aldriche Way Estate and helped host a welcome event to share details about the project. Many residents attended these sessions which were design to listen to resident views, understand how the outdoor spaces on the estate are used, and what could be improved.

  • 29th March: Welcome event where the team presented the project and listened to residents. Online survey opened.

  • 23rd April: Focus group with TRLA & Wellbeing Club - 15 people attended.

  • 30th March and 2nd April: Door knocking All (303) doors knocked. 82 residents responded.

  • 10th April: Online survey closed. 40 surveys received.

  • 27th April: Focus groups - Youth club 7 young people attended.





What you told us

The information shared at these sessions had fed into the plans as they developed.

Greenery & Nature
Community Water
● Strong demand for more planting● Positives: quiet and friendly ● Floods and drainage issues spotted on the estate
● Wildflower and colourful raised beds - beauty matters alongside biodiversity ● Benches and BBQs as top priorities, as well as events and shared spaces● Residents feel disconnected from the River Ching - littered, poor access, never heard of
● Interest in growing food● Communal spaces are infrequently used● Access to water on communal spaces for watering plants and maintenance.
● North-East side of the estate identified as less green● No space or activities attractive to teenagers
● Feeders & houses for wildlife● Safety issues with cracked pavements and some instances of neglect (e.g. bins)
● Accessible green spaces● More spaces for pets


“It is all one community - you want it to flow”



Ecology Survey

In April a team of volunteers carried out a survey to see what plants and wildlife are already present at Aldriche Way. We were happy to find 14 different wildflower species in the quadrats. These were all indicative of a maintained grassy roadside area, but it was good to see some diversity in particular the geranium family members (Herb Robert, Small-flowered crane bill).

We also observed a hairy-footed flower bee: once in a quadrat, as well as several other individuals across the wider site. These were ground-nesting in the grassy areas south of Hartwell Drive. This is a sign that these areas have the potential to support a small pollinator population already.

We counted 16 species (38 individuals) of trees in the inner section of the estate (precise locations noted in the results), which is a reminder that there is already a lot on offer.


Co- Design Workshops

Three co-design workshops are being held at Aldriche Way Community Centre, facilitated by ELWP volunteers.

  • Workshop 1 (21st May) focussed on types of landscapes and planting residents would like to see on the estate - 30 participants joined

  • Workshop 2 (18th June) zoomed into specific areas on the estate in more detail - 18 participants joined

  • Workshop 3 (16th July) will share concept designs with residents for final comments

  • End July: final presentation to residents


In between the co-design sessions volunteers from ELWP have been working hard to transform residents’ vision for the outside space into a plan to take forward. A team of landscape architects, hydrologist, ecologist and inclusivity specialists have all contributed their time and expertise to bringing this together.

Who can view the 'community vision summary' that was shared in workshop 2 by clicking on the link to the righthand side. This gives a visual overview of the priority spaces for changes and the input from residents up to that point. This is not a fixed plan or design but captures the conversation and workings behind the process.