Our May walk

East End WI on a West Ham walk

Community garden Abbey Gardens was our starting point, for the ruin of the gatehouse of Stratford Langthorne Abbey, the story of the Plaistow Landgrabbers that inspired the garden's design and some fabulous flowers. Onward to All Saints Church for its abbey connection, patchwork of architecture and gnarly trees. Then, West Ham Park, to stroll in its greenery and ornamental garden, hear about physician and world-famous botanist Dr Fothergill and the park's Elizabeth Fry connection and pause for refreshments at the park's friendly snack shack.

I'll leave it to the lovely thank-you from our President, Heather to give you the flavour of the day: 

"Thank you for such a lovely Spring walk today! Just the right number of us to allow for the time and space to chat whilst on the move, and for our cafe stop. Great mix of history and humanity.  I really got the sense of continuity of the people and the buildings: from the old abbey underlying the Abbey Gardens ... up to the present mix of families, joggers, footballers, and cyclists peddling around in the sunshine. Such trees, such flowers, such colours!

Most impressed by the warmth and friendliness of the Kiosk staff, too. Will definitely go back.

It was lovely to be able to join up this part of 'Our Manor', to more familiar pieces of the jigsaw, and to gain some ownership by being able to make use of our recently experienced extension of 'walking distances'.

I am sure the others would agree that it was a wonderful day!"

Look out for details of our next walk in our June update.