Rivers Lee and Stort

The River Lee runs North - South near the Herts and Essex boarders and eventually drains into the River Thames; before reaching the Thames there are westerly links across to the Grand Union Canal, it's possible to reach the Midlands via a series of canals. The Lee can be navigated as far North as Hertford via Ware and Bishops Stortford via the River Stort through Harlow Town.

River Lee, Ware

River Stort near Harlow.

Navigation along the rivers is via manually operated locks.

The River Lee once carried malted barley and gunpowder down to London - barley is still malted in Stansted Abbots and the last gunpowder shipped off from the Royal Gunpowder Mills more than a 100 years ago http://www.royalgunpowdermills.com/.  The River Lee is an ever changing mix of countryside and industry.

Bridge over the River Lee, Rye House.

Rye House Power Station, operated by Scottish Power on the banks of the River Lee; the old power station was demolished in 1991 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsGvVH9CSNE

Glaxo plant north of Ware alongside River Lee.

Narrow boats still use the Lee for pleasure cruising and many people live on narrow boats for a licence fee of £1,000 a year.

Converted narrow boat gently gliding up the River Lee.

Wash Day

Fully Loaded barge.

Work Boat, British Waterways

The Lee and Stort are a haven for water sports and extensive biking along the tow paths.

Hertford Weir, an intrepid young canoeist tries out the weir for the first time - he made it without mishap.

Glen Faba Lock, River Stort biking.

Local custom has it that a troll lives under each bridge on the River Lee, here's a carving of one of the trolls.

Sculpture at Parndon Mill, River Lee Harlow http://www.parndonmill.co.uk/

River Stort Where's my cup of tea?

River Lee Gravel Pit along much of the Lee in Herts, gravel was extracted to build the M25 motorway, these have been reclaimed by nature and provide fine wading and nesting sites for birds.  This bird viewing stand is south of Ware near to Stanstead Abbots.

Cutting the Reeds upkeep of the reed banks is hard work, here is Mrs Brown hard at work.

Hide View there are a number of hides around the gravel pit if you look closely you'll see a swan or two.

Get Out of that Hide here's Mr Brown, he's teed off at me photographing his missus from the secrecy of the hide!