Residents can now live, breathe and eat Walthamstow thanks to a local organisation helping to save an endangered salad plant discovered in the borough thirty years ago.

The plant’s habitat has been under threat from human activity and competition from other plants, taking it close to extinction in the place that gave it its name, and possibly the whole country.

That was, until local food growing organisation Organiclea offered to provide a refuge for the plant at their Hawkwood Community Plant Nursery in Chingford.

Ru Litherland, Organiclea co-operative member, said: “We took some cuttings of the yellow cress and it’s growing really well in a dedicated bed.”

He added: “As well as its local connection, it’s an edible plant, and from May we will be including its leaves in our popular mixed salad bags.”

The rare form of watercress, believed to have travelled here on the foot of a migrating bird from Norway, is thought to be only found in the Lea Valley area of London.

Mr Litherland said that Organiclea takes its name from the Lea Valley and that they’ve got the opportunity to help preserve the important diversity of the local area as well as providing delicious fresh food.

Their mixed salad bags are available at their Saturday market stalls in Leytonstone and Walthamstow or by joining their weekly fruit and vegetable delivery scheme.

They also supply local restaurants and cafes including Table 7 and Butler’s Retreat in Chingford, Hornbeam Cafe and Lot 107 in Walthamstow.

The Walthamstow Yellow Cress was discovered close to one of Walthamstow’s reservoirs in 1974.