This year’s Wanstead Festival will now take place on Sunday 2 October.
The annual event was originally planned to take place on Sunday 18 September, the day before Her Majesty’s state funeral.
“Taking place at Christchurch Green, from 11am-6pm, the rescheduled festival promises a mix of music and performances across two main stages, and lots of family friendly attractions,” said a Vision RCL spokesperson.
Residents are invited to join a vigil on Christ Church Green in Wanstead this evening (12 September) in memory of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
“Please join us tonight in Wanstead as we honour the memory of Her Majesty The Queen and reflect upon the lasting impact she made on our world,” said the Leader of Redbridge Council, Councillor Jas Athwal.
The event will start at 6pm, with those attending asked to gather near the new café on the green.
My name is Matt Bradley. I’m a recent graduate from a London university and have lived in South Woodford for most of my life. My degree was focused on business management and I took a particular interest in emerging technologies and companies operating on the blockchain (a shared, immutable ledger that facilitates the process of recording transactions and tracking assets).
While studying at university, I got a call from a friend who knew I had been working on some blockchain-based projects, asking if I could give some advice to a charity group helping minority students in Ukraine.
I took the call at 10pm and met Natasha Junejo, who was working with Black Foreigners in Ukraine (BFU). They explained the issues that minority students were facing when trying to use the local currency to pay for transport out of the country. Many forms of transport were accepting cryptocurrency as a form of payment; however, the group had no experience with this technology.
So, I started making a guide that could be deployed to students on the ground and the organisation’s team members. Knowing that time could make a big impact on the individuals in Ukraine, I set to work, and I knew creating a pictorial guide would be extremely useful as many students didn’t have Ukrainian as their first language.
The guide was used to install a wallet on their smartphones that would give them an address that BFU was then able to send cryptocurrency to and the students could then use their phones to pay for goods and services.
Within 12 hours we had a young medical student who had been lost for almost a day using cryptocurrency to get themselves on a train out of the country and en route to their family. The team at BFU and Natasha did all the heavy lifting, and the work they do is truly astounding.
It was amazing to help in any way and I’ll always remember this opportunity as a time I was able to make a difference, and it makes a great case for decentralised currencies.
The blockchain isn’t just a way to invest money and buy ‘internet money’. It offers a way for people to live without relying on institutions to transact and work as a community. By taking that institutional power away and putting it in the hands of us, the people, we can make big impacts together.
I’m now working with London Imaginative Collective to build a way to tell the stories of refugees and those in Ukraine using the blockchain, and we will soon be releasing a documentary covering the untold stories of the Ukrainian people.
The Woodford Singers will be performing at St Gabriel’s Church in Aldersbrook on 12 November.
“We have had a very successful year after the dark days of lockdown. In February, we were winners at the Stratford and East London Music Festival; that was followed by a concert for Ukraine in April, a tour of Cornwall in May and an invitation to take part in the beacon lighting for the Jubilee in June,” said a spokesperson.
The choir will be accompanied by Brook Brass, a local five-piece brass group.
Visit swvg.co.uk/tws
The Woodford and District National Trust Centre will be holding a special event at Copped Hall in Epping on 19 October.
“Archaeologist Nathalie Cohen will be giving a talk about Knole House. When Copped Hall was sold in 1701, many treasures were moved to Knole House in Kent, where they are on display to this day, creating a special bond between the two landmarks,” said a spokesperson. The presentation starts at 11am (booking required; tickets: £10) and will be followed by a guided tour.
Call 07774 164 407
Gayle Chong KwanThe Wren Wildlife and Conservation Group will be holding a 50th-anniversary celebration at Wanstead Golf Club on 8 October (4pm to 10pm; tickets: £10).
“The event will be a chance to meet our new patron, Gayle Chong Kwan, an award-winning artist who lives locally and whose work addresses our relationship with waste, nature and diverse ecologies. The event will also showcase the winners of our photography competition, and we’ll have a ‘fireside’ chat with our founding members,” said a spokesperson.
Visit swvg.co.uk/wwcg
My wife, Sally, has had ME for the last six years. The effects of her condition are varied. There’s extreme fatigue, where doing even light work around the house or ‘just popping to the shops’ can wipe her out, muscle aches and weakness, sleep disturbance and cognitive dysfunction, where facts and figures that were once readily available are now difficult to remember.
After activity more strenuous than a short stroll, she experiences post-exertion malaise, meaning that at any time, from a few hours later to the next couple of days, she is exhausted. Her symptoms become more intense with no amount of sleep lessening the effects. She calls this payback!
Then, in 2020, she caught Covid.
This worsened her existing problems and added new ones on top. She now suffers from regular migraine attacks and an altered sense of taste and smell.
As a family with two teenagers, we’ve adapted. She and I used to be a partnership, splitting household jobs equally, but now most things fall to me. As someone who was always on the go, my wife has found this difficult. It’s one of many things that’s changed.
We have to limit social activities, dog walks and holidays. Everything is planned with precision. Public transport is often not an option and I have to drive and drop her close to the door. We also limit the time spent somewhere so she doesn’t get too tired, and sometimes I’ll go out with the kids on my own so she can rest at home. It’s not how we would choose life to be, but, unfortunately, it’s our new reality.
My wife likens living with ME to a smartphone that can’t be fully charged. Even if it’s plugged in all night, by morning it’s still only at 25%. And by lunchtime, it’s empty.
This forces her to make micro decisions about how she spends what little energy she has and how to programme in small periods of rest for recharging, simply to make it to the end of the day.
One thing that has kept her sane has been the ME support group she came across in 2018. They meet monthly, on Saturday afternoons at the Wanstead House Community Centre. They have been a lifeline. The informal drop-in group share their experiences and knowledge of having ME.
My wife wants to spread the word to anyone suffering from either ME or Long Covid that there is a supportive, local group waiting to help and listen to those who need it.
The East London ME/CFS Support Group will meet on 10 September, 15 October and 26 November at Wanstead House, 21 The Green, E11 2NT between 2.30pm and 5pm (free; donations welcome). For more information, call 07957 152 566
A book of condolence has been opened at Woodford Green Library for residents to express their grief and gratitude to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, who died yesterday at Balmoral Castle.
The Queen, aged 96, was the longest-serving monarch in British history, beginning her reign in 1952 at age 25.
There are six books of condolence at venues across the borough (Hainault Library, Central Library, Goodmayes Library, Wanstead Library, Woodford Green Library and Valentines Mansion) and Redbridge Council has also said floral tributes can be left outside Woodford Green Library and at Christ Church Green in Wanstead.
A special vigil will take place in Wanstead at 6pm on Monday 12 September.
“This is a time of shared public grief, during which people from all communities and backgrounds, are joining together to mourn Her Majesty,” said the Mayor of Redbridge, Councillor Thavathuray Jeyaranjan.
As a mark of respect, the Union Jack flag is being flown at half-mast at Redbridge Town Hall.
Messages can also be sent via the royal.uk website.
Woodford Greeners is a community gardening group set up by local residents to help clean up and green up neglected public areas around Snakes Lane East and the broader Woodford Green area.
The group was initially conceived by myself and my neighbour, Mariam Elazoui. We spent many hours walking around the area together with our children only to find hedgerows strewn with litter and planters filled with weeds. We are also both keen gardeners and eager to share knowledge, skills and resources with other residents.
After discovering we both had many unwanted seed packets building up in our garden sheds, we decided to organise our very first community event, a free seed swap at the James Leal Centre in Ray Park back in March. We were both surprised and delighted when we found over 200 seed packets had been donated or exchanged with other local residents and decided to formalise the gardening group going forward. Since then, the Woodford Greeners has delivered a number of community gardening projects, including new flowers for the high street planters on Snakes Lane East, Prospect Road, James Leal Café and outside Ray Lodge Primary School. The group have also organised a free seedling swap, where more than 100 plants were exchanged or given to local residents for free, as well as several litter picks around the area.
It’s been such a pleasure to spend this spring and summer volunteering with other local residents to give Woodford Green a bit of a tidy-up. The area has suffered some neglect in recent years, so we’ve enjoyed replacing weeds with colourful flowers and getting rid of unsightly litter. We’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity of local people who have given up their free time to help out, and even put their hands in their pockets to club together to buy the plants. It shows that there really is a strong sense of community and civic pride in this area.
We are now developing a workshop programme for the autumn, which focuses on food growing as well as outdoor craft skills, having already delivered a free composting workshop with support from Redbridge Council’s Neighbourhood Engagement team in May. The group is also currently working on a permanent seed library for Ray Park, where local people can drop off unwanted or out-of-date seeds at any time and collect replacements for free. And we have big plans for more greening projects in the area going forward.
If you’d like to find out more or volunteer, do get in touch.
For more information on the Woodford Greeners, visit swvg.co.uk/greeners or email woodfordgreeners@gmail.com
The Epping Forest Big Walk returns on 25 September, inviting residents to walk the entire length of the Forest (14.1 miles) in one day.
“Previously known as the Centenary Walk, the event was established in 1978 for the 100th anniversary of the passing of the Epping Forest Act 1878. Starting from Manor Park, the route skirts Wanstead and Woodford towards Highams Park, passing Chingford Plain, High Beach and going all the way to Epping,” said Amy Liu from the Epping Forest Heritage Trust.
Visit swvg.co.uk/bigwalk22
©Evelyn RowlandOver the past few years, we’ve gladly clapped for our ‘keyworkers’. Now, I invite you to applaud another batch.
“For three Covid months, they just held him up at the window for me to see, so there was a bit of a backlog of hugs waiting for him.” In George Lane, Karen enjoyed chatting about her grandson. “He’s three now.” She shares part of all his days now. “My mother helped me, so I help my daughter. It’s as simple as that.”
“Is parenting like you expected?” I asked Katrina. She was enjoying a cup of coffee with friends at Costa. She needed no prompting: “I love it,” she replied and then launched in: “I have two sons, 10 and 12. I am recharging all the time – that’s what it feels like – seeing them grow into good people. The kindness I have invested in them is being reflected in their kindness to others. In a very, very minuscule way, I hope I am contributing some good to the world. I see them having to make choices in a world that’s different from the one I grew up in. But I’m there for them.”
“Thoughts on parenting?” Matthew was happy to pause. (It was during the heatwave and we had some shade.) He was strolling home with Audrey, their Covid baby, and Livia, due to start school in September. “It’s full on! We had no childcare early in lockdown. I felt I was juggling our life. We have the young kids and the elderly parents too. That’s the stage we’re at. And I am pushing my career forward at the same time. But it is all so obviously worthwhile!”
On a bench outside M&S another dad was sitting, with his wrist heavily bandaged and a sleeping baby in a buggy. Doing his shift, I thought. “I wouldn’t mind talking but actually I’m at work. Expecting another call any minute.” In his good hand, his iPhone was buzzing. Another juggling multitasker.
Outside Boots, two mums were exploring possibilities for the six-week summer holiday challenge. Upbeat, merry characters, both of them. Denise has children 10, 11 and 14. Xanthe has two, aged six and eight. Both are working as teachers. Both eagerly joined the discussion: “Much more has been expected of us during lockdown… Much harder to achieve a work-life balance… Marking work from pupils but also being the teacher at home, like other mums and dads… ‘You’re not my teacher! You’re my mum!’ That’s what my son says. ‘I’m not going to listen to you!’… Our children have been getting one-to-one tutoring from us at home. That’s more than they get at school. So, it’s pretty demanding… But I admit it: I cried my eyes out when they were able to return to school. Now, we’ll be famous! Appearing in the South Woodford Village Gazette!”
Leon and Lorena were having lunch with their children at Zest. Their son was graduating from the nursery that day. A landmark: caps and gowns expected. Very exciting. “We both work,” said Lorena. “It’s not all fun and laughter; I often feel I’m trying to keep some control over the day. But it’s wonderful to see them flourishing.” Leon joined in: “We love seeing them learn. They come out with knowledge we didn’t know they had. They ask so many questions. You see how their minds are working. But at times, when I’m alone at home, I sit down on the sofa. No TV. I just savour the sound of silence.”
Holly was sitting outside Creative Biscuit with one of her two boys, waiting for a lift. He’d been to a birthday party there. He was hugging a large balloon. “I’m four and three-quarters,” he informed me. “D’you like my hat?” I did. Holly was in thoughtful mood. “It’s not really like I expected being a mum. I’m managing to do four days’ work each week. We can see the children’s nursery from our front gate, so that’s really convenient. It’s a bit like being on a hamster wheel. That’s the best way I can describe it. But, you know, I was watching the news yesterday: war in Ukraine, the cost-of-living crisis, mushrooming Covid cases. And I feel very grateful that we are where we are and coping.” Her husband’s car appeared. We said goodbye.
Katy was breezing along with Molly in a pushchair. Stopped dead at the idea of chatting about her children. “I gave up my job when our daughters arrived.” “You could manage financially?” “Yes, we made lots of sacrifices, of course; my husband fully supported me. Covid was actually quite helpful; we didn’t go out much, so we spent less, and my husband worked from home. I feel quite trembly already at the thought of Molly going to school. My babies’ time will be over.” “Do you regret giving up your job?” “Never. You really know what your kids are passionate about this way: Molly at two just wants to climb, to be athletic, to dance. Lottie is four and she’s desperate to read. She’s much more cerebral. She’s cracked a lot of it. I have been helping her but I did it without feeling I was teaching her. More as if it was a competition with little prizes. Another thing: I was an only child myself, so I’m learning about sibling relationships. I see how important they are. I will go back to work in a year or so. But meanwhile, we are all together.”
I started to move away but she called me back: “Oh, by the way, I have also realised there is no ‘time off in lieu’ for mothers. Last Saturday, I suddenly said to my husband (he’s terrific with the girls), ‘I’m going out. I’ll be back in four hours.’ I just walked out. I walked to Leytonstone. Weird, really. I sat down in a café and had a cup of coffee and a piece of cake. And I was quiet and still, watching the world go by.”
©Geoff WilkinsonAt the time of writing, the Environment Agency had declared drought conditions in nine regions across the south and east, including London. The dry conditions during the summer – the driest on record in many parts of the country – led to barren patches of ground with the grass looking like straw, creating dangerous tinderbox conditions for both property and wildlife. As it can no longer be denied that climate change is the reason for these weather conditions, we all need to do what we can to mitigate any further damage to the environment.
While it can sometimes be difficult to know where to start, the decisions you make in your garden can help and may encourage your neighbours to do the same.
In South Woodford, the majority of the planters that appeared at the beginning of the summer have been removed as the funding was no longer available. Some of them have been kept and the South Woodford Gardeners have been watering most of these, but the South Woodford Society has decided to use a few of them to trial some drought-resistant plants. These include succulents, such as house leeks and stonecrop, and these have survived the dry conditions well, without too much watering. You can do this too, either in planters or containers, so give it a try.
Unfortunately, there is no easy access to water in the area, which makes watering a mammoth task, even in normal weather, and this is why we are planning a ‘tapestry lawn’ at Eastwood Green (by the corner of Eastwood Road, adjacent to the George Lane roundabout), which will be made up of more drought-resistant, low-growing plants to create a lawn which can be walked and played on without too much damage. We will be preparing these beds soon – please let us know if you would like to help.
Additional planting includes Bell Green (a small patch opposite the Railway Bell pub, outside the Tube station; pictured here), which has been populated with Mediterranean plants such as rosemary and lavender, which have mostly managed to survive the heat.
We had to postpone planned major work during the hot spell as plants do need to be watered in initially, but come autumn, you will notice some changes. Work planned for the next few months and into winter includes pruning the evergreen hedge at the community orchard into a pyramid shape, which will reduce bulk and create a better look. This activity could be suitable for wheelchair users and we hope to run a workshop if possible. We are also planning to use a technique called hedge-laying, similar to coppicing and pollarding, to facilitate vigorous new growth and to create a ‘habitat’ hedge. Again, we are hoping to run this activity as a workshop, so if you are interested in this, do let us know.
Hedgerows and other ‘habitat’ gardening techniques are an important way to encourage biodiversity and are good for insects, bees, butterflies, birds and small mammals, so do consider planting the right sort of plants to encourage wildlife in your own gardens. For more information, search “wildlife friendly” on the Royal Horticultural Society website (rhs.org.uk) – it’s an excellent source for gardening advice.
For more information on local greening projects, email e18society@gmail.com
