Yuki Negishi is a pianist of “rare poetry, passion and virtuosity”. Having lived in Tokyo, New York and Amsterdam, she now calls South Woodford home, and is inviting fellow residents to hear her play. I recently moved to South Woodford with my IT director husband Michael, and noticed there weren’t many classical concerts in the area, despite the many beautiful churches with grand pianos. St Mary’s Church is a short walk from my house, and the first time I visited, I was struck by its splendid pipe organ and perfect acoustics. I quickly felt the potential for a regular recital series, which could give local residents easy access to some great music, and an ideal opportunity for me to try out new recital programmes. Music...

PC Daniel Thomas is pleased to report a significant fall in the number of burglaries in the South Woodford area, and encourages residents to help fight crime by securing their homes My name is PC Daniel Thomas and I am the Dedicated Ward Officer (DWO) for South Woodford. I am one of two police officers who cover South Woodford and we also have a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) dedicated to this area. I know that many of you have been worried about theft-related crimes in South Woodford, particularly burglary. Interestingly, the majority of residential burglaries take place between 4pm and 8pm. But there are many things we have done and are continuing to do to reduce the number of burglaries, and I am pleased...

The South Woodford Society has launched a crowdfunding campaign to establish a community orchard outside South Woodford station. Louise Burgess explains the benefits for the community… and cider drinkers As evidenced by our street names of Primrose, Mulberry and Cowslip, the south-east side of George Lane used to be a flower-filled space, with market gardens and a dairy. We are aiming to put some of this country feel back into South Woodford by building a community orchard, refurbishing the current small green spaces and improving the planting. Our campaign is crowdfunded, using an online funding platform for ideas that bring local places to life. Projects are matched to funds from councils, foundations and companies that might want to help. We are hoping that our funding...

Avon House School in Woodford Green is looking to make contact with as many former students and staff as possible as they prepare to mark their 100th anniversary during the forthcoming academic year. “We would be delighted for you to join our alumni network… It doesn’t matter when you left us, whether you are in further education, in employment or retired, whether you still live nearby or have moved away, there are still ways you can connect with the school and stay in touch,” said a spokesperson. “To celebrate our 100th anniversary, we will be organising an exciting programme of events and are happy to assist former students in organising their own events, or getting back in touch with their peers.” Visit swvg.co/avonhouse or call...

Sainsbury’s marked its 150th birthday in May, with staff from across the business invited to volunteer for a cause in their local community to celebrate the milestone. In South Woodford, supermarket workers have pledged time to help improve, among other things, the Salvation Army centre on Daisy Road. “Some of my colleagues will be weeding, painting and cleaning the carpets,” said store manager Mark Twell, who also donates food for the centre’s lunches for the elderly. “Others will be working to improve the alleyway that runs from our store up to M&S, planting hanging baskets and repainting the railings… We are also keen to brighten up the outside wall space with art, and I am open to suggestions from the community for any murals they...

More than 20 people took part in a clean-up day at Eagle Pond in June. Councillor Jo Blackman (Wanstead Village, Labour) organised the litter pick with the City of London Corporation – which owns the site off Snaresbrook Road and provided waders and boats on the day – after a number of residents expressed concerns about the state of the pond. “It’s great to see what a difference we can make when we work together. A group of residents are now joining forces to make lasting improvements,” said Councillor Blackman. Another clean-up day is set to take place in the autumn, with pond visitors urged to take their litter home with them and not to feed bread to the ducks, which can lead to waterfowl...

Local owners of classic cars and motorcycles came together at Derby Road car park in June. The social gathering – which saw 26 different vehicles take part – is now set to become a regular event. “The plan was to gather for two hours on a Sunday morning and the only instructions were to bring along a classic car and grab a cuppa… During the weeks running up to the event, flyers were printed and placed on classic cars parked in the area. With the aid of social media, the only thing left to do was to see what would happen. By the 10am start time, the first four cars were parked up. Every time I looked up, another car arrived, followed by another and...

The inaugural exhibition of the recently formed Woodford Arts Group was hailed a resounding success by organisers, following a good turnout over a weekend in June. The three-day display at Packfords Hotel showcased work by local artists, including the group’s founder Julia Brett. “I was knocked out by the amount of visitors over the three days. People seemed genuinely delighted to find art by local people at a local venue. And the question most asked was ‘when are we holding our next one?’” said Julia, who established the group at the end of last year to help local creatives share and showcase their talents and create an awareness of local art. As a thank you to the exhibition hosts, Debra Packford was presented with a...

Redbridge Council is considering an application to construct a nine-storey office block at 10–12 Eastwood Close in South Woodford, the site of Incey Winceys Day Nursery. “Many residents are concerned about this application… There are many issues here, not least whether office space is required in this location, and over 120 objections have been made to the council. We would argue that the site needs a considered approach, rather than piecemeal buildings. At the time of writing, we are waiting to hear when this is going to be discussed by the council, but your comments will still be taken into consideration if you have not yet made a representation,” said a South Woodford Society spokesperson. Under the plans, the ground and first floors would remain...

Local residents and councillors came together in June to clear away the overgrown greenery at the back of the Derby Road car park. “We also took to the surrounding streets, up to the High Road and round by the Churchill statue, to clear away litter. Over 20 bags of rubbish were collected, with over six bags of recycling sorted on our return,” said a spokesperson for the South Woodford Society, which organised the event. “We’re aiming to organise our next litter pick in the autumn, so please get in touch if you would like to be involved.” The South Woodford Society is an independent, voluntary and non-political group working to ‘build a stronger community, support local businesses and make South Woodford a better place to...

A tea and cake garden party at the home of a South Woodford resident has raised over £7,000 for Haven House. “This means we have enough to pay for a day of care at the hospice… Thank you to everyone that supported the event,” said Michelle Vanlint, who hosted her 14th annual garden party on Derby Road in June. A day’s care at Haven House Children’s Hospice costs £5,666. The Woodford Green charity looks after children who have life-limiting or life-threatening conditions. Visit swvg.co/cake14...

Anyone suffering from osteoporosis – a condition where bones lose strength and break more easily – is invited to attend a talk outlining the latest research into the disease in Woodford Green on 11 July. Hosted by the North East London Support Group of the Royal Osteoporosis Society, the event – which will take place from 1.15pm to 3pm at St Thomas of Canterbury Church (£4.50) – will feature guest speaker Professor Susan Lanham-New from the University of Surrey. “Professor Lanham-New will be talking about the important role of nutrition for good bone health and the latest research, and we are delighted to be able to hear the latest news from such a well-respected expert,” said Stella Scrivener, development manager for the Royal Osteoporosis Society....

A student from Bancroft’s School in Woodford Green has been shortlisted for the National Theatre’s annual playwriting competition for 14- to 19-year-olds, and will have her play read by professional actors as part of the New Views Festival on 2 July. Emilia Hitching’s original play To Charlie was one of nine plays shortlisted from 350 entries across the UK by a panel of judges including playwright Chris Bush and NT Associate Director Lyndsey Turner. “New Views has been a creative outlet for me during a fairly taxing first year of sixth form and I have cherished the hours that I spent working on my script. It has been gratifying to have something which is solely mine, that I can pour all my creative energy into and...

A jumble trail will take place on 6 July as residents of Chelmsford Road – and several surrounding roads – turn their front gardens into temporary retail spaces and invite their neighbours and the wider community to browse their pre-loved goods. “With more than 20 homes already signed up to participate, and more set to join in as the event approaches, this should be a great community event for people to meet neighbours, declutter and reuse other people’s unwanted items,” said organiser Natalie Macatonia. The trail – which is sponsored by Portico estate agents and will be raising money for Haven House Children’s Hospice – will run from 9am to 1pm, with maps highlighting the houses taking part to be distributed to local homes and...

The new parking rules that came into force at Sainsbury’s on 7 May were modified in June following customer feedback. Drivers were originally provided with 15 minutes of free, unvalidated parking, but this was subsequently increased to 30 minutes, with stays of up to two hours requiring a £5 minimum spend. A petition against the restrictions – which has received 1,700 signatures – was launched by Suzanne Bennett of Sid & Evie’s children’s boutique, whose shop, along with neighbouring Cardcraft, is also able to issue parking vouchers. Sainsbury’s manager Mark Twell has expressed a desire to find a way to ensure the car park continues to serve the community. To view the petition, click here. To contact Sainsbury's South Woodford, call 020 8989 8224....

Woodford Town Football Club has released design ideas for their new kit ahead of the club’s long-awaited return to the local area. The Essex Senior League team – who finished sixth last season, playing home games at the Harlow Arena – looked to influential people from the Woodford area for inspiration for their new kit, and settled upon former resident Sylvia Pankhurst. “The club hit upon a diagonal sash design, a nod to Sylvia and her involvement with the suffragette movement,” said a club spokesperson. The team – who currently play in a kit of a yellow shirt and blue shorts in honour of their Brazilian football style – hope to relocate to a new facility on Ashton Playing Fields off Chigwell Road in time...

Redbridge Council has been awarded over £2m to help elderly and disabled residents adapt their home so they can live independently and safely. The government funding can be used to alter the homes of people who require assistance, including handles near stairs and doors, stair lifts and specialist showers. “This will have a hugely positive impact on our residents who really need it.  We want help people live in their homes as long as they can and this funding will help ensure residents get the support they need to live independently and comfortably,” said Barry Francis, Operational Director of Civic pride. Call 020 8708 7333....

The Friends of Elmhurst Gardens are appealing for young volunteers to help keep the Green Flag award-winning park tidy. Kaede Harding – who completed her Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award earlier this year – explains why she was proud to help In recent months, I have spent an hour of my Saturday mornings clearing up as much rubbish as I could from Elmhurst Gardens. The reason I did this was part of my three-month volunteer section for my Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award. As I approached the time for volunteer work, I thought about how I wanted to do something meaningful that wouldn’t be a half-hearted job just to get an award. Elmhurst Gardens in South Woodford is my local park. I’m a resident of...

For local resident Shelagh French, the pathway to a career as an artist was not straightforward. Now, as a member of the Woodford Arts Group – which will be unveiling its first art exhibition at the end of May – she is keen to see where the path will take her next It wasn’t until going to university to study BA Fine Art at the age of 40 that I discovered I’m dyslexic. It was instantly obvious to my tutors that the written work and research elements of the course were proving to be extremely difficult for me, so they encouraged me to get assessed. This understanding my tutors had towards learning difficulties was not around in my schooldays during the seventies and eighties. Dyslexia...

South Woodford resident Bernice Butcher doesn’t consider herself to be an eco-warrior, but she is worried by two issues impacting the local environment, and ultimately, our health I started thinking seriously about environmental issues in the late 80s when my children were small.  Reflecting on the effect of a road-widening scheme on the character of the area in London where I grew up, I had a sort of epiphany. It hit me that we were sacrificing our health and wellbeing for progress. The car had become our master rather than our slave. Then I got onto the subject of recycling and the wastefulness of so much packaging ending up in landfill. I campaigned about this, as well as the problem of air pollution, as a...

Volunteering is rewarding and changes lives, says Rose Meredith of Vision RCL, who is encouraging residents to come and experience the joy of helping others at South Woodford Library this summer This year, Volunteers’ Week runs from 1 to 8 June. This is when we thank volunteers for all they do and their contributions to volunteering in Redbridge Libraries. Redbridge libraries are run by Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure, and we recruit volunteers in Wanstead and South Woodford libraries to assist the public with all kinds of activities: from individual computer help, such as assistance with filling in online forms, to volunteering to deliver books as part of our Home Library Service for housebound readers, and volunteers enjoy being part of our children’s programme of activities,...

Following concerns over traffic, parking and child safety issues at Churchfields Junior School, Councillor Rosa Gomez (Churchfields, Labour) explains why she would like more children to arrive on foot Many parents have contacted me to say how concerned they are about child safety outside Churchfields Junior School. The road itself is very busy with lots of traffic. Unfortunately,  some parents are adding to these risks by driving up to the school gates and parking dangerously as they drop off children. In response, I organised a morning visit outside the school with Head Teacher Julie Anderson and colleagues from Redbridge Council’s Highways Department so we could see exactly what the situation is like and discuss solutions. I also spoke to parents so I could better understand their concerns....

Elaine Atkins and Louise Burgess were among the volunteers who helped give South Woodford a spring clean in March, removing 30-plus bags of litter from our streets #GBSpringClean invited volunteers to spruce up their local communities up and down the country between 22 March and 23 April, and during the first week, nine community groups and five schools organised litter picks in partnership with the Neighbourhood Team across Redbridge. We were delighted to see so many people turn up for our South Woodford event. You never know who’s going to be there, and it was great to see families, our councillors and groups of friends, as well as people by themselves – we even had a picker in a pushchair! Everyone was speaking to each other within minutes and it...

London Hearts is a charity placing defibrillators in communities across the country. Kimberley Lloyd encourages South Woodford businesses and venues to apply for a life-saving device of their own The biggest killer in the UK is not smoking, alcohol abuse or even road traffic accidents; it’s cardiac arrest, an electrical malfunction of the heart that results in over 100,000 deaths each year. When a cardiac arrest occurs, time is of the essence. The patient needs to be stabilised and kept alive until the ambulance arrives.  Unfortunately, the stats are not in the patient’s favour, as for each minute lost after arrest there is a 10% loss of life expectancy, and as the average UK ambulance arrival time is eight to 10 minutes – well, you...

Redbridge Council has unveiled plans to bring waste collections back in-house by ending its contract with Amey and creating a new council-owned company to manage the service. “This is a huge win for the borough as it ends our reliance on a private company,” said the council leader....

Two South Woodford residents will be making final touches to their gardens in May and June as they prepare to open their gates to the public for the charitable National Garden Scheme (NGS). Helen Auty of 46 Cheyne Avenue will be taking part in the initiative for the seventh time when she welcomes visitors to her fruit and vegetable garden on 7 July (12 noon to 5pm; entry: £4). While Laura Piercy-Farley of 25 Mulberry Way will open her Italian patio-style garden for the first time on 14 July (1pm to 5pm; entry: £3). Helen and Laura are among 3,500 gardeners in England and Wales taking part in the scheme. “Thanks to the generosity of owners, volunteers and visitors, we have donated a total of...

Changes to parking regulations at Sainsbury’s in South Woodford will come into force on 7 May. The new rules will require shoppers who use one of the 298 car parking spaces to spend at least £5 in store in order to receive a parking voucher. Drivers will then be required to scan the voucher at a kiosk in the foyer and to enter their vehicle registration number to authorise two hours of free parking. Shoppers spending less than £5 at the George Lane supermarket will be allowed to park for up to 15 minutes without the need to validate their parking. “We are doing this to enable the genuine customers of South Woodford Sainsbury’s to be able to shop and park where they want, when...

South Woodford Library will be taking part in the nationwide 30th birthday celebrations for Elmer the Patchwork Elephant this May. “For 30 years Elmer has stood for accepting who you are and celebrating difference. We are all different… The differences are what make the world so rich. It’s strange, because we humans seem to like difference in other things, in dogs and trees and flowers, but we don’t accept it in people. If people aren’t like us, we don’t accept them. Elmer tried to be like the other elephants, but in the end, he has to be himself,” said author and artist David McKee, who first published Elmer in 1989 and went on to write 39 follow-up titles. Over 8m copies have been sold worldwide....