The Great British Spring Clean 2020 runs from 20 March to 13 April, and the South Woodford Society will be taking part in the initiative. “We ran our first litter pick of the year on a Sunday in February. Unfortunately, the eight hardy souls who turned out were rather hindered by Storm Ciara! We collected eight bags of rubbish and some recycling before we were beaten by the weather,” said a spokesperson. Last year, more than 560,000 #LitterHeroes from across the nation took part in the Great British Spring Clean. “We will be planning another litter pick very soon, so make sure you are on our mailing list and check our social media for details. Together, we can make a difference. All our individual actions...

Members of the Wanstead, Woodford and Barkingside Marie Curie Fundraising Group have reached their £100,000 target. Jill Playford thanks local supporters and explains how the money will be used A celebration was held in February to thank all supporters and collectors who helped us to raise the fantastic amount of £100,000 over the last few years, paying for 5,000 Marie Curie nursing hours. We get wonderful support from our local communities with local businesses donating raffle prizes, Wanstead High School donating the proceeds from their annual charity cross country run, Wanstead House holding cake and coffee mornings to raise money and students from Forest School helping out at our Great Daffodil Appeal collections. The group was formed in June 2013 with four members who had all...

Rising at Molehill Green in Essex, the River Roding passes through the Wanstead and Woodford area en route to the Thames, bringing with it a very real flood risk to local homes. In the eighth of a series of articles, Nina Garner from the Environment Agency reports on the River Roding Project, which aims to reduce that risk. Photo by Geoff Wilkinson On Saturday 21 December 2019, the Environment Agency issued flood alerts and warnings along the River Roding due to heavy rainfall. These informed local residents of a risk of flooding and covered areas including Woodford, Ilford, Barking, Loughton and East Ham. Although no properties were flooded in 2019, the river peaked at 7am on 21 December, reaching 1.83m. This river level reached was the...

Ultrasound Choir has donated £1,369 to Breast Cancer Now, the UK’s largest breast cancer charity. The money was raised at the choir’s two Christmas cabaret shows last December. “We held a raffle on each night and are very grateful to local businesses for their generous donations that made the night such a success,” said a spokesperson. Breast Cancer Now local representative Denise Dorking visited the choir at Derby Road Methodist Church – where the singers meet every Tuesday at 7.30pm – to formally receive the donation. “Our Christmas cabaret shows were amazing evenings… We are now organising a vintage afternoon tea at All Saints’ Church on 30 May, and again we will be donating the proceeds to Breast Cancer Now,” said choir leader Lisa Tsindides....

Historian and author Diane Atkinson – whose latest book has become the definitive history of the suffragettes – will be discussing some ‘remarkable lives’ at Wanstead Library this March I’m really looking forward to coming to Wanstead Library to talk about my latest book, Rise Up Women! The Remarkable Lives of the Suffragettes. It is a collective biography of 200 women – there were thousands more – who worked so hard and sacrificed so much for women’s suffrage. Women from all social class backgrounds, all ages, all parts of the United Kingdom and all life experiences ‘came out’ as suffragettes, many of them leaving their previous lives behind forever. For many years, the suffragettes were written out of the story of women getting the vote,...

The Zoological Society of London is on the lookout for citizen scientists to help prevent river pollution, with a training event in Woodford Green this March. Conservation biologist Phoebe Shaw Stewart reports Throughout March, intrepid urban explorers will be making their way along the banks of the River Roding in search of some unusual sightings. Local citizen scientists will be trained to search, not for lions or elephants, but for the telltale signs of polluting outfalls as part of conservation charity Zoological Society of London’s (ZSL) Outfall Safari programme. Despite the fact this doesn’t sound quite as exciting as searching for the African big five, heterogenous slime (sewage fungus), food waste, sanitary ‘rag’ or discolouration of water and foam are the slightly less glamorous ‘big...

From Hermon Hill to the High Road, Terry Townsend outlines where he likes to spend his money and why, in the first of a series of articles offering a resident’s view of shopping in South Woodford. Photography by Geoff Wilkinson There’s a lot that gives South Woodford its unique identity. Its people are diverse, community-minded and proud. There are good schools and always lots of kids around. Indeed, South Woodford is one of five recognised district town centres in Redbridge, alongside Wanstead High Street. One of our special features is the range of shopping and services available. All within walking distance. You can get your car repaired, drop off your dry cleaning, visit the post office and builders’ merchant and, of course, you can get...

Registration is now open for the Haven House Children’s Hospice Sparkle Walk 2020. The 10km route – which will start on Christchurch Green, Wanstead on 15 May at 7pm (entry fee: £16) – will encompass Epping Forest and South Woodford, with a halfway Sparkle Station at the Woodford Green hospice’s grounds. The charity walk will finish back in Wanstead at The Cuckfield pub. “In 2019, 300 local supporters turned the streets pink, and over £35,000 was raised towards our vital hospice care. We’re back for 2020 and bigger than ever before. Whether you want to remember someone special, have a great night out with friends, or get fit for your local children’s hospice, everyone is welcome to walk and #sparkleforhavenhouse,” said a spokesperson. Visit swvg.co.uk/sparkle20...

In celebration of International Women’s Day on 8 March, Redbridge Libraries will be working with local homeless organisations to supply their service users with some much-needed support. From 2 to 7 March, South Woodford Library will join the rest of the borough in becoming a donation point for items needed by the homeless community. Residents are encouraged to ‘fill a bag with kindness’ and bring in toothpaste, shower gel, soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, sanitary towels or tampons. Additional items such as tissues, plasters, lip balm, hairbrushes, nail clippers and socks are also welcome. “Bring your unwanted women’s jacket or coat in any size and it will be donated to the homeless,” added a library spokesperson. Visit swvg.co.uk/kindnessbag...

Woodford Town FC is keen to hear from more local people who would like to be involved with the club as they prepare to move from their current ground share with Harlow FC to Ashton Playing Fields in Woodford Bridge. At the forefront of creating a positive image behind the proposed move is their self-styled fan base known as The Cultras. “It’s not just singing and drumming that makes The Cultras stand out. They have a community ethos and proudly promote their local heritage… They have already designed and produced two kits inspired by local heroine Sylvia Pankhurst,” said a spokesperson. Following Redbridge Council’s approval of a £1.6m revamp of the club’s proposed new home, chairman Tony Scott has described a recent meeting with the...

The South Woodford Society’s AGM – to be held on 25 March at the Salvation Army hall on Daisy Road, South Woodford from 7pm – will have an environmental theme. “We will be discussing the next steps to be taken regarding the Neighbourhood Plan and also ways we can help the environment and tackle the climate challenges that are becoming more and more prevalent. Please make sure you are a member of the Society (by sending an email) if you want to be involved in any of our initiatives and if you have any questions you would like to put forward to our local councillors,” said a Society spokesperson. The South Woodford Society was founded in 2015 to ‘protect the local character of the neighbourhood...

There is still time to apply to compete in this year’s Redbridge’s Got Talent, which is being held to raise funds for the Redbridge Mayor’s Charity Appeal. “All ages and talents are welcome to apply. The show will be held at the Sir James Hawkey Hall in Woodford Green on 26 April from 5pm. All proceeds from the show will go to two brilliant local charities, Healthy Living Projects– which works with homeless people to get their lives back on track – and Imagine Independence – which works with people with mental health issues,” said a spokesperson for the event. There is no charge to enter the competition and the overall winner will receive a £500 prize. Call 07712 516 424 or email redbridgesgottalent@gmail.com by...