The South Woodford Society held an autumn litter pick earlier this month. “Over 20 litter pickers braved the rather inclement weather for a morning of clearing away litter with pickers, hoops and gloves all provided by Redbridge Council and the charity CleanupUK. Along with some junior litter pickers and two canine helpers, we managed to collect the usual selection of cans, plastic bottles and crisp packets,” said a spokesperson. “The South Woodford Society has decided to take action with the issue of plastic pollution, so please always take your litter home and use refillable water bottles! If you’re not already a member and would like to come along on our next litter pick, or if you have any ideas for a creating a plastic-free South...

The South Woodford Society will be hosting another community litter pick this weekend. Participants should meet at the front of South Woodford Library at 10am on 13 October. Equipment will be supplied, but those who can bring their own gloves are encouraged to do so. "Please come for some exercise, chat and a cleaner South Woodford! Remember, any length of time you can give can help enormously," said a spokesperson. To confirm attendance, email e18society@gmail.com...

Wanstead Village ward councillors Jo Blackman, Daniel Morgan-Thomas and Paul Donovan discuss crime and the work they do to keep crime rates low, and urge residents to engage with local police. Rates of reported crime are relatively low in Wanstead Village. Social media can exaggerate the risk of crime as we can hear more quickly about incidents that we wouldn’t otherwise be aware of. But every crime committed is one too many, and as Wanstead Village councillors, we are doing all we can to make our ward even safer. Central government cuts have had a drastic impact on policing levels as well as the level of support provided to vulnerable people and young people. We have campaigned for more resources for our local police and were pleased...

Local historian Lynn Haseldine Jones will lead a walk around Snaresbrook this month looking at the evidence for commuters. “We begin at Snaresbrook Station, where the railway first came in 1856, changing the nature of the village from a predominantly Georgian settlement to a bustling Victorian suburb. There is still evidence of the Great Eastern Railway, hardly noticed by passengers on the busy Central Line,” said Lynn. The free 90-minute walk departs at 2pm on 9 October (booking required). Visit wnstd.com/snaresw...

Redbridge Council will be giving away spring-flowering bulbs to the community this month, encouraging everyone to plant them as part of the Big Bulb Planting Weekend (18 to 20 October). This is part of a borough-wide movement to bring everybody together to beautify our streets… Bulbs can be planted in spaces that benefit the community,” said a spokesperson. The bulbs – which include daffodils, tulips and crocuses – must be requested by 10 October and can be collected from Wanstead Library. Visit wnstd.com/blbs...

Local families are invited to explore Wanstead Park next month by taking part in an orienteering event. “Using a map, go exploring and try to navigate your way around all the markers. The whole family can get involved and get active in this fun activity that exercises mind and body,” said a spokesperson for the Field Studies Council. The two-hour activity – which is suitable for children aged seven and over – will take place on 5 October from 10am and 1pm (children: £5; adults: free; booking required). Visit wnstd.com/fsc...

Redbridge Council has doubled the amount of time drivers can park for free on the borough’s high streets from 30 minutes to one hour. “This will be a real boost for our high streets and help revitalise the local economy whilst making sure there is still a good level of turnover in parking bays – giving as many people as possible the opportunity to use parking spaces to pop to the shops,” said Councillor Jas Athwal. Motorists can activate the free on-street parking via the Ringo app or at an upgraded pay and display machine....

Redbridge Council has installed a hi-tech Bigbelly bin on Snaresbrook Road as part of work undertaken with residents and the City of London to clear up Eagle Pond. “It’s a smart bin that can accommodate more rubbish, lets the council know when it’s full, requires emptying less often and reduces the risk of litter blowing out and into the pond,” said Councillor Jo Blackman. Big Belly bins hold roughly eight times more rubbish than a regular bin and compact waste automatically throughout the day....

The Friends of Wanstead Parklands – which has been campaigning for the regeneration of ‘east London’s hidden gem’ for the past decade – is seeking to recruit new members to support their work. “Our committee needs new blood. If you value the park and would like to contribute, why not come along to one of our meetings to get some idea of what might be involved? The editor of our popular members’ newsletter has stepped down so we are looking for a someone to take over this role… Someone with experience of website management would also be welcome,” said a spokesperson. The group – which normally meets on the second Wednesday of the month from 7.30pm at Wanstead Golf Club – is involved in shaping...

Tim Armitage – who didn’t go to art school – finds inspiration for his paintings in the natural world. He is one of many local creatives to join the recently founded Woodford Arts Group I grew up by the sea, so my childhood revolved a great deal around the beach, fishing off the pier, swimming and surfing, and I suppose that’s informed what I mostly find myself painting – marine life. These days, I work outdoors as a Forest School Leader, and this has started to inform my art with more work involving trees and plants, but I would say that in all ways my work is concerned with the natural world rather than the man-made one. I work in acrylics but would one day like to...

As the children head back to school, Katie Biggs – a local homeopath with a 15-year conventional medical background – explains how alternative medicine can help anxious pupils The most recent surveys of child and adolescent mental health have shown that in an average school classroom of 30 youngsters, three will have a mental health condition. Over the last decade there has been an increase in testing pupils due to governmental shifts in educational attainment targets. Social media has also become a part of many teenagers’ lives. Both these factors add stresses and anxieties, and the pressures on our young ones are ever increasing. It’s an unfortunate truth that the school environment can present triggers for many such difficulties. We know that long waiting times and...

As Woodford Town FC prepare to return to the local area, assistant manager Neil Day explains the club’s strong community ethos and introduces a team that counts football legend Jimmy Greaves among its former players Woodford Town FC are set to make an emotional return to the local area after a 26-year hiatus. Council planning for a revamped stadium on Ashton Playing Fields is pending, with the Woods looking to move into their new home sometime during the 2019/20 season. The news has delighted and rejuvenated fans of the original club – founded in 1937 – which attracted a club record crowd of over 2,000 to their former Snakes Lane ground for an FA Cup first round tie with Leyton Orient in the 1985/86 season....