September 2020

Marian Temple offers her thanks to the diverse range of local businesses which have all supported the work of the Wanstead Community Gardeners – from watering to welding

Wanstead Community Gardeners is a community group open to all people of any skill level who are interested in transforming Wanstead’s neglected public spaces.

We’re a good mix of Wanstead people – families with children, retired people and nine-to-five workers – and we all play our part in creating little patchwork gardens in each neglected space. Some of us are gardeners, some have the oomph to get rid of unwelcome sycamores, shift heavy sacks, fix up a trellis and all the extra stuff needed when creating living gardens, while some know little but want to be involved. But in addition to this, there are our backroom boys and girls in the form of local businesses that help us do the work we do.

Time, I think, to hand out some gongs for all those businesses who help us to function, create and maintain our patches.

Our thanks to Maz at Heads ‘n Tails, the pet shop, and to Daisy at the flower shop for giving us their walking wounded. They get planted around Wanstead and dance. Maz is ever helpful lending us his drill and countless other kindnesses.

Watering is a huge problem in these times of heatwavery. We try to plant in a way to minimise watering, but help from Little Bears Nursery, who keep our water butt filled at Wanstead Station, gives us the valuable water we need for the George Green fountain beds and those around the station. Kindred Nursery  provides water for the new, thriving Belgique bed the other side of George Green.

This year, we have adopted two trees in the High Street, the ones planted in metal grids near Zoology, and decided to see if we could grow sweet peas and morning glories up the trunks. One tree was planted only this winter. New trees are so vulnerable in their first year before roots are spread and easily die from lack of water. Our thanks to the nearby Purbani restaurant for letting us use their tap. The newly planted tree looks very sad. Maybe we have lost it already, but the morning glories are rampaging up the trunk, showing off their piercing blue trumpets.

The McCartney garage in Grosvenor Road has been enormously useful in all things metal, straightening the bent tines of garden forks, cutting through the thick metal grids needed for climbers and much more difficult stuff.  Without all this backup, the task of keeping Wanstead blooming would be much harder.

Our thanks to them all.

For more information on the work of the Wanstead Community Gardeners and to get involved, email wanstead.community.gardeners@gmail.com

When Wanstead residents get fed up with something unsightly in their neighbourhood, they do something about it. It’s the power of fed-uppery, as Marian Temple knows only too well. Photo by Geoff Wilkinson

The only reason Wanstead has its cottage garden at the Corner House is that someone got fed up. That someone was me in April 2003. Just once too often, I walked past the patch of waist-high weeds and takeaway rubbish bin the garden had become. Something had to be done. It was. Just me and my mates at first, with the agreement of the council and backup of the Wanstead Society. A garden emerged that has been Wanstead’s iconic High Street cottage garden for the past 17 years.

In 2017, Daniel Slipper got fed up with the litter strewn over Wanstead’s greens and open spaces. He did something about it. The monthly litter picks were born and are now continued by our local councillors. What a difference that has made! How much better it would be if the strewing didn’t happen in the first place, but that’s another story.

In April this year, in the middle of a heatwave that has been waving for most of this summer, Peta Jarmey, one of our community gardeners, got fed up with walking past a derelict patch of weeds and rubbish that could have been a delightful flower bed. Déjà vu? Certainly.

The patch in question is the one pictured here – a long bed, 20 metres or so, that runs along the footpath connecting Cambridge Park with the roads that were cut off when the new road was put into a tunnel under George Green. It’s the Belgique end of the green and is backed by a rather handsome wall beneath which the traffic plunges into the tunnel.

Transport for London built the road, the tunnel, the wall and the flower bed. They forgot to do anything with the flower bed, and for the past 20-odd years, footpath users have walked past a strip of weeds and rubbish. Enter thoroughly fed-up Wanstead Community Gardener Peta, who walked past this dismal patch just once too often. The power of fed-uppery kicked in.

A hot April is not an ideal time to create a new flower bed, especially where there is no source of water. However, you can’t keep a good gardener down. Litter and weeds out, soil dug over, easy-going plants put in from Peta’s own garden, the Corner House garden and those of various locals who left their donations on the patch. Against all the odds, the new plants thrived, watered by a pocket army of well-wishers who brought water in plastic bottles  at the end of each hot day. They wanted this patch of flowers to do well… and it did.

It doesn’t take very long to create a garden. In less than three months, the Belgique bed was up and running. Thanks to the nearby Kindred Nursery we now have a source of water. Good-tempered plants are flowering and golden hop scrambling up the wall. There are a few empty spaces. They will be filled. Welcome to Wanstead’s latest perennial border.

Let’s drink a toast to the power of fed-uppery.

Vintage trader Karen Stuckey took over the running of Wanstead Vintage fairs earlier this year. Although her first event in May was a victim of lockdown, the new Wanstead Vintage era starts now

Hasn’t lockdown been so difficult for everyone? What would have been my first Wanstead Vintage event in May, after taking over the fairs at the beginning of the year, had to be cancelled due to the current pandemic. However, I am delighted to say we will finally be open for business again this month. It is a really exciting year for us as it is our 10th anniversary as well. 

I first became interested in vintage over 10 years ago. I had just come out of the City after working as a training manager for JP Morgan for 15 years. I wanted a change of career, away from the corporate world. Whilst walking around Loughton, I came across Boningtons, the auctioneers. I went to their next viewing and auction and found it really exciting, so the following day I took my CV into their offices.  My timing was perfect and I started as office manager the following week!

I worked at Boningtons for five years and learnt so much. I will always remember doing the internet bidding on one particular lot which achieved just shy of £30,000! It was so exciting, the room erupted with applause when the hammer went down.

Working in an auction house really piqued my interest in vintage items and I started buying and selling myself. Of course, I got to the stage where I was running out of room at home as I was buying far more than I was selling, so I decided to attend vintage fairs. I now also have a space where I sell at Crews Hill Vintage Emporium in Enfield. This is rather nice because it gives me a base and has meant I have met more fellow traders.

It is now more important than ever to repair, reuse and recycle. The damage we have already inflicted on the planet is obvious to see and we can’t wait any longer to address it. Buying pre-loved is the way forward. It has all the excitement of a new purchase with the added bonus of helping the planet and knowing you’re recycling.

I was delighted to take over Wanstead Vintage this year – it was the perfect fit for me. I knew a number of the regular stallholders and my best asset is organising. We are really fortunate to hold these fairs in Wanstead United Reformed Church, a beautiful Grade II listed, recently refurbished building, which is incredibly light and airy with the sun streaming through the huge colourful stained glass windows. The church has two halls, which we fill with an array of stallholders, some of whom have been with us since 2010. They will be selling, as they always do, a huge variety of genuine vintage items: homewares, jewellery, handbags, posters, textiles, vinyl and books to name a few – everything you need for your home and wardrobe.

The manager of the Wanstead branch of Nationwide is holding a raffle to support the charity work of local resident Frank Charles.

Supported by the Mayor of Redbridge, the money raised will be shared between Frank’s Feed The Streetz initiative – which delivers food and hygiene bags to the homeless – and the Walthamstow Christian Kitchen. Raffle tickets (£2 each) are available from the High Street building society until 14 September, with a luxury hamper as the prize.

A range of books are also on sale for £1 each.

The temporary mortuary erected on Wanstead Flats at the height of the coronavirus pandemic has been removed and will become a new wild flower habitat.

“While coronavirus is likely to be with us for a long time and we mustn’t be complacent, the removal of the mortuary is a welcome sign of normal life beginning to return to our open spaces… The site will be sown in autumn and again next spring with a wild flower seed mix, including seeds collected from nearby areas of the forest,” said a City of London spokesperson.

With low water levels in Wanstead Park’s Ornamental Water, the resident swan family are in need of help.

“With less water, the swans are restricted in their ability to access the wider lake, and therefore food. We are asking people to take a detour to the lake to feed them. The cygnets will need energy to learn to fly. Seeded brown bread, spinach, kale and lettuce are all welcome. Thank you to all those who have already been supporting them,” said Tracey Adebowale-Jones, who is part of a volunteer network monitoring local swans.

After several weeks without rain and with temperatures reaching 35ºC last month, Wanstead Flats suffered a series of infernos.

“On 10 August, a large blaze burned about one hectare of tinderbox-dry grassland by Centre Road car park. Two days later, a series of fires swept through a swathe of bushes and grass between the Golden Fleece and Alexandra Lake. The London Fire Brigade deserves thanks for a speedy and efficient response… Arson is suspected for at least one of the blazes,” said Tim Harris of the Wren Wildlife Group.

Despite the Wanstead Fringe being cancelled this year, the popular Wanstead Kinema will return on 11 September.

“Every year, the Kinema is the most atmospheric event in the Wanstead calendar. We’re showing Dr Seuss’ The Lorax, which, I think, is a modern classic. It has a powerfully inspiring message for young and old about the difference everyone can make,” said organiser Giles Wilson. The screening will take place at Wanstead Cricket Club on Overton Drive from 6.30pm (adults: £7.50; children: £3.50).

Visit wnstd.com/lorax

Healthwatch Redbridge is seeking feedback from local residents about their experiences of NHS health and social care services during the pandemic.

“We are in regular contact with hospitals and adult social care services across Redbridge, receiving updates on how they are working during this time and what systems and changes they are making to services. We will use the responses to ensure local concerns are identified early and passed on to the appropriate services. Let your voice be heard,” said a spokesperson.

Visit wnstd.com/hr

A petition is urging Redbridge Council to better help small businesses comply with social distancing rules.

It follows a fine issued to a local hairdresser for placing chairs outside his shop.

“Wanstead Hairdressers put three chairs outside when it opened after lockdown so elderly customers had somewhere to sit. The council fined them £100 without warning. They’re not the only shop this has happened to,” said Natalie Michaelides, whose petition received over 150 signatures in 24 hours.

Visit wnstd.com/chairs

Wanstead’s annual art trail will not take place this month, but organisers are keen to hear from residents who would like to help stage next year’s event.

“Art Trail Wanstead usually takes place in September, but coronavirus made it unsafe to run this year. We would have staged some interesting activities and shows, but those plans have been put on hold,” said trail founder Donna Mizzi. In the absence of the trail, the Wanstead Village Directory is pleased to present two local artists in this issue (pages 52 and 62).

Visit wnstd.com/art

Kareem Cole from local solicitors Wiseman Lee takes a look at the importance of Lasting Powers of Attorney and planning for life in lockdown, especially for those who are more vulnerable

The unpredictability of the coronavirus pandemic has prompted many people to ensure their wills are up to date should they suddenly become unwell. But who would you want to help manage your finances or make decisions about your personal health or affairs if you were forced back into lockdown or lost capacity?

Most likely, you would want your family or friends to make these decisions for you. A fully registered Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) will allow the people of your choice to assist you should you become unable to leave the house or manage by yourself.

There is no automatic right for your next of kin to act on your behalf.

There are two types of LPA. One covers your property and financial matters (use this LPA to give an attorney the power to make decisions about selling your home, collecting benefits or a pension and paying bills, for example), whilst the other covers your health and welfare decisions (use this LPA to give an attorney the power to make decisions about your daily routine, medical care, moving into a care home and life-sustaining treatment, for example). You can choose to make one type or both.

Life during lockdown has been very difficult for many, especially those who are more vulnerable or are shielding. Issues people are facing include not being able to go to the shops, the bank, or have family members visit who would usually help.

Having an LPA in place means your attorneys can assist as necessary whilst you have capacity and then fully manage your finances should you lose capacity. They can also arrange medical appointments for you, put in place extra care, assist with paying bills and access cash for general household expenses.

With the possibility of more restrictions being placed on our lives in the future, Lasting Powers of Attorney could prove very useful. Whereas a will is effective from the day it is signed, an LPA is only effective after it has been successfully registered. The registration process can take up to four months.

If you do not have an LPA, your next of kin would need to apply to the Court of Protection to become your Deputy. This is a costly process that can take up to nine months to be resolved.

The importance of ensuring you are properly safeguarded if you were to suddenly lose capacity cannot be underestimated.