July 2021

News

Eton Manor RFC seeks community support to raise £18,000 for new stand

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Eton Manor RFC has launched a campaign to raise funds for the purchase and installation of a new 100-seater stand, which will include two pitch-side disabled bays.

The project is estimated to cost £28,000, with club funds and the naming rights accounting for £10,000. It is hoped the remaining money will be raised from community donations.

“We know it is a huge ask to contribute to this project. We believe the stand demonstrates we are looking to our future, putting in place an infrastructure that will allow us to grow: a rugby club where our ethos of inclusion and giving back to our community is abundant,” said club chairman Dave Dennis.

The stand – which uses a modular system to allow for an increase in capacity in the future – will open the door for the Nutter Lane venue to stage high-value fixtures.

Visit wnstd.com/emstand   

News

Fully-booked virtual tour of long-lost Wanstead House to be repeated

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A presentation about Wanstead Park’s lost Georgian treasure, Wanstead House, is to be repeated later this year (date to be confirmed) following a fully-booked event at St Mary’s Church last month.

“I took the audience on a virtual tour of the state apartments of Wanstead House and recreated the experience of walking through its grounds, before examining the events that led to its demise,” said Dr Hannah Armstrong, who will also be interviewed at a Wanstead Fringe event next month.

News

Wanstead Climate Action conducts plastic survey at local coffee shops

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As part of the Plastic Free July campaign, Wanstead Climate Action carried out a survey of nine coffee shops on or near the High Street to rate their efforts in reducing plastic waste.

“Responses ranged from ‘couldn’t care’ to ‘you won’t find plastic here’. La Bakerie, Bare Brew and City Place Coffee came out on top, offering discounts if you bring your own cup. Some shops have plans to source glass bottled drinks, and City Place even grow their own micro herbs,” said a spokesperson.

Visit wansteadclimateaction.com

News

Green Urban Landscape policy

6F2E0E62-14F9-44C0-A865-635660DFED07©Geoff Wilkinson

A Green Urban Landscape policy has been adopted by Redbridge Council following a public consultation.

“The new plan puts biodiversity and equitable distribution of greenery at the heart of how we will manage and improve our green spaces,” said a spokesperson.

The policy sets out three-year targets, including 2,000 new highway trees, 2,500 tree pits adopted and 25% of highway verges to be Grow Zones managed for biodiversity.

Features

Summer of Kindness

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Elsa Arnold, founder of the Spreading Kindness Through E11 initiative, talks about her summer projects in aid of charity and invites local children to spread joy in the community over the holidays

This summer, I am organising three key projects, each of which will help raise much-needed funds for Haven House Children’s Hospice, which looks after children and young people from birth who have life-limiting or life-threatening conditions.

First up, I have launched a new Spreading Kindness Summer Challenge 2021. This is aimed at four- to 13-year-olds who would like to get involved with spreading some joy, positivity and kindness through our community over the summer holidays by completing six tasks over six weeks. It’s a chance for kids to get creative, help support the local community, get their voices heard and have some of their work showcased in our community kids’ magazine at the end, which will celebrate some of the wonderful tasks completed by the children over the holidays.

We will provide lots of tips and resources along the way to help the young participants complete each task and enjoy taking part. It’s definitely something not to miss! And as a thank you and congratulations for joining in, everyone who gets involved will receive a bag full of treats and surprises, as well as an awesome medal and a certificate.

To take part, we are asking for a minimum £6 donation towards the Haven House fundraiser. Please make sure you only use the links we provide to donate so your contribution can be tracked.

I really hope to see as many children taking part as possible. We are also very grateful to Martin & Co for sponsoring this new project.

Secondly, I am very excited to be able to bring back my Year 6 to Year 7 transition workshops for 2021. These sessions are returning for their fifth year and I’ve got a few more options this time, which include: online (via Zoom) mixed workshops, online workshops with a group of friends and garden workshops with friends. Spaces are filling up fast, so do get in touch if you would like to take part.

The workshops are free, but voluntary contributions to the Haven House fundraiser would be gratefully received.

And last but not least, I am also taking on a three-day trek of Mont Blanc for the wonderful hospice, which will see us walk through France, Italy and Switzerland at the beginning of September. I am so excited about this and to be able to do it for such a fantastic charity, which I know is hugely admired throughout the community.

I’ve got lots going on this summer and can’t wait to see lots of you involved!


To sign up for the summer challenge, visit wnstd.com/summerkind. To contact Elsa, email elsamkarnold@gmail.com

News

Egret vs heron: Wanstead’s iconic bird succumbs to new symbol on hub

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The recent installation of the High Street mobility hub and parklet has received mixed reactions: praised for additional seating but derided for being too close to passing traffic.

The hub’s decoration has also been seen as a sign of the times: “The Wanstead crest’s iconic grey heron has been ousted by an egret, now common on the Roding,” said a Wanstead Climate Action spokesperson.

The Wanstead Village Hub – which includes cycle parking – is designed to encourage sustainable travel, with an electric vehicle charging bay nearby.

News

Aldersbrook Riding School student now part of Team GB in Tokyo

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Wanstead resident Francesca Gorni is taking part in the Tokyo Olympic Games as a travelling groom for the horse Toledo de Kerser and Team GB eventing competitor Tom McEwen.

“Toledo is a real character but is also quite sensitive. He likes a relationship with his groom and likes to know you are there… I watched him as a young horse before I worked for Tom, so to have the honour of taking him to the Olympics is so exciting,” said 25-year-old Francesca, who also rode at Aldersbrook Riding School.

News

Local Forum for Wanstead Village and Wanstead Park residents

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Redbridge Council’s Local Forum for residents in the west of the borough will take place this evening (28 July, from 7pm).

“Residents who live or work in Monkhams, Bridge, Churchfields, South Woodford, Wanstead Village and Wanstead Park areas are invited to discuss any issues or concerns they may have,” said a spokesperson.

The Ashton playing fields, Wanstead’s swimming pool, wheelie bins and tackling crime are some of the topics which will be discussed during the online event.

Leader of the council, Councillor Jas Athwal, will open the event with a presentation on what’s happening locally, and will also take questions from the audience.

To join the event, click here.

News

Community scientists needed to help monitor the River Roding

Roding_June2021_A.MacLaughlin©Anna MacLaughlin

Training sessions will take place next month for those interested in helping to monitor the health of the River Roding.

“We are excited to officially incorporate the River Roding into the London Riverfly Monitoring Initiative. This national scheme uses monthly surveys of key invertebrate species as indicators of the ecological health of the river, gathering long-term data, detecting pollution and ultimately protecting the river and its wildlife,” said a spokesperson for Vision RCL’s Nature Conservation Team.

Full training is provided in two parts: online theory and practical work. The online theory session on Thursday 5 or Thursday 12 August is mandatory before the practical training takes place at the James Leal Centre on 14 August. Over-16s only.

News

New application submitted for café kiosk on Christchurch Green

Acr278492177427841704557Visualisation of the café kiosk on Christchurch Green

Vision RCL has submitted a new application to build a café kiosk on Christchurch Green.

If approved, the application states construction will begin in September, to be completed by November.

With plans to serve food and hot and cold drinks from 9am to 10pm seven days a week, the new venue will also consider offering alcohol at certain events and potentially on a regular basis in the future, subject to a successful licensing application.

Responses are open until 28 July and a decision is expected by the end of August.

Visit wnstd.com/kioskapplication

News

New crime commission

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Redbridge Council has launched a Community Crime Commission to focus on local crime concerns.

Chaired by Dr Javed Khan OBE, chief executive of Barnardo’s, the commission will hear evidence from residents about the impact of crime in the borough and present a set of recommendations to the council later this year.

The 16-strong commission includes residents and experts in policing, education and youth work.

Visit wnstd.com/ccc