December 2021

Co-op’s Local Community Fund donated £4,841 to Wanstead Parish last month.

Snaresbrook Primary School received £3,900, while the South Woodford Society was awarded £4,134. “The Corner House Project, the 19th Epping Forest South Scout Group and the South Woodford Society have since been selected for the next round of funding. All Co-op members can support these causes by using their blue membership card every time they shop; 1p of every £1 spent in store goes towards these initiatives,” said a spokesperson.

Residents are calling for a public meeting to discuss the commercial use of Christchurch Green.

“Having spoken with local councillors about the Christmas tree market, it appears the intention was to increase footfall on the High Street to benefit all local shops rather than to harm them. However, lessons need to be learnt and a marker put down as to how we as residents expect Vision to approach using the Green in the future. We will look to call a residents’ meeting with councillors and Vision in the New Year,” said Colin Cronin.

The Wanstead Community Gardeners have started work on another patch of neglected space.

“We have taken over a long, thin strip in Snaresbrook Station car park, which was offered to us by the area manager of NCP. It’s the strangest patch ever, being a trench. We are getting rid of decades worth of rubbish so that we can seed, plant bulbs and put in plants. The soil is very good, and by next year we hope to have lots of tall flowers in bloom. It should be a delight to commuters and, of course, insects,” said Marian Temple.

Cattle grazing in Wanstead Park has continued longer than expected this year.

“As the weather conditions have remained so favourable, the grass has kept growing and the ground has stayed dry underfoot. This means we have been able to keep the cattle on site for longer than we anticipated. They are still doing a great job, and we will leave them to get on with it… If the conditions remain right, they will stay out until December,” said a City of London spokesperson last month.

William Hogarth’s 18th-century painting The Assembly at Wanstead House will be the subject of the Wanstead Historical Society’s December meeting.

“In April 1728, Sir Richard Child wanted to celebrate his 25th wedding anniversary. Nothing too grandiose, he chose a tea and card party held in the ballroom of his sumptuous palace, Wanstead House, and commissioned an up-and-coming artist to record the event,” said Jef Page, whose talk will take place at Wanstead Library on 6 December from 8pm (visitors: £3).

Call 07949 026 212