October 2025

Volunteers are needed to help build a series of leaky dams across Epping Forest this winter.

“Leaky dams are a natural flood management measure. Made of wood and placed horizontally across a watercourse, they mimic the natural obstruction caused by trees and branches falling into the water,” said a City of London Corporation spokesperson.

The dams are designed to reduce flood risks, protect the Forest’s carbon store and improve water quality.

Volunteer sessions will take place from November.

Visit wnstd.com/dams

From a once-forgotten patch of land to a flourishing retreat, Wanstead Place Surgery has been busy transforming its spaces inside and out. Patient Ingrid Howarth reports

Back in January, I shared the story of Doctor in the Garden, which celebrated the transformation of an unused outdoor space at Wanstead Place Surgery. That once-forgotten patch has now blossomed into a vibrant garden full of colour and calm. Today, it is much more than just a garden – it is a welcoming retreat for staff to take a breather, hold meetings and enjoy a few peaceful moments in the middle of the working day.

Other patients, too, have noticed the difference. Many have remarked on how the garden view from the entrance brings a sense of warmth and welcome before they even step inside. And when they do, they are met with more improvements. Over recent months, the surgery has undergone a full refurbishment of the waiting room. The new ceiling, floor, lighting and seating have transformed the space into a brighter, more comfortable and more relaxing environment. The feedback from patients has been overwhelmingly positive, with many commenting the changes help to make visits less stressful.

This year, further renovations are planned, with redecoration of consulting rooms and the hallway on the agenda. These updates are part of the practice’s ongoing commitment to provide the best possible care – not only in clinical services but also in the overall experience of visiting the surgery.

Wanstead Place Surgery continues to serve the community as a modern general practice, offering a wide range of services beyond the traditional GP and nurses consultation. The practice team now includes a physiotherapist, who can assess and support patients with musculoskeletal concerns; a clinical pharmacist, who specialises in medication reviews; a social prescriber, who offers guidance on benefits, loneliness and carers’ needs as well as wider social issues; and a mental health practitioner.

This expanded team means patients can access the right professional for their needs more quickly and efficiently. In addition, the wider primary care network offers evening and Saturday appointments at neighbouring surgeries in South Woodford, ensuring greater flexibility for those who find it difficult to attend during standard hours.

A key event in the practice calendar is the annual flu vaccination campaign. This year, Saturday clinics are scheduled for 11 and 18 October. Eligible patients are encouraged to book an appointment early. For those unable to attend at weekends, additional lunchtime clinics will run from October to December.

As the garden continues to flourish, so too does the surgery, growing, adapting and improving to meet the needs of the Wanstead community.

The surgery is located at 45 Wanstead Place, Wanstead, E11 2SW. For more information, call 020 8989 1968

During a long summer before university, Jay Demetriou found purpose and routine by volunteering at the Barnardo’s charity shop in Wanstead, turning quiet Wednesdays into something meaningful

I’d finished my time at Wanstead High School. I still had two months left until I went to university. I’d tried to get a job. Given my CV to 20 places. Pestered all down Wanstead and South Woodford high streets. Even had an interview. All with no response. There was no job, so there was little to fill the time.

It’s not nice ending something that you’ve done for so long. It’s not nice not having a routine. A family friend suggested volunteering. I completed an online application, Barnardo’s got back to me, and after an interview, I was now able to volunteer in the store. This was a great opportunity. Work experience with the bonus of being able to give a little back and of having a routine.

I went in one Wednesday for my first day. I say one Wednesday, as with the waiting around, my Wednesdays had Wednesdayed into each other. After my day at Barnardo’s, this one Wednesday became the sixth of August, a notable day where I learnt how to operate the till and spoke with my co-workers about going to university.

I went in next Wednesday, the Wednesday after that, and all the Wednesdays until it was time to go off to uni.

The satisfaction in a routine is a lot like the satisfaction of hanging clothes up. Taking individual experiences, putting them in order, attaching labels to them. Amongst a mess of: last day at school, weird; A Level results morning, purgatory; A Level results afternoon, pure relief. The feeling of progressing along a routine sounds like the satisfying, resonant clunks of moving across clothes hangers. The feeling of a completed routine is like the sight of a neat line of freshly organised clothes, properly ordered. And in a summer which otherwise wouldn’t have a routine, that order was a consistently good thing. Which made it the best thing.

I would definitely recommend volunteering at Barnardo’s. You’re able to pick a time which fits with your routine and do something meaningful. It’s therapeutic hanging up clothes, making the shop look nice, knowing you’re working as a team. My favourite part was working the till, feeling like I was in charge of the shop. But it’s also fun working at the back of the store, where you can chat with the other volunteers and Barnardo’s workers. As a young volunteer, it’s a great place to learn new skills, such as customer service and professionalism, particularly when summer jobs are hard to come by.

For me, it was a gateway to university, but I would say, whatever your circumstances, volunteering is a way to give Wednesdays – or any other day – meaning.

Barnardo’s charity shop is located at 70 High Street, Wanstead. For more information on volunteering with Barnardo’s, visit wnstd.com/barnardos

Residents living with osteoporosis are invited to join the Royal Osteoporosis Society’s North East London support group this month.

“It’s good to talk to other local people with the same problem; we can compare notes and discuss what is concerning us. At our next meeting, Jayne Gould, a physiotherapist, will talk to us about safe ways to exercise to keep strong and stable,” said a spokesperson.

The event will take place at Woodford Memorial Hall on 23 October from 1pm (by donation; includes refreshments).

Visit wnstd.com/ros

Organisers of the Wanstead Repair Café are seeking more volunteers who can sew to take part in this month’s event.

“Voluntary help is the lifeblood of our repair cafés. Do you have a sewing machine you could bring? Perhaps you’re a secret sewing master and can help with repairs to clothing?” said a spokesperson for Wanstead Climate Action.

The event will take place from 10.30am to 1pm on 25 October at Christ Church hall. The last event saw 72 items repaired, with 293kg of waste diverted from landfill.

Visit wnstd.com/repaircafe

The Wren Wildlife Group has completed another year of butterfly monitoring in Wanstead Park.

“Every week, from April to September, there has been a walkthrough, counting the species and numbers in multiple habitats,” said a spokesperson.

“There has been a welcome increase for many species this year, including the Gatekeeper. But a few species were missing or in low numbers, so there is still serious concern about butterfly conservation locally. Get in touch if you’d like to join the 2026 count.”

Visit wnstd.com/bf26

In the 13th of a series of articles, Revd James Gilder of Wanstead Parish reflects on the history and importance of Christ Church and reports on the major grant that will secure its future

You may remember that, last year, I wrote about the plight of Christ Church’s tower. Those of you who know your history will know that St Mary’s Church, Wanstead’s parish church, was built on land given by the ‘big house’ in 1790 when Wanstead was an estate village. Yet, by the 1860s, and with the coming of the railway, the Wanstead we know today was beginning to take shape. New terraces of houses were being built and the High Street was becoming established, and it was clear all the new people coming to live here would need a new church, which would become Christ Church.

The rector at the time, Revd Fitzgerald (who Fitzgerald Road is named after) commissioned the soon-to-be famous George Gilbert-Scott to design him a new church. Work started in the late 1850s, with the children from Wanstead Church School all being trundled out to watch the foundation stone being laid. It wasn’t until 1891 that the whole church as we know it today was completed, and it wasn’t until the 1960s that its architectural merit was recognised with a Grade II* listing. Certainly, when viewed across Christ Church Green, it presents a charming sight: an archetypal Gothic revival church in a park-like setting.

Despite the Luftwaffe’s best efforts, Christ Church survived the war (albeit minus the majority of its stained glass, which was blown out by bombs) and is well-loved to this day. It has been the backdrop to so many family occasions, whether joyful or sad. It has been the place where countless schoolchildren have sung hymns and where thousands have said their prayers, whether at services or individually. It is open every weekday, and we are always pleasantly surprised by the number of people who come in and find peace and a welcome.

That is why I am so delighted to tell you the Heritage Lottery Fund has agreed to make a very substantial grant towards ensuring Christ Church’s building remains a safe and usable place for generations to come (subject to the smooth running of our forthcoming ‘development phase’ behind-the-scenes work).

We hope now to restore the outside of the building fully, particularly the tower. We also hope to make the interior warmer and better lit, to install toilets and a small kitchen, and much more besides. All this will mean that community groups of all faiths and none will benefit from the space in future, and that one of Wanstead’s most loved landmarks will be enjoyed by many generations to come.

To all of you who helped us in the hard work involved in obtaining this grant, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

To contact Reverend James Gilder, email office@parishofwanstead.org

Much has changed in Wanstead, but its vibrancy and activism continue to shine, says Councillor Paul Donovan as he announces he will not seek re-election for Labour next May

A plaintive cry sometimes heard amongst those who have lived in Wanstead for a while is that “things ain’t what they used to be.” Having lived here for 60-plus years, I would question the claim. Yes, things have changed, often for the better, but much has stayed the same. 

A former student of Aldersbrook Primary and Wanstead High, those schools continue to excellently serve the community. A different pupil intake and the developments – including the swimming pool in the case of Wanstead High – have brought change. But the biggest physical development in Wanstead in recent times came in the 1990s with the forcing through of the M11 link road.

The High Street has changed in terms of different types of outlets. The boat shop,  Woolworths and Stockdale’s have gone. But on the whole, the High Street has managed to weather the threats posed by online deliveries, though these occur in practically every road in Wanstead these days.

The community in Wanstead has always been strong. The Community Gardeners, Wren Group, Friends of Wanstead Parklands, Wild Wanstead, Wanstead Climate Action and allotment holders, to name but a few; all make valuable contributions. There have been welcome new additions to life over recent years, like the Wanstead Fringe and Wanstead Beer Festival. All signs of a vibrant community that cares. That care also manifests itself in strong protest when people are not happy. I joined with many others to oppose the M11 link road at the time of construction. There has always been a strong voice for peace, with much activism following the 9/11 attacks in America. Then, the multi-faith group Peace and Justice in East London formed. More recently, there has been action over Gaza and Ukraine. And some local people have made their voices heard over proposed new market stalls on the High Street. It is all part of living in a vibrant community where people care.

So, yes, there has been change in Wanstead over the years, most good, some not so much. But the cry “things ain’t what they used to be” rather emanates from the human condition. Life is a conveyor belt. We all seek security and certainty. The notion of ‘stop the world, I want to get off’ is something that resonates with many of us. The reality is, from the moment we are born, everyone is on a journey to the end, no chance to get off. We all have to live life to the full and in the moment.

I have enjoyed life in Wanstead and continue to do so. As a Labour councillor for Wanstead Village over the past eight years, it has, for the most part, been a pleasure to serve. There is, though, still much to be done. I will not be standing for re-election for Labour next May. It is time to look for the next challenge on the conveyor belt of life. And Wanstead offers lots of opportunities to do just that.

Paul is a Labour councillor for Wanstead Village ward. Visit wnstd.com/councillors

The Parish of Wanstead is aiming to raise £4,700 to fund the restoration of the Wanstead War Memorial.

“Since 1922, the memorial has stood as a testament to the sacrifice of those from the local area who died fighting for their country. It now requires significant restoration. The Portland stone has become stained, many of the names of the fallen have worn away and the base is tatty,” said Rev James Gilder. The money raised will be added to the £1,100 raised by VE Day anniversary events in May.

Visit wnstd.com/wwm or call 020 8530 8743

A front garden in Wanstead was named Best Sustainable Planet-Friendly Garden in this year’s Redbridge in Bloom competition.

“I’ve entered for years with no success because gardens seemed to be judged on what was in flower at that moment. So, I was really pleased when this new category was introduced. My garden is tiny, but it’s buzzing with bees on the lavender and salvias. The plumbago, with its gorgeous blue flowers, was planted in 1988 when I came here and flowers every year,” said Susan Winch-Furness of Chaucer Road.

In the 47th of a series of articles, David Bird discusses the work of Redbridge Music Society and introduces clarinettist Matthew Scott and pianist Christine Zerafa, who will perform in Wanstead this month

An essential aim of Redbridge Music Society is to promote new generations of young musicians and, more recently, to raise public awareness and understanding of the issues facing disabled musicians. In Wanstead this month, award-winning musicians Matthew Scott and Christine Zerafa will perform music by Clara Schumann, Poulenc, Saint-Saens and others – music ranging from lyrical and romantic to energetic and jazzy!

British clarinettist Matthew Scott studied at the Royal Academy of Music, where he was awarded BMus (Hons), MA (Dist) and DipRAM followed by a Chamber Fellowship. He performs throughout the UK and internationally as a freelance soloist, chamber musician and orchestral player. Promoted as a young artist by the Countess of Munster Musical Trust Recital Scheme and Park Lane Group, he is now a regular Selected Artist for Making Music’s Concert Promoter’s Group and, in 2019, made his Wigmore Hall debut with duo partner Christine Zerafa. He is the founder and director of the award-winning Ensemble Mirage, a flexible chamber group which promotes an exciting range of mixed wind-string-piano chamber music.

Matthew has been a finalist and prizewinner in a number of international Young Musicians competitions. Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and OCD, he believes and actively demonstrates that this need not be a bar to achieving a successful career in music. He often performs in Charles Hazlewood’s Paraorchestra (a collective of disabled and non-disabled musicians).

Maltese pianist Christine Zerafa has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in many major venues, including the Royal Festival Hall and Wigmore Hall. She has performed live on BBC Radio 3 and has been a recipient of many awards, including the Schumann Lieder accompaniment prize, the Bice Mizzi National Competition prize and the RAM Scott Huxley prize for piano accompaniment. She was twice selected as a Park Lane Group Artist and was also an award-winner on the Tunnell Trust Artist Chamber Music Scheme.

Christine has Master of Music degrees in solo performance and piano accompaniment. She completed her PhD at the Royal Academy of Music focusing on the role of the pianist in the art of song and duo chamber music. She currently enjoys a busy schedule as a concert pianist, researcher and educator, and was recently made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in recognition of her significant contribution to the field.

Please come along to hear and support these two outstanding young musicians.

The recital will take place at Wanstead Library on 14 October from 8pm (tickets on the door; visitors: £12; members: £9). Call 07380 606 767. Redbridge Music Society is affiliated to Making Music.

In the third of a series of articles documenting the development of Wanstead’s Evergreen Field, Geoff Horsnell raises concerns over how the amended plans will fit within the Wanstead Village conservation area

Do you remember the artist’s impressions of the proposed new building on the Evergreen Field? Well, think again! When finished, you won’t see much of the lower part of the building from certain angles.

The original plans showed some 24 flats above a ground-floor nursery and outside play area. Omitted from the artists drawings was the fence that needs to surround the play area for the safety of the children. Not only is the site on Wanstead High Street, a busy thoroughfare, but the children also need to be kept safe from any threat.

The developer’s answer to this conundrum is to place a brick wall around the play area. They have requested a wall in excess of 2.5m high, although as the site lies within the Wanstead Village conservation area, the regulations state that no wall, fence or gate can exceed 2m in height in such locations. From the latest diagrams available, it seems the play area is at the rear of the building and does not extend to the side or the front. Even so, a 2m high brick wall is incongruous in this context. Whilst it will mostly be visible from Christchurch Green, it does constitute a significant blot on the landscape. Unless the developer is planning some form of soft landscaping, such as covering the brickwork with greenery, the site will not enhance the conservation area one bit – especially next to the green! Perhaps it is time to suggest to the developer that such a use of the ground floor is not ideal for the area and that replacing the nursery with a set of shops might be a better plan.

The Redbridge Council planning department are well aware of this latest amendment to the plans but have so far decided not to share the details publicly. It is not even clear if they will discuss the excess height of the proposed brick wall. Will this be another example of the relaxation of conservation area rules?

As yet, there are no details of the proposed type of brickwork or any design or style within the wall, but whatever design is selected will not sit well next to Christchurch Green.

There is also the outlook to be ‘enjoyed’ by the occupants of the flats. How will they feel living in such surroundings? At the rear of the flats, they will have the sounds of children playing outside, amplified by the enclosing brick wall! The plans do show an ‘acoustic canopy’, but again, the plans are not very clear about the extent of this cover. At the front of the flats, the sound of traffic on the busy High Street will fill the air. And there may be no escape from the noise for future residents as the amenity space for each flat amounts to a balcony and a small space on the roof. As the roof also contains the housing for the lift mechanism, this may not be the quietest location either. An array of solar panels are also envisaged for the roof area and it is unclear how the space will be apportioned. If flat, solar panels can easily be damaged by residents inadvertently walking on them or worse. If angled to catch the sun better, they become a trip hazard. As the building is some four storeys high, any access to the roof means there must be guard rails or a parapet around the area. Again, such a protective measure is not shown in the plans.

For more information on the Evergreen Field development plans and to view the full application, visit wnstd.com/field