December 2025

Paul Canal asks if you can make up an extra plate on Christmas Day to continue the Wanstead tradition of sharing and kindness

For many of us, Christmas is a time of laughter, warmth and full tables surrounded by family and friends. But for some in our community, it can be a day of silence, a reminder of absence rather than abundance. That’s why, since 2020, a simple but beautiful Wanstead tradition has quietly made a big difference: local families cooking one extra Christmas dinner, plating it up, and delivering it to someone spending Christmas alone. No fanfare, no big organisation, just kindness on a plate.

We all cook too much at Christmas. The cost in money, food waste and carbon emissions is staggering. At the same time, a few streets away, someone is lonely and hungry. They would appreciate a Christmas meal. We are throwing food away. The connection is instant and the solution obvious! Plate up an extra meal and brighten a stranger’s Christmas.

Every year, I’ve been humbled by the generosity of our community: families juggling their own festive chaos who still take time to make up an extra meal; volunteers driving through the quiet Christmas streets, bringing not just food but warmth, conversation and a reminder that someonecares.

 This year, I’d love to make it even bigger. So, if you’re on your own this Christmas – or know someone who is, for whatever reason – please don’t be shy. Let us bring a Christmas meal (and a smile) to your door. And if you’re one of the many generous households in Wanstead who could make up an extra plate, we’d be so grateful for your help.

It’s a small gesture, but one that brings huge comfort – proof that Christmas spirit is alive and well in our little corner of East London.

The benefits are obvious. Less food waste, a delighted lonely person in need and a reminder that Christmas is really about giving. And in addition to a hot meal, and perhaps a Christmas cracker or two, we are also reaching out and offering friendship, empathy and real community spirit. There are many reasons why someone could need a meal this Christmas, from being on their own through bereavement or relationship breakdown to ill health, old age, disability or financial issues. Throughout the year, many people in Wanstead support the Tin in a Bin foodbank network. Think of this as ‘tin on a plate!’

Previous years have seen up to 80 meals delivered via the Wanstead Christmas Dinner Appeal, including vegetarian and halal meals. I certainly hope the need is less this year, but I also hope that whatever the need, our great local community can once again meet it and continue the Wanstead tradition of sharing and kindness.

To receive or provide a Christmas meal, send a message to 07769 159 433 or email havenhousexmasbakers@gmail.com

Those on their own at Christmas are also invited to join Christmas Day lunch in the halls of Christ Church. To book a ticket, visit wnstd.com/lunch25 or call 020 8530 8743

Santa will embark on his sixth annual tour of Wanstead this month aboard Elf Steve Hayden’s Parker Dairies milk float.

“The Santa drive-by will take place on 18 December, departing Gordon Road at 4.30pm, heading down the High Street around 5pm and then weaving around the streets of Wanstead until 7pm. Funds raised will be donated to The Wanstead Charity, which provides food and clothing to those facing poverty,” said organiser Amy Moore.

A tracking link will be posted online.

Visit wnstd.com/santatour25

AN ADHD support group for men will launch in Wanstead this month.

“A lot of men with ADHD struggle in silence. Many don’t feel comfortable accessing help through traditional services, or they simply fall through the gaps. There aren’t any affordable, accessible ADHD groups for men around here, so I’ve set one up to give people somewhere to talk and feel understood,” said Hari Singh.

The group will meet at Wanstead House Community Association every Friday from 12 December (7.15pm to 8.15pm; £5).

For more information, email wansteadadhdgroup@gmail.com

In the second of a series of articles featuring images by the Woodford and Wanstead Photographic Society, Anuraj Theivendram reflects on the history of the group’s women members and presents the work of outgoing chair Sue Rosner

In December 2025, Sue Rosner will step down after five transformative years as chair of the Woodford and Wanstead Photographic Society (WWPS), leaving behind a legacy as bold and inclusive as her photography. Her leadership guided the club through the COVID pandemic and into a new era of hybrid creativity. It also reignited a powerful conversation about women’s place in photography.

That conversation began over a century ago. In 1923, Gertrude Powers became the first woman to join WWPS, breaking a 30-year tradition of male-only membership. She was soon followed by Norah Cross, who became the society’s first female president in 1928. Their courage paved the way for generations of women to step behind the lens and into leadership.

Sue, the fifth woman to chair the society, has honoured that legacy with passion and purpose. Her International Women’s Day talk, entitled Women in the Frame, traced the club’s evolution from exclusion to empowerment. She spotlighted female photographers in newsletters, celebrated their achievements and championed a culture where every member, regardless of gender or experience, feels seen, supported and inspired.

To women photographers today: WWPS is your space. Whether you’re just starting out or rediscovering your creative voice, the club offers a welcoming community, hands-on learning and opportunities to grow. As Sue once said: “Photography gives you a new way to see the world and WWPS gives you the confidence to share it.”

Sue’s own journey, from beginner to chair, embodies that spirit. Her images are rich in texture and story and reflect the same curiosity and courage she brought to her leadership. She didn’t just lead WWPS, she helped reshape it.

As we celebrate over 100 years of women in the society, Sue’s story becomes a call to action: join us, bring your vision and help shape the next century of photographic storytelling.

For more information on the Woodford and Wanstead Photographic Society, visit wnstd.com/wwps

The Parish of Wanstead and The Duke will jointly host a free Christmas dinner for anyone who will be on their own on Christmas Day.

“We would love you to join us on Christmas Day at 1pm in the parish halls, next to Christ Church, for traditional Christmas food and a jolly time with others. Don’t stay at home alone, come and have Christmas with us! Make sure you book in advance, but please only book if you definitely intend to come as space is limited,” said Revd James Gilder.

Visit wnstd.com/lunch25 or call 020 8530 8743

Chris Gannaway was Redbridge’s representative for the London Wildlife Trust for over 25 years. With concerns over habitat connectivity, he is now petitioning Redbridge Council to declare a nature emergency

Wildlife is in decline! One of the outcomes from the Environment Act 2021 was that geographic regions had to produce Local Nature Recovery Strategies. For Redbridge, that’s the Greater London Authority, and all developments given planning permission from February have to deliver a 20% biodiversity net gain. So, in an ideal world, our wildlife will be quids in! However, not all is as it seems.

For Wanstead’s Evergreen Field, for example, the ecological assessment was carried out in wintertime 2022, with the focus on statutory protected species relying on a desktop study and a few site visits. So, there was no chance of getting to grips with the non-statutory species, such as invertebrates, that could be resident in the small site. As a sop to nature and biodiversity net gain, every possible habitat appears to be included, as well as retaining most of the major trees, but still doesn’t give the full 20% gain. But what about connectivity you say, for flora and fauna to commute into the site?

What do we see from the Local Nature Recovery Strategies mapping for future connectivity? George Green shows connectivity to Wanstead Golf course via private gardens, good. But on the High Street, nothing! There should be a connectivity path from George Green to Epping Forest land in Waltham Forest via the grounds of Snaresbrook Crown Court. The map would then show Hainault Forest, Claybury Park, Roding Valley and Fairlop Plain are well connected to Epping Forest. That’s what I call future connectivity!

As can be seen, we really can’t rely on the powers that be to get it right when nature is in need. I won’t go into all the alarming statistics of decline; they are all verifiable online, such as Chaffinch territories in Wanstead Park, which fell from nine in 2015 to just one by 2023. And Mistle Thrushes went from three territories to zero in the same period. We really need a partnership approach between community, local experts and councils as enablers to get real nature recovery. That is why Wanstead Climate Action are petitioning Redbridge Council to declare a nature emergency. This petition is open to anyone who lives, works or studies in Redbridge. We need 1,500 signatures to put before the council for a debate to take place. The council calendar is such that we must submit the petition before Christmas, ready for January’s council meeting. A debate could then take place in March.

Without measures from the council, our green and natural spaces are currently open to threats from developers. It’s time for our council to declare a nature emergency to ensure the proper protections are put in place to protect our wildlife and ensure people have access to nature in their communities.

For more information and to view the petition, visit wnstd.com/natpet

Nominations for the Mayor of Redbridge’s annual community awards are open until 6 January.

“Do you know an unsung hero on your street or anywhere within your local community? Or a group or organisation that has made a positive contribution to the lives of local residents? If the answer is yes, why not enter them into our community awards this year?” asked a council spokesperson.

Visit wnstd.com/maward

Snaresbrook resident Katriye Ibrahim was named the best porridge maker in Waltham Forest last month.

The competition took place at the Good Shepherd Studios in Leytonstone following a screening of The Golden Spurtle, a film about an annual, global porridge-making competition in Scotland.

“I’ve been making porridge for many years. I only use water and oats, simmer and slowly stir in a clockwise direction with my wooden spurtle, a traditional Scottish kitchen tool. I then add fruit and homemade jam,” said Katriye.

Having found a new co-chair, Carole Edrich invites local residents involved in arts and culture to participate in the recently relaunched What Next? East London

Are you involved in arts and culture in East London? Do you want to help influence policy-making by making the case for arts and culture? Do you want to help shape the cultural sector in the current sociopolitical landscape, ensuring we’re fostering artists in the most accessible environment possible? Are you concerned about AI: your rights, your council’s approach and their plans, your local freedoms as an artist or something entirely different?

As part of relaunching What Next? East London, we need to hear from you. What would you like us to cover? What should we keep from what we used to do? How can we best make a difference?

What Next? East London is our local chapter of What Next?, a free-to-join movement bringing together arts and cultural organisations in the UK to champion and strengthen the role of art and culture in our society. We believe bringing people together in conversation has the power to inform, inspire and challenge people to do things differently, whether they are independent artists, working in their own organisations, in our sector or in our communities. Our convening leads to:

Advocacy: shaping policy proposals and strategies at both UK-wide and local levels.

Learning and modelling: as a movement of peers in many different contexts with different specialist skills and experiences, we share good practice and build systems leadership.

Amplification: We champion actions that build equitable conditions for arts and culture, working in close partnership with What Next? Central, other chapter chairs, sector organisations and other networks to champion and amplify campaigns across the movement.

We also initiate conversations with people in arts and culture, policy-makers, politicians, funders, academics, unions and sector bodies. We work collaboratively to demonstrate and amplify the value of arts and culture in our society and economy, drawing on the consensus and arguments forged at meetings.

We’ve been dormant since the pandemic ended. As we prepare to relaunch, we need you to help shape the future plan. We held a drop-in event in November and will be holding another this month. We then plan to run a couple of Zoom calls in the new year, once the other co-chair has officially started. Please come and share your concerns, add your voice and join the movement. Let’s build a What Next? East London that serves us all.

What Next? East London will hold a drop-in event on 11 December from 6pm to 8.30pm at Compassionate Funerals on Hermon Hill, Wanstead. For more information, visit wnstd.com/whatnext

Caroline Haines, Chair of the Epping Forest and Commons Committee, provides an update on the work taking place in Wanstead Park following the clearance of the Ornamental Water’s dried-out lakebed

Whilst awaiting the decision from the Environment Agency regarding water extraction from the River Roding for the Ornamental Water, we have been progressing with other parts of the project, ensuring the protection of this unique heritage feature always remains our priority.

The dried-out lakebed was cleared of vegetation in September. Our arborist team used a forestry mulcher to chop up any young trees and vegetation. A community litter pick then took place in October. A huge thanks to all the volunteers who helped out; 25 people picked approximately 30 bags of rubbish with interesting finds of bottles and other artefacts catalogued for our museum collection.

Local conservation groups have been carrying out volunteer workdays throughout October and November whilst the lakebed was dry. This involved cutting down trees close to the island and bank edge – these are the areas the forestry mulcher could not reach.

Over the winter, we will be mapping damp areas in the lakebed as they develop and monitoring emerging vegetation. We will be conducting borehole surveys across the lakebed to assess the below-ground conditions; this will help us to assess the lakebed’s capacity to hold water.

These are early steps in a long-term process. By thoroughly investigating the lakebed’s condition now, we can guide future conservation efforts and make better-informed management decisions.

Now the rain has started to turn the lakebed to mud, we would ask all visitors (and their dogs) not to enter the area. Some of the mud will be very deep and may become dangerous to walk on. Signs have gone up around the area and all conservation tasks on the lakebed will soon stop.

Overlooking the Ornamental Water is the Grotto, a Grade II* listed building which requires work to stabilise its structure and remove it from the Heritage at Risk Register. The cleaning of the structure has now been completed and the team have been cataloguing and matching up stones to fill in any gaps. Groundworks have also finished in preparation for the installation of a metal supporting structure. This will go in at the back of the Grotto to stabilise the brickwork and ensure it remains in good condition. The restoration project will continue until the end of the year. During the works, some areas of the park may be temporarily closed to visitors for safety reasons.

For more information on the restoration work taking place in Wanstead Park, visit wnstd.com/managingwp

Volunteers took it upon themselves to clear up a section of the Alders Brook – a tributary of the River Roding – after the Environment Agency refused to take action.

“I have pleaded with the Environment Agency to clear up the huge accumulations of rubbish behind a flood barrier on the river, but they refused, citing health and safety. Even worse, they also forbade me from cleaning up the mess. We ignored the prohibition on caring for our river and removed over 60 bags of rubbish,” said Paul Powlesland of the River Roding Trust.

Markets, music and magical moments will make Wanstead merry this festive season. It’s time to celebrate with the community. Kris Kringle reports

As frosty mornings paint the rooftops white and fairy lights brighten the early evenings, Wanstead readies itself for a season of festive delight. It’s a time to connect with neighbours, enjoy traditions and share in the celebrations. Here are some local festive events you can enjoy with family and friends.

Jack and the Beanstalk
5, 8 and 11 December; 5pm (tickets: £12.50)
Redbridge Drama Centre, South Woodford
A pop-up panto.

The Flamingo Christmas Fair
6 December, 11am to 4pm (free entry)
Wanstead Library, Spratt Hall Road
Gifts, decorations and festive finds.

Christmas Makers Market
6 December, 11am to 4pm (free entry)
Christ Church hall, Wanstead Place
Handmade products from local creatives.

The Duke Christmas Market
6 December, 12 noon to 6pm (free entry)
The Duke, 79 Nightingale Lane
Stalls, food, drink and festive fun.

Wanstead Christmas Markets
7 and 20 December; 10am to 4pm
High Street, Wanstead
Wanstead’s monthly market (first Sunday of the month) will be followed by an extra festive event on Saturday 20 December.

Winter Wonderland
7 December; 11am to 5pm (free entry)
Christchurch Green, Wanstead
A day of festive fun in support of the Mayor of Redbridge’s chosen charities.

Christmas Concert: Musical Theatre
9 December; 7.30pm (tickets: £7)
St Mary’s Church, Overton Drive
Join the Leytonstone Musical Theatre Choir for an evening of epic tunes and Christmas joy.

Cakes and Carols
13 December, 1.30pm to 4pm (free)
Wanstead United Reformed Church
A free event for over-65s with homemade cakes and performances by local musicians.

Santa’s Christmas Workshop
from 13 December; various times
(adults: £7; children: £15)
Redbridge Drama Centre, South Woodford
Meet Santa at his workshop, where preparations are underway for the big day. After a show by the elves, you’ll make a Christmas decoration you can take home.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
from 14 December; various times
(adults: £17.50; children: £15)
Redbridge Drama Centre, South Woodford
A Redbridge Creates production.

Community Carols on the High Street
17 December, 7pm
Wanstead War Memorial
Led by the Parish of Wanstead to raise funds for Centrepoint.

Santa’s Wanstead Drive-By
18 December, from 4.30pm
Santa will embark on a pre-Christmas tour of Wanstead, chauffeured through the streets by Elf Steve Hayden aboard his Parker Dairies milk float.

Dick Whittington
from 1 January; various times (£19)
Sir James Hawkey Hall, Woodford Green
A production by the award-winning Woodford Pantomime, which has brought joy, laughter and magic to the community since the 1960s.

Local school and church events
Festive fun, gift stalls, special events and services – too many to include here, so check the full listings to see what’s on.

For more information on these and other Christmas events in and around Wanstead, visit wnstd.com/christmas25