August 2026

Eight-year-old Wanstead resident Diya Mehta was inspired by the parks, forests and nature trails around her home to write and illustrate this magical adventure

One sunny day, Lilly told her mum that she wanted to have a picnic in the woods. Her mum said: “You can go, but don’t get your dress tangled up in the bramble bush.” So, off she went through the woods, when suddenly, she heard someone singing a joyful tune.

The sound was coming from the toadstools. She looked at them curiously. There were little windows on them and a tiny door where some fairies flew out.
One fairy saw Lilly and stopped. She said: “Hi, my name is Ani. You are awfully big. Would you like to become a fairy like me?” Lilly said excitedly: “Yes please, Ani.” She made Lilly shrink using her magical wand and gave her a pair of wings and a wand too.

Lilly and Ani soared into the air and slid down the sparkly rainbow. They had great fun together.
They flew and flew, but they flew so high that they got trapped in a spider’s poisonous cobweb. It was a trap!

Luckily, Ani’s wand could turn into anything. She made her wand into a pair of golden scissors. Even Lilly’s wand turned into a pair of silver scissors. They started to cut the web. But it was too sticky!

Just then, Lilly had a plan. She said they could make water come from their wands. “You are a genius!” said Ani. They tried it and the cobweb washed away. It worked! They were free!

They started flying happily, but then they heard their stomachs grumbling loudly. Fortunately, Lilly had brought a picnic.
Lilly opened the picnic basket and there were delicious mouthwatering cupcakes, cheese and cucumber sandwiches and juice. After finishing the picnic, Lilly had to go home. So, Ani made her grow back to her normal size. Lilly said goodbye to Ani and went back home feeling excited to tell her mum about her day. She could not believe it had happened.

That night, Lilly slept well, knowing that she’d had the best day ever, but also excited that Ani let her keep her wand, which she kept safely under her bed for any future adventure she may face.

Articles from local residents of all ages are welcome. Email editor@wnstd.com

One writer, one Interrail pass and a wildly over-ambitious, 37-stop journey to test railway accessibility in Europe. Wanstead-based travel writer Carole Edrich presents the seventh instalment of her Big Rail Story

I walk back to Ypres station in the dark, catching the beautifully lit square. It is so cold on the platform that I wonder if I should have worn all my clothes instead of carrying them.

The train is warm, but my troubles aren’t over. I can’t find Antwerp on the in-carriage board. After a tiny little wobble (hah), I remember that Belgium has three official languages, none of which is English. The Dutch for Antwerp is Antwerpen. I look again. It’s still not there. Am I on the wrong train? I try to persuade myself that it’s not such a biggie. I can get off at the next stop, work out where I am, where I should be… again… and use the Interrail app to help me get there. I tell myself it’ll all work out fine, but don’t really believe it. The heart’s going fast now. Deep breaths are good for panic, right? I take three. Then remember that the French for Antwerp is Anvers. Which, of course, is what is showing. Genius? Me?

The trouble with being familiar with a language that I’m not particularly good at is exactly this type of confusion. I’m familiar with and not particularly good at Dutch, French and Spanish, and familiar with but totally rubbish at German and Italian. This trip could be quite trying. We’ll most likely see.

Walking to my seat creates obvious disgruntlement among the passengers. As I settle, I wonder whether silent British passive aggression is better or worse than frank Flemish frustration (I still don’t know).

I sit and watch the pinks, oranges and purples of a beautiful dawn cast their magic over the Flanders fields. Time for breakfast, and I discover the bread in the package prepared super-early by the thoughtful folks at Novotel Ypres is still warm. Despite my low-carb resolution, I eat it all.

Transformed by the dawn light, the scenery, already picture-postcard pastoral perfection, develops golden tinges. Past Wevelgem, through romantic golds, seductive shadows, subtly rolling hills, patchwork pastures and soft-focus pastoral peace. Famous local painter Émile Claus devoted his life to rendering the ethereal effects of the light that’s so lovely around here. It’s clear why.

Purple smoke snakes slowly from a brickwork warehouse. Buildings on the approach to Kortrijk reveal its industrial past. At the station, a clearly cold couple are waiting to board, and a group of well-behaved yoofs with skateboards drag themselves off. Doors open to a slight hint of burning rubber, then we’re off and leave the city with its low, medieval skyline behind. We pass the River Leie’s reflective waters and the occasional flax field, then I wake up from a nice snooze to discover we’ve already reached Gent-Sint-Pieters. I remind myself, with a smile, this is Ghent.

For links to the places and to listen to Carole’s podcast, visit wnstd.com/rail

Residents are invited to discover the wellbeing benefits of horse riding at the Wanstead Community Riding Stables open day on 31 August.

“Our annual open day offers visitors the chance to explore the facilities, meet the horses and discover the many physical, mental and social benefits of horse riding,” said a spokesperson.

The free event runs from 11am to 4pm, with children’s activities, riding demonstrations and refreshments. The stables are located off Empress Avenue in Aldersbrook.

Visit wcrscic.co.uk

Working at height continues to be a leading cause of workplace deaths and injuries. Bradley Wright of local solicitors Edwards Duthie Shamash outlines the legal responsibilities of employers and employees

Working at height remains one of the biggest causes of fatalities and major injuries. Common causes include falls from ladders and through fragile surfaces. Employers and employees must comply with the Work at Height Regulations 2005, whose main purpose is to attempt to prevent death and injury from a fall from height.

Roof work is high risk and such falls are one of the most common causes of workplace death and serious injury. Such falls can lead to fatalities and serious brain and spinal injuries.

Where there are no precautions in place, working at height in any environment can increase a person’s risk of falling a distance, making them liable to personal injury. Examples include working on a ladder or flat roof, falling through a fragile surface or falling into an opening in a floor or a hole in the ground.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance state all efforts should be made to avoid working at height where it is reasonably practicable to do so, but if it cannot be avoided, to prevent falls by working from a safe place with the right equipment. The regulations apply to an employer or somebody who controls work at height, for example, if you are a contractor or a factory owner. Employers and those in control of work must ensure it is properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people.

Factors for employers to consider include:

• Taking account of weather conditions.
• Checking the place where work at height is to be undertaken is safe.
• Stopping materials or objects falling.
• Storing materials and objects safely so they will not cause injury if disturbed.
• Conducting a thorough risk assessment before commencing work.
• Using a work restraint system that prevents the worker getting into a fall position, installing safety nets and soft-landing systems close to the level of the work.
• Implementing a fall arrest system.

Employees have general legal duties to take reasonable care of themselves and others who may be affected by their actions. Employees also have a duty of co-operating with their employer so they can enable their health and safety duties and requirements to be complied with. In particular, an employee must report any safety hazard they identify to their employer and use the equipment supplied in accordance with training.

Edwards Duthie Shamash is located at 149 High Street, Wanstead, E11 2RL. For more information, call 020 8514 9000 or visit edwardsduthieshamash.co.uk

In the fifth of a series of articles, Susan Allison reflects on a community project which created nearly 50 kneelers for Christ Church, each with a story to tell and each recording a snapshot of present-day Wanstead

The September 2024 Wanstead Festival saw the first stitches made in the Community Kneeler, one of 40-plus produced over the following 12 months. Stitched by numerous members of the community and celebrating the diversity of people and experiences in our village, the kneelers were presented to the church in October 2025. We are now preparing a celebration event to mark the formal end of the project, which will be at this year’s Wanstead Festival on 13 September 2026.

Here are more details of two of the events mentioned in last month’s issue. Firstly, the ‘Kneeler Cake’ competition, which is open to anyone. Bring any oblong cake/tray-bake (bought or home-made) to Christ Church before noon on the day of the festival. Your entry should be decorated to look like a kneeler (actual or imagined). Throughout the afternoon, visitors will vote for their favourite design, with the winner receiving a small bouquet. You can also choose to offer your cake for sale by silent auction, with proceeds going to the Inspire Wanstead fund.

Secondly, do join us in the church (time to be confirmed) for our ‘Come and Sing’ all-voices-all-ages welcome session to learn the joyous Kneelers song written especially for the project by Tina Lloyd-Morris. No musical experience or talent required, just enthusiasm and a willingness to have a go. Tina was inspired to write the song after hearing the stories behind the kneelers.

Cow and Calf
Dedicated to: Christ Church
Sewn by: Members of the Nightingale Lane and Green WhatsApp Group

At the end of the Victorian age, the 18th century cottages at Mobs Hole – a forest-side hamlet later called Nightingale Green – were developed and a run of Edwardian cottages were built opposite the United Reformed Church. Behind them was a dairy (later a printers and now maisonettes). From the 1700s, cattle were driven from all over the country to the London meat market. Wanstead Flats became a prime site for ‘finishing’ cattle before their final journey to Smithfield. The natural springs and rich grass around Nightingale Green made this both a grazing area and resting point on that journey, as well as a place where cows would be brought in from Epping Forest for milking. Many residents of Wanstead have memories of cows wandering along the streets, so in honour of the dairies, the farms, the Forest and the cows, this design was chosen. Stitchers include Suzanne Bond, Susan Allison, Paula Medland, Lewis Bond and residents of Westleigh Court.

Honey Bee
Dedicated to: Beekeepers and bees of Wanstead
Sewn by: Sarah Davies

As a member of the Epping Forest Beekeepers Association, I have been learning the art of beekeeping for a few years, with my bee colonies living in a local apiary in Wanstead.

I wanted to combine two hobbies of mine – beekeeping and sewing – in this kneeler.

I hope both traditional and rewarding skills continue to thrive in this community for many generations to come.

For more information on the project and the event on 13 September, email kneelers4cc@gmail.com

For Bob Pickett, a chance coaching session after early retirement transformed his lawn bowls game and inspired him to qualify as an EBCS Level 1 coach at Aldersbrook Bowling Club

Last year, I wrote about how I took early retirement and found the sport of lawn bowls, which gave my post-retirement life focus and a new social group. On the playing side, I reached the area final of a (minor) county competition. This was definitely helped by receiving formal coaching.

Towards the end of my first (half) season, I played in a game with Alan, a player from another local club. Chatting after, he told me he was a qualified coach. I was having trouble with an aspect of my game and Alan kindly offered me a coaching session. Having played other sports at a decent level (I was a county under-21 basketball player), I knew the importance of good coaching.

I visited his club (Aldersbrook Bowling Club). After establishing a few ground rules and warming up, he ran me through some exercises, at the end of which he found an issue with my stance. We worked on correcting this, and the improvement was immediate!

Inspired, I took the English Bowls Coaches Society (EBCS) Level 1 course in February this year, which enables you to coach beginners and inexperienced players, providing tools to develop a consistent series of steps for delivery of the bowl, plus how to find correct line and length.

It was a four-day course, and pretty intense.  Day one was about the aims of the course, with some time on the green to reinforce what we were trying to achieve. Day two was a practice day for the three elements we were learning how to coach; lots of questions and answers and practical work. Day three was a mock assessment. With one of the EBCS team acting as an assessor, we each went through the three elements. This day was invaluable, as it was the opportunity to give a final polish to your coaching plan for each element and get the inevitable mistakes out of the way. Me? I forgot the warm-up routine… and it’s something I’d started doing myself before a game! Day four: assessment day. Under the gaze of an official assessor, I had to coach two out of the three elements. All the practice paid off; both my sessions went well, and at the end, my assessor signed the forms to say I had qualified.

I have now joined Aldersbrook Bowling Club, where I am very keen for others to make use of my skills. I can coach new and inexperienced players. Alan is a Level 2 coach, so he can look at specific areas and help more experienced bowlers.

If you would like to give bowls a try and benefit from being pointed in the right direction, do get in touch.

Aldersbrook Bowling Club is located at 34 Aldersbrook Road, E12 5DY. For more information, call 020 8989 8282 or visit wnstd.com/abc

A local resident is collating a booklet of photographs to celebrate the history of cows in Wanstead.

“Do you have any old photographs of cows wandering through the streets? Whether it’s cows grazing outside your house, peering over a garden fence or simply being part of everyday life in Wanstead, I’d love to hear from you,” said David Bennett. Under ancient commoners’ rights, cows grazed on Wanstead Flats – and roamed nearby roads – until the BSE crisis of 1996.

Email office@ppreditions.com

From traditional brewers to East London’s thriving craft scene, the beer industry has flourished, but now needs our support, writes Paul Donovan, one of the organisers of the Wanstead Beer Festival

The growth of the brewing industry has been one of the big success stories of recent years. There have been the old traditional brewers like Fullers in West London. The brewery sits next to the Thames at Chiswick, the fantastic aroma of beer filling the air.

Beer drinkers will be familiar with Fullers’ trademark London Pride, a staple of many pubs around these parts. Others like ESB and 1845 also crop up. The Fullers brewery was founded in 1845. Back in the day, beer was a regular part of working people’s diets, safer to drink than water. Fullers survived and prospered. They have 360 pubs across the land. Other big brewers like Kent-based Shepherds Neame and Adnams in Southwold will also be familiar.

There have been many ups and downs in the brewing industry over the past century. The modern brewing industry, though, got a real boost in 2002, when then Chancellor Gordon  Brown brought in Small Brewers Relief. This cut the tax payable by 50% on breweries producing up to 5,000 hectolitres (880,000 pints) per annum. There was then a taper of tax payment up to 60,000 hectolitres. Above that figure meant paying the full tax amount. This gave small brewers a chance against their larger brethren, who benefited from economies of scale. The impact was dramatic, resulting in hundreds of smaller breweries developing across the country.

In East London, the brewing industry really took off. What has become known as the beer mile in and around Blackhorse Road in Walthamstow bears witness. Many breweries have sprung up in the last 20 years. Present incumbents include East London Brewery, Pretty Decent, Signature, Exhale and 40 Foot. Brewing is not exclusive to this area, with others, like Libertalia, recently starting under the railway bridge at Leyton. The Wanstead Beer Festival is supplied by many of these local breweries.

Times, though, are tough for brewers and pubs. The cost-of-living crisis means people have less to spend and costs of production have increased. More than a pub a week has been closing across the UK this year. Despite the great success of local brewers, some have been forced to close, such as Walthamstow-based Beerblefish. Industry bodies have called for business rates cuts to help.

The brewing sector is one of the modern-day successes of the British economy. It is great to be able to go into our pubs and have a pint from a local brewery. Similarly, people attending the Wanstead Beer Festival have said how much they enjoy being able to enjoy beer from the local breweries; a real precious resource. So, let’s make sure we support the beer makers, servers and drinkers. See you on 10 October!

The Wanstead Beer Festival will take place in the halls of Christ Church on 10 October from 1pm to 11pm. Visit wnstd.com/beer

A new bench has been placed at the edge of Tarzy Wood, adjacent to the Wanstead War Memorial on the High Street.

“I’m pleased that after a recent meeting with Vision, a replacement bench has been installed… We’re also moving ahead with plans to repair the damaged fencing, with work expected to take place within the next six weeks. Alongside this, selective shrub‑reduction in Tarzy Wood is set to begin this month,” said Councillor Jo Blackman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Neighbourhoods.

A community project to revamp the hoardings surrounding the Evergreen Field construction site has been completed.

Artists and residents gathered at the High Street site last month to enjoy the artwork and local history on display.

“A huge thank you to developer MTVH and contractor Skillcrown for making this possible. Most importantly, thank you to all who got involved and helped shape something special for Wanstead,” said Bronagh Byrne, who coordinated the initiative.

A four-storey development is being built on the site.

The Wanstead Women’s Institute has launched a project to create a series of knitted poppies to mark the restoration of the Wanstead War Memorial.

“The aim is to set three poppy wreaths on the side and rear fences around the memorial with streamers of poppies falling to the ground… If you’d like to help, please grab your needles! Completed poppies will be needed by the end of September,” said a spokesperson.

The project is a spin-off from the Christ Church kneelers project.

Email kneelers4cc@gmail.com

As the Wanstead Fringe prepares to launch its new Family Fringe, Camille Leadbeater reflects on celebrating place, community and the joy of being exactly where we are

Universe. Galaxy. Milky Way. Solar System. Earth. Europe. United Kingdom. England. London. Greater London. Redbridge. Wanstead. E11. 51.567° N, 0.033° E. We are here. You are here, too (I assume, since you’re reading the Wanstead Village Directory). The Wanstead Fringe is here as well. And for the past 14 years, it has been rooted in this corner of East London. Here it began, here it has grown and here we intend for it to stay.

However, this year, things will change a little. A new strand of the festival is to be launched: Family Fringe. The idea is one we hope will become a permanent and cherished part of every Fringe season. It will feature a host of events for families, children and young people, creating opportunities for new generations to become part of Wanstead’s cultural life.

The ambition is to establish new traditions that over time become as beloved as some of the Fringe’s more long-standing fixtures, like the Eve-of-Fringe Charivari or The Duke Street Party, albeit with slightly earlier bedtimes and considerably less drinking! After all, traditions become so when they are shared. By involving younger generations, communities preserve customs, stories and celebrations that make them unique. We also celebrate change and evolution, not just how we got here but who we will eventually become.

Every September, the Fringe brings a renewed energy to Wanstead. Just as summer begins to fade and many of us reluctantly return to offices, classrooms and routines, the festival fills the area with music, theatre, creativity and celebration. It gives people a reason to gather together as the evenings grow darker and the leaves begin to turn. We do it because we are here and because we are glad to be.

Recently, I came across a quote from James Baldwin: “There is reason, after all, that some people wish to colonise the moon and others dance before it as an ancient friend.” What I take from this is that we should celebrate what we have. Of course, we must explore, adapt and develop, but also, shouldn’t our focus be equally on how we can live in harmony with the world around us and championing what we’ve got (while we have it), rather than constantly looking elsewhere for fulfilment?

I believe the Fringe is, in many ways, an expression of that idea. While headlines are increasingly filled with stories of missions to the moon, Mars and who knows where else, it sometimes feels as though we’ve forgotten to stop and appreciate the remarkable things right in front of us. We spend so much time looking outward, we neglect to cherish what is already here. We are here. Right now. The Fringe is our way of making the most of that fact. It is a celebration of the small things that make life meaningful. We champion Wanstead not only through the events we host, but through the care we invest in the area itself: the fairy lights and cushions for the Kinema on Christ Church Green, the restoration of the Wanstead Curtain, the performances, exhibitions and activities created by local people who give this neighbourhood its character. Most importantly, we celebrate the extraordinary talent that exists here.

The Fringe is made by performers, volunteers, artists and audiences who collectively create something greater than the sum of its parts. Hopefully, the new Family Fringe will continue that tradition. One exciting addition is the launch of the Wanstead Youth Theatre, beginning this August. Young people will spend two weeks taking part in workshops before performing a production during the Fringe. We hope it will be the first chapter in a story that continues for years to come. Who knows? Some of the children taking part this year may one day become the artists and organisers who shape future Fringes. They may be the people who continue to enrich Wanstead and strengthen the bonds that connect us all. Because the key to happiness is often simpler than we imagine. It lies in appreciating what we have, celebrating where we are and sharing this.

So, please do come to an event (or three, four or more). We have found ourselves here from all walks of life, from all over the world. Join us in celebrating where we are, what we have, the wonderful fact that, against all odds and amid the vastness of the universe, we are here. And what a wonderful place to be.

Wanstead Fringe 2026 will run from 5 to 26 September. For more information, visit wansteadfringe.org