Features

Councillor Jo Blackman (Wanstead Village, Labour) outlines her priorities following her appointment to Redbridge Council’s cabinet, with responsibility for the environment and civic pride

Essex Art Club president John Tookey is known for his dynamic bold watercolours that sparkle with light. He will be demonstrating these skills at a Wanstead House event this month

In the 24th of a series of articles charting the Wild Wanstead project, Nicola Steele explains how you can help garden wildlife in winter

Russell Kenny and Paul Hayes have devised a series of self-guided history walks around the Wanstead area, which can be followed on a phone or from a printable map. In the first of a series of articles championing these tours through time, we discover some local historical highlights

It appears the Margaret Centre does not feature in plans for the new Whipps Cross Hospital. It provides specialist palliative care and cannot be lost, says Julie Donovan, a retired occupational therapist

A trust allows you to place assets under the control of chosen trustees, either during your lifetime (by deed) or on your death (by will). Hollie Skipper from local solicitors Wiseman Lee explains

Having embraced Zoom for their fortnightly meetings, Woodford & Wanstead Photographic Society member Alan Simpson gives a snapshot of what the historic club offers to the community

Marian Temple looks back at Wanstead’s community gardening during 2020. With participation boosted by the pandemic, four previously neglected patches of public soil were transformed for all to enjoy in 2021 and beyond. Photo of the new Gravel Garden by Geoff Wilkinson

Wanstead resident Jean Medcalf has published her first poetry book at the age of 89. To Everything There is a Season is a collection of lyrical, spiritual poems about nature. In the third of a series of articles, Jean introduces New Year, a poem about new beginnings. Photo of Wanstead High Street (circa 1955) courtesy of The Francis Frith Collection

Wanstead teenager Grace Wolstenholme invites you to watch her YouTube channel for an insight into life with cerebral palsy. In the sixth of a series of articles, Grace recalls meeting the holiday armadillo Hi everyone. It’s me again, Grace. This time, I thought I’d talk about Christmas and how different it was and how different things still are as this year ends and 2021 begins. OMG! It has been so different. Normally, people’s family get together, but that couldn’t happen this time because of COVID. But the way my mum thinks – which is dark, but true – if you want to have Christmas with your family, that could then be your last Christmas altogether! So, we all had to do Christmas differently. For me, it was the first Christmas in 10 years that I haven’t done a Christmas show at Chicken Shed Theatre. Chicken Shed changed my life. Before joining, I hated leaving the house as I was embarrassed for people to see me because I was ‘different’. But I’ve been doing the shows now since I was seven, so it felt really strange not to. And here’s something stupid: Capital FM do a concert every Christmas called the...

In the 11th of a series of articles looking at the developing plans for restoring Wanstead Park, Richard Arnopp of the Friends of Wanstead Parklands has some good news about the park’s historic grotto

In the second of a two-part rebel guide for the home activist, Wanstead Climate Action member Tina Nieman Da Costa explains how reading and writing can help save the environment