News

Wanstead and Snaresbrook Cricket Club has launched a fundraising drive called Project Heron. "To help us build on our recent achievements on the field, our facilities need to be upgraded urgently. We have identified what we need: new, state-of-the-art ECB-certified nets, the same kind the players use at Lord’s… We also plan to complete the refurbishment of our clubhouse by the start of the 2020 season," said a spokesperson for the Overton Drive club, which is looking to raise £75k. Visit wavidi.co/prheron...

Redbridge Council is installing 30 public access defibrillators in a bid to save lives. “The locations are being finalised and we will be able to share the information very soon… The project will include four on our housing estates across the borough and installations at Redbridge libraries in partnership with Vision,” said a council spokesperson. An online map shows the current location of the borough’s defibrillators – including one at Wanstead Leisure Centre – to be updated as the new equipment is rolled out. Visit wavidi.co/defib...

Wanstead Church School has won £3,750 from the Aviva Community Fund, having reached the final round thanks to online votes from local supporters. "Our bid for funding for our reflection garden project was voted a judges' choice winner and means the project can now go ahead," said a school spokesperson. The garden – which it is hoped will be in place by the Easter holidays – will be called Derek’s Garden, in memory of lollipop man Derek Jarvis, who helped children cross Wanstead High Street for 10 years before he died in 2017....

A public meeting on climate change will take place at Wanstead House this month. Featuring speakers from Extinction Rebellion – an international social movement that aims to bring about change through non-violent resistance – the event on 26 March (7pm to 9pm; free) will share the latest climate science findings, discuss some of the current psychology around climate change and offer solutions through the study of social movements. "The planet is in ecological crisis: we are in the midst of the sixth mass extinction event this planet has experienced. Scientists believe we may have entered a period of abrupt climate breakdown. This is an emergency," said event organiser Kathy Taylor. "Everyone is welcome, and there will be time to ask questions and discuss afterwards." Email wansteadclimateaction@gmail.com...