Wanstead Library will host a Christmas rhyme time session for children under five this month. “Come along to this extra special festive rhyme time with a special visit from Santa. Enjoy rhymes, songs and stories with your child and meet other parents and children,” said a library spokesperson. The event will take place on 18 December from 2pm to 2.30pm (free). Regular rhyme time events take place at Wanstead Library on Wednesdays (2pm to 2.30pm) and Fridays (11am to 11.30am). Call 020 8708 7400...

A homeless shelter will launch at Christ Church hall next month. Open every Tuesday night from 7 January until the end of March, the project is a partnership with the Forest Churches Emergency Night Shelters. Wanstead Parish is hoping to raise £10,000 to cover the costs of the shelter, including adapting the hall kitchen and buying new sleeping bags. “It is a disgrace that homeless people are still dying on our streets. This shelter is a small but important step to address this,” said Rev Jack Dunn. Visit wnstd.com/shelter...

Local resident Frank Charles is seeking donations of new toys or books for his annual Christmas visit to Acorn Children’s Ward at Whipps Cross Hospital. “The presents will go to children aged zero to 16 years who will be in hospital over the festive period and beyond, with this being the 15th consecutive year that I have delivered toys there,” said Frank, who founded the Frank Charles Give A Gift Appeal in 2004. Donations can be left at Wanstead Pharmacy, 75–77 High Street, up until 5pm on 20 December. Visit frankcharles.org.uk...

Wanstead Society chairman Scott Wilding explains why the group’s social events are just as important as their work to protect, preserve and improve the local area The Wanstead Society was formed in 1997 with the aim of protecting and enhancing the built environment in Wanstead, Snaresbrook and Aldersbrook. But for a long time now, we have aimed to bring the community together through a series of annual social events in local businesses. We have long sought to enhance the local environment by working with developers to ensure good design in new buildings, by planting trees in public spaces and funding gardening schemes across the area. But there is little point in improving the area if we don’t bring the people who live in it together. This year, we held a summer social in the Nightingale pub, and a winter one in More Italy. Both laid on great...

In the seventh of a series of articles looking at the developing plans for restoring Wanstead Park, John Meehan, chairman of the Friends of Wanstead Parklands, looks at what has been achieved in the park so far and explains what is still to come, and invites anyone who cares about the park’s future to become a member. Ornamental Waters photo by Christian Moss The present campaign for Wanstead Park was started in 2005. Initially an ad hoc committee of concerned local people, the founders delivered a successful lottery-funded project to raise awareness of the park. About a decade ago, we reactivated a membership-based group called the Friends of Wanstead Parklands, which had been dormant for some time. The Friends has grown into a dedicated group of volunteers, which works tirelessly with the City of London and other stakeholders to improve the Wanstead Park experience –...

Redbridge Council is rolling out cycle hangars across the borough. “The response from residents so far has been very positive, with the vast majority looking forward to having somewhere safe to put their bikes. In neighbouring boroughs, hangars have proved popular and helped foster a cycling culture – hopefully, the same will happen in Redbridge,” said Councillor Paul Donovan. “If you are interested in having a hangar close to where you live, please get in touch.” Email jack.redman@redbridge.gov.uk...

At the start of 2019, members of the Wren Wildlife Group set themselves a challenge to find 300 species of moths and butterflies in the local area, including Wanstead Flats and Wanstead Park. “It has proved to be the best year on record, locally, with 308 species of moths and 27 butterflies at the time of writing. About 20 of the moths have not been recorded previously in the local area, although some expected species have clearly suffered as a result of the fire damage on the Flats last year,” said Tim Harris. Visit wrengroup.org.uk...

A performance of The Snowman soundtrack by Redbridge Brass Band will accompany a local screening of the festive film this month. “That magical sound of a brass band is something many associate with Christmas. It conjures up the aroma of hot chestnuts, tinsel, fairy-lights, carols and, of course, Christmas shopping trips,” said band member Dave Wallace. Three performances will take place at St Gabriel’s Church in Aldersbrook on 14 December (3pm, 5pm and 7pm; adults: £12; under-15s: £6; under-2s: free). Visit wnstd.com/snowman...

Visiting a Christmas market is the perfect way to get into the spirit of things, says Rosie Nolan, organiser of Local Makers Market. Christmas card illustration by Katie Clement The first event I organised in Wanstead was a Christmas market in 2013. I called it Wanstead Makers Market at the time. I’d just moved to the area and had organised craft markets previously, so thought maybe I could do the same here. It became a popular and well-attended event, so I then started to find other venues around east London to hold the market. This is when I decided to change the name to Local Makers Market so it was not tied to one location. It has since taken place in Dalston, Hackney Wick and Stoke Newington. Wanstead is the place we hold the most events though and it’s our favourite location! Wanstead is such a...

Redbridge Council’s next West Neighbourhood Local Forum – which was scheduled for 12 December – has been postponed because of the General Election. The next round of local forums will resume in January. “We are identifying venues for these meetings. Please check back in the coming weeks for updated information,” said a council spokesperson. The forums provide opportunities for residents to work with officers and councillors to find solutions to local issues. Visit wnstd.com/forum...

Wanstead’s local councillors will hold two advice surgeries this month (instead of the usual four). Wanstead Park ward representatives – Councillors Sheila Bain and Paul Merry – will be available to meet residents at the Allan Burgess Centre on 7 December from 10am to 11am. Wanstead Village ward representatives – Councillors Paul Donovan, Jo Blackman and Daniel Morgan-Thomas – will hold their session in the vestry of Christ Church on 14 December from 10am to 11am. Visit wnstd.com/councillors...

John Cryer is the Labour Party candidate standing for the Leyton and Wanstead constituency at this month’s General Election. Here’s why he thinks he deserves your vote on 12 December So, the country is going to the polls again. With Brexitmania dominating everything, you could be forgiven for forgetting that General Elections are about more than just one issue. However, the winning party will govern for the next five years and will be responsible for our health, our children’s education, our rights at work, transport and so much more. Brexit, of course, touches on all of these issues, and it will quite rightly be high up on every voter’s agenda when they decide in which box to put their cross. The Labour Party is the only one of the major national parties pledging a second referendum, with an option to remain. Even as an outspoken...