Councillor Paul Donovan and Councillor Jo Blackman explain how the recent declaration of a climate emergency by Redbridge Council will impact on Wanstead life Redbridge Council has declared a climate emergency, committing to go carbon neutral by 2030 and carbon free by 2050. The council unanimously carried the motion – brought by Wanstead Village councillors – on 20 June. Enactment of the motion will bring the whole question of the environment up the council agenda. The big challenge now is to put the worthy words into action. The motion commits the council to carry out a green audit of its services and tackle air pollution, particularly at schools. Plastic use is to be radically reduced in council operations, with efforts being made to cut single-use plastic right across the borough. The waste and recycling elements of the motion look to very much focus on stopping producing...

The popular Wanstead Fringe Jumble Trail returns next month and this year it will be doing its modest part to help protect our planet. Mark Herring reports As usual, the Fringe will unleash a full and varied programme of theatre, comedy, music and art on the people of Wanstead, with new venues and plenty of old favourites. That includes the one and only Wanstead Jumble Trail, which offers a brilliant opportunity to clear out your wardrobe and free up some space in the toy cupboard – assuming you dare to open it. The trail also provides a great excuse to get out there and meet your neighbours, steal ideas for your garden or just have a wander around the area. Who knows who you might meet – or what you might find? And this year, the trail aims to be more eco-friendly than ever. Without wanting...

Once frequented by highwaymen and now run by a football legend, the site of the pub now known as Nightingale on the Green has a rich history. Millicent Brown reports It is a historic Wanstead public house which has been visited by families for centuries – and recently, it has been buzzing once again under changed ownership and the new name of Nightingale on the Green. Dating back to the early 18th century, the picturesque green it is situated upon – once known as Mob’s Hole – was the heart of all the crime that characterised this now tranquil area of Wanstead. At that time, a woman who called herself Lady Butterfield kept a notorious roadhouse here. The green was a well-known place for people to go and enjoy a drop of alcohol and some gambling – and legendary highwayman Dick Turpin was the most...

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the start of World War II, the East of London Family History Society is inviting its members to share their wartime memories. Janet Seward reports In August, the Newham and Redbridge branch of the East of London Family History Society will hold a members’ evening, but guests are still welcome. These evenings are an opportunity for members to share family stories or the trials and tribulations of detecting their ancestors. We don’t usually have a theme to these evenings, but as September brings the 80th anniversary of the start of the World War II, we have decided to devote the session to memories of that time. So far, we have three confirmed speakers. Michael Potter and I will co-ordinate the evening. One of the first significant events of the war for many was the evacuation of civilians, especially children,...

A bat walk for families with children aged seven and over will take place in Wanstead Park on 30 August. Hosted by the Field Studies Council and the Friends of Wanstead Parklands, the two-and-a-half-hour walk will depart from the Temple at 7.30pm (adults: free; kids: £5). “Explore the park’s diversity of bat species – including soprano and common pipistrelles and Daubenton’s – and learn how they use sound to see. We will use bat detectors to hear them,” said a spokesperson. Visit wnstd.com/bats...

The Field Studies Council (FSC) in partnership with the Friends of Wanstead Parklands will be running a tree identification course for families in Wanstead Park this month. “Join us on a walk and learn how to identify our trees using their leaves, bark and seeds… Discover how trees contribute to our environment,” said an FSC spokesperson. Suitable for children aged 18 months to 11 years, the workshop will run from 10am to 12 noon and from 1pm to 3pm on 21 August (meet at the Temple; adults: free; kids: £5). Visit wnstd.com/trees...

Children and their families are invited to take part in bug hunt in Wanstead Park this month as part of a series of activities run by the Field Studies Council in partnership with the Friends of Wanstead Parklands. “We will look for creepy crawlies under logs and stones and spot insects on plants and trees,” said a spokesperson. Suitable for children aged 18 months to 11 years, the hunt will take place from 10am to 12 noon and from 1pm to 3pm on 8 August (meet at the Temple; adults: free; kids: £5). Visit wnstd.com/bugs...

A local health campaign group is urging residents to sign a petition calling for the government to provide funding to rebuild Whipps Cross Hospital. “Barts Health NHS Trust has the go-ahead to develop plans for Whipps… But with a funding shortfall, the pressure will be to sell off too much land to the detriment of the size and facilities of the new hospital. Government failure to invest in NHS building is a real threat to our hospital’s success,” said a spokesperson for Waltham Forest Save Our NHS. Visit wnstd.com/wxp...

Following a popular summer social event earlier this month, the Wanstead Society is developing plans to host more informal gatherings for its members. "We held our annual summer social in the Nightingale on the Green pub in July. We had a great turn out and hope to make the society more social with more drinks and dinner events in the near future,” said Scott Wilding, chairman of the community group. The Wanstead Society is a non-political organisation working to protect, preserve and improve the local area. Visit wnstd.com/ws...

Organisers of the seventh annual Wanstead Fringe – which will run from 7 to 15 September – say this year’s event will be ‘bigger than ever’. "The week-long Fringe will include more live professional theatre, comedy, music, demonstrations, talks and assorted cultural activities than ever before. Not to mention established favourites like the open-air Wanstead Kinema and the jumble trail,” said a spokesperson. Last year, the Fringe attracted thousands of local residents as well as visitors from further afield. This time, organisers are expecting an even higher level of interest – especially with more events taking place in Aldersbrook, including a new play to be staged at the Aldersbrook Community Centre. A musical production of The Railway Children at Forest School promises to be another highlight. Visit wnstd.com/fringe19...

Children are invited to learn life-saving skills next month, with two first-aid courses to be held at Wanstead House. Making use of fake blood and music, the sessions – which take place on 1 and 22 August from 10.30am (£19.50) – will cover, among other subjects, choking, CPR and the recovery position. “The course is aimed at children aged four to 13 years. All get to use a training defibrillator and administer a pretend electric shock,” said a spokesperson for course administrators Butterfly First Aid. Visit wnstd.com/firstaidkids...

The Wanstead Community Gardeners are keen to encourage more people to assist them in their work. “We can do the planting, but as a community, the maintenance can be done by non-gardeners. Watering is needed in times of no rain. Some plants will flower all summer if their seedheads are removed. It would be easy if lots more people just did a bit in a time of their choosing, and this way, it would be a real community effort. Please contact us by email or leave a note in the library,” said Marian Temple. Email gardeners@wnstd.com...