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Wanstead boasts a thriving swan population and with nesting season underway, local Swan Sanctuary volunteer Louisa Green urges the public to respect the swans’ space

Swan nesting season is upon us. It takes around one to two weeks to build the nest, and then the females will lay an egg every 24 to 48 hours until finished, incubating them for between 36 and 42 days. The average number of eggs is six or seven, but we do have females who regularly lay 10.

Wanstead is home to many swans, in Wanstead Park, on the Flats and on Eagle Pond in Snaresbrook, so here are a few things to be aware of during this important time of the year.

Never throw food onto a nest. The females will have gained several kilos prior to the laying process and will not eat very often during the six-week incubation period. By the time her eggs hatch, she will be close to her original weight. She knows what she’s doing! Food thrown onto nests can attract rats and other predators who can eat the precious eggs.

If you are taking photos, please keep your distance; use a zoom lens rather than getting up close.

Please, please, please keep dogs under very close control during this time (and all year round). Even if your pet is ‘great with children’ or ‘wouldn’t hurt a fly’, you have absolutely no way of knowing how your dog will react to a 12kg bird with a two-metre wingspan protecting their nest in their own environment.

Females do not deserve to be spooked on their nests and there have been national cases in the past of females who remain loyal to their eggs, refuse to leave their nest when challenged by a dog and are then killed. Males will be hyper-aggressive during this time too, and large cobs will not think twice about defending their waters from dogs.

Respect the swans and do not get too close to their nest. It is their environment and we would not think lightly of someone trying to encroach on our space, or hanging over the garden fence with a camera phone! Again, a pen will not abandon her eggs and will remain on her nest, feeling threatened and scared.

Never, ever share the specific location of nests and eggs on social media. There are folks out there who will target these nests for eggs and wildlife crime, and even if you think the swans are safe behind fencing or other barriers, this will not stop a determined criminal. Similarly, please do not share the locations of cygnets, ducklings or goslings. Not everyone is kind.

For more information on The Swan Sanctuary, visit wnstd.com/swans

To report a local injured swan or waterbird, call 07970 404 866 or 07527 750 277

A documentary about TfL’s recent ‘disastrous’ changes to local bus routes by 14-year-old Riku Fryderyk has received much praise. Here, the young filmmaker tells the story behind the story

During my time on YouTube, I’ve had a chance to explore the various systems that make up the UK’s transport network. The release of my documentary‚ A Bus Route Change Disaster, has been a major turning point for my channel’s development.

In the first week since the film was published, I found myself replying to 100-plus extensive comments. People have been sharing their personal experiences, expressing their outrage at the issues my documentary discusses and encouraging me to send the film to ITV. I’m very happy to see so much positive feedback on this film, as the production, which commenced on 31 January, took me through a difficult emotional journey; the weight of the problems I was uncovering day by day started bearing down on me, leaving me exhausted as I grew closer to the final edit.

When I attended one of the Save Our Local Bus Services campaign meetings at Christ Church in Wanstead, I never intended to create a documentary. At the time, I was recording content for a film about bus route 347, which was being withdrawn the following day. I became interested in the campaign and eventually proposed to make the film; the rest is history.

Throughout February, I could often be seen running around the area with all sorts of camera equipment. This was the largest project I’ve ever undertaken, and though it was fully self-produced, much of what you see was a collaborative effort between myself and local residents to highlight the most important issues. There were many moments of shock, such as when I got stranded at Whipps Cross bus stand, when Dave Sleet made me aware of the harsh truths of the changes’ impact on people’s wellbeing and the imminent introduction of shorter buses on the dangerously busy W12 route. The most memorable part of the entire production process was the moment in which I was screaming internally out of appreciation as I wrapped up my interview with Wes Streeting MP, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, at an event in Parliament. His contribution to the documentary was invaluable.

When I first sat down at my laptop to begin cutting down seven and a half hours worth of recording, I realised there was still much more footage to record to be able to tell the full story.

This project has taught me there is, indeed, a way to report on such issues and remain neutral of opinion. I have met many lovely people, picked up new filmmaking techniques, become more efficient in organising large loads of information and strengthened my storytelling skills. But above all, I can now call myself a documentary producer.

To watch the documentary, A Bus Route Change Disaster, visit wnstd.com/rfyt

At the end of February, Epping Forest staff and 20 volunteers from the Wren Wildlife and Conservation Group re-erected a rope fence around two areas of Wanstead Flats in anticipation of the Skylarks’ new breeding season.

“It is hoped this will deter dog owners from allowing their pets to enter these patches of grassland, where the larks nest on the ground,” said Tim Harris.

The rope will be taken down again at the start of September.

Wanstead Flats is the nearest Skylark breeding site to central London.

As the nation prepares to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Redbridge Museum Officer Nishat Alam reflects on the wartime diary of former Aldersbrook resident Fred James 

“A hush of expectance has stilled the whole day. Expectance of peace in Europe.” These are the words written in the diary of Wanstead man Fred James on 7 May 1945, just one day before Victory in Europe (VE) Day.

A resident of Herongate Road, Fred and his wife Daisy signed up as volunteer Air Raid Precaution (ARP) wardens in the Aldersbrook area even before war broke out in 1939. Fred would sound sirens to warn local residents of air raids, enforce blackout protocol, and report on bomb damage, all the while documenting his duties in diaries and photographs. A selection of these is on display in Redbridge Museum.

You’ll find funny photos, poems and jokes in Fred’s collection, but also present are the insights and devastating testimonials of war. Being so close to the capital, Wanstead and Woodford were bombed heavily during the Blitz between September 1940 and May 1941, and were hit by 25 V1 and 14 V2 bombs between June 1944 and March 1945. In one diary entry, Fred reports on two bombs that fell on Belgrave Road at 4.30am on 10 September 1940: “Two houses were demolished and 30 or 40 badly damaged… I did some traffic control with my lads. When we left, rescue parties were excavating for the casualties under the wreckage. Poor blighters.” In total, 802 people in Redbridge were killed, 4,000 injured, 50,000 homes were damaged and 822 destroyed.

2025 marks 80 years since the end of the Second World War and six years of fighting, demolition and death. On VE Day, the wartime Prime Minister and local MP Winston Churchill made a radio broadcast to the nation, reminding people that: “We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing; but let us not forget for a moment the toil and efforts that lie ahead.” 

The “brief period of rejoicing” was spent well, of course. Residents of Wanstead and Woodford celebrated by holding a total of 43 street parties across the borough, lining the streets with Union Jack flags and bunting. Tables were set out laden with food, games were organised for children and there was singing and dancing for all. Official celebrations by the Borough were then held over four days the following year with entertainment, a fair, Punch and Judy shows and a gala on Woodford Green opened by Churchill himself.

Though the war on Japan lasted until August, Brits were still able to breathe a sigh of relief that life would soon go back to normal. As for Fred, war seemed truly to be over when on 18 June he wrote: “The bowling club fence is again up around our post. It is finished!”

Redbridge Museum is located at Redbridge Central Library, Clements Road, Ilford, IG1 1EA. For more information, visit wnstd.com/rm or call 020 8708 2422

Local artist Leia Darla Davies had a connection with art from a very early age and is now looking to collaborate with other creatives in the local area as part of a new artistic hub she is launching

Born and bred in East London, my journey as an artist mirrors the vibrant community around me. I have always found inspiration in local landmarks, particularly Hollow Ponds, which often features in my paintings and animations. These familiar settings and landscapes serve as both a backdrop and a foundation for my creative exploration.

Alongside my practice as an artist, I am an events creative, workshop provider and the founder of ArtEast, a community interest organisation that provides a platform for artists to offer creative workshops, exhibitions and events to the community. ArtEast is rooted in the belief that creativity should be accessible to everyone, promoting collaboration, education and engagement through artistic expression. 

My connection with art began at an early age. My mother, Ashley Davies, an abstract artist, had me while studying at the Royal Academy. From as early as I could hold a paintbrush, I would paint beside her in a playpen – a beginning that, she jokes, makes me the youngest unofficial attendee of the Royal Academy! This early exposure to art ignited a lifelong passion, giving me an outlet for self-expression and a means to escape into other worlds through my creativity. I later went on to study at Central Saint Martins, UAL, where I discovered art was so much more about business and art-fashion than it was skill or passion than I had ever realised – a moment of disillusion all artists undergo. I became fascinated with human evolution, consumerism and global resources, which are still common motifs in my work.

My figurative works, such as Head in the Clouds (above right) and What Lies Beneath (above left) exemplify my focus on sociopolitical themes and psychological concepts. 

My recent solo exhibition at Wanstead Works underpinned these ideas and the essence of ArtEast – bringing creatives together to network, interact with immersive art and experience performance-infused exhibitions. This was just a glimpse into what I aim to bring to my new artistic hub, a space dedicated to exhibitions, workshops, community-led initiatives and immersive events. I will be announcing more details about the space soon and am actively looking for local talent to showcase and collaborate with. Watch this space.

For information on creative opportunities and workshops, visit art-east.co.uk or email leiadarla@outlook.com

The latest Wanstead Butterfly and Moth Report celebrates the diversity of moths recorded in the area, including only the fourth Light Crimson Underwing (pictured here) ever seen in Essex. Tim Harris reports

Last summer was hardly a classic and people probably don’t want to be reminded of long periods of cloud, rain and chilly winds. Reflecting this, many people commented on how few butterflies they were seeing. Their near absence wasn’t all down to the weather – the decline in butterfly numbers has been going on for years and is also due to changes in land use and pesticides. Nevertheless, the 2024 Wanstead Butterfly and Moth Report documents 26 different species of butterfly recorded, the same figure as in 2023.

However, for their night-time cousins, things weren’t so gloomy. Local naturalists observed 340 species of moths in 2024, mostly by using special ultraviolet lights to attract them. In so doing, they opened a window on a usually unseen world. 

Moths are vital for the natural world. Adults pollinate plants and are an important source of food for our area’s bat population and moth caterpillars are a key component of many birds’ diets. A diversity of moths reflects a diversity of food for their caterpillars to eat. Broadly speaking, the more different types of native plants an area is blessed with, the more varieties of moth will live there. And while clothes moths are a nuisance, 99.9% of moth species have no interest in eating woollen fibres. They eat leaves, buds, lichen and fungi in their larval state (caterpillars) and may feed on flower nectar as adults. So, a varied moth population indicates a healthy environment. 

There is a long tradition of observing and recording butterflies and moths (collectively known as the Lepidoptera) in the area around Wanstead Flats and Wanstead Park, which stretches back to the early 1980s. All the data collected is fed into the National Moth Recording Scheme, which has collated more than 34 million sightings to date – vital citizen science data to show which are doing well and which are struggling, and so guide conservation decisions.

In 2024, notwithstanding the weather, the total number of species recorded on our patch was the second highest on record, although that headline figure masks the fact that numbers of many species were down. Despite this, it was an extraordinary year in terms of quality. There was much to celebrate, including the addition of an impressive 30 new moth species to the patch list. These included only the fourth Light Crimson Underwing ever seen in Essex. 

But, of course, it’s not only about rarities. Our varied matrix of grassland, scrub, woodland, fresh water and leafy suburban gardens provides food and shelter for a great range of commoner species, all crucial pieces in the jigsaw puzzle that makes up our local ecosystems. And we should never take even the most common for granted; the environment is changing so rapidly at present – mostly for the worst – that we should treasure them all.

To view the 2024 Wanstead Butterfly and Moth Report, visit wrengroup.org.uk

For information on the National Moth Recording Scheme, visit wnstd.com/nmrs

Recent changes to local bus routes have impacted the lives of many local residents. In the third of a series of articles, 14-year-old Riku Fryderyk reflects on the day ITV News came to Wanstead to pick up the story

The Save Our Local Bus Services campaign made great progress in just the first month of 2025. I was first introduced to the group by my friend and joined one of their regular meetings at Christ Church in Wanstead out of curiosity. As a local video producer who covers all topics transport-related, I have, since that meeting, been working on a documentary to inform people across London about the impact of TFL’s bus route changes here and help residents’ voices to be heard.

And so, the moment I heard that Liz Martins, the founder of the campaign, had organised for ITV News to come down to Wanstead on the last day of January, I made sure I was there on that rainy Friday morning to film the entire event. The turnout was fantastic, with a crowd of concerned local residents listening to a panel of varied speakers, including Calvin Bailey MP, a director of the Wanstead Mental Health Clinic and many others. It felt incredibly powerful for the community to come together and speak their mind. Many will agree people’s horrible stories and experiences shouldn’t be diluted by the press and media – people want to know the truth.

The weather hadn’t permitted the gathered crowd of residents to walk all the way down to Wanstead Tube station, but we did get as far as Wanstead Place. The peaceful protest went brilliantly. We stopped traffic to cross the road safely, placards with messages like ‘Shame on TFL!’ and ‘Local Buses For Local People’ being held high in the air, with honks of support from car and bus drivers as Liz made our concerns heard through a megaphone.

After making it back, the ITV crew had a chance to interview a few people, myself included. In their report, which was aired that evening, there was a statement from the TFL press office which claimed that “26,500 more people now live within one bus journey of Whipps Cross Hospital.” We are well aware, though, of the countless disadvantaged people who no longer have simple access to the hospital.

It is so important that you make even a small contribution to this campaign by signing the petition, which takes very little time. Every name counts as we slowly but steadily progress to the goal of 10,000 signatures, which will permit a government response.

Each of the three routes (W12, W13 and W14) should run every 15 minutes in peak hours, and every 20 in off-peak. However, the concern is important nationwide – our campaign wants the government to agree on the fact that local residents must be meaningfully consulted prior to any changes that are made across the UK.

If you are affected by the local bus route changes, submit your experiences to the Save Our Local Bus Services campaign. Visit wnstd.com/busform. To view the campaign’s petition, visit wnstd.com/bus

A young filmmaker has created a documentary about TfL’s recent changes to the W12, W13 and W14 bus routes.

“My film features interviews with campaigners, bus trips with affected members of the public and footage from the middle of the campaigning action. I’ve tried to give a full explanation of TfL’s route design flaws, as well as a hopeful message for the campaign group’s success,” said 14-year-old Riku Fryderyk. A Bus Route Change Disaster is available to watch on Riku’s YouTube channel.

Visit wnstd.com/rfyt

A decision on the application for a development at Holy Trinity Church on Hermon Hill is expected this month.

If approved, Project Arclight will see the church’s 100-year-old Trinity Hall demolished to make way for a three-storey apartment building and nine houses. A new hall, playground and café are also part of the plans, which the church hopes will benefit the wider community. A number of local residents who believe the current hall is a vital piece of local heritage have opposed the plans.

Visit wnstd.com/pa

Acting Inspector Reshma Sher celebrates the opening of a new police hub in Woodford, which she says will improve local policing. Photo by Geoff Wilkinson

In partnership with Redbridge Council, a new police hub has opened in Woodford, within the heart of the community in the Orchard Estate, off Broadmead Road. There will be up to 20 officers based there, covering six wards: Bridge, Churchfields, Monkhams, South Woodford, Wanstead Park and Wanstead Village.

The opening of our police hub in Woodford provides Safer Neighbourhood officers with a dedicated base, which means officers will be stationed within walking distance of their wards and able to respond more effectively to issues such as antisocial behaviour, theft and vandalism.

The hub will also help to improve police response times across the west of Redbridge by reducing the current travel time from Ilford and Barkingside, giving officers more time for local patrols and tackling issues.

Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: “We are totally committed to making neighbourhood policing stronger than ever before so we can focus on tackling the crimes that matter most to Londoners. It’s an important step towards the Met’s mission of delivering our strongest-ever neighbourhood policing, which has already seen an additional 500 officers dedicated to working in communities across London, ranging from Superintendents to PCSOs.’’

I hope to provide you with some great results from the hub in the near future, but for now, I would like to share some good news stories from across Redbridge. There has been an almost 13% reduction in the number of offences in the previous 12 months, including fewer reports of violence, drug offences and violence against women and girls.

Some of our recent local operations have seen:

• 65 bags of cannabis and nine wraps of white powder – along with approximately £2,000 – seized when a car was stopped on Goodmayes Lane.
• A man, later found to be wanted for three other burglaries, pursued and arrested after officers noticed an alarm at a commercial premises near Ilford station.
• Officers on routine patrols around Churchfields recovered two machetes and a hunting knife from a building known to be used as a squat.
• Four arrests as part of an operation focused on offenders targeting victims making ATM withdrawals in Ilford town centre.
• Three machetes, a firearm, white powder and brown substance found in a property in Mayfield Ward as part of an intelligence-led operation. A man ran from the property, was located by a dog unit and arrested.
• Three vulnerable women rescued from a brothel by neighbourhood officers in Ilford.
• Two robbery suspects arrested by officers in the Orchard Estate after they stole a victim’s coat and recorded the attack on a phone.

The Woodford Police Hub is located on the Orchard Estate, Broadmead Road. For more information and to contact your local Safer Neighbourhoods Team, visit wnstd.com/snt

Work to improve Chestnut Avenue in Wanstead Park has been completed.

“This double avenue of chestnut trees, with an iconic view towards the Temple, is an important feature in the park… By removing lower branches and opening up the northern side of the avenue adjacent to Chalet Wood, we are helping improve the avenue’s health and ensure definition to the park’s heritage features,” said a spokesperson for the City of London Corporation, which manages the park as part of Epping Forest.

Mark Gorman is co-author of a new book exploring the almost forgotten work of unemployed labourers who transformed the local landscape in the late 19th century

Epping Forest is far from being a natural landscape. For centuries, people have been making use of the forest, and in doing so, have continually altered ‘the natural aspect’. The southern forest is no exception – from the 1880s to the first decades of the 20th century, the terrain we know today was created largely by unemployed workers.

When the City of London Corporation took over Epping Forest in 1878, they set about altering the landscape of Wanstead Flats, Wanstead Park and Leyton Flats. There was an economic depression in the late 1880s and 1890s and local worthies formed committees to support unemployed labouring men and women. There were public appeals for money and later, government grants began.

Local Distress Committees organised public works projects and all the lakes on the Flats, and several in the Park, were created or much altered. Heronry Lake was enlarged, the island created and the bottom concreted by hundreds of unemployed labourers working only with hand tools. The Ornamental Waters were de-silted and restored. Meanwhile, on Wanstead Flats, Alexandra Lake was created from scratch, and West Ham labourers built the Model Yacht Pond (now Jubilee Pond). Sports fields were laid out on the Flats and drained. The Hollow Ponds at Whipps Cross were also enlarged and a swimming lake created.

The conditions the men faced were back-breaking, involving levelling uneven heathland, planting and tilling, as well as digging and draining the areas that were to become the lakes in the southern forest. A Forest Gate resident, observing the work on Wanstead Flats in the late 1890s, commented that “it was positively distressing to see the poor ‘unemployed’, mostly men of miserable physique, engaged in the useless labour of turning over the heavy frozen clay.”

Not all the men worked willingly, but quite minor offences could lead to dismissal. Half a dozen men were removed in March 1907 for offences ranging from refusing to stop smoking and abusive language to “being absolutely lazy.” The works foreman declared: “We are drifting into the casual labour class,” comparing them unfavourably with previous batches of men. Although those dismissed could appeal against the decision, most appeals were rejected.

The work of these men is now almost forgotten, but we owe the modern-day environment of the southern forest, with its playing fields, lakes and copses, to the unemployed labourers of East London who, in the space of 25 years, transformed the face of this landscape.

Changing the Face of the Forest by Mark Gorman, Peter Williams and Andrew Cole is priced £6 and available from a number of local outlets. For more information, visit wnstd.com/ctfotf