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In the 12th of a series of articles featuring the images of local photographers who document the wildlife of Wanstead Park and the surrounding area, Diane Dalli presents her shot of a Little Owl on Wanstead Flats

My hobby is wildlife photography and my favourite subjects are birds of prey, such as Kestrels, Buzzards and Sparrowhawks, all of which can be spotted at times on Wanstead Flats.

There are also one or two Little Owls around in the woods here. They nest in large old trees with hollow cavities and have successfully bred here, as young owlets have been spotted occasionally. They feed mainly on invertebrates such as worms, beetles and grasshoppers and the occasional small mammal or bird. When they spot their prey, they will swoop down to catch it with their sharp talons. 

Little Owls are the smallest UK owls and so are not that easy to spot. They are mainly nocturnal but are also active during the day and can sometimes be seen perching on a branch, especially if the sun is out. They are easier to see when the trees have lost their leaves and there is less cover as their markings make very good camouflage. The giveaway is the pair of sulphur-yellow eyes staring out with a very stern expression.

I was lucky enough to spot this Little Owl in a wooded area of Wanstead Flats one morning in May. It sat there staring at me for some time and I was able to take some photos as it posed, seemingly unconcerned. As I was taking my leave, it blinked, and one of its eyelids got stuck, giving it the appearance of a wink!

It was another unexpected magical moment on Wanstead Flats and the reason I will keep coming back with my camera.

To view more of Diane’s wildlife photos, visit wnstd.com/dalli

A reunion to mark the 100th anniversary of Wanstead High School will take place on 22 September.

“Old Heronians, former staff and all members of the school community are welcome. Catch up with old friends, take a tour of the school to see what’s changed, listen to a programme of live music from pupils and staff and check out our centenary merchandise and historical items from the last 100 years,” said a spokesperson.

A book documenting the history of the school has also been published.

Visit wnstd.com/whs100

In a survey conducted by the Friends of Wanstead Parklands, hundreds of local people have asked the City of London Corporation to start doing something about the state of the park. Lucy Dawes reports

Following a survey of local people, with over 400 responses, Wanstead Park emerges as a much-loved public amenity, but there is frustration at the lack of recent action over a set of key issues. These include preserving the lakes, improving the natural environment, maintaining the historic landscape and making everyone feel safe and welcome.

The responses, from both the public and members of the Friends of Wanstead Parklands, show the overriding top issue and priority (70% of respondents) for the City of London and other stakeholders to address is the current state of the lakes and waterscape. Verbatim feedback included comments such as: “the degradation of the lakes over the years is appalling,” and “the main priority is the restoration of the Ornamental Water.”

People most enjoy the natural environment (86%) of the park. Its preservation, in partnership with other community groups and stakeholders, was the second top issue (after the lakes) that people thought the Friends should focus on (50%). Some of the issues could be addressed by more communication to help people understand what is being done.

The historic landscape was the third most enjoyed aspect (49%) and the fourth highest reason for use of the park (42%). It is also a key concern for the future. People asked: “has work on the Grotto ground to a halt?” and requests included “better use of the Temple, such as summer afternoon teas run in conjunction with the tea hut.” 

Helping every park user to feel safe and welcome is also a concern for visitors. When asked what they disliked about the park, respondents raised a number of issues relating to how safe and welcome they feel. Dog behaviour (26%), cyclists and safety in the park, which includes antisocial behaviour, were mentioned. There were also issues relating to access, including inaccessible muddy paths, lack of access by public transport and disability access. 

Peter Brimson, chair of the Friends of Wanstead Parklands, said: “The committee welcomes our open and friendly dialogue with the City of London Corporation on behalf of the local community, but dialogue needs outcomes. The Friends will continue to campaign for the City of London to act and follow through on commitments it has already made.”

The survey also reflected the joy the people felt using the park. “Peacefulness”, “being close to nature and wildlife”, “the sense of open space” and “walking round the lake” are just some of the positive comments that people added about what they appreciate most about Wanstead Park.

The full report on the Friends of Wanstead Parklands survey is available online. Visit wnstd.com/fwpsurvey

The Parish of Wanstead will be submitting an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund this month in a bid to preserve Christ Church.

It follows a questionnaire completed by over 600 people about the importance of the 160-year-old, Grade II*-listed building, which will be used as part of the funding application to demonstrate community support.

“The overwhelming majority of responses have been positive, although some feel a religious organisation ought not to seek to receive public money. In response, I would say the point of this bid is to restore a local historic building and to make it accessible to all people, not just we Anglicans who currently use it… I am incredibly grateful to the 40 volunteers who have helped to put together a brilliant bid – we now need the prayers of all!” said Revd James Gilder.

An estimated £600,000 is needed to repair structural defects in the church tower. The church interior will also be redesigned to enable greater use by community groups.

Having lived in multiple countries, Art Group Wanstead member Nataly Kenny reflects on the connection she now has with the local environment

I was born in Yerevan, Armenia, where I fell in love with drawing and painting during my secondary school years. Family life and moving countries a number of times in my twenties and thirties, however, meant I did not have the opportunity or head-space to touch a pencil or a brush again for around 38 years.

I eventually settled in England and now live in Woodford with my family. I fell in love with the local area the moment we walked down Snakes Lane East towards our new home 17 years ago. My emotional connection to the area has only grown stronger over the years, having experienced the nature on our doorstep not only through my own eyes and heart but through those of my now late mother, my beloved husband, my daughter and my grandchildren.

I began to paint again after my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The pain of watching her rapidly deteriorate was too strong and I needed to release it somehow, so I tentatively started to experiment with drawing and painting.

The one silver lining of my mother’s disease was that she loved going for walks around the local area, and the one thing she did not rapidly lose was her love of nature. Those walks with my mother kept me relatively sane during those difficult times and also opened my eyes to the beauty of our local park – Ray Park – and the path that runs along the River Roding behind it. And since my grandchildren were born, the local parks and wilder pockets of Epping Forest, including Wanstead Park, have been like a second home to my whole family! 

Every flower, creature and scene in the local parks and along the river and forest paths – their vibrant colours and textures – have inspired me greatly and shaped me as an artist.

At first, I was a lone wolf, but over time, as I slowly recovered from losing my mother to Alzheimer’s, I longed to join the local artistic and wider community. So, in 2023, I joined Art Group Wanstead and Essex Art Club and have since formed friendships with some wonderful artists. We have exhibited together and supported each other during exhibitions in Wanstead Park and Wanstead House, Hawkey Hall, Epping Forest Visitor Centre and, most recently, the fayre at Eton Manor RFC. I love the welcoming atmosphere of these events and getting to know the local community. 

It is a blessing and a privilege to live on the doorstep of Epping Forest and I love painting it! The beauty of it is everywhere; we just need to look up and see it.

To view more of Nataly’s artwork, visit, natalykennyfineart.com

The East London Shakespeare Festival will stage its last open-air performance of the season in Wanstead Park on 3 August.

“Our productions are family friendly and we welcome everyone to bring a picnic and join the fun!” said Ursula Early and Rosie Ward, who founded the touring festival in 2020. This year’s production is the romantic comedy Much Ado About Nothing, to be performed in the Temple garden at 3pm and 7.30pm. “There’ll be contemporary twists and turns and audience participation.”

Visit wnstd.com/elsf

A new website devoted to architecture and architectural history in Wanstead has been launched.

“Wanstead is unique as a London suburb in having a wide variety of buildings of different types and from different eras. Most of the information is already in the public domain, but I wanted to bring it all together as a complete picture and make it easy to comprehend and analyse,” said local resident Ray Weekes, who has a master’s degree in Architectural History from Birkbeck.

Visit wansteadarchitecture.com

A planning application to build a block of flats on Evergreen Field was approved earlier this month, with developers looking to start work later this year.

The site – a patch of fenced-off land on Wanstead High Street, next to Christ Church Green – has not been used since 1967, when two homes that stood there were demolished.

The approval paves the way for the construction of a four-storey development, including a children’s day nursery on the ground floor and 24 flats above. A new public open space equating to just under half the total site area will also be created.

We would like to thank Redbridge Council officers, councillors and the public for their input into the planning process. Following clearance of any planning conditions, we are hopeful works will start later this year or early in 2025,” said a spokesperson for Caerus Developments.

The Wanstead Wildlife Weekend is the perfect opportunity to experience the fine array of butterflies and moths that Wanstead Park is blessed with during spring and summer, says Tim Harris from the Wren Wildlife Group

The reason butterflies thrive here is the rich variety of habitats. Chocolate and cream Speckled Wood butterflies can be seen flying low in sun-dappled woodland glades on warm days, while Purple Hairstreaks (bottom left photo) are denizens of the high oak canopy, often visible only when the sun catches their wings as they flit through the foliage. 

Wanstead Park’s untidy scrubby areas, especially where there’s plenty of brambles, attract Green Hairstreaks, Marbled Whites (centre photo), Gatekeepers (bottom right photo) and Ringlets. Then again, the open grassland between the tea hut and the Temple has its own suite of specialist species, including the skippers, Small Coppers and Small Heaths. Occasionally, a wanderer from further north in Epping Forest – such as a Silver-Washed Fritillary (top left image) – finds its way here in high summer. A surprise visitor is always possible if you keep searching. 

This diversity has been recognised by the Big City Butterflies project, which is working with the Wren Wildlife Group to monitor these beautiful insects. Volunteers will go out every week over the summer months to count numbers and species, with the findings being fed into a national database. Over time, this information will contribute to finding out how our butterflies are faring nationally – and inform conservation measures to help them. 

Children are naturally drawn to the beautiful colours and graceful flight of butterflies and, with that in mind, the Wren Wildlife Group’s Wildlife Weekend this month (22 and 23 June) will feature a butterfly trail. Just turn up at our information tent by the Wanstead Park tea hut and ask for a children’s butterfly pack.

Wanstead Park is also renowned for butterflies’ close relatives, the moths. More than 700 species have been spotted locally, and for those prepared to leave the comfort of their beds early on the Saturday morning of the Wildlife Weekend, the contents of a light-trap will be revealed at 6am. We are hoping for a repeat of last year’s event when one of the moths lured to the light was a magnificent Large Emerald (top right photo) – the first ever recorded locally.

For more information on Wanstead Wildlife Weekend events, visit wnstd.com/wild24

Autism exercise specialist Julia Morgan will be taking part in an autism awareness event in Wanstead this month. Here, the former teacher explains why initiatives like this are vital for promoting inclusivity

As we strive towards a more inclusive society, it is crucial to deepen our understanding of autism. In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the importance of autism awareness in our communities. But despite the fact there are 700,000 autistic people in the UK – equating to approximately one in 100 people – misconceptions and stigmas still persist. 

Autism is a spectrum condition, often affecting people differently, and like all individuals, autistic people have their own strengths and difficulties. Some common traits include a highly focused and keen interest in particular things, noticing small details and patterns, sensory sensitivities, social interaction difficulties and more. Many autistic individuals have made significant contributions to the world, such as Bill Gates, Tim Burton and Albert Einstein, who was never diagnosed but is widely thought to have been autistic. It shows the potential of those with a hyper focus and dedication to their work.

Autism awareness goes beyond simply recognising the existence of the condition; it entails gaining insight into the unique strengths, challenges and experiences of individuals. This understanding is essential for creating environments that are accommodating and supportive of their needs. Education is key, as it helps dispel myths and stereotypes while promoting empathy and compassion. The world is moving in the right direction in terms of autism acceptance and celebration, but more needs to be done. Everyone deserves to live in a world where we embrace diversity, promote acceptance and empower individuals to thrive in both mind and body.

In addition to promoting understanding, the focus is to create communities where individuals with autism are accepted and valued. In doing so, we can help to create a sense of belonging and encourage those to contribute their unique talents to society… and simply be celebrated as people. 

The autism awareness event this month will further enhance understanding and awareness about autism and promises a range of activities, information and presentations led by experts in autism and advocacy. Local businesses and organisations specialising in autism support, therapy and education will be on hand to offer information and resources to attendees. The importance of initiatives such as this cannot be underestimated; they help to build a more supportive community for individuals with autism. All are welcome to join us and contribute towards fostering a more inclusive society.

An autism awareness event will take place on 23 June from 2pm to 4pm at Wanstead Works, 34–40 High Street, E11 2RJ. For more information, visit wnstd.com/autism

For more information on exercising with autism, visit fitnessforall.uk

Skies over the UK were turned shades of pink and green last month as the Northern Lights produced incredible displays. Deepak Dembla took this photo from Wanstead Flats

Sometimes, dreams turn into realities. Watching auroras from London was one of those dreams, and many of us witnessed this amazing spectacle on 10 May 2024. I am an IT professional by trade, but photography and stargazing are among my passions.

Our sun sends a lot of heat and light – along with other energy – our way via solar winds. Sometimes, we get solar storms (scientifically known as coronal mass ejection or CME for short), during which the sun sends out a huge bubble of electrified gas that can travel through space at high speeds. When a solar storm from the sun reaches earth, it creates geomagnetic storms. Here, energy from the sun interacts with gases in our atmosphere, resulting in a beautiful display of light in the sky known as an aurora (Northern Lights). Oxygen gives off green and red light. Nitrogen glows blue and purple.

The solar storm that hit earth on Friday, 10 May, travelled at speeds up to three million miles per hour, creating a long-lasting geomagnetic storm that reached a rating of G5 – the highest level on the geomagnetic storm scale, and one that hasn’t been seen since 2003. Usually, auroras are confined towards the poles, but this storm caused auroras to be seen all across the UK.

We are approaching the solar maximum, an 11-year cycle when our sun is very active. The best guess we have from the National Optical Astronomy Observatory’s space weather modelling is this will be in July 2025, but it could happen months sooner or later. As we approach that solar maximum, we can expect more geomagnetic storms to pop up. 

I started taking photos on Wanstead Flats from 10pm and finished at 3.30am. To the naked eye, I could see hazy patches of green and pink, but long exposures brought out the full colour. It was an epic show and hopefully there will be more to come in the future.

To view more of Deepak’s photos of the Northern Lights, visit wnstd.com/deepak

Organisers of the Wanstead Festival are looking for local bands, singers and musicians to complete the line-up for this year’s event, which will take place on Christ Church Green on 15 September.

“The Wanstead Festival offers a great environment to showcase yourself using a 30-minute slot. There is a backline to accommodate bands and a sound technician to support on the day… If you are interested, please send in your showreel,” said a spokesperson for Vision RCL. The application deadline is 21 June.

Email Redbridge-events@visionrcl.org.uk