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One of the highlights of this year’s Wanstead Fringe is All Rest, an immersive opera set and staged in the graveyard at St Mary’s Church. Here, the opera’s composer Simone Spagnolo explains what to expect

The opera All Rest is an original, immersive opera experience portraying a fictional dreamscape about the people dwelling in St Mary’s graveyard. Six characters and a chorus of ghosts lead the audience on a journey through the grounds, offering a glimpse of past and future stories.

The stories featured include some of Wanstead’s well-known historical characters, including Astronomer Royal James Pound, Admiral Robert Pamplin and Jessie Nutter, one of the sisters who bequeathed much to the people of Wanstead. As ghosts who still inhabit the premises of St Mary’s, these characters narrate precious memories of their lives, eventually reuniting in a final, poignant choral moment to bridge their reminiscences with the audience’s presence. 

The opera features solo voices, a choir, flute, violin, portable speakers and St Mary’s historic organ. It was premiered earlier this year at the St Mary’s Music Festival, which originally commissioned it, but the Fringe has arranged this second opportunity to experience this unique, site-specific work. 

Aside from reflecting on the history of Wanstead and St Mary’s, this performance piece draws inspiration from the aesthetics of promenade and immersive theatre, which enables the spectator to be within the scene and a common location to become a theatrical setting. Serena Braida – who wrote the text – and I shared an aim to join this peculiar format with that of the number opera, so as to allow the magic of the music to further complement the immersive experience. 

Having the possibility to put in action such a stimulating, interdisciplinary exchange certainly prompted our interest and curiosity. Possibly, the most fascinating thing about All Rest is that it gave us the opportunity to create a piece in which reality and representation cross and blur each other in a spectacularly inspiring location. Ghosts, graves, characters from the past, operatic singing, nature walking, portable radios, choral chanting: everything fades into the current moment, subtly offering a spiritual touch. I guess this is what we tried to achieve, a brief spiritual moment in which art and nature meet. 

We hope visitors and audiences will enjoy our work, in its apparent simplicity, and we wholeheartedly thank all those who have contributed to this imaginative performance piece.

For more information on Wanstead Fringe events, visit wnstd.com/fringe

The cultural revolution that has been going on in Wanstead for the past few years is in full flow. And, like all of us, whatever our age, it looks like it is growing up, writes Fringe director Giles Wilson 

The Wanstead Fringe, which started just after the 2012 London Olympics with comedy and open-air cinema, is now in its second decade and has blossomed into a full arts festival with theatre, music recitals, literary events and much more. 

This year’s theme takes a line from Picasso as its inspiration: “Once we grow up,” in which he wrestled with the tension between getting older without losing childlike freshness. That’s something of what we’ve been trying to do.

This year will see a dozen different plays being performed at three sites, including for the first time Shakespeare, with a production of Richard II taking place at the Wanstead Curtain, a new theatre we have created in the hall of the Wanstead Methodist Church on Hermon Hill. Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads will be staged in a High Street cafe and several new works will be performed in the upstairs room at The Bull, including several plays which are coming to us directly after the Edinburgh Fringe.

The Wanstead Curtain will also be the venue for three indoor Kinema screenings, ahead of the traditional favourite open-air Kinema in the grounds of Christ Church. This year’s family film is the hit musical Wonka, featuring the talents of one of the stars of last year’s Fringe, Paterson Joseph.

There will be a range of musical styles being performed, from the Replacement Hipsters through the award-winning Redbridge Brass to top concert instrumentalists and performers. Opera star Lucy Crowe OBE and husband Joe Walters will again be bringing a beguiling mix of musical styles to their eve-of-fringe Charivari in the stunning St Mary’s Church on Overton Drive. And that will also be the venue for two performances of All Rest, an opera written by local composer Simone Spagnolo, which is set in the churchyard featuring some of the former Wanstead residents who are buried there.

There will be 10 literary events during the Wanstead Book Festival, which is part of the Fringe. Among the attractions are fake history-slayer Otto English (in conversation with Lord Victor Adebowale), comedian Paul Sinha, who will be speaking about his autobiography, philosopher Julian Baggini and Daisy Goodwin, author of a heartbreaking history of the life of Maria Callas.

We are lucky in this part of London to have such a range of events in easy reach. But with the Wanstead Fringe, we are trying to build something new and local, and we’re doing it for ourselves.

We look forward to seeing you at events once again this September.

For more information on Wanstead Fringe events, visit wnstd.com/fringe

The Wanstead Fringe will return this month with over 100 events taking place, including 10 different plays.

“The Fringe runs from 7 to 28 September, and this is your chance to help make it the success Wanstead deserves. Take a look through the listings in the Fringe section of this issue and get the dates in your diary so you don’t miss out!” said Fringe director Giles Wilson.

A number of popular Fringe events will return this year, including the open-air Kinema on 14 September and the jumble trail on 21 September.

Visit wnstd.com/fringe

In the first of two articles, Terry Joyes reflects on his 12-year journey to publishing a book about the history of Wanstead High School, just in time for the school’s 100th anniversary next month

The other day I was looking through some old emails, an exercise in which I’m sure many nostalgic hoarders would find indulgence, and I found one dated 2012. Not all that old, but it was its very content that gave it significance. It was part of the correspondence between myself and the late Patrick Renshaw that had given life to my initial idea of compiling a history of Wanstead High School.

Patrick and I had both been pupils at the school, although Patrick was in the year above mine. We also had two conditions in common: we were both born in West Ham and both enjoyed a love of history, he professionally but I as a professed amateur.

In 2012, Wanstead High School was within two years of celebrating its 90th anniversary. There had been such enjoyment of the 75th anniversary in 1999 that the proposition of a further reunion was indeed compelling.

I was delighted to know, through our correspondence, that a professional historian such as Patrick was enthusiastic to the point of offering not only advice but also to writing an essay to set the historical circumstances in which Wanstead High School was born on 23 September 1924. With Patrick’s enthusiasm raising my own expectations of myself, I questioned, nevertheless, my own ability as an historian to undertake such a task. Patrick spurred me on, although he was in a different league; a widely published author of works on the US and its worker population, he was awarded Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. How could I begin to consider collaboration with one of such stature in academia?

Although subject to an inward constraint, I was emboldened to find my collection of important prime evidence and documentation – most of which I had accumulated before and after the 1999 reunion – could be used as building blocks for a projected book; ideas began to flow. Meanwhile, Patrick honoured his commitment to provide a background history, both political and social in context, and I admit to being flattered when he sent me drafts for my consideration. I came to understand the nature of Patrick’s generosity.

The project Patrick and I were pursuing was due for completion by 2014; but we were to be thwarted. The school found itself in line for a rigorous Ofsted inspection, one which would consume the thinking and attitudes of staff so that all preparatory actions became assessment-oriented. Fear of Ofsted’s visit prior to any reunion necessitated cancellation of the 90th anniversary celebration, and with it was lost the impetus we had shared in producing the book. Our initial enthusiasm was dormant, and as I will explain next month, it took a pandemic to revive our interest.

A reunion will take place at the school on 22 September. For more information and to order a copy of The Story of Wanstead High School by Terry Joyes and Patrick Renshaw, visit wnstd.com/whs100

Joshua Abbott has launched a crowdfunding campaign to publish Modernism Beyond Metro-land, a book documenting 20th-century architecture in London’s suburbs. In the second of a series of extracts, the spotlight is on Wanstead Library. Photo by Geoff Wilkinson

Wanstead was part of Essex until 1965 when it became part of the new London Borough of Redbridge. From 1945, Essex County Council instigated a large library building programme overseen by their chief architect HC Connolly, building new facilities all over the county. However, by the late 1960s, Redbridge began a new wave of library construction, often creating buildings that combined health, educational and advice services.

Wanstead Library was opened in 1969 on a site next to Christ Church Green, replacing a smaller branch library from 1944 on the High Street. The new building was designed by the Architects Department of Redbridge Council, at the time led by Michael G Booth, with the job overseen by D Meyer and B Etteridge.

At first glance, the 1969 library might be dismissed as a typical post-war piece of municipal architecture, a mixture of jutting shapes and sharp angles in dark brick. However, if we look closer, we can see it is in fact an interesting and thoughtful piece of design. The building fits into a small plot between Spratt Hall Road and Woodbine Place with facades facing west and north. To ensure a regular and even source of natural light, the building is arranged in a rectangular plan with staggered facades at the north and south ends. The northern end is glazed floor to ceiling with thin, vertical window strips, dispersing the light across the library floor. Light is also admitted via a series of triangular roof lights which face north, allowing a soft, even light suitable for reading and study.

Internally, the library was arranged in separate areas for adults, children and reference books, all accommodated in a column-free space under a timber-clad ceiling. Adjoining the library is the Churchill Room, intended as a meeting space for cultural and educational groups, with room for 150 people. The hall also has facilities for cooking, storage, offices and changing rooms. The library and hall were opened on 4 October 1969 by Patrick Jenkin, the then Conservative Member of Parliament for Wanstead and Woodford. The library and the adjoining Churchill meeting rooms were refurbished in 2017.

For more information on Modernism Beyond Metro-Land and to support the crowdfunder, visit wnstd.com/mbml

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

In the fourth of a series of articles charting the challenges facing Aldersbrook Medical Centre, Paul Wildish reports on a tentative victory and the power of the patient voice

In February, patients of the Aldersbrook Medical Centre (AMC) received a letter from the headquarters of NHS NE London announcing a change in services that provoked alarm among our community. It proposed the Richmond Road practice from Hackney – which had successfully rescued AMC from decay over the past five years – would be leaving. Immediately, the AMC’s patient community came alive on social media with resistance to such an outrage.

The Patient Participation Group (PPG) sprang into action to organise a public campaign to guarantee our services and, ideally, retain the same providers. The success of our campaigning can be measured by the tenor of a second letter received at the end of April, which was of a far more conciliatory nature. One might even suggest it was an acknowledgement of the defeat of the NHS’s original proposals as it announced that “we have reached a mutual agreement with the Richmond Road Medical Centre to extend their contract for Aldersbrook Medical Centre until 31 March 2025.”

We had a win! Albeit not a complete one. But by dogged campaigning, listening to the patients and focused political lobbying, we negotiated directly with NHS managers, demonstrating that no solution could be won without them paying attention to the patient voice. The PPG wholeheartedly recognises the significant contributions made by Lord Victor Adebowale, Chair of NHS Confederation and an Aldersbrook resident and AMC patient, our local MP John Cryer who responded quickly and positively to our requests for support and our local councillors, particularly Councillor Sheila Bain, who stood with us from the beginning and opened the doors of Redbridge Council’s Health Scrutiny to us. Also, Councillor Paul Donovan, who wrote supportive articles for the local press. Their commitment to the PPG’s case meant we could not be ignored.

What happens now? We have an undertaking from NHS Primary Care managers to work with the PPG over the course of Richmond Road’s extended contract to achieve a permanent solution for AMC’s future. Due to the legal framework, a competitive bidding process is required and Richmond Road has confirmed they will be bidding. We have also won the concession that our ‘island practice’ status will always be considered as a stand-alone, staffed GP practice and never an adjunct to another local practice. All in all, we have won far more than we expected when we took on the opaque bureaucracy of the NHS. We understand that no other PPG has ever mounted a campaign in defiance of bureaucratic decisions from on high and we are determined to stick to scrutinising NHS managers until we have achieved an equitable settlement we believe all patients rightfully deserve.

For more information about the Aldersbrook Medical Centre Patient Participation Group, visit wnstd.com/amc

Volunteers are needed to help map and assess the condition of public ponds across Redbridge as part of The Great London Pond Project.

“This project, which is supported by the Mayor of London, will take place from June to September. Volunteers can choose how many 1km grid squares they would like to survey and can conduct the surveys whenever suits them,” said Elizabeth Witcombe, Project Officer for ZSL.

A two-hour training session will take place at Wanstead Library on 10 June from 2.30pm.

Visit wnstd.com/pondproject

Hopes are high for another successful Skylark breeding season on Wanstead Flats.

“There appears to be a minimum of seven birds and at least three singing males. Assuming these males pair up, we are hopeful that the females will lay eggs and that these will successfully hatch, with the young going on to join the local population,” said Tim Harris of the Wren Wildlife Group.

Last year, three pairs of Skylarks raised four young on the Flats, which has been partially roped off to help reduce disturbance to the ground-nesting birds.

Councillor Jo Blackman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability, shares her journey of reconnecting with nature through local volunteer conservation work

The state of the world, degradation of the environment and climate doom can leave us feeling anxious and frustrated. Our busy lives and over-exposure to the digital world can also take its toll on our stress levels and mental health. But it is well documented that connecting to the environment can decrease stress and improve your mental health. Being in nature brings benefits, as does the physical exercise of the activity we undertake there. 

Whilst I spend a lot of time working on environmental policy as cabinet member for the environment on Redbridge Council, and through my work with environmental charities, too little of my time is spent actually in the environment. So, I recently dedicated two days to help two charities with local conservation work. 

I spent a day in waders with the river charity Thames21, an organisation helping to bring stakeholders together to look after our rivers. We helped enhance the habitat in the River Roding adjacent to Wanstead Park by installing deflectors, which are basically logs secured to the riverbed, providing a home for wildlife and slowing the flow of the river. I spent another day on dry land helping the Epping Forest Heritage Trust (where I am a trustee) conserve the acid grasslands – which also provide a vital habitat for nature – by removing saplings and clearing bramble. 

On both days we were joined by volunteers, some local and some from further afield, a mix of ages, backgrounds and professions. All shared the common desire to get out from behind their desks and do something to help the environment. Very few of us had any previous conservation experience and both charities provided all the equipment and advice needed. Whilst the work would have been very slow going individually, as a group, we made good progress. After several hours, we were able to look proudly at the contribution we had made to conserving these important spaces. It gave me fresh insights into the challenges facing nature in our urban environment – including climate change, litter, invasive species and pollution. And it renewed my resolve to do all I can in my work as a councillor, as well as with charities, to preserve and enhance our environment.

Many companies allow staff to spend one or two days a year volunteering, though many people don’t take advantage of this. There are also opportunities to volunteer with Vision in the Roding Valley and other Redbridge parks as part of their conservation work. And for those who can’t devote a whole day, there are plenty of opportunities locally to spend an hour or two helping out – with our amazing community gardeners or litter pickers.

Jo Blackman is Labour councillor for Wanstead Village ward.

For more information on conservation volunteering, follow the links below:

Epping Forest Heritage Trust

Thames21

Vision RCL

Litter picking sessions also take place in Wanstead on the third Saturday of each month. For more information, email Jo.Blackman@redbridge.gov.uk

Live animals will be on show in Wanstead Park next month as part of the annual Wanstead Wildlife Weekend.

“We have booked an exciting display from a company with a good reputation for animal welfare. They will be showing live British wildlife, such as rodents, a barn owl, a snake, invasive marsh frogs and even a rescue hedgehog,” said a Wren Wildlife Group spokesperson.

Taking place on 22 and 23 June, the weekend of free events will also include bushcraft workshops, a spider hunt and pond dipping.

For more information, visit wrengroup.org.uk

This year’s Wanstead Festival will take place on 15 September.

Exhibitors, performers and caterers are invited to apply to take part in the annual community event. “This popular event attracts thousands of people, who come together to enjoy a fun-filled day on Christchurch Green. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to showcase your business,” said a spokesperson for Vision RCL.

Visit wnstd.com/festival

With winter behind us, many will be tempted to mow, strim, cut back and tidy their gardens. But Wanstead resident Karen Myers explains why you should resist and join in with No Mow May 

A recent survey by the charity Buglife found the UK’s flying insect population has declined by as much as 60% in the last 20 years, and scientists have confirmed land-dwelling insect populations continue to collapse by around 9% every decade. This freefall in the mainstay of our ecosystem is due to a variety of reasons, including climate change, intensive farming methods, pesticide use in parks, on kerbsides and in private gardens, habitat loss and a new trend to carpet gardens in plastic grass.

So, what can we do to reverse this worrying decline and, in some cases, the complete extinction of our beautiful buzzing friends? The answer is, plenty! If you have some outside space, a balcony or even a window ledge for flowers, you can make a real difference. Studies tell us that short, clipped and mown monoculture lawns, which have been popular for so long, are actually a barren wasteland for insects. By allowing some areas of your grass to grow longer, you will be providing shelter and important early food sources for a variety of pollinators. Perhaps also consider making part of your lawn into an area for wild flowers. This will reward you with a stunning show of colour, as well as attracting a wide range of insects. It is about this time that bees and other pollinators emerge from a long winter of hibernation, and they are absolutely starving – areas of grass left to grow give opportunities for daisies, clover and dandelions, which are not only beautiful but also provide sustenance for insects. 

Have you noticed, in a tucked away area on the eastbound platform at Snaresbrook Station, a pile of logs for a beetle shelter? Amongst many other benefits for nature, this small act of human kindness has encouraged a pair of beautiful Chaffinches to regularly visit the platform. Replicated across Wanstead gardens, this simple deed could provide the easy win of a plentiful food source for birds. 

Hedgehogs occasionally slumber through summer days in long grass, so you could also be providing a safe haven for some of Wanstead’s few precious colonies of hogs. Do always take care to check first when strimming or mowing as hedgehogs do not run away when they sense danger, they just curl up. 

If you do decide to help the bees, butterflies and other insects this May (and hopefully in June onwards), please steer clear of using pesticides and choose plants for your beds or balconies that are pollinator-friendly, such as Dog Rose (Rosa canina), Meadow Cranesbill (Geranium pratense) and English Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia).

If we all pulled together, Wanstead gardens could provide a vital safe haven for our local insect population and wildlife in general. We just need to relax a little and share our space with nature. Happy gardening everyone!

For more information on No Mow May, visit wnstd.com/nomow

A petition urging Wetherspoons not to sell The George in Wanstead has received widespread support.

It follows confirmation the historic venue is on the market. “The George is currently under offer but will remain open and trading as a Wetherspoons pub until it is sold,” said a spokesperson for the pub chain, which has run the site since April 1992.

Amidst rumours the venue could be turned into a gastropub, many signing the petition are fearful of losing an affordable community asset. “The George is a local landmark, offering excellent food and drink at reasonable prices. It offers a haven for people through the generations. The fact 2,000-plus people have signed the petition so far shows the sense of feeling in the community. Wanstead will be a poorer place if The George closes, so I urge Wetherspoons to think again about selling,” said Councillor Paul Donovan.

Visit wnstd.com/savethegeorge