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Ahead of a fundraiser for Wanstead-based children’s charity CHAOS, co-founder Norman Haynes reflects on the organisation’s beginnings and explains how the money raised will be put to good use

CHAOS (Children’s Holidays and Other Specialities) was founded by myself and two friends – Stuart Ludlow and Mick Bacon – in 1976. We were all aged 22 and, having recognised our own good fortune in life, wanted to do something to help those less fortunate. We visited schools across East London and met with social workers to spread the word that we were offering free camping holidays for eight- to 11-year-olds who would not otherwise be receiving a holiday that year – an escape from the pressures of inner-city life for poverty-stricken children.

We spent the first year recruiting friends, raising funds through sponsored walks, jumble sales and suchlike, booking a campsite and coaches, borrowing camping equipment, selecting the children and organising the programme for a week away at Stubbers Adventure Centre in Upminster. In addition to the sports onsite, we had trips planned to the seaside, Chessington Zoo and a farm in Sawbridgeworth. Our first camp took place in 1977 with 37 children and 10 adults. It rained six days out of seven! But the germ of an idea had sprouted and we grew from there, becoming registered as a charity in 1981.

Our camps provide a safe, nurturing, learning, loving and most importantly, fun environment where kids can just be kids. On a CHAOS camp, children learn a great deal about teamwork and how to look after each other through games, nature walks, camping and beach activities. For some of the more deprived children, waking to the sound of farm animals, meeting the farmer or climbing into the cab of a tractor will be a memorable and positive experience of country life. And nothing beats having hot chocolate and biscuits whilst singing songs around a campfire! The joy this charity brings to kids’ lives is absolutely invaluable. It provides an opportunity to build their confidence, gives them a break from the daily hardships they endure and also affords a brief respite for their families during the long summer holidays. 

The number of children who have benefitted from our camps has been lost in the mist of time, but it is well above 2,500. An interesting side effect of the charity’s work is its lasting impact, which is evidenced by the number of children who choose to return to the charity as adults and volunteer as members of staff. 

When we set up this charity to help alleviate poverty, never in our wildest dreams did we expect the situation to become worse! Each year we are oversubscribed for places on our camps and it is very sad to be turning deserving children away due to a lack of funds. The fundraising events we hold – such as the one at Wanstead Golf Club this month – are invaluable to supporting our work.

A dinner and dance in aid of CHAOS will take place at Wanstead Golf Club on 26 April (tickets: £60; book by 12 April). For more information and to book tickets, call 07982 442 538 or email secretary@chaoscharity.org

To donate to CHAOS, visit donate.giveasyoulive.com/charity/chaos

Redbridge Council’s External Scrutiny Committee met with TfL last month in light of planned changes to local bus routes.

“We raised several concerns, including the impact of a reduced service to the Nightingale Estate and the new W14 not stopping inside Whipps Cross. TfL acknowledged the issues but reiterated points in the consultation response. We did manage to secure a commitment to review the impact after a year,” said Councillor Daniel Morgan-Thomas. The new routes take effect from September.

Visit wnstd.com/bus 

In the 10th of a series of articles featuring the images of local photographers who document the wildlife of Wanstead Park and the surrounding area, Mark O’Dell presents his shot of a Mute Swan in flight

I took this image of a Mute Swan flying towards me in Wanstead Park. I find photographing wildlife is a fantastic way to capture the beauty of the natural world, get out in the fresh air and exercise both body and mind. 

I’m a professional photographer and content creator based in Woodford Green. I’ve shot a diverse range of subjects for commercial and editorial clients and the occasional wedding, too. I enjoy photographing people, both professionally and those I meet in day-to-day life. I love telling stories through my images and my love of photography allows me to connect with awesome companies and individuals. I also provide one-to-one photography training sessions, covering aspects such as setting up your camera, learning about exposure, flash or anything connected to photography. I now also provide advice and tuition on getting to grips with wildlife photography. When I’m not working, you’ll find me out and about photographing the wonderful wildlife we have locally. 

We are so lucky in Redbridge, having access to fantastic parks and, as individuals, there are numerous ways we can engage with and support wildlife conservation efforts. I support the RSPB and regularly visit their reserves throughout the country. I also photograph birds and insects that exist within the borough and share my images with the local community (some of which are housebound) through social media. Bringing the outside world to them through my images and words is particularly fulfilling. 

On my regular walks in the local parks, I’ve met and photographed some interesting people and made some long-lasting friendships, too.

A lot of our parks, including Wanstead, rely heavily on volunteers to keep them looking shipshape by litter picking and other manual labour, so a big shout-out to those who give their time freely to maintain and improve these green spaces.

To view more of Mark’s wildlife photos, visit wnstd.com/odell

For more information on Mark’s portrait photography, visit markodell.com

A butterfly identification and recording workshop will take place in Wanstead Park next month.

“London is home to a surprising diversity of butterflies and moths. Over 25 of the UK’s 59 butterfly species can be spotted in the capital,” said a spokesperson for Big City Butterflies, which is organising the event in partnership with the Friends of Wanstead Parklands.

The free workshop – which will take place on 27 April from 1pm – will consist of a one-hour presentation at the Temple followed by a guided walk.

Visit wnstd.com/bfly

Rosemary Walker looks at the history of the Wanstead Grove Conservation Area and encourages residents to take part in Redbridge Council’s appraisal and management plan consultation

Wanstead Grove Conservation Area provides a well-preserved area of late-Victorian and Edwardian suburban housing that represents an important stage in the development of Wanstead from a country village to a middle-class London suburb.

The different periods of buildings allows one to understand the historic development of the area, while the largely unchanged forms and details of the houses result in an attractive and verdant suburban area. A number of architectural gems, including the large 18th-century house of Applegarth and the 1890s Arts and Crafts almshouses at Roding Cottages, Nutter Lane, further raise the standard of the area’s architectural interest. The well-maintained public open space of the Nutter Recreation Ground contributes to the rural feel of the winding path of Nutter Lane, and the historic Nightingale Green is a reminder of the area’s rural beginnings.  

During the mid-late 19th century, much of the land in Wanstead was sold for housing development. The residential dwellings constructed on the land were predominantly well-proportioned, detached and semi-detached. The Grove Estate was sold at auction in 1889 and the large country house – which stood on the junction between Grove Park and The Avenue – was subsequently demolished. The Grove Estate was gradually developed after 1889, starting with houses in Grove Park and The Avenue. Two 18th-century garden buildings, formerly part of the formal gardens, remain in the rear gardens of properties on The Avenue. A gazebo remains in the garden of 20 The Avenue, which is Grade II* listed, and a temple at number 14 survives and is also Grade II* listed.

In 1921, Nutter Field was donated to the people of Wanstead by the Nutter sisters (daughters of a wealthy cheese merchant and who the lane is named after) for the purpose of leisure and recreational use. 

By the early 20th century, the Estate was well established and development was dense. As a result, there were land shortages for further homes. This stimulated the construction of flats. The Shubbery, located on Grosvenor Road, was constructed in 1935 by Cockett, Henderson & Gillow for the North-East London Property Company Ltd. The apartment blocks are constructed in an Art Deco style and are now Grade II listed. Grove Cottage – which formerly stood on the corner of Nutter Lane and Leicester Road – was known to have been one of Wanstead’s oldest buildings but was demolished in 1957.

The Wanstead Grove Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan document will guide future development and design within the conservation area. The council now needs your feedback to ensure it incorporates local knowledge and responds to local priorities.

The consultation is open until 15 April. To take part, visit wnstd.com/grove

Woodford Arts Group, Art Group Wanstead and Essex Art Club will join forces for an exhibition this spring. Ged Rumak reports 

The Woodford Arts Group are delighted to present an inclusive celebration of local artists to be held at the Sir James Hawkey Hall this March. Joining us are Art Group Wanstead and Essex Art Club, collectively offering a stimulating celebration of the visual arts.

Irrepressibly creative, painters, printmakers, sculptors and artists working in a variety of media reflect the thoughts, ideas and talents in Woodford and Wanstead and the surrounding area. Recognising the importance of nurturing new voices in the art world, the work of sixth-form students from Woodford County High School will also be showcased. 

Opportunities to exhibit, view and purchase original art from local artists are rare in the local area. Recognising this, when the Hawkey Hall became available, the Woodford Arts Group decided its spring exhibition should be open to all local art groups to exhibit. When purchasing at this exhibition, buyers will not only gain enormous pleasure and brighten their homes, they will also support the local artistic community.

In addition, Woodford County High School’s jazz orchestra will be performing on 12 March between 1.30pm to 2pm. And further embracing the joys of music, Redbridge Music Lounge will be performing over the weekend.

Representing creativity in garden design and horticulture, the Woodford Greeners and the South Woodford Gardeners will be on hand to explain their activities and plans for the area.

Sponsored generously by The Stow Brothers and enthusiastically supported by Vision RCL, even if you have no intention of picking up a pencil, paintbrush, welding torch or musical instrument, I recommend a visit to this fun, dynamic and inspirational exhibition.

The exhibition will run from 9 to 12 March at the Sir James Hawkey Hall, Broomhill Road, Woodford, IG8 0BG, open from 11am to 6pm (free entry). For more information, visit wnstd.com/art

Environmental charity Thames21 is making improvements to the River Roding adjacent to Wanstead Park. River Restoration Support Officer Tyler Randall invites you to get your hands dirty (and wet)

Throughout history, rivers have undergone extensive modifications to align with human needs. The River Roding, the third-largest river to traverse London, flowing through Wanstead Park, presents a rewarding area of intervention for Thames21. In this wide and deep stretch, where banks rise to heights exceeding 2m, the river has carved a profound trench in the landscape due to its rapid flow.

Prior to human intervention, the Roding’s shape and the landscape were in constant flux, the lines between river and land far less defined than now. However, to build cities and civilisations, controls were implemented, and certain banks in this Wanstead stretch are concreted, particularly where houses border the river or where erosion tends to occur.

These types of interventions have led to many rivers lacking character, particularly in urban settings: fallen trees are removed to prevent flooding and rivers are straightened in areas to simplify the landscape. Rivers have been dredged and banks raised, separating rivers from their floodplain. All of these actions ultimately remove habitats and make rivers less diverse and more ecologically simple.But nature is inherently messy and thrives on complexity. So, in this section of the Roding, Thames21 is installing large wood debris into the river, otherwise known as deflectors.

This intervention aims to mimic the natural process of trees falling into the river. Ash trees that were suppressed or dying from ‘Ash dieback’ (a fungal disease afflicting many Ash trees across Europe) were felled and cut to the correct size. We then positioned these deflectors in the river and pinned the trees to the bank and riverbed with stakes and wire to stop them from moving.

Deflectors influence the river in many ways: slowing water around the banks and accelerating water in the centre, creating turbulence and complex flow patterns which oxygenate the water, providing food and habitat for invertebrates, fish and bird species, creating varied sediment types which, in turn, promote plant growth and cleaning gravels for fish spawning. It also acts as a place for biofilms and algae to grow, which purify water and reduce the impact of pollution. Prior to our interventions, this complexity was notably absent in this stretch of the Roding. This is a fairly simple intervention, but it can have a profound effect on the biodiversity within a section of the river. Imagine a whole catchment, a whole city.

Volunteers have been playing a crucial role in completing this work. If you are available and eager to contribute to the work Thames21 does, improving the health of London’s rivers with community support, please get in touch.

Volunteer sessions will take place on 4, 7, 12 and 18 March from 10am to 2.30pm. For more information and to take part, visit wnstd.com/restoreroding or email tyler.randall@thames21.org.uk

Hundreds of local people have expressed their concerns and priorities for Wanstead Park in a public survey conducted by the Friends of Wanstead Parklands.

Respondents listed preserving the lakes, improving the natural environment and improving public access as the three most pressing issues, with litter and dog behaviour also highlighted as problem areas. Peacefulness, being close to nature and walks around the lakes were among the reasons people appreciate Wanstead Park.

“With over 400 replies to the survey, it’s clear our members and the public love the park and value the benefits it brings. On their behalf, our committee will now present these findings to the City of London Corporation and other stakeholders to encourage action to address their priorities,” said a spokesperson.

There have been numerous plans to ‘improve’ Wanstead Flats throughout history. Here, local historian Mark Gorman discusses seven such attempts

Wanstead Flats, as the southern boundary of Epping Forest, is protected by parliament. The 1878 Epping Forest Act was revolutionary in the history of open space in Britain – the first time a right was recognised for the people to use an open space for recreation and enjoyment. The Act also prevents any building anywhere in the forest. So, Wanstead Flats has been safe from the developers? Not completely!

In 1851, Lord Mornington, the local landowner, offered to rebuild Smithfield meat market on the Flats – for a price. At that time, cattle were still driven to market overland and the Flats was used for fattening cows. Plans were drawn up for stalls, abbatoirs and railway yards. A report to the landowner said this was the ideal spot as it was “not a fashionable area.”

In 1864, a brickworks was set up on the Flats to meet the growing demand for construction materials as the area grew. Lord Cowley had inherited the Wanstead estate from his cousin and was continuing the family tradition of determined exploitation. Despite local complaints about the pollution, the brickworks remained on the Flats until the early 1880s. It’s still possible to see remains of the old workings to the east of Centre Road.

By 1871, Cowley had another plan. He started to put up fences to prevent people getting onto large parts of the Flats. House building was starting in Forest Gate and he saw his chance to turn the Flats into a large estate. A huge demonstration was called and the fences were flattened. This was a major step in the campaign to save Epping Forest.

But the Epping Forest Act didn’t put off the developers. In 1907, plans appeared in a local newspaper to develop “the ragged end of the Flats.” These included the construction of a concert hall on the corner of Capel Road and Centre Road, complete with tram tracks. An avenue was proposed from the hall to the gates of Wanstead Park. Fortunately, it never happened.

Between 1941 and 1946, the Flats hosted prisoners of war from Italy, and after D-Day, Germans too. The camps, on Capel Road and west of Centre Road, were said to be surrounded by flimsy wire, but no PoWs tried to escape. Activities such as visits to Upton Park to see West Ham, and to local council meetings to learn about democracy, may have tempted some to make a getaway.

As the last German prisoners were leaving in 1946, West Ham Council came up with a plan to build a housing estate for 7,000 people on the Flats. Both West Ham and East Ham councils had built temporary housing for bombed-out East Londoners, and parts of the Flats were covered by small housing developments. West Ham argued the land was needed to replace the houses lost in the Blitz, even though a Greater London Plan had been drawn up for housing further out in Essex. Invoking memories of 1871, a massive campaign was organised, including a petition signed by 60,000. After a public inquiry, the plan was turned down.

And finally… In 2012, buildings did appear on the Flats when the Metropolitan Police sited their Olympics briefing centre next to Jubilee Pond. Again, a local campaign was mounted, but despite petitions to parliament, the briefing centre came… and went. Its legacy was funding, which helped to pay for repairs to Jubilee Pond, which had previously been rescued from dereliction by the efforts of the local community.

So, it couldn’t happen again. Or could it? Watch this space!

Mark Gorman and fellow historian Peter Williams are the authors of Wanstead Flats: A Short Illustrated History. Priced £10, the book is available from The Newham Bookshop in Upton Park, Stone Mini Market in Leytonstone and Number 8 The Emporium in Forest Gate. Email markrgorman2@aol.com

In the ninth of a series of articles featuring the images of local photographers who document the wildlife of Wanstead Park and the surrounding area, Deepak Dembla presents his macro shot of a Nursery Web Spider

I am an IT professional by trade, but photography, stargazing, fitness and dancing are my passions. Covid lockdowns made me explore Wanstead Flats and Wanstead Park more than ever with my camera. And ever since, nature has always surprised me with something amazing. It’s a genuine treasure on my doorstep!

Shooting spiders can be tricky at times; some hide and some keep moving among bushes. But it’s easy with Nursery Web Spiders – as pictured here – as they love sunbathing. It means plenty of light and opportunities to shoot. A good tripod is often required while doing macro photography like this, but I generally tend to shoot handheld. This shot was taken with a Nikon D610 camera and Sigma 105mm macro lens. I used manual focus and my settings were 1/160th second shutter speed at F-stop 11 and ISO 640.

Both Wanstead Flats and Wanstead Park are a great place to do macro photography. You can typically spot bees, hoverflies, common flies, hornets, wasps, caterpillars, insect eggs, butterflies, beetles, grasshoppers, craneflies and, of course, numerous spiders, to name just a few.

The Nursery Web Spider is a common spider of grassland and scrub. It is often seen among brambles and stinging nettles, and typically holds its front two pairs of legs together pointing forwards. They are relatively large, ranging between 10mm and 50mm. They vary in colour from grey through to orange and dark brown, and their legs have small black spines sticking out.

Nursery Web Spiders are roaming hunters, which means they don’t use webs for catching prey (it gets its name from the delicate care the female takes of her egg sac). Many can walk on the surface of still bodies of water and may even dive temporarily to escape enemies.

To view more of Deepak’s wildlife photos, visit wnstd.com/deepak

Local resident Roland Saunders discusses his interest in giving old photographs a new lease of life by recolouring them using artificial intelligence 

Recently, I’ve been looking at my digital collection of local photographs of Woodford and Wanstead. I have lived in South Woodford for most of my life, as did my parents and grandparents before me. During lockdown, I set up a Facebook group called Woodford, South Woodford and Wanstead Memories and Life. Some of the older photographs have been exciting to see, capturing times gone by. Using software to enhance photos brings a new level of realism.

In the digital age, our ability to interact with and enhance photographs using artificial intelligence (AI) has reached unprecedented levels. One fascinating technique that has gained popularity in recent years is palette recolouring – a process that breathes new life into old photos. By applying modern colour schemes to vintage images, we revive memories, making them more vibrant and relatable to contemporary audiences.

Palette recolouring involves selecting a new colour palette for an image while preserving its original structure and details. This technique is not about altering the content of a photo but rather reimagining it through a fresh set of colours. It can be applied to black-and-white photos, sepia-toned images or faded colour pictures, effectively transporting them to a different era or infusing them with a contemporary aesthetic.

One of the key challenges in palette recolouring is maintaining the authenticity and emotional resonance of the original photograph. Artists and enthusiasts must strike a delicate balance between introducing new colours and preserving the historical or sentimental value of the image. Careful consideration of the subject matter, historical context and cultural nuances is essential to ensure the recolouring enhances rather than detracts from the photo’s significance.

Palette recolouring offers a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between the past and present. By infusing old photos with contemporary colour schemes, we can relate to historical moments in a more personal and engaging way, such as seeing photos of Wanstead and Woodford from 100 years ago in colour.

Recolouring vintage images allows us to gain a renewed appreciation for the past, fostering a stronger connection between generations. It’s a means of ensuring the stories and memories encapsulated in old photographs continue to resonate with those who come after us.

We still have some way to go before, as in the film Blade Runner, we can actually go inside the photograph and explore, but I’m sure we will be heading that way. Using AI technology, currently, we can already build missing parts of the picture, upscale the resolution, and, of course, colour a black-and-white image. Software is improving all the time, and I’m sure in a few years, the images will be taken to new levels of realism.

To join the Woodford, South Woodford and Wanstead Memories and Life Facebook Group, visit wnstd.com/wml

A rare diving duck was spotted for the first time on Wanstead Flats last month.

“While scanning Jubilee Pond on 16 January, I noted a drake Ferruginous Duck asleep on a small, unfrozen part of the lake. It later woke up and could be seen swimming and diving. Although there was no sign of it the following day, three days later it relocated to Eagle Pond in Snaresbrook, where it was admired by many. This very rare diving duck is native to south-east Europe,” said Tim Harris of the Wren Wildlife Group.