We’re psyched to see all these gorgeous bluebells blooming as it’s a sure sign that summer isn’t far away We’re crossing our fingers and toes and hoping for the warmer weather to make its way to London for good after the on-and-off periods of warmth this spring Wanstead Park will treat you to lots and lots of these little blue beauties For the best bluebell sighting seek out the park’s Chalet Wood – but you’re sure to find them all around bluebells are actually protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 This is because almost half of the world’s bluebells are found in the UK That means it’s illegal to pick or dig up wild bluebells and bluebell bulbs anything in your own garden is fair game… Bluebells don’t hang around for long so go pay them a visit while they’re in full bloom and fill your social media feed with blue The results for the Wanstead Park by-election are in Emma Shepherd-Mallinson has been elected as the councillor for Wanstead Park ward Please view the full results Paramedics treated the teenager ‘as a priority’ outside Wanstead Park News | Crime Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice A boy aged 17 is in hospital after a mass brawl erupted with thugs wielding machetes and swords in east London Witnesses described chaotic scenes as men clashed on a residential street near Wanstead Park Overground station in Forest Gate on Tuesday afternoon Metropolitan Police officers and paramedics scrambled to reports of multiple individuals fighting with large bladed weapons in Woodford Road at about 4.40pm the injured teenager ran to a nearby youth centre to seek refuge London Ambulance Service treated him for a stab wound before he was taken to a hospital’s major trauma centre “as a priority” A large crime scene remains at the scene while forensic investigations continue in Woodford Road and nearby Chestnut Avenue First day of spring may be hottest of year so far Starmer speaks to Zelensky following Trump-Putin talks on Ukraine peace Southeastern trains from Kent cancelled due to signal fault - live updates Capital to see wild 20C temperature swing ahead of likely hottest day of year A force spokesman said: “Officers responded to reports of an altercation in Woodford Road at 4.41pm on Tuesday “A 17-year-old boy was treated at the scene for a stab wound “He was later taken to hospital where he remains “The extent of his injuries are yet to be confirmed “A crime scene is in place and no arrests have been made at this early stage.” Local schools and youth centres have reportedly been advised to remain vigilant while police enquiries continue London Ambulance Service added: “We were called at 4.45pm yesterday (March 18) to reports of a stabbing in Woodford Road, Forest Gate “We sent resources including an ambulance crew and paramedics in fast response cars to the scene. We also dispatched a trauma team from London’s Air Ambulance “We treated one patient at the scene and took him to a major trauma centre as a priority.” Anyone with information or footage of the incident is urged to contact police on 101 or via independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin Pregnant Jesy Nelson reveals plans for future in message from her hospital bed after surgery Pregnant Jesy Nelson reveals plans for future in message from hospital BBC admits to ‘lapse’ in standards after Today coverage of Harry interview Sunday, 15th September, is the day of the Wanstead Festival Redbridge Cycling Campaign will lead a short taster ride from the festival along the Roding Valley Way to Ray Park and back starting at 2 pm at the corner of Wanstead High Street and Grove Park After stopping for a tea break by the café in Ray Park we will make our way back by the same route We expect to be back at the festival by 4 pm giving a further opportunity to walk around the stalls and enjoy the festivities All you need do is to book using the link below and turn up at 2 pm on the day with a roadworthy bike Please make sure your tyres are pumped up hard and your breaks and gears work we hope to see you back for one of our regular rides soon Charity website design by Studio Republic The City of London Corporation is transforming Wanstead Park’s historic Temple this summer as outdoor theatre returns to Epping Forest a light-hearted operetta set in Venice and performed by Illyria Other performances include Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles (13 August) and The Adventures of Doctor Dolittle (24 August) There is also an opportunity to join in the fun and take part in a mask-making workshop just before East London Shakespeare Festival’s rendition of Much Ado About Nothing (3 August) Chairman of the City Corporation’s Epping Forest & Commons Committee “We are delighted to be hosting another summer of outdoor theatrical performances in Wanstead Park It is the perfect opportunity to bring your family and friends together with a picnic and enjoy the show “These performances offer something for everyone there’s an entire Forest to explore before or after the performance!” Wanstead Park is east London’s oldest public park and is a Grade II listed site noted for its national heritage and ecological importance It has been managed by the City of London Corporation since 1880.  which stretches from Manor Park in the south and attracts over 10 million visitors every year The Forest is of national and international conservation importance eight listed buildings and four scheduled ancient monuments It is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest a Special Area of Conservation and one of the few remaining extensive natural woodlands in southern England The City Corporation protects a total of 11,000 acres of green space across London and southeast England – including places like Hampstead Heath Burnham Beeches and over 180 smaller sites within the Square Mile – investing more than £38m a year running at little or no cost to the communities that they serve and are protected from being built on by special legislation The Leader of Redbridge Council and the Senior Management Team at Wanstead High School recently visited the new Leisure Centre construction site to get an update on the progress that is being made on this exciting new facility Wanstead High School pupils will benefit from new modernised classrooms ensuring they get the best educational experience possible A new canteen will also feature in the new development which began construction in 2022 and is scheduled for completion at the end of 2025 is more than just a typical leisure centre It will boast a state-of-the-art 25-metre swimming pool Despite the challenges posed by over a decade of austerity Redbridge Council is steadfast in its commitment to delivering new leisure facilities The construction of the new community facility This commitment ensures that families now and future generations have access to these vital facilities was joined on the site visit by Sarah Williams and representatives from construction partner Jerram Falkus Cllr Rai said: “Few local authorities are currently investing in leisure facilities We are therefore very proud to be able to provide this vital infrastructure to local people in our borough I want the leisure centre up and running quickly and my recent visit shows construction is moving full steam ahead and we're making considerable progress in delivering a brand-new swimming pool for families now and future generations new modernised classrooms for pupils at Wanstead High School are being built as we speak it will offer local families enormous health and social benefits for years and years to come.” said: “It's great to finally see some light at the end of the tunnel Our pupils are very excited about the new swimming pool We also look forward to reclaiming and transforming the outdoor area into a calm inviting space to enhance pupils' school experience.” The project will benefit from energy-efficient features to help ensure the new building has a low carbon footprint Redbridge Council recently updated the Wanstead Leisure Centre page with new images that showcase the progress made on-site and the project timeline to give people an idea of progress A new FAQ document will be published online shortly the council will actively engage with the local community regarding the opening of the new facility Get ready for Redbridge’s biggest outdoor event of the year Christchurch Green in Wanstead will come alive with a full day of family-friendly activities at the Wanstead Festival This vibrant celebration of diversity and inclusivity promises something for everyone from live music to food stalls and much more Get ready for an array of exciting activities at the Wanstead Festival From arts and crafts workshops to sports demonstrations and a mouth-watering selection of street food Whether you're looking to entertain the kids or enjoy a day out with friends and a variety of meditation and yoga activities in our Holistic and Wellbeing Zone Sponsoring the Wanstead festival is Hills Motor Group - Woodford dealership – which specialises in new and used Toyota and Lexus vehicles Head to their stand at the festival to find out about their extensive range of services for cars and offers and explore trade-in opportunities with your current vehicle With so many fun activities planned for the day there's no better way to spend Sunday than by joining us at Christchurch Green said: “Redbridge is brimming with free activities and events for local families ensuring that everyone can enjoy the fun regardless of their background “The Wanstead Festival is a wonderful way for our community to come together and celebrate the end of summer I'm sure everyone will have a great time exploring everything the festival has to offer.” "We are also keen to hear from prospective partners interested in sponsoring future festivals The Wanstead Festival grows in popularity every year; it's a great opportunity to get involved." said: “The Wanstead Festival draws over 5,000 visitors from the local community and beyond free event that brings together family and friends with something for everyone to enjoy Mark your calendar – we hope to see you there!” Hills Motor Group's spokesperson said: “We chose to sponsor the Wanstead Festival as it is local to our business We thrive from being present and involved with our local communities It is a great opportunity for us to showcase our vehicles to local businesses and provide them with good service.” Find out more about the Wanstead Festival The Parish of Wanstead and Wanstead Church School have been exploring together what being open to the work of the Spirit might mean in our own lives Head teacher Natalie Denchfield and Revd James Gilder after attending some diocesan schools training to explore the idea of Kintsugi with the pupils at the school - reflecting that the beauty in the pots they had seen was similar to the process of healing and reconciliation which is the work of the Spirit in all our lives.   Volunteers and clergy from the parish worked with every child in the school to make their own clay pot and these were fired in the school kiln.  The pupils were very keen to then smash the pots but everyone soon realised that breaking and putting back together in excess of 200 miniature works of art might be a task too far so instead both children and adults glazed their pots in a variety of colours and painted the cracks on in gold the result was a 'cracking success'.  "We inhabit a multicultural context which reflects quite a diversity of belief about what the word 'spiritual' means so it can be difficult to encourage people young and older to grapple with this subject in a specifically Christian way.  Sometimes doing something physical like making a pot and reflecting on the beauty of the cracks can be useful in grounding an issue that might otherwise be viewed as being somewhat esoteric'.   Natalie Denchfield commented that the school was constantly striving to enhance the opportunities for its pupils to develop spiritually so as best to cope with what they call the 'wows' 'ows' and 'nows' of life - the times of wonder and the mundane.  'We take every opportunity to work together as a parish community across school and Church and this was a really memorable and visible way of furthering that learning relationship "The head girl and boy said ‘throughout the year we have been thinking about our school’s values of wisdom wow and now moments both break us and make us but it is our growth through these cracks that represents out connection The Bank Holiday weekend saw the start of services and events across Chelmsford Diocese to mark Thursday's 80th anniversary of VE Day has announced that the next Area Dean of Waltham Forest will be the Rev’d Tim Scott SALT was a day of encouragement and encounter for women across Chelmsford Diocese that took place at Holy Trinity South Woodford The Wanstead Parish - St Mary with Christ Church community has come together to raise more than £2,000 after hundreds of pounds raised for the Children's Society at their Christingle service was stolen during a burglary Announcing what had happened on their Facebook page they included a link to a Just Giving campaign to replace the stolen money Fr James Gilder said: "I am so thankful to everyone which is lovely." "The community response has turned something bad into something quite gracious and shown a little bit of that Christmas spirit." arrow_circle_right Find out more information We'd love to see your selfies with people at church events like baptisms If you have a picture and a link to a story on your social media or website The launch of the 160-square-metre floating reedbed is part of a £100,000 project to improve overall water quality in the 44,500-square-metre pond Environmental charity Thames21 is working closely with The Rivers Trust and the City of London Corporation which manages Epping Forest as a registered charity The project is funded by soft drinks manufacturer Britvic Although ponds and other blue spaces and lakes can be an oasis for wildlife and places for the public to enjoy they can suffer from many environmental challenges Road runoff occurs when pollutants settle on the surface of the road – such as residue from oil spills as well as tyre and brake wear from vehicles These build up during dry weather and are then washed into rivers and streams when it rains ‘Natural barriers’ such as floating reedbeds can act as a sponge and can filter these pollutants before they flow into rivers These species are a typical standard mix of wetland species that come in pre-established coir mats – materials which are crafted from coconut fibres and tightly packed together They also help to enhance biodiversity by helping to support a range of wildlife providing essential habitats and food sources The River Roding – London’s third largest river – flows through the east of Wanstead Park and provides water supplies to Heronry Pond when its water levels are low Thames21 has been working with local volunteers in carefully managed river restoration activities including using woody matter in some parts of the river to help maintain its natural curves which provides a diverse flow to the river and creates more room for wildlife to thrive which is not only helping to transform the lakes of Wanstead Park into healthy environments for wildlife but helping to improve water quality in this area whilst enhancing blue and green spaces It’s truly inspiring to work with our volunteers and partners and witness together how we can breathe life back into our lakes and leave a positive legacy for future generations.” Britvic’s Director of Sustainable Business “Water plays a critical role in our business of creating soft drinks we’ve been engaged in the Wanstead Lakes project as part of our The Rivers Trust water stewardship programme and it’s rewarding to have contributed to the launch of a new floating reedbed The lakes in Wanstead Park are just a few miles away from Britvic’s Beckton factory so we are delighted to be having a positive impact within our local water catchment area.” Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Epping Forest and Commons Committee “We welcome this collaboration to improve the water quality in our grade II* listed landscape but its lakes have experienced a number of challenges in recent years we rely on community volunteering partnerships enabled by private investment to conserve over 8,000 acres at Epping Forest This project also compliments a range of other initiatives underway to improve the water quality and resilience at Wanstead Park.” Published by Capel Media Limited Registered in England and Wales Company Registration Number 13636441VAT Number GB 391 5977 47 Registered address:2 Claridge CourtLower Kings RoadBerkhamstedHertfordshireHP4 2AF Proud to be a member of British Water www.britishwater.co.uk © Capel Media Limited. All rights reserved. Click here to view our Privacy Policy The historic George & Dragon pub has officially reopened following a special VIP launch event attended by local MP Calvin Bailey MBE The celebration marks a triumphant return for the cherished venue which was saved from closure after a passionate community campaign originally known as The George & Dragon but more recently trading as The George faced permanent closure when its previous operators shut its doors the pub’s future became uncertain in the second half of 2024 with the site at risk of being sold to property developers A campaign to save the pub was swiftly launched and supported by thousands of local residents A petition gathering 3,589 signatures and letters of support from MP Calvin Bailey MBE to both former operators Wetherspoons and the pub’s freeholders helped drive momentum Their efforts paid off when Urban Pubs & Bars stepped in to secure the venue’s future with a £1.3 million investment in a full-scale refurbishment At the VIP reopening event on Friday January 31 Councillor Donovan Mayor of Redbridge and MP Calvin Bailey joined members of the local community and representatives from Urban Pubs & Bars to celebrate the successful rescue Guests enjoyed a look at the pub’s stunning new interiors as well as tasting a selection of its signature food and drinks The George & Dragon has reopened its beautifully restored interiors and garden space with doors now officially open to the public The reopening has also created 40 full-time and 20 part-time jobs including the return of over a dozen former staff members ensuring that familiar faces will once again greet loyal patrons This key part of the campaign’s mission to protect jobs in the community has now been successfully fulfilled Speaking at the VIP George & Dragon launch event Councillor Paul Donovan said: “It’s fantastic news that Urban Pubs & Bars has stepped in to save The George & Dragon So many pubs are disappearing across the country so to preserve such an iconic establishment is a real achievement The campaign was about ensuring this remains a proper community pub offering great food and drink at fair prices here’s to a bright future for The George & Dragon!” “The dedication of the local community to saving this pub has been truly inspiring We’re not just preserving a historic venue we’re continuing its legacy with the people who fought so hard for it and building new traditions in this remarkable space.” CLH News is published by RBC Publishing Ltd Contributions are welcome for consideration no responsibility will be accepted for loss or damage Views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher or the editorial team Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy the publisher will assume no responsibility for any effects All material is assumed copyright free unless otherwise advised Redbridge Council's Cabinet Committee have approved exciting plans to deliver a new Education and Youth hub on the site of the former Wanstead Youth Centre The plans include significant investment in developing the building and outdoor space for the benefit of all residents across Redbridge The new development will benefit the local community a project shaped by the input of the local community through extensive consultations and feedback sessions will secure the long-term future of youth and community services in the area Through shared facility use between the Council's Education and Youth Services and the community it will provide modern education facilities for children and young people aged between 0 and 19 the new facility will also support the growing need for a range of specialist education facilities for children and young people It will do so through a dedicated and spacious learning environment while providing high-quality facilities and resources for families with babies and children under five The Education and Youth hub will also provide high-quality youth and community facilities for local young people The Early Years Play and Development Centre therapy space and a music recording studio The rear gymnasium will be converted into further classrooms a dining hall and multipurpose practical space for the alternative provision local authorities are investing in community facilities like Redbridge This new facility will provide a safe and nurturing environment for children and young people and offer a range of high-quality services for families and the wider community enhancing the quality of life for local people "More than a decade of Government austerity has significantly impacted Redbridge having £150m less to spend on local services every year we are committed to delivering vital services and investing in what matters most to our neighbours and we are making this happen by using a ringfenced educational grant "We understand the importance of youth services and that's why we have decided to provide a much-improved centre for local people now and for future generations.” Unlike other leisure and community buildings Wanstead Youth Centre incurs a significant net cost and requires a council-funded subsidy highlighting that considerable structural work would be essential to bring the facility up to modern standards The new Education and Youth Hub is designed to be financially sustainable The building dates from the mid-1940s and requires significant structural work to bring it up to a good standard a building survey revealed that essential repairs were estimated to cost £2.4 million incurred a loss of nearly £90,000 from 2022 to 2023 The new Education and Youth Hub is set to open in September 2025 Wanstead-based girls' rugby team Eton Manor RFC has signed an exciting deal with Bellway London By NOTICEBOARD · 19 March 2025 Bellway London has signed a new sponsorship deal with Eton Manor RFC under-16 girls’ team in Wanstead which is building new homes at developments across London has contributed £1,500 to the club to fund waterproof training tops for the 30 squad members director of women’s rugby at Eton Manor RFC said: “We are very grateful to Bellway for its generous donation which has allowed us to purchase these high-quality training tops for the girls which help give them a stronger sense of bonding and belonging “All the girls love being part of the team Their matching tops help lift their performance and show the opposition they are a side to be reckoned with They are particularly impressed with having their own initials on their tops She continued: “It is great to see the girls being resilient showing bravery while learning all about teamwork and discipline This fantastic sport allows the girls to feel physically confident and to know they can challenge themselves on the pitch The team has had a great season so far this year and we are lucky to have a fantastic group of players.” which is based at the New Wilderness in Nutter Lane has its origins in a boys’ club which was founded in 1909 by a group of Old Etonians to provide support and sporting facilities in the area The club now has about 800 players on its books and runs four senior men’s teams Emma Denton, sales director for Bellway London we were very happy to become a sponsor of the under-16 girls’ team at Eton Manor RFC we are striving to employ a more diverse workforce and are committed to encourage more women to participate in what is traditionally regarded as a male-dominated industry Being able to support a progressive local club like Eton Manor RFC which has a number of teams to encourage women and girls of all ages to play rugby “Women’s rugby is one of the country’s fastest growing sports with the World Cup being held in England in 2025 and it’s great to see girls of all ages pulling on a shirt and having fun on the playing field in Wanstead.” LoadingDaily Email Updates {{contentTitle}}