Author: Wansteadium

…please come forward and identify themselves. Their unusual mode of transport is the cause of curiosity.

Two events going on in Wanstead this weekend.

• Local Charity Plant Sale: The 19th Epping Forest South Scout Group are holding their annual plant sale on Saturday at Wanstead United Reformed Church, Nightingale Lane. 8.30am to 12.30pm. Lots of trailing, bedding plants and shrubs at very reasonable prices. Come early to get the best choice. Teas, coffees and homemade cakes for sale too.

• Flamingo Fairs Recycled & Upcycled + Vintage Fair, Saturday 10 May in Wanstead Library, free entry.

Add any more using the comments form below.

* Do you know what Wanstead really needs? A social secretary. Someone who will be a point of contact for event organisers and will enter details on an online calendar, thus helping support community life in Wanstead. Are you that person? If you are, consider this note a “Situations Vacant” and get in touch with us at wansteadium@gmail.com.

The guerrilla in our midst, Marian Temple, writes:

“After four working parties, all those manky bits of sad soil where shrubs had died over time have been tidied up and either planted or sown with wild flower seeds. It was really fun to do and for me to meet people I didn’t know, all of us happy to do our bit for Wanstead which is such a brilliant place to live. The kids were marvellous at raking out bottles and cans and we ended up with sacks of recyclables and stuff for the green collection.

“Keep your eyes open next month for glorious old fashioned scarlet geraniums flowering on the outside patches where the cars turn towards St Mary’s Avenue. Another car patch, where the traffic builds up waiting for the lights, has been planted with teazles and wild flower seeds. That nice little semi shade patch, the last on the right going towards Mansfield Road has been planted with foxgloves and primroses and no doubt I’ll keep planting as I come across excess Corner House stuff that would be happy there.

“Just one small patch remains to be done and that’s being saved for a little girl who didn’t make the work parties but is desperate to make her mark. That bit has her name on and will be done in time.

So what about the future?
“Ah, there’s a question. Maintenance is the name of the game. Hopefully, everybody who took part will keep an eye on the Wanstead Station surrounds having taken a sort of possession of it by their efforts. Maybe every so often, I’ll use Wansteadium to gather forces for a general weed and tidy up as needed.

“Re. the thorny question of litter, (amazing subject, everybody thinks it’s everybody else’s job to deal with it!). The important thing there is to prevent a build-up. Cans and bottles lying around indicate that this is an ok place to drop ‘em. The trick is to get rid of them. It’s no shame, (quite the opposite in fact) to remove rubbish and put it in the bin. An immediate improvement and it gets rid of the subliminal message that this flower bed or bit of pavement is just right for the can I don’t need any more.

“Thanks to all those who took part. A good time had by all. Watch this space for future call ups and enjoy the fruits of your labour. Just hope to goodness that the seeds germinate!”

PS. Wansteadium reader Bente Dahl adds that Wanstead Station is not the only one getting the gardening love.

Bravo to those Wanstead souls who have signed up to look after their local tree pit – the bit of soil at the base of street trees. Signs have appeared on trees all over Snaresbrook ward and more widely asking council weed-spraying folk to avoid those trees which are being looked after. The plan, if you need reminding, is that seeds will be planted in these pits with the aim of encouraging bees to find their way along our streets.

At least one bee-like being is already making its home in a pit on Grosvenor Road, as pictured above.

It’s a novel scheme, backed by Redbridge, Wanstead Friends of the Earth, and an Olympic Legacy Grant. If you’re taking part, you can send your photos of tree pits before and after at info@wansteadium.com. Keep in touch via the BEES BEES BEES link at the top of this page.

The mystery of what’s happened to the Wanstead Village signpost at the Snaresbrook end of the High Street remains unsolved. On Wanstead Talk, our messageboard, the theory that it might have been in collision with a construction lorry (a traditional newspaper phrase which carefully avoids blame) was put forward. If you know what happened, or where it is, please tell us. It’s a funny little sign, really, but it’s all we’ve got. Apart from the other one.