Author: Wansteadium

Wanstead’s new (old) constituency

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Wanstead will return to being part of a Wanstead & Woodford parliamentary constituency under proposals made today.

The Boundary Commission is proposing changes across England which aim to reflect changing demographics. The changes will threaten the security of several high profile MPs, but will also see the return of many historic constituency names, including Wanstead & Woodford, which existed from 1964 until 1997.

The main impact of the change for Wanstead is that it is no longer to be grouped with Leyton and Leytonstone.

In all the years that the Wanstead & Woodford constituency existed, it was always held by a Conservative – first Patrick Jenkin and then James Arbuthnot. But after 1997, right up to last year’s election of John Cryer, Wanstead has been within a Labour seat.

Between 1945 and 1964, the Woodford seat was held continuously by Sir Winston Churchill.

The pure demographics of the proposal have led several people on Twitter to conclude that Wanstead will inevitably return to being part of a Conservative seat. A Guardian calculation however estimates the new seat would be a relative Conservative marginal, with a projected 500 majority.

The proposals are part of a consultation which the commission is undertaking. Full details can be seen at its website.

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Wanstead and Westfield: Reasons to be cheerful

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Wansteadium’s property blogger George C Parker offers his regular round-up.

The opulent Stratford City Westfield is coming, and I think it may bring a touch of retail therapy to the Wanstead property market.
Although the organisers of Tuesday’s opening ceremony were not able to secure my services in time, they were very wise to install Pussycat Nicole at short notice – she will be a most adequate stand in. Shortly before noon, amidst great pomp, the front doors will glide noiselessly asunder, ushering in a new realm of stores and attractions – all a mere three miles from our doorstep. I’m sure I’ll be along to visit shortly, be it to check out the sensible cardigans at the John Lewis, show the youngsters a thing or two about ten-pin at the All Star Lanes, or perhaps take the current Mrs Parker to the movies. Doubtless our local estate agents will be name-dropping Westfield at every opportunity now.

Some might say that Westfield’s emergence may be the re-making of Wanstead High Street. The village atmosphere that many of us appreciate, and would like to develop further, is a delicate and sometimes elusive mixture. Perhaps the emergence of this brash newcomer to the West, with its stark branding and chain outlets might counterpose the quieter and greener environs we enjoy closer to home. If it encourages more specialist small shops, eateries, perhaps a gallery or some studios to set up in the near future, then Wanstead benefits both ways.

* Multiple occupancy of property has been getting a bad name recently. Especially when large numbers of squatters are involved!

According to the resurgent Wanstead Guardian Redbridge Council are reviewing their legislative options on this hot topic. Spokesmen talk earnestly of preserving a village atmosphere by ensuring that any future applications for ‘homes in multiple occupation’ are less likely to be approved.

Fortunately the vast majority of Wanstead properties are used and cherished as family homes, but it’s good to hear that such bases are being covered. Perhaps at the end of the discussions there may be time for the Planning and Regeneration committee to discuss enforcing a solution to the site of the former High Street chocolate shop! That would be a great welcome to the incoming restaurateurs on the site of the former Russell’s Bar.

* One of Wanstead’s most distinguished properties is the splendid, Grade II-listed The Shrubbery. Comprising of three elegant blocks, some of the 42 apartments in this 1935 Art Deco gem boast original features such as the tiled fireplaces and beautiful wood block flooring. Now beloved of senior Wansteadians due to its excellent access to the High Street and Christchurch Green, the Shrubbery is also only a short dash to the diversions of the Library and Wanstead House. A dear departed old aunt of mine lived through the latter part of her dotage there, and loved the ‘dolls-house’ fitted kitchens that they originally came with. You could almost imagine Q himself designing the near-lethal folding out ironing board contraption. This ground-floor apartment would be an ideal base for someone who wants to be near the centre of town – perhaps near relatives – without the worry of managing a house or even using the stairs. With a garage included in the price, this seems a wonderful way to continue enjoying Wanstead life.

Wanstead Festival in pictures (and a pledge)

Paddy Fantastic tweets:  “Would not be a fete without one” (pictured below).

And finally, a promise from Wansteadium. Dodging falling conkers turned into a sport of its own thanks to the gusty conditions, leading Wansteadium to conclude that what was missing was a new old tradition of conker-playing on Wanstead Festival day. Wansteadium hereby pledges to campaign for – and support  – an inaugural health-and-safety-compliant Christchurch Green Conker Tournament next year. We’ll buy the string.

Tips for Wanstead gardeners: When tomatoes won’t ripen

Wansteadium’s new gardening blogger is Ron, who has been cultivating his Wanstead garden for more than 50 years.

I was pleased to receive this note from Wanstead resident Geoff Wilkinson.

Hi Ron

Great to know that there is someone to answer queries re gardening.  I have for the first time this year attempted growing tomatoes outside.  Have watered daily and fed them Tomorite weekly.  They have an abundance of trusses and are still flowering in anticipation of more fruit.  However, they continue to be hard, large and green (variety – Moneymakers).  When do they turn red?  I have taken the largest trusses off and placed the tomatoes on a tray and put them in the sun at every opportunity (could be a better summer).  Still not turning red – if anything they are erring on the side of yellow.  Desperate for help.  We need red tomatoes – no clue how to make chutney.

Regards
Geoff

To be honest, I’m not sure why Geoff’s tomatoes shouldn’t be going red – I’ve been growing Moneymakers for several years and always found them a good variety. I grow my own plants from seed; they’re easy to rear in the Spring, so long as you don’t let them get too tall or leggy.

The basic method is to grow them in the ground or a big pot, using an ordinary potting mix and putting a nice cane or stake in place at the time of planting out – though they should only go outside when there’s no risk of late frost. You should confine the plant to one main stem, and allow only five or six trusses (i.e. five or six bunches which grow together). With most varieties you nip out the side shoots (that’s those which sprout from the nick between the main stem and the established leaves). As Geoff has been doing, they need feeding once a week, after the first trusses start growing, and those in pots will need watering daily in dry weather. Tomatoes in the ground will not need so much watering.

One problem lots of people encounter is browning or yellowing of leaves. This could be BLIGHT. Cut off those affected bits and get rid of them – don’t put them in your compost.

Tomatoes do like sunny weather (as do I), and this should help them ripen. It might help to put the tray of tomatoes on a window sill indoors. Ripening might just be a matter of time, but when it comes it will be worth it. There’s nothing like the smell you get from the skin of home-grown tomatoes. I hope this helps you, Geoff. Do let me know if you have any luck.

• The sunny weather at the end of last week, felt like a bit of an apology for a pretty disappointing August. Here’s hoping that we have an Indian summer this September. I took advantage of last week’s sun to pick the first of this year’s almonds from my tree. The outer casing has already split on lots of them. I love the almond tree – it’s the first thing in the garden to blossom in the Spring and is an early indication of great things to come.

UPDATE: Geoff Wilkinson replies:

“Thank you very much for responding to my problem. You have mentioned a couple of things that may be the problem and I will bear these in mind for next year. However, not all is lost the window sill is proving efficient just a bit slow. Perhaps I should stick to photography !! Best wishes and once again thank you. Cheers Geoff”

You can send Ron your gardening questions at wansteadium@gmail.com

Wanstead kids! Learn how to take photos…

This weekend is the Wanstead Festival and to mark the occasion, Wanstead photographer Carole Edrich is offering to run a photography workshop for 8-to-14-year-olds.

Carole, who works as a dance and travel photo-journalist, says the workshop will include “talking about how to take a nice photo, the basics of composition and timing, and possibly colour awareness too”.

The workshop will take place on Saturday afternoon 1.00pm to 3.00pm, meeting in the garden of the George at 12.45, and will last about two hours. Children attending will need to bring a camera with them, though even a mobile phone camera will be sufficient, and will need to be prepared to work in twos or threes. Parents will need to hang around and will be welcome to join in. “It’ll be really informal but the idea will be to prepare the kids to take photos the following day at the Wanstead Festival,” she adds.

There is room for about 12 children and there is no charge, though Carole would appreciate a pound or two for materials and time.

On Sunday, Wansteadium will publish some of the resulting successful photos – or at least those which the newly expert young photographers want to show off.

Contact Carole via wansteadium@gmail.com for a place – first come first served.

Wanstead news roundup, 5.9.11; Art, hope, murder and mystery in Wanstead

• It’s festival week in Wanstead, with the annual party on Christchurch Green taking place next Sunday, 11 September. That is also launch day for the Wanstead Art Trail, an ever-more ambitious showcase of art in shops and other buildings across Wanstead. A fantastically produced brochure is widely available, and is also online here.

• The proposals to introduce pay and display parking restrictions to central Wanstead have, in case you haven’t heard, been dropped. It follows a campaign and mass petition, organised by Michael and Valerie Powis of Grosvenor Road.

• The former Russell’s cafe bar, currently undergoing renovation, is reportedly becoming a Turkish restaurant.

• Could this be another sign of a green shoot in the Wanstead micro-economy? Cafe Voyage at Snaresbrook station has extended its opening hours: now 6am-5pm on weekdays and 8am-2pm on Saturdays.

• Hedgehogs, a cause close to Wansteadium’s heart, are still being spotted. Alasdair Bain sent this photo, reporting: “Saw this little guy trying to hide behind the bamboo in my garden.” Coming soon in Wansteadium, what you can do in your garden as autumn approaches, to make it a hedgehog friendly zone.

• Meanwhile mink are still being spotted in Wanstead Park. Last week one was seen dragging a coot to an untimely death while perplexed parents and toddlers were feeding the ducks. Other coots watched on.

• An item of interest in Wanstead Oxfam: a double vinyl EP of Magical Mystery Tour in near mint condition, with the original booklet and artwork – a snip at £100. Contact the shop directly if you are interested. 020 8530 3413 or oxfamshopf8092@oxfam.org.uk

• And items recently added to Wansteadium Classifieds include a piano, an iPhone 3GS and a tumble drier. Details here, at wansteadium.com/classifieds, where you can also sell your unwanted goods to other Wanstead residents, for free.