Walthamstow Village in Bloom 2012

Walthamstow Village in Bloom 2012 Walthamstow Village in Bloom Contents 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 18 17 15 14 13 12 11 10 3 3 2 1 9 8 6 4 Recognition Gardening Club Gardening Boundary Walthamstow and its Village in Bloom Introduction Sponsors and Credits and Credits Sponsors Garden Maynard Community Junior School Henry Fundraising and Awareness Planting Bulb Crime Prevention and Civic Pride Up Clean &Olympic Clean Spring Annual Spaces Green Our and Produce Seed Swaps Plant, for Games Garden the Road –Eden Village Square Project Flower in Vestry Road Planting Playground Premises Challenge Beautiful Challenge Front and Areas Communal Garden Flowerbeds Display and Floral Adoption of Planters, St Mary’s ChurchyardSt Mary’s Garden Vestry House Community Village Veg –Your Allotment Doorstep Meadow Jubillee Diamond Our

Church until 1856. until Church and the family lived locally and attended St Mary’s William Morris was born in Walthamstow in 1834 Bloom. Village in Walthamstow many of which will beseenin our tour of and the National School and other notable buildings, (now Vestry House Museum), the Squires’ Almhouses encroached upon with the erection of the workhouse From the 18th century the church common was Ancient The as House. and a15th century timber-framed hall house known Mary’s Church which was consecrated years 900 ago Waltham Forest Council in 1967. At centre its is St The Village was designated aconservation area by place. welcome was called Wilcumestou, probably Old Engish for the separate village settlements. The parish at the time comprised four Norman time Conquest, the of Domesday Book records that Walthamstow, at the day Walthamstow, located in east London. north The Walthamstow Village is an ancient nucleus of present Introduction Forest. Street wards of the London Borough of Waltham encompasses areas of the Hoe Street and Wood Conservation Areas and surrounding It streets. Walthamstow Village and the Orford Road Walthamstow Village in Bloom includes the area. special very spirit. Those living here consider themselves part of a pubs and restaurants and has asuperb community quaint buildings, alleys and quirky streets, shops, The Village has avery distinct atmosphere with its Road and it is thriving, despite the recession. for Retail Parade Status to bere-granted to Orford 1941. In 2003 successfully the WVRA campaigned the town hall to anew building on Forest Road in commercial development away and the relocation of opening of the station at the Central which drew The Village was saved from modernisation by the Walthamstow. of centre Orford Road in 1876 confirmed statusits theas relocation of the town hall from Vestry House to become the shopping centre of Walthamstow. The the shops and by 1877 Orford and Beulah Roads had the Victorian development. With the houses came physical barrier the between old village centre and population increase and the railway cutting created a The coming of the railway in 1869 generated arapid 1 1 Walthamstow Village in Bloom 2 Walthamstow Village in Bloom This year we have entered the new London Village award. silver a achieved Britain in Bloom 2011 and national competition RHS were UK finalists thein We running. year third Community forthe Best Urban awarded London’s was and award gold a achieved Bloom in Village Walthamstow 2011 September in and Bloom in 2008 in London We first entered calendar. our to events and added more spaces public most years, adopted the over have, and club gardening monthly a started and cleans the first of our annual spring a terrible state sowe organised Meetings.Open The Village was in response to concerns voiced by residents at Environment its formed in Committee (WVRA) In 2003 Walthamstow Village Residents’ Association Walthamstow Village inBloomanditsboundary London 2012 Olympics this summer. improve the whole borough we as welcome the with the surroundingwith the being areas noticeably improved category. Our boundaries are informally increasing as residentsas further afield are inspired to initiate policies based on our ideas to adopt flowerbeds, public spaces, encouraged by our success to start Friends’start Groupsand partnership and have been improve their front gardens. worked with us in and his colleagues have Being 100% volunteer- 100% Being Officer Officer Paul Tickner led, raising our own Contracts Monitoring Contracts funds and and funds council. WF’s WF’s council. propagating plants plants propagating Waltham Forest and division from supported by seed, we seem assisted and and assisted not to have been invaluably invaluably by the affected we have been been have we but recession, Again this year year this Again ban. hosepipe may beby the equipment and items are funded by WVRA. are supplied with bags by Waltham Forest. All other Volunteers bring their own tools and gloves and we compost bin on the square. We separate gardening waste and have installed a footpaths. and clearing and cutting back vegetation from out and cleaning graffiti, off re-painting street furniture painting litter-picking, pruning, and planting weeding, We have ayear-round list of activities that includes May when we increase meetings on an ad hoc basis. We on meet the first Saturday of every month until backgrounds. variety of a from with children and people of all ages, abilities and certain project. Those who join in include families they are available and if they want to participate in a contact list;WVRA some of whom come along if day areminder email is sent to people the 600 on the month, come rain or shine. Before each gardening We have acore group of stalwarts who turn up every public spaces that require attention. the adopted planters, flowerbeds, tree pits and any becoming the Village Square). We now also maintain garden on the corner of Eden and Orford Roads (later Gardening Club in started August 2004 to tend the The Walthamstow Village Residents’ Association’s Gardening Club 3 3 Walthamstow Village in Bloom 4 Walthamstow Village in Bloom as gatewaysas to the Village and providing year-round cover for anti-social activity, to beautiful displays acting sightlines, attracting litter, fly-tipping and providing with damaged brickwork, overgrown shrubs blocking The planters have beentransformed from eyesores, summer and spring bulbs to enhance the displays. can sustain and maintain them. Each year we add seeds, divide the plants and take cuttings sothat we hardy and drought-tolerant and we are able to collect brick-built planters and flowerbeds. Plants chosen are Gardens has designed the planting for our many with this in mind, Graham Sherman of Outer Space Walthamstow is the birthplace of William Morris and, Before and Floral Displays Adoption ofPlanters,Flowerbeds

After Lane. Last year we replanted the Village Square. adopt, repair and replant more two planters on Church grant of £6,740 from the local Community Council to flowerbed on Green Vestry and in 2010 we receiveda adoptedIn 2008 and WVRA funded the planting of the Builders, designed in their livery colours. for planting and annual maintenance by Fuller’s planting of six planters with another being sponsored residents to adopt aflowerbed. fundedWVRA the The In 2007 Waltham Forest ran an initiative to enable interest in texture, movement and colour. use on them . a plea for residents to collect their “grey” water to retain moisture and, in times of drought, we put out plants. The beds are mulched to suppress weeds and feed. We divide and take cuttings from established use no herbicides or pesticides and only organic dead-heading, seed-collecting and weeding and we We have ayear-round programme of pruning, bulbs. and plants drought-tolerant with planted are Tree-pits vegetables. and plants donated with unofficially adopted by residents and filled Three planters in Maynard Road have been Before

After authority housingauthority and sheltered housing complexes. to brighten the communal gardens of our local- Club give us their surplus bedding plants that we use Their contractor Kier and The London Gardening lamppost baskets with summer and winter displays. Waltham Forest kindly supplies and maintains the 5 5 Walthamstow Village in Bloom 6 Walthamstow Village in Bloom street-scene, in late 2010 Waltham Forest launched a Influenced by our success in improvingthe residential garden at 106 Beulah Road winning overall. we had over 60 entries with Ender’s Dorry cottage in the London in Bloom Front Garden Award. In 2011 special prize and we choose one entryfor nomination AGM. The best Olympic themed garden will win a are invited to our own awards ceremony at the WVRA All entrants receive acertificate of participation and organically.garden use water wisely, to compost garden waste and to We encourage residents to use peat-free products, to theme! Olympic delivered in June. This year it’s being run with an in-Bloom news were distributed; another magazine is Magazines containing an entryform, information and Walthamstow Village in Bloom. 2000 Village launched to encourage residents to participate in On 24 March the Front Garden Challenge 2012 was Challenge 2012–GardenfortheGames Front GardenandCommunal Areas challenge. and almshouses in the Village and they all enter the We have large numbers of sheltered accommodation Church Lane and Wingfield Road. communal gardens of flats in Grosvenor Rise East, volunteersWVRA work with residents to brighten the Road that open under NGS. We have gardens in Brunswick Street and Maynard newspapers. the RHS The Garden magazine and national of 13 Church Path. Don’s garden has beenfeatured in Maynard Road, our 2010 winner, and Caroline Barton Church Lane; the runners-up were Don Mapp of 47 ceremony by our 2009 winners Mr &MrsMartin of 9 was won in April at the Love Your Borough award rewarded with aBest Kept Front Garden Award which since cleared over 2000 front gardens. Residents are borough-wide Filthy Front Gardens campaign and has

Front Challenge Areas Communal Garden and 2011 (continued)

non-contact boxing non-contact

Box4Life was recognised for its volunteering work to teach children children teach to work volunteering its for recognised was Box4Life

Waltham Forest across across Forest Waltham

thought of recompense. recompense. of thought

their time voluntarily with no no with voluntarily time their

involved in the project give give project the in involved

tolerance. All the individuals individuals the All tolerance.

These volunteers promote promote volunteers These

teaches respect and and respect teaches

people’s resilience and and resilience people’s

learn non-contact boxing. boxing. non-contact learn

backgrounds and cultures to to cultures and backgrounds

together youngsters of all all of youngsters together

led project which brings brings which project led

Box4Life builds young young builds Box4Life

Box4Life is a community- a is Box4Life

Box4Life

Winner of all ages or promoted and developed sporting initiatives in the community community the in initiatives sporting developed and promoted or ages all of

An individual or group that has achieved sporting success, dedicated their own time to coaching or organising sports events for people people for events sports organising or coaching to time own their dedicated success, sporting achieved has that group or individual An

Sports achievement of the year award year the of achievement Sports

Walter Martin Walter

Ward Cllrs Saima Mahmud and Mark Rusling collect the award for best front garden on behalf of Beatrice and and Beatrice of behalf on garden front best for award the collect Rusling Mark and Mahmud Saima Cllrs Ward

kept front garden award. award. garden front kept

Beatrice Martin for the best best the for Martin Beatrice

nominated Walter and and Walter nominated

Residents’ Association Association Residents’

Walthamstow Village Village Walthamstow

Teresa Deacon, of of Deacon, Teresa

Martin

Beatrice and Walter Walter and Beatrice

Winner

garden and making Waltham Forest a greener, more colourful borough colourful more greener, a Forest Waltham making and garden

A local resident or community group making an improvement to their their to improvement an making group community or resident local A

Best kept front garden award garden front kept Best

massive boost.” boost.” massive

involved in the club a a club the in involved

we are doing gives everyone everyone gives doing are we

“Being recognised for what what for recognised “Being

receive the award. award. the receive

delighted and overjoyed to to overjoyed and delighted

Forest News: “We are really really are “We News: Forest

Mark Rule told Waltham Waltham told Rule Mark

What they said: they What

culture.

youth an alternative to gang gang to alternative an youth

offering Waltham Forest Forest Waltham offering

but also with their families, families, their with also but

who attend the sessions sessions the attend who

work with the youngsters youngsters the with work

borough on the map. They They map. the on borough

London and help to put the the put to help and London

colours blend well.” blend colours

birds. Good structure and and structure Good birds.

butterflies with berries for for berries with butterflies

interest, good for bees and and bees for good interest,

range of plants, all year year all plants, of range

with a good choice and and choice good a with

as being “well maintained, maintained, “well being as

ceremony. ceremony.

were unable to attend the the attend to unable were

Unfortunately the couple couple the Unfortunately Their garden was praised praised was garden Their

in recognition of achieving

efforts have been recognised.” recognised.” been have efforts

and I’m really pleased our our pleased really I’m and

Dorry Ender nice. look it making love we

harder to do the garden but but garden the do to harder

year we get older and it’s it’s and older get we year

best kept front garden. Every Every garden. front kept best

“I’m a very keen gardener gardener keen very a “I’m

to have won the award for for award the won have to

Forest News: “It’s truly lovely lovely truly “It’s News: Forest

Beatrice Martin told Waltham Waltham told Martin Beatrice What they said: they What in the Front Garden Challenge

of 106 Beulah Road

spare time. time. spare

E17 Jazz Collective in their their in Collective Jazz E17

professionals and run the run and professionals

15 members are all full time time full all are members 15

scene in Walthamstow. The The Walthamstow. in scene

Real to galvanise the local jazz jazz local the galvanise to Real

saxophonist Carlos Lopez- Carlos saxophonist established in 2008 by by 2008 in established

Best Front Garden was Collective Jazz E17

E17 Jazz Collective Jazz E17

others in the community to participate in creative arts projects arts creative in participate to community the in others

Winner

An individual or group that is involved in, or actively encourages encourages actively or in, involved is that group or individual An

Arts and culture award culture and Arts E17 Jazz Collective picks up their award for services to art and culture in Waltham Forest Waltham in culture and art to services for award their up picks Collective Jazz E17

for local amateur musicians. musicians. amateur local for

provide a great opportunity opportunity great a provide

artistic participation and and participation artistic

activities encourage wider wider encourage activities

events. Their educational educational Their events.

audience attending their many many their attending audience

the borough, with a diverse diverse a with borough, the

enhance the cultural life of of life cultural the enhance

7 collective The adults. and workshops for both children children both for workshops

7 as well as festivals and and festivals as well as has involved weekly concerts concerts weekly involved has

For the last four years this this years four last the For Walthamstow Village in Bloom

E17 Jazz Collective.’ Collective.’ Jazz E17

build the profile of the the of profile the build

award brings to help us us help to brings award

the recognition that the the that recognition the

received and intend to use use to intend and received

all the support we’ve we’ve support the all

receive this award. this receive

and we’re chuffed to to chuffed we’re and

“We had a fabulous evening evening fabulous a had “We

Carlos Lopez-Real said: said: Lopez-Real Carlos

“We are very grateful for for grateful very are “We What they said: said: they What

Love Your

Borough

special edition

8 Walthamstow Village in Bloom Beautiful PremisesChallenge2012 Collard Almshouses in Court Maynard Road. and Best Business Display by the Pub/Restaurant by The Queen’s Arms in Orford Road Henry Maynard Junior School, Best In 2011 our Best Community Garden was won by London in Bloom and aBritain in Bloom tee shirt. entries received the Certificate Excellenceof from of Participation and the Best and Highly Commended AGM in October. Every entrant received aCertificate We held our own awards ceremony at the WVRA be delivered in June. display or making adonation; another magazine will in which businesses may wish to help by sponsoring a aims plus some encouragement and advice and ways an entryform, information and news, well as our as The Spring edition of The Village magazine contained within our in Bloom boundary. organisations, and religious and community groups on 24 March and informed all businesses, schools, We launched the Beautiful Premises Challenge 2012

in recognition of achieving The Queen’s Arms Public House in the Beautiful Premises Best Pub & Restaurant Pub Best

Challenge

P remises

in recognition of

Henry Maynard Junior School in the Beautiful Premises

achieving Best Community Garden

Challenge

8 union-flag bedecked Vestry Road Playground to the children will return with their seedlings to a On 2June, during the Diamond Jubilee weekend, instructions on how to nurture them. The children took their of home seeds pots with proud to show their off planting skills. having attended our workshops before and were growing were old-hands, Some plants seeds. from helped the children and explained to them about from the local Church Hill gardening group sunflowers and black-eyed susans. Penny Wiles cottage-flower seeds including marigolds, themed workshop planting gold-medal coloured On 14 April we ran afree children’s Olympic- in Vestry RoadPlayground Olympic-Themed Flower Planting

feed the birds in autumn. other beneficial andinsects their heads seed will They will attract bees, butterflies and ownership their of recreation area. children asense of pride and playground give and the the up cheer again will The flowers fence. mesh the against flowerbed serpentine the plant them along

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bees and other b other and bees and butterflies attract

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9 9 Walthamstow Village in Bloom 10 Walthamstow Village in Bloom

sweeping and tidying it. meeting point and our start day by weeding, Gardening Club; we still use the Square our as These activities led to the birth of the WVRA of aresident. A second bench was donated by afamily in memory Residents and alocal builder supplied all the labour. £3,970 for abench, abin and anotice board. In 2005 we were awarded a Living Spaces grant of being used atoilet. as and rubbish and were beds were full of weeds street drinkers and the and often inhabited by werebenches broken There was no bin, the and clean up the area. gardening day to weed EnvironmentRoads, ran a Committee WVRA the of the garden on the corner of Orford and Eden It in started 2003 when, fed up with the appalling state Village Square–EdenRoadProject

Music by East London Brass ~ Carols led by Philip Creasy Philip by led Carols ~ Brass London East by Music

on Eden Road/Orford Road Square Road Road/Orford Eden on

Walthamstow Village Residents’ Association Residents’ Village Walthamstow

Tree and lights kindly supplied by LBWF by supplied kindly lights and Tree East London Sausage Co, Orford Road Road Orford Co, Sausage London East

for mulled wine and mince pies mince and wine mulled for

Song sheets provided sheets Song

Carols start at 7.30pm at start Carols Tuesday 13th December 13th Tuesday and shoppers can or meet sit. Village and is apleasant place in which residents The Village Square is one of the focal points of the gave awonderful display in spring. In November we planted 500 triandus bulbs that Gardens to match the other areas we have adopted. beautifully designed and planted by Outer Space mulched after planting. The flowerbeds are spread tonnes of compost to improve the soil and drastically pruned back the overgrown shrubs, Square. The Gardening Club cleared the beds, Street Community Council to replant the Village In 2010-11 we were awarded £2,862.50 by Hoe for their crime prevention stall. SwapsSeed and by the Safer Neighbourhood Team The Square is used for craft events, the Plant and groups and residents. residents. The notice board is well used by local carol singing event that in 2011 attracted 350 Christmas and tree lights holds and the WVRA a Since 2005 LB Waltham Forest has donated a

Christmas Carols Christmas Gather 7pm outside 7pm Gather

cheering on. her she and does will belining the route, are very proud of Teresa and the work the Torch Relay in Waltham Forest! We on Saturday 21 July when she is part of Torchbearer and her Moment to Shine is Deacon has chosen been an as Olympic indoes the Borough, our very own Teresa In recognition of all the voluntary work she June. 14 recording of GQT at the Aquatics Centre on Olympic Park and after to participate in a tour by the designers of the gardens at the members of our Gardening Club to aguided Dichmont who lives locally, has invited ten The producer of Gardeners’ Question Time, Lucy Grow forGold! with an Olympic theme to encourage everyone to our 2012 Garden Challenges and summer events initiative Garden for the Games and we are running Helen Lerner is aLocal Leader for the Olympic attract and we want to have the area looking best. its welcome the Games and the extra visitors they will and businesses of Walthamstow Village are eager to part of anAs Olympic host borough, the residents London 2012Olympics Garden fortheGames

Garden for the Games this spring. Sign up up Sign spring. this Games the for Garden

Contact your Local Leader: Local your Contact

[email protected]

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Village Village Walthamstow

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There an 11 11 Walthamstow Village in Bloom 12 Walthamstow Village in Bloom an insect hotel for our wildlife area. Together Day and ran aworkshop for children building In September 2011 we joined in with The RHS’ Dig autumn. in SwapsSeed every spring and add aproduce swap such asuccess that we now run Plant and profile of our in-Bloom campaign. It was grow fruit and vegetables and to raise the gardens, window boxes and planters, to encourageto improve to residents their front We held our first Plant andSeed Swap in 2009 Produce Swaps Plant, Seedand meadow. meadow. and sowed our workshop planting seed children’s Week and ran a Gardening National RHS’ The with In April we joined in advice. growing swapped and we have made leaflets with food- identifies plants. Vegetable seeds and plants are swap. Graham answers gardeners’ queries and plants, pots, produce and gardening seeds, surplus their bring people are given and out seeds collected of Packets equipment to to equipment to much wildlife and we liaise The railway deep cutting is home insects. pollinating attract bees, butterflies and other We hope our new meadow will churchyard. residents to set up hives in the We are working with bee-keeping information, stickers. and badges The Bee Cause and handing out promoting our events attend Earth Waltham Forest Friend’s of the planted bulbs along the length. sown thousands of and seeds path awoodland feel. We have encourage wildlife and to give the plants and wildflowers to and tidy but leave the native work to keep Vinegar Alley clean We and the church do alot of trees. bird and bat boxes in the many There is acomposting area and birds, insects and small mammals. wildlife and they are ahaven for encourage to uncultivated left churchyard.north Some areas are planned along-grass policy for the maintenance,tree has now after completing programme its of by the grounds staff. The church, theiras garden and the remainder AlmshousesMonoux by residents Mencap, the area adjacent to the The south churchyard is cared for by volunteers from registers. since the mid 17th century are recorded in the over 26,000 burials, of which more than 16,000 1,300 monuments (the oldest dated 1710). There are over more than three acres in which there are about church groundsman Tim. The churchyard is spread Churchyard. We are in close consultation with the important. The largest is the ancient St Mary’s Being an Urban Village every green space is most Our greenspaces wildflower area. Vestry House Museum garden has awonderful families of blue tits. created woodpiles. The bird boxes were used by and last year we installed an insect house and There is asmall enclosed wildlife area in Vestry Road can. with Network Rail and to try keep it nice as we as 13 13 13 Walthamstow Village in Bloom 14 Walthamstow Village in Bloom path and alley of the Village. that had beenaccumulating in every nook and cranny, Meeting, concerning the litter, graffiti and fly-tipping complaints were received from residents at an Open Committee ran first its spring clean after many Residents’ Association’s Environment (WVRA) It all in started 2003 when Walthamstow Village Vestry Green for all. their contractor Kier. We laid on apicnic lunch on Waltham Forest council officers and operatives from variety of backgrounds. Residents were joined by record people 90 of all ages, abilities and from awide 24 March with our 10th annual clean attended by a We launched Walthamstow Village in Bloom 2012 on & OlympicCleanUp Annual SpringClean 3,000 volunteers. volunteers. 3,000 borough involving the across place took cleans 66 success. direct response to our was a as started which Clean Spring second Forest’s Waltham We joined

before it becomes aproblem. items to Waltham Forest Direct sothat it is dealt with encourage report to people it instantly stands out and we something or graffiti appears Today, if someone dumps up the area before judging. similar Clean Up to spruce Village. In June we hold a neighbours and improve the together, their meet everyone achance to work pride in the area; it gives event and has helped instil enjoyable and satisfying The Spring Clean is avery lead prosecutions. to came to witness the clearance of fly-tips which may recreation grounds. borough Enforcement The Team whiletree-pits younger children litter-pick the local and areas communal garden and furniture areas, clear rubbish, re-paint street into teams to tackle specific We divide spring cleaners

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�� • • • • • • • • • • • Work includes: places” and remove graffiti. work to “eliminate recesses, blind corners and hiding Metropolitan Police the Gardening Club carries out have taken place in these areas. On the advice of the of muggings and robberies and even amurder that Unfortunately, over the years there have beenspates old paths and alleys and alarge churchyard. Walthamstow Village is aquaint area that has many Crime Prevention &Civic Pride front gardens. gardens. front to reduce the number and size of wheelie-bins in facilitating residents in swapping and sharing bins are removed within weeks two of let or sale liaising with companies property to ensure signs campaigns fouling anti-dog running pathways cutting back of vegetation blocking sightlines and embankments to Network Rail reporting fly-tipping and graffiti on the railway Direct Forest lighting and defects street problems to Waltham and encouragingreporting, report, to residents signs and street furniture removal and painting over of graffiti on walls, maintenance of verges in Vinegar Alley removal of graffiti and fly-tipping and House Leylandii from the green adjacent to The Ancient clearance by Waltham Forest of the giant Team groups. and youth-offender sites and Beulah Path by the Community Payback clearance of St Mary’s churchyard, Vinegar Alley four-year the outside rule. from Google Street-View 2008 that they fall conservation the areas in to WF Enforcement with proof installation satellite-dish illicit reporting • • • • • • We also: span. hard to keep Village and streets alleys spick and Our friendly street cleansing operative Cecil works ownership our events. and attends street drinkers, encourages responsible dog- folk, deals with any problems, has moved on the everybody, keeps an eye on elderly and vulnerable Our dedicated PCSO, Russell Gillingham knows such Cleveland as Park RA. liaise with and advise other community groups attend council Street Watchers meetings council. introduced controlled parking zone to WF residents’ concerns regarding recently the have set up asub-committee to pass on feedback and concerns hold open meetings for residents to voice their etc. cleansing collection, planning, environment, transport, rubbish consult with WF and attend their meetings re heard. are voices attend Ward Forum meetings to ensure residents’ 15 15 Walthamstow Village in Bloom 16 Walthamstow Village in Bloom Bulb planting planted with fritillary and crocus bulbs in tree pits. pits. tree in bulbs crocus and fritillary with planted resident gave us hundreds of muscari bulbs that we snowdrops and planted them along Vinegar Alley. A Again our Megan Whitear donated thousands of of the newly designed Village square. November our volunteers planted them in the beds Hawera (pale yellow) triandrus daffodil bulbs. On 5 funded 250WVRA Ice Wings (white) and 250 mixed spring bulbs from The Big Bulb Plant and the by the Council via the nearby Organiclea group, 300 In autumn 2011 we received crocus bulbs supplied Villagethroughout the area. and many thousands of bulbs have beenplanted Since 2003 we’ve held aplanting event every year 17 17 Walthamstow Village in Bloom 18 Walthamstow Village in Bloom raffles or to use at events. Local businesses donate money, goods or vouchers for people. and the Hornbeam Centre and attracted over 1,500 House gardens, was organised Organiclea by WVRA, In October the annual Apple Day, held in the Vestry for Meetings Open and the AGM. The Asian Centre kindly lends us the hall free of charge cooked curry supper was served and araffle held. tickets were again sold out in 2011 and ahome- In November we hold our Annual Curry Quiz. The 120 fundraiser. The next is on 8July. July attracted over 1,300 people and is our main The Annual Garden in Party the Museum garden in has ayear-roundThe WVRA programme of events. and AwarenessFundraising

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Facebook group.Facebook website and aWalthamstow Village in Bloom We have aWalthamstow Village Residents’ Association on London Live Radio 94.9’s Breakfast Show. press desks before events. In March we were featured We send press releases to local newspapers and TV kept up to date with posters and information. e-newsletter. The notice board on the Village Square is MP Stella Creasy advertises our events in her weekly community groups who are sent details of what’s on. has an emailWVRA list of over residents 600 and to in every property the borough. Forest News’ Green Celebrations that was distributed Our in-Bloom events were published in Waltham areCosts covered by local business advertising. delivered door-to-door to 2000 properties locally. Three times produces ayear amagazine WVRA that is plants. surplus donate Club Council contractor Kier and The London Gardening

Free entry Free

07792 441597 07792

For further details please contact Shameem on on Shameem contact please details further For

Refreshments Refreshments

Desserts Desserts

Music Music

We welcome donations of donations welcome We

books, plants & cakes & plants books,

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Vestry House Museum House Vestry

[email protected]

9NH E17 Road Vestry

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Children

2011 July 3rd Sunday

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Garden Party Garden

Stalls Stalls

Homemade

noon

Walthamstow Village Walthamstow

e ’s

Barbecue

Activities

Cakes & Cakes

Nottingham. Nottingham. November’s RHS Britain in Bloom Forum in groups and getting volunteers involved at Helen Lerner community-led spoke about Festival and Friends of Wingfield Park. Centre, E17 Trail Art and WF Literature Housing Organiclea, Co-op, Hornbeam the Walthamstow Historical Society, the Drive Civic Society, WF Friends of the Earth, We have close links with, amongst others, WF improvements inward. the £34,910 to spend over three years on Community Ward Panel that has abudget of We are advisers on the Hoe Street First Litter Hitters and feature on their websites. We are members of Volunteering England and to inform residents of our work. larger Community Council and set up displays Hoe Street Ward Forums that replaced the We apply for grants via our Wood Street and

More information 020 8558 6880, [email protected] [email protected] 6880, 8558 020 information More

Museum House Vestry OrganicLea, Centre, Hornbeam by Organised

Association Residents’ Village w Walthamsto &

www.hornbeam.org.uk/events/appleday

home home

Apple tasting, pressing & bobbing. Sales of apples, trees & juice, juice, & trees apples, of Sales bobbing. & pressing tasting, Apple A

pple tasting, pressing & bobbing. Sales of apples, trees & juice, juice, & trees apples, of Sales bobbing. & pressing tasting, pple

children’s crafts & games, honey & candle rolling... candle & honey games, & crafts children’s children’s crafts & games, honey & candle rolling... candle & honey games, & crafts children’s

- -

made cakes, cakes, made made cakes, cakes, made

Day Apple Day Apple Day Apple

refreshments, jams & chutneys. C chutneys. & jams refreshments, refreshments, jams & chutneys. C chutneys. & jams refreshments,

ider bar, bar, ider ider bar, bar, ider

19 19 Walthamstow Village in Bloom 20 Walthamstow Village in Bloom and next, when the perennials flower. look forward to seeing the results during this summer We hope the April showers gave it and agood start sow at our spring Plant Swap. &Seed intoseeds 96 cups containing 5g for residents to each We divided the area into 96 metre squares and the to afine tilth. by digging and levelling it and, after amonth, raking it grass and the Gardening Club further prepared the area cornfield annuals), and clearedthe area theof scrubby grasses and 30% native wildflowers (10% of which are Waltham Forest donated the seeds, which contain 70% perenniala meadow. transformed corner of Orford and Church End to plant 2012’s Year of the Meadow we decided to use the To commemorate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and Our DiamondJubilee Meadow Before Morris’ design Arbutus. William inspired and context Leylandii it as is historically in was chosen to replace the Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo) and the RHS asingle-stemmed Forest Waltham with consultation anti-social activity. After light and was amagnet for huge Leyland Cyprus that cut out was completely dominated by a This piece of land, until last year, Village Veg – Your Doorstep Allotment Village– Your VegDoorstep place hives in the churchyard. St Mary’s have funding to train new keepers bee and We already have some keepers bee in our midst and adopted areas for people to help themselves. and plant edible crops and herbs in some of our leaflets, we provide seeds theat Plant Seed & Swaps Graham has produced vegetable growing information to adopt neighbours’ neglected gardens to do so; We are encouraging residents to grow-their-own and and is agood way of slashing the shopping bills. they look great! Growing food has somany benefits usingstarted their front gardens to grow food and Over the past couple of years many residents have 21 21 Walthamstow Village in Bloom 22 Walthamstow Village in Bloom Recognition

Best kept front garden award A local resident or community group making an improvement to their garden and making Waltham Forest a greener, more colourful borough

Teresa Deacon, of Winner Walthamstow Village Beatrice and Walter Residents’ Association Martin nominated Walter and Beatrice Martin for the best kept front garden award.

Sports achievement of the year award Ward Cllrs Saima Mahmud and Mark Rusling collect the award for best front garden on behalf of Beatrice and An individual or group that has achieved sporting success, de Walter Martin of all ages or promoted and developed sporting initiatives in the communi

Box4Life is a community- led project which brings Winner together youngsters of all Box4Life backgrounds and cultures to learn non-contact boxing.

people’s resilience and teaches respect and tolerance. All the individuals involved in the project give their time voluntarily with no thought of recompense.

Waltham Forest across Box4Life builds young

These volunteers promote

Box4Life was recognised for its volunteering work to teach children non-contact boxing

Unfortunately the couple were unable to attend the ceremony.

as being “well maintained, with a good choice and range of plants, all year interest, good for bees and butterflies with berries for birds. Good structure and colours blend well.”

Their garden was praised

London and help to put the borough on the map. They work with the youngsters who attend the sessions but also with their families, offering Waltham Forest youth an alternative to gang culture. What they said: Mark Rule told Waltham Forest News: “We are really delighted and overjoyed to receive the award. “Being recognised for what we are doing gives everyone involved in the club a massive boost.”

What they said: Beatrice Martin told Waltham Forest News: “It’s truly lovely to have won the award for best kept front garden. Every year we get older and it’s harder to do the garden but we love making it look nice.

and I’m really pleased our

efforts have been recognised.”

“I’m a very keen gardener

dicated their own time to coaching or organising sports events for peop

Arts and culture award An individual or group that is involved in, or actively encourages others in the community to participate in creative arts projects E17 Jazz Collective picks up their award for services to art and culture in Waltham Forest

E17 Jazz Collective was established in 2008 by Winner saxophonist Carlos Lopez- E17 Jazz Collective Real to galvanise the local jazz scene in Walthamstow. The 15 members are all full time professionals and run the E17 Jazz Collective in their spare time.

For the last four years this has involved weekly concerts as well as festivals and workshops for both children and adults. The collective enhance the cultural life of the borough, with a diverse audience attending their many events. Their educational activities encourage wider artistic participation and provide a great opportunity for local amateur musicians.

Love Your Borough

special edition

What they said: Carlos Lopez-Real said: “We had a fabulous evening and we’re chuffed to receive this award.

all the support we’ve received and intend to use the recognition that the award brings to help us build the profile of the E17 Jazz Collective.’

“We are very grateful for

events. friends, read, perform music and hold community many activities such aquiet as place to sit with and It art. is also aspecial environment used for many areas of the curriculum -i.e. maths, science integral part of school life -aspace used to support the garden has matured and grown to become an Over the years since conversion its in 2009 -2010, judges. bycommended the and has been every year since 2010 Walthamstow in Bloom gardenThe entered has opened in June 2010. ago and it was officially were completed 3years garden community elements of the structural main The Community Garden Henry Maynard Junior School After

Before onions, squash, broccoli, courgettes, chard, carrots, fruit and vegetables such broad as beans, garlic, This year we have planted out afar wider range of garden. regularly to plan schemes of work and tend to the staff, parents and a professional gardener who meet The garden is over-seen by acommittee made up of • • • It is also enjoyed by: Potato planting in the 2012 E17 trail Art co-ordinatorart for awhole school participation They are now planning with the Henry Maynard their and art were part of the 2011 E17 Trail. Art children are using the garden an as inspiration for A parent Club led Art based in the garden where each learn to horticulture. term about more and are working with aprofessional gardener have planted bulbs, potatoes, avariety of seeds The School Gardening Club -which this year cultivate. and tend plant, water the plants and have their own raised to bed The School After Club -whose children regularly year. year. past the over evolve continued to grow and way our garden has the seeing and features enjoy new they these once more and hope judges the welcoming to We forward look display. Jubilee special a planted have we addition In raspberries. currents and black strawberries, 23 23 Walthamstow Village in Bloom 24 Walthamstow Village in Bloom patches and help keep the garden tidy. Centre come in weekly to tend to the vegetable with learning disabilities from the 247 Markhouse Road We are extremely fortunate that ateam of young adults and welcome volunteers with all ranges of ability. drop-in day. We are actively recruiting new members mentoring new recruits. Thursdays are also aregular with experienced more coaching members and the team now fortnightly meets to do extra gardening gathering momentum. In addition to monthly meetings our fantastic team of garden volunteers. The team is Our garden continues to flourishthanks theto help of volunteerThe team • • • • • workhouse, thereby increasing the heritage interest. Each is bed named after aformer inhabitant of the designedbed to attract butterflies. woodland bed, gravel bed, wild meadow area and a medicinal herbs and dye plants. There is also a plants including fruit, vegetables, culinary and workhouse garden. There is an emphasis on useful The planting of the garden is inspired by history its a as Garden layout horticulture and garden is entirely maintained by volunteers. for visitors and members of our local community. The create aspace for relaxation, enjoyment and learning complement the heritage of Vestry House and to workhouse in the 18th century. The aim is to fact that the Museum was originally built a as community garden which takes inspiration its from the project transformed abare space into adelightful Fund.investment This Heritage the Lottery from The garden at Vestry House Museum was created with Vestry HouseCommunityGarden interest. Our dye plants are of particular horticultural garden. the of to increase the biodiversity and learning potential We maintain abalance of cultivated and wild areas visitors. for experience learning offering the opportunity for amulti-sensory A gravel area is planted with varieties of thyme and annuals in addition to vegetable varieties. chard. We maintain abalance of perennial plants with evergreen foliage such curly as kale and ruby To ensure continuity of interest we grow plants educational interest year round. We aim to provide amixture of aesthetic and of our teams. celebrate the hard work to party garden volunteers’ a planning party. This year we are garden Association and the Residents’ – apples to connected anything and everything celebration of popular highly a – Day Apple including events in the garden, number ofsuccessful We have hosted a Events parties, functions and wedding receptions. to use the Community Room for events including garden is also amajor factor for many people choosing significant proportion of whom the used garden. The Last year we attracted over 24,000 visitors, a space for families, adults and school groups to enjoy. part to the continuing popularity of the garden a as Visitor numbers to the Museum continue to rise due in use Community • • • • presents. it that learning interpretation of the garden and the opportunities for This year we are starting to focus on enhancing the Interpretation education and • • • • • ensure this are by: environmental sustainability. Some of the ways we We are committed to ensuring best practice in Sustainability site dedicated to the garden. We are creating aweb page on the Vestry House sheet for museum visitors Another volunteer is preparing an information a herb trail for children. A volunteer who is a qualified herbalist is preparing the connection with the Vestry House building. inhabitants of the former workhouse to emphasis We are labelling all the beds with the names of Using our garden. produce from Planting to attract butterflies Leaving areas untouched to encourage biodiversity chemicals Using organic methods and avoiding the use of Making our own compost dig out it as is our policy not to use poison. and extensive bramble growth are time-consuming to strewn around. In particular the self-seeded saplings amount of litter, concrete debris and fallen wood was weretrees infested with ivygrowth and alarge the site, often growing from within tombs. Most large derelict graves; hundreds of self-seeded littered trees The whole site was subject to many broken and activity. meaningful adults to undertake the work atherapeutic as and contract with Mencap who have teams of supported of the Church are subject to aseparate maintenance throughout the year. The areas just behind and south average there is one man working one day aweek maintenance would beall that is required. On return them to amanageable state where routine grounds in 2010 and set out an 18 month plan to Tim Daniels took over the management of the the ingress of ivyand self-sown seedlings. deteriorating aresult as of root damage from trees, condition of some of the other early tombs is two-year programme of work afew years ago, the the most important tombs were restored part of as a and graves; four of these are Grade II listed. Whilst The churchyard contains many hundreds of tombs grass, ivyand bramble have overwhelmed the graves. In recent years there have beentimes when weeds, flora and fauna and a map with a full arboreal survey. works strategy and also includes a map, asurvey of Management Plan 1997 forms the basis of our ground The St Mary’s Walthamstow -Nature Conservation St Mary’s Churchyard open vistas of the Church. visibility for people using the public paths and to are kept relatively clear to improve sight-lines and Areas around the Church and the Welcome Centre allow animals to move freely. wilderness to connect the remaining wild areas to rotational basis. There will always beacorridor of receive clearance once every four years on a mark the wild areas into four sub-plots that will each shrub, ivyground cover and bramble. We plan to site and at present these areas have much dense This “long grass policy” will include 10-15% of total Alley and north-west of the Church to leave “wild”. We have allocated sections in areas of north Vinegar beehive. a starting We are considering installing bird and bat boxes and they are spared the strimmer wherever possible. We encourage the growth of native wild flowers so act habitat as for fauna. All fallen or pruned wood is stored in woodpiles to fashion. tidy and compost and keeping waste materials in acontrolled compostable material with aview to distributing construct wooden bays on sites two to contain yet had to to burning. resort We are planning to We have a“compost all waste” policy and have not complete. almost routinethe maintenance schedule; this is process across the whole site until all areas were included in work commenced slowly and systematically moving cleared received areas ongoing maintenance and mowing grass to desired length. Each month the unwanted growth, debris and then strimming/ We in started the triangle by Church End by clearing 25 25 25 Walthamstow Village in Bloom 26 Walthamstow Village in Bloom support and enthusiasm for Walthamstow Village in Bloom. Village: for their remarkable community spirit, encouragement, And to all the good folk who live, work or play in Walthamstow Osbourne, Josh Lerner (tea boy and help in the hols). Harnett, Nicole and Joss Thomas, Daniel Barry, Marion Gasson, Shameem Mir, Richard Smith, Hilary Forbes, Gordon Megan Whitear, Colin and Bonnie Stinton, Yvonne Cross, Paul Helen Lerner, Teresa Deacon, Graham Sherman, Ivan White, Monthly Gardening Club Stalwarts Chambers Helen Lerner, Teresa Deacon, Graham Sherman, John Walthamstow Village in Bloom Committee • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Sponsors &Credits donated after the portfolio went to print. Our apologies to all those who have helped or donated items that have beenmissed the list off above, or Beautiful Interiors –for raffle prizes The Village, Mon Dragone Restaurant, Petals in Bloom, Sean Pines, The Queen’s Arms, Penny Fielding’s La Ruga Trattoria, The Village Deli, Village Kitchen, Orford Saloon Tapas bar, The Nag’s Head, The Castle, East London Sausage Company –donations of products for events Nick and Sarah Trivuncic &Paul Gasson –poster design I Kuan Taoist Temple –hospitality and refreshments on gardening and clean up days. Cllrs Saima Mahmud, Mark Rusling &Ahsan Khan and MP Stella Creasy for support and promotion of events. disposal and green waste composting, meadow seeds, floral lamppost baskets, extra cleaning etc. London Borough of Waltham Forest, contractors Kier and WF Officer Paul Ticknerequipment, – rubbish Dave Gordon, Paul Gasson, Simon Chia, Teresa Deacon &Helen Lerner -photographs Paul Gasson –portfolio design The London Gardening Club, Abridge –plants and bedding scanning and printing – Lithographic Abbey John Chambers Plumbing &Building Services -sponsorship, labour, van, tools Musa Ballikaya and and the staff committee of the Asian Centre Spar Village Stores –sponsorship East Rise Grosvenor and Fullers Builders –sponsorship of planting and annual maintenance of the planter on the junction of Beulah Walthamstow Village Residents’ Association Committee –funding projects and support provided. all their hard work, for use of their wonderful premises for hosting the judging days and for the lunch The Vestry House Museum, Lorna Lee, Vicky Caroll, and the staff the volunteer gardeners and 247 Group for In memory of Tetley theVillage Cat - died September 28 September died 2011 26