Walthamstow Wetlands now See open – look inside for photos page 3 Your Council keeping residents informed Issue 192 6 November 2017 www.walthamforest.gov.uk @wfcouncil Only one month to go: Back our Borough of Culture bid n More than 7,500 residents have pledged their support so far n 200 local firms have backed the bid n Success will bring £1m arts funding There’s less than a month to your support and help Waltham go to pledge your support for Forest – firstly, make sure you have Waltham Forest’s bid to be the signed the pledge at WFculture19. first London Borough of Culture. co.uk. The campaign has gained Local businesses can get their momentum as it has entered its hands on some bid branding to final weeks, with more than 7500 display by emailing WFculture@ residents pledging their support. walthamforest.gov.uk. The winning London borough will You should also vote for Waltham receive an investment of over £1 Forest in ITV’s online poll at bit. million to spend on a spectacular ly/2uJlCnv. arts and culture programme. Every post on social media using Winning would shine a light on all #WFculture19 will help with the bid the brilliant cultural opportunities too – so post, tweet and snap away. that Waltham Forest has on offer The bid will be submitted to and really put the borough on the the Mayor of London on the map. The funding would also benefit 1 December, and the winning the local economy and bring new borough will be announced in the employment opportunities to the new year. borough. Over 200 local businesses have Okan Arlan from Stone Mini Market, Leytonstone got behind the bid, with shops, proudly displays his ‘Back the Bid’ sticker restaurants, venues and galleries More info proudly displaying stickers in their To pledge your support for Waltham shop windows. Forest’s bid to be Borough of There are still lots of ways to show Culture, visit: WFculture19.co.uk Pledge your support for our bid to be London’s first Borough of Culture #mylocalculture www.WFculture19.co.uk #WFculture19 2 News Comedy night a sell out The Black History Month Comedy of October. It’s a show for all ages, Night has just celebrated 15 years as the sets include minimal swearing. at the Walthamstow Assembly At six hours in length it is one of the Hall with a sell-out night of longest comedy shows in London, but laughter and music. includes breaks to let the audience Hosts were Robbie G, who has compose themselves from their starred in Snatch, The Real McCoy, laughter while listening to music, and Desmonds and Eastenders, and BBC enjoying food and drink. Radio’s Drive Times’ Eddie Nestor. The comperes urged audience The line-up for the event’s birthday members to back Waltham Forest’s included headline act Curtis Walker bid to be Borough of Culture, so that and London-based comedian more events like this one could take Glenda Jaxson. Other performances place. came from Shabba – who is new to Comedy will return to the the show, Miss Mo ‘Real, Ghanian Walthamstow Assembly Hall next comedian A Dot, Roger D, Ashley May 2018. The comedy night will be Jay and Travis Jay. Even audience hosted by Thanyia Moore and feature members were taking to the stage to Kevin J, White Yardie, Aurie Styla, tell some jokes. Axel Blake, Eygpt, Babtunde, Kae Originally conceived as a cabaret Kurd, Judi Love and Pantonic Steel show, this year Comedy Promoter Orchestra. and organiser Glen Watson The night features comedy, music, food and drink included music in the show – with More info performances from Opera Singer To pledge your support for Yvonne Davis and Violinist Daj Jordan. the campaign to be London’s The show marks the end of Black first borough of culture, visit: History Month every year at the end bit.ly/WFculture19 War memorials cleaned ready for Remembrance War memorials have been at St Peter and St Paul Church, will go ahead and the Service will be cleaned across Waltham Forest followed by another procession back held in the Walthamstow Assembly in preparation for Remembrance to Chingford Fire Station for the Hall. Sunday events this weekend. If close. you are interested in going to Leyton: pay your respects, events will be Walthamstow: A parade will gather at the held at the following locations on A parade of local organisations Buckingham Road gates to Sunday 12 November: and members of the Walthamstow Coronation Gardens at 9:30am. branch of the Royal British Legion Service finishes at 10:15am and Chingford: will march from the William Morris wreaths are laid during the service. Attendees will meet at 10am at the Gallery, Lloyd Park to the Town Hall The parade continues to St front of Chingford Fire Station with a at approximately 10.25am. To join Mary’s Parish Church for a service parade departing at 10:40am along the parade, assemble at the William commencing at approximately the Ridgeway to the memorial on Morris Gallery by no later than 10:30am. the corner of Kings Head Hill and the 10.00am. War Memorials are looking their best ready Ridgeway. A short service including Guests can also gather at the War Leytonstone: for Remembrance Services this week laying of wreaths and two minutes of Memorial, Waltham Forest Town Hall, A service will commence at silence will be carried out at 11am. Forest Road no later than 10.40am. 10:30am at the Harrow Green After this a service will take place If there is poor weather, the parade Memorial, Leytonstone High Road. Contact Waltham Forest Council Waltham Forest News Edited by: Corporate Advertising and promotional Their inclusion does not mean that Communications Team enquiries: the council endorses the company or Margie Agudelo 020 8496 3000 (press 6) product being advertised. Waltham Forest News wants to [email protected] hear from people in the local Waltham Forest News is produced using community. If you have a story Waltham Forest Council does not accept trees from sustainable managed forests that you’d like us to cover, email responsibility for the content of any where more trees are planted than felled. walthamforestnews non-council advertisements in Waltham Please recycle Waltham Forest News tap scroll click @walthamforest.gov.uk. Forest News. when you have finished with it. facebook.com/walthamforestcouncil @lbwalthamforest @wfcouncil www.walthamforest.gov.uk Waltham Forest News is published fortnightly by London Borough of Waltham Forest with a print run of 110,000 copies delivered to homes, organisations, businesses and bulk drops in the borough. More services The official independently audited free letterbox delivery of Waltham Forest News is 97,161 ABC Regional 4 January 2016 to available online. 1 January 2017 Issue 192 I 6 November 2017 www.walthamforest.gov.uk 3 Visitors flood to newly opened Wetlands The visitor centre includes a cafe and gift shop More than 5,000 visitors for Thames Water, is on track to London’s first Borough of Culture.” descended on the Walthamstow become a favourite for families, The site, which is free to visit, is Wetlands over its opening walkers, wildlife fans, anglers and located on the 123 and 230 bus weekend last month. birders. routes and has a car park. It is The doors opened to the public With thousands of different wildlife open 9.30am to 4pm (October to for the first time on 20 October species visiting and living there, March) and 9.30am to 5pm (April to allowing residents to explore the the ten reservoirs that make up the September) 363 days of the year. expansive site for the first time in Wetlands are a designated Site of Resident Marcina Dunwell said: 150 years. Half term week followed the ‘We are very fortunate to have this grand opening, and London Wildlife Trust ran family fun days to teach fantastic oasis right on our doorstep’ about the variety of wildlife living on site. Children learnt about the bats Cllr Clare Coghill living in the tower of the Engine House and about how mammals Special Scientific Interest. The site “It’s great to have this fantastic survive cold and icy winters. is home to birds including herons, outdoor activity so close to home. The programme of weekly kingfishers, cormorants and the My girls, age three and seven The Wetlands are completely free to visit activities and seasonal events will fastest animal on the planet – the really enjoyed looking out from the continue all through the year giving peregrine falcon. A wide range of viewing platform. visitors a chance to learn about the freshwater fish including trout and “The lovely colourful handouts site’s flora and fauna. carp also live in the reservoirs. explaining the names of the of the Dubbed ‘London’s Best Kept Leader of Waltham Forest animals and birds made spotting Secret’ by the Mayor of London in Council, Cllr Clare Coghill, said: them all the more fun for the girls.” 2012, Walthamstow Wetlands is “Walthamstow Wetlands is the result of ten years of planning, a unique space in London. It is renewal, conservation work and Europe’s largest urban Wetland investment, as well as a £4.47m nature reserve, just 15 minutes More info National Lottery grant. away from central London. For more information about visiting The spectacular urban wetland This fantastic site is one of the Walthamstow Wetlands, visit: nature reserve, which is also an the many reasons why Waltham www.walthamstowwetlands. operational water supply site Forest is the ideal candidate to be com Applications open for Visitors can enjoy the 211 hectare site Artist in Residence To celebrate the opening of the expectation of that they will speak led walks, workshops, schools Walthamstow Wetlands a new a to guests and be visible on site.