Happy New Year!
Welcome to the first Wanstead Climate Action E-Newsletter of 2026 
Why not make it a resolution to spend more time and effort combatting the climate and nature emergency? Could anything be more important? Every little helps!
OUR TREES
Monday 19 January. 19.30
WCA welcomes Peter Marshall, LB Redbridge Chief Arboriculturalist, to speak at our first event of 2026. Trees could be a metaphor for the climate and nature emergency. How are they chosen to cope with changing conditions? Why do so many die? What can we do to help nurture them? Just some of the questions for discussion with Peter. Wanstead House Community Centre, 21 The Green, E11 2NT. Socialise from 19.00.
WCA Market Day Table
Sunday 4 January 11.30-13.00 
Come rain, come shine, stalwart WCA volunteers have been running a table every Wanstead market day (December above). Its invariably proved interesting and worthwhile. Please do support us. Just 30 mins of your time will make a big difference! We set up outside the Coop on the first Sunday of each month 11.30 – 13.00
Wanstead Repair Cafe
Saturday 29 November 
The fourth and final cafe of 2025 was held in November, and was another great success. Much stuff was given a new lease of life, avoiding waste, landfill and tons of carbon. Community stalls and free refreshments came with a convivial cafe vibe. A huge thanks to all the volunteers. More help is always needed, whether or not you have any special skills. Thanks too for support from LB Redbridge, the East London Waste Authority and Wanstead Parish. 
WANSTEAD REPAIR CAFE DATES 2026
7 March
9 May
11 July
14 November I want to help the WCA Repair Cafe
WANSTEAD CLIMATE CAFE
LISTENING CIRCLE
It’s easy to feel powerless and hopeless faced with the enormity of the world’s problems. WCA member Liz writes about how a listening circle can help.
On a Saturday morning in November, nine local residents came together in the forested setting of the Wanstead Quaker Meeting House for a Climate Café Listening Circle. The group included people from a range of backgrounds: WCA members, Quakers, those active in climate-related initiatives at work, and others attending this kind of gathering for the first time.
The Listening Circle offered a rare opportunity to step away from the busyness of everyday life and take time to reflect on the emotional and personal impact of the climate and ecological crisis. In a calm, supportive, and non-judgemental space, participants were invited to speak, to listen deeply, and to be heard. There were no talks, advice, or campaigning—just a shared human space for honest reflection at a critical moment in our world.
Although everyone arrived with different reasons for attending, a sense of mutual understanding seemed to emerge. When facilitators Liz and Dave invited participants to describe their experience in a single word, responses such as connection, gratitude, and hope captured the spirit of the morning.More listening circles are planned for 2026.
Nature Petition Update –
A brilliant end to the year!
The petition calling for LB Redbridge to declare a nature emergency has been a key focus for WCA in 2025. The target of 1500 signatures needed under LBR rules for a council debate has been achieved! This is through the heroic efforts of countless volunteers, and of course with the support of Redbridge residents. We remain wary of stumbling blocks in securing a debate, so urge everyone to continue working to add to the list of signatories.
⏳ROSEBANK AND JACKDAW⌛ 
The further extraction of carbon is a defining issue for anyone concerned with the threat posed by climate change. It is unconscionable to exacerbate the risk by approving extraction of new oil and gas from fields off the Scottish coast: Rosebank (oil and gas), and Jackdaw (gas). Many thanks to WCA member Cedric (pictured above) who has submitted detailed objections against Rosebank, and submitted similar objections to Jackdaw in December.
The case against Rosebank
WCA wishes all supporters (and our planet!) a happier, greener, fairer, kinder New Year ❤️
This newsletter also featured Diane’s review of The Joyful Environmentalist by Isabel Losada.
October/Dec 2025 newsletter and earlier here.
Wanstead Climate Action 