April WCA news and events

Welcome to your April WCA newsletter featuring among much else: People’s Emergency Briefing film at Wanstead Library, 3rd June Tree presentation report Repair Cafe report. The next cafe is on Saturday 9th May Monday 27th April – WCA monthly meeting (not 3rd Monday) Listening Circle – Saturday 25th April

“It’s eye-opening, goggle-box style science, but with normal people.” Join WCA for a community screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing film on Wednesday 3rd June, 7.00pm at Wanstead Library. The film explores how, without urgent action on climate & nature, the UK’s public health, food security, and economy, are threatened. (As well as the briefings from experts, the film features a range of reactions, including from Deborah Meaden and Jennifer Saunders.) After the 50-minute film, there will be a discussion involving local people, MPs and representatives to talk through our own reactions and hopes. We’re really hoping to reach local people and groups who wouldn’t normally come to environmental events. So, if you are in a sports club, faith group, local charity or business, please help publicise the event around Redbridge and Waltham Forest. Or invite your friends and neighbours. Tickets are free, but registration is required.

Click here to register your attendance

Rosebank Lobbying Day of Action

WCA members Cedric, Martyn, Mei and Vanya (left to right in photo) showed up at Westminster hoping for an audience with Calvin Bailey. The crisis in the Middle East reinforces why Rosebank must be rejected. If developed, Rosebank’s oil would be exported – like 80% of all UK oil. Allowing multinational oil companies to add a deep water field to global emissions does nothing for security or economics. Despite a tidal wave of industry-sponsored confusion in the media, government on 27 March asked the oil company to follow the law to own up to the full environmental impacts. Although Calvin Bailey was unfortunately not in the building the message on Lobbying Day was clear. You can collect cards to send messages to MPs from WCA, or send a card from the comfort of your armchair.

Together Alliance march

WCA joined Friends of the Earth at the Together Alliance march in Central London on 26th March. Together Alliance supporters say no to the politics of hate, division that blames migrants, and climate denial that attacks action while protecting polluters and the super rich and yes to unity, hope and solidarity across communities.

We Own It

Have you watched the drama documentary Dirty Business on Channel 4? The true story of the indomitable Ashley Smith and Peter Hammond and their quest to expose the illegal dumping of sewage in our rivers is must see TV. 82% of the British public want water back in public hands. “We Own it” are determined to make this happen and campaign for Public services for people not profit. WCA members Kathy and Diane joined water campaigners in High Wycombe.

Read more about the campaign here

Tree Presentation Review – by Kathy Taylor

Peter from LBR told us that 700 trees a year are planted and all the work they do is done with only four staff!   These trees are sourced from local nurseries or imported from Europe. Unfortunately, trees do fail for a number of reasons and the failure rates can go up and down.  In 1994 to 2010 there was a 12% failure rate. In 2023 it was 8% (this was the year that they started watering new trees), but in 2024 there was an 18% failure rate. Failure is therefore not due to lack of watering – which now happens 12 times a year for three years. Other reasons for new tree death can be transplant shock, environmental stress, & poor stock. It can also be due to compacted soil (decompaction of soil is beyond the budget)….

Continue reading Kathy’s report….

Find out more about Redbridge Council trees here

Click here to explore tree protection and hedges

March Repair Cafe

The March Repair Cafe was another great success. There was a wonderful buzz about Christchurch hall with all the menders, visitors and craft activities taking place. Thank you to all who volunteered their time. The event included a  Clothes Swap which was run by ELWA (East London Waste Authority ) together with some pupils from a local school. The next Wanstead repair cafe will be on Saturday 9th May at Christchurch Hall 10.30-13.00, funded by ELWA to whom we are grateful. We are always looking for more volunteers so please get in touch if you have a repair skill or as a general helper:  wansteadrepaircafe@gmail.com

Parliamentary visit

On 25th March, as part of the Wanstead Repair Cafe, we were invited to the Houses of Parliament to meet MPs to ask them to sign the Repair and Reuse Declaration.  This is to help promote a circular economy and reduce the throw away culture. After all, where is away?

Hedge Update

WCA planted a hedge along the back wall of George Green a few years ago with tree/hedging whips from the Woodland Trust and help from Redbridge Vision Conservation Team. The hedge is thriving we are pleased to say, and on 12th March it was given its annual trim by the WCA hedge team. Here it is shortly after planting in December 2021:

And now😀

Listening Cafe

Polls show that concern for the climate and ecological crisis is shared by a majority of UK citizens, yet feelings accompanying this can be difficult and complex, leading to division or silence and a sense of powerlessness. WCA member Liz will be co-facilitating listening circles for people to speak and listen to feelings and concerns about our changing climate. These are on Saturday mornings, 25th April, 25th July, 3rd October and 5th December. To register interest please email liz.bodycote@googlemail.com.

Environmental hustings and other events

Local council elections in London are on 7 May. A hustings is where candidates can be asked questions by voters. East London Humanists are organising a hustings on an exclusively environmental theme on Tuesday 5th May. Previous events have been very well attended, so we’d advise getting there early! Click here for a diary of events you might find of interest. Please let us know what we’ve missed or if you’d like to join our WhatsApp groups. And if you have time and inclination to answer some deep questions, please have a look at our survey. Thanks for reading and enjoy the changeable joys of Spring.