WCA news, August 2026

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Welcome to your August WCA newsletter featuring:

  • Heatwave – Implications for our Health, Food, and Fire Services
  • Zero Hour – Secure our future for us Andy!
  • Listening Cafe in the news – Share your concerns on 3rd October
  • Biodiversity Recording.  Fun? We think So!  Chris Gannaway explains how
  • WCA social meet-up – Monday 17th August. 7.30pm. The Bull
  • Wanstead Festival – Sunday 13th September
  • July Repair Cafe stats – Next cafe Saturday November 14th
  • Recommended listen – National Trust’s climate adaptation senior specialist on what needs to happen next

(This newsletter was sent in mid-August, uploaded end Sep.)

We’re having a Heatwave

It’s hard to know where to start with the impacts of the temperatures the UK has experienced this year. 2026 has officially been the hottest summer ever, breaking the record set last year


WCA members have been looking at where there is refuge from the heat in the area.


St Francis Hospice tops the list with their inviting board. Biyoni hairdresser and Wanstead library are cool too.

Christchurch on the Green offers respite and water and will hopefully join the offical map below soon.

Towards Snaresbrook there’s Nook coffee shop and The Eagle pub.

Food crisis looms

If your runner beans have been inedibly stringy, lack of water is to blame, and the news that a mere 20 staff out of 6,600 at DEFRA are assigned to climate adaptation proves how woefully inadequately Britain is prepared. Time for long overdue united action from our government now.


George Monbiot writes in the Guardian, “In Britain, where soils have parched, market analysts warn that we’re facing the most severe food security crisis in decades. In normal years, crop failures at home don’t threaten our security, thanks to global trade. This is one of the reasons why hunger and famines are rarer and less deadly than they used to be. But this is not a normal year, because the problem is now global.

Firewave prompts emergency alert

Nineteen fire destroyed properties in Stourbridge appear to have been the impetus for the first real acknowledgement that Britain needs leadership in the current climate crisis. Our fire service are now working in extreme conditions. The call from a London Firefighter for climate action in the clip below is extraordinary.

A simple action to help Wildlife

Fill a shallow bowl with stones and water. Place it out of reach of domestic predators. If you can do this in a woodland area, in the shade, and monitor it, you are a biodiversity hero.

Sadly some media outlets are taking baseless aim at essential rewilding schemes for exacerbating the spread of wildfires in the UK.

Zero Hour

The climate and nature crisis is here and now. The government finally held a COBRA meeting on Wednesday 12th August in the wake of wildfires and drought induced food shortages looming. If you think this should have resulted in more ambitious action than banning disposable barbeques, please sign Zero Hours’ call to Andy Burnham to

1. Pass the Nature and National Security Bill

2. Reject all new oil and gas, including Rosebank

3. Meet the UK’s International Climate and Nature Commitments

People’s Emergency Briefing

Please watch and share the climate and nature emergency expert briefings.

Keep an eye out for more local screenings – there’s one planned for St Gabriel’s Church, Aldersbrook on Saturday, 3rd October.

There’s a fantastic new section in the NEB website we think you’ll love to help counter “whataboutery”.

Climate Listening Cafe

Liz Bodycote has been bringing people together to talk about their fears for the environment and what we stand to lose at her regular Climate Cafes held at the Quaker meeting House in Wanstead. The BBC came to talk to Liz in July. Follow the link below to read the article and book into the next meeting on Saturday 3rd October.
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Biodiversity recording. Fun? We think so!
Chris Gannaway explains how to get involved

As you will be aware, we campaigned for the Nature emergency declaration from Redvridge Council, from which a nature recovery plan will evolve. One item of the plan must be to know and monitor what biodiversity we have in the borough. To this end, with the Vision Nature Conservation Team, we have jumped the gun and set up a citizen science project for nature recording using the iNaturalist recording platform.

INaturalist is a platform that relies on getting good isolated photos of a nature specimen, whether it be vegetive or animal. Uploading from a computer or a smartphone app and by the magic of technology you get an opinion on what the species could be, pick the best choice and if it’s verifiable, it will become a bona fide record that is acceptable. Sounds simple? We know the pitfalls!


We are running a series of free courses for people with an enquiring mind to get the best out of the system. It can become a bit of a competition! Though on that front I am out in front, having used iNaturalist for a number of years! Most of my Redbridge records come from my garden! It’s the common, as well as the uncommon, we have to map, as they can change places very quickly under the climatic conditions we are now seeing. Note the rise of the stripy day flying moth the Jersey Tiger and the decline of the Garden Tiger in the south of England.

Jersey Tiger Moth (Euplagia quadripunctaria)

Garden Tiger Moth (Arctia caja))

You may already be an iNaturalist user? If so, join the project Wildlife of Redbridge. There is also the Wildlife of Hainault Forest. Why not join them both. Records automatically get posted on them via the location settings.

So, if you have a camera, an online computer and/or smartphone and of course an enquiring mind, give it a try and book on to our next free course with practical examples on Saturday 12th September 10.30am to 3.00pm at the James Leal Centre in Ray Park, Snakes Lane, South Woodford.
The James Leal Centre has its own Cafe for those that need a snack or lunch or alternatively bring packed lunch. Light refreshments will be provided. There is a pay carpark at the park entrance.
Ring 02085592316 or Email nature.conservation@visionrcl.org.uk for more details.

Wanstead Festival

Wanstead Climate Action will have its annual presence at the Festival on Sunday 13th September.

If you’re new to the group we would love you to drop by and have a chat with us about your concerns, see if there are environmental actions you could become more involved with and take part in our Climate poll. We’ll also be making zero waste planters with any young planet guardians.

Repair Cafe stats for July

We love seeing the positive impact our Repair Cafes have. We hope to see you next time where our experts can hopefully breathe new life into your electricals and knitwear.
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Recommended environmental podcast

The Dunwich Heath wildfire saw more than 150 hectares of rare coastal lowland heath burned. Eco Chamber talks to the National Trust’s senior national specialist on climate adaptation, Keith Jones, about what’s been lost and what needs to happen next. Is the UK ready to respond to catastrophic wildfire events on the scale of those seen in Europe? click the link below to find out.


Final bits

Take action against Rosebank oilfield here (or via Zero Hour above).

If you’ve any thoughts or comments or have time to answer lots of questions, please complete our in-depth survey. Thanks for all you do!
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Wanstead Climate Action | https://wansteadclimateaction.com/
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Published by wansteadclimateactionblog

We are a friendly, local group who want to connect with others to raise awareness and to encourage and press Local and Central Government to address the Climate Emergency & at least meet the Paris Climate Agreement targets. Join us to plan and carry out actions to this effect. It would be great to hear your ideas! We also link up with other campaigns and larger organisations like Extinction Rebellion and Divestment groups for their campaigns & events. This blog will include details on current and past campaigns and actions, original articles and blog posts written by group members and much more...happy reading!

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