Saving the People's Forest

This is very last minute but I have only just seen details. Will try and attend after Council surgery and Labour Party training. I have always wanted to visit this Quaker Meeting Housel. Well done to Leyton & Wanstead CLP for promoting this event. We should do the same in West Ham. 
 

River Lee & Epping Forest Walk

 

Off message. On Sunday, Gill and I took a train from Wanstead Park (Forest Gate). Changed at Blackhorse Road for Victoria line  then one stop until Tottenham Hale. A 10 minute walk from station to River Lea. Then simply go north along the waterway on west bank then cross over by bridge on east bank of river. 

You go past sailing barges and numerous canal boats. Many of which are homes even in winter, with smoke coming out of their chimneys giving off Sunday roast cooking smells. 

This is not a totally peaceful countryside river walk but despite going underneath some busy roads there are quiet and isolated stretches. Some annoying (male) cyclists go past, who think they are competing in the towpath Tour de France, but generally, everyone is polite and considerate. 

We stopped off for coffee and watched a young squirrel misjudge a leap from tree to tree and fall into the water. S/he swam to the bank safely. 

It was also interesting to see the sheep eating the grass on the various fresh water reservoirs that line this route. 

We turned right along the A10 for about 15 minutes, just before KIng George's Reservoir towards Chingford before turning left then right into Pole Hill, Epping Forest. A nice climb to the top, past the pillar that mentions First World War soldier and author, TE Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) who lived in a hut on this hill for several years. 

Walk downhill alongside the golf course towards our finishing point at Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge. A pleasant linear walk of about 7 miles. Nothing too difficult apart from slight climb up Pole Hill. 

After which we had a pleasant Sunday roast dinner at the Royal Forest Hotel then took train back to Forest Gate. 

Check out more pictures on Facebook  

Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge, Chingford to Forest Gate Walk

Off message but on Sunday, Gill and I took the magic train from Wanstead Park station to Chingford (change at Walthamstow Queens Road then walk to nearby Walthamstow Central to catch the connection for Chingford). It only took just over 30 minutes but we were lucky with connection. 

We then had lunch at the Royal Forest Hotel next to Queen Elizabeth Hunting lodge then walked back to Forest Gate, largely along the the Epping Forest Centenary walk (see below). The full walk is Newham to Epping. 

A lovely walk despite the mud and occasional light drizzle. The map says 6.2 miles but it felt longer due to the mud. Gill had wellies and I thankfully had gaiter's over my Brasher boots. 

Epping Forest is an incredible green lung for East London. On this walk it is surrounded on both sides by housing and you have to cross some roads but you overwhelmingly walk through magnificent woods, heathland and lakes. 

Recommended if you want to work off some Xmas cheer this holiday (or give yourself an appetite for more indulgences). 

I will post further photos and comments on Facebook

Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge (Chingford) Forest Walk

 

Today the weather forecast was pretty dire (rain showers all day) but Gill and I decided to take a risk and go for a local walk in Epping Forest. We started off near to the Queen Elizabeth hunting lodge (currently closed). There are usually plenty of parking spaces and it is only 10 minutes walk from Chingford station,

The risk paid off and we had a lovely 4/5 mile walk with only one or two short showers. Because of the weather forecast it was also very quiet since most people had been put off by it. 

There are a mass of walks you can take from this starting point. We started along the Holly Trail then went through various woodland paths that took our fancy. The thing about Epping Forest is that it is very difficult to get seriously lost since eventually you will come across a road. A GPS app such as this one from Ordnance Survey helps (£2.99 per month). 

Due to the mud and puddles thanks to all the rain we had recently it was definitely "Wellie weather" but boots and gaiters would have also worked. 

Highlight of the walk was at the end with my sausage & bacon sarnie at the Butlers Retreat. 

Epping Forest and Theydon Bois circular walk

 

Today Gill and I went for a glorious 6 mile walk in Epping Forest. We started from Jack's Hill carpark which was only 21 minutes drive from Forest Gate (the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, drove for at least 27 minutes from Downing Street to the Olympic Park in Stratford recently to have a cycle ride. So I think this is acceptable journey to access a local green space). 

The weather was a little cold but no wind and soon there was blue skies and some sunshine. This route was very quiet in the beginning for Epping Forest, we walked up and down deserted hillsides, then past the deer park and then into the picturesque, Theydon Bois, with its marvellous village greens. We then crossed and re-crossed the M25 and walked past the ancient, Ambresbury Banks hill fort. 

It was a little bit muddy in parts so thankful for wearing wellies. 

Nearly everyone seemed to be a good mood. Saying "hello" or "good morning/afternoon" as we passed. It was also a pleasure to see so many parents out with their children, running around and enjoying the forest and the fresh air. 

A run around east London lakes

 

Friday I went for a fairly early morning solo run around Wanstead flats and park (Epping Forest). There was still some mist round and spots of winter sunshine which made it pretty magical. 

Self isolating circular walk from Forest Gate via Bush Wood & Wanstead

On Sunday Gill and I took advantage of the lovely weather to walk from home for our hour of exercise. We went via Wanstead flats (Epping Forest) past Jubilee Pond into Bush Wood then Wanstead then home. There is loads of beautiful openspaces and parkland within London.

As you can see, pretty much everyone we saw was acting appropriately and keeping to government guidelines. If we keep this up then our parks and open spaces will not have to be closed.

I note today that the French government have banned taking physical exercise between 10am to 7pm. Hopefully, if we keep to our government guidelines such drastic measure will not need to be introduced in the UK. 

Jubilee Pond run

Off message but I think a lovely picture from a run (more truthfully a very slow jog) on Saturday morning around Wanstead flats and Jubilee Pond (managed as part of Epping Forest by the City of London).

When I first moved to Forest Gate, the pond was called the Model Yacht pond and occasionally I would see model boats on it. The pond itself was apparently originally dug out to improve drainage and give work to unemployed labourers in 1905/06.

It was "redeveloped" in time for the Queen's Jubilee in 2000 (and thus renamed). There has been a number of significant problems with water leakage since then which finally seem to be resolved and it is starting to look good.

If you want to check out other photos from Saturday go to Facebook here. 

Epping Forest run/walk, Longhorn cattle & Radicals on Wansted flats

Off message: Gill and I went for a great run/walk in Epping Forest today. We are both out of condition so walked uphill and ran down hill (also slowly) and on level paths. We started off near the Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge in Chingford then followed the Epping Forest Holly Trail path. It took us about 45 minutes start to finish.

Epping Forest is lovely at this time of the year (in fact all times of the year!). There is a carpet of leaves in the woods and the trees are turning autumnal brown but there is still a large amount of greenery.

We came across some of the longhorn cows grazing in the Forest. Despite the scary horns and being very large, they are pretty docile. There was a Forest Ranger near them who told us that in a couple of weeks they will all be moved to winter pastures. I asked her when will cattle be reintroduced into Wansted Flats (there used to be roaming cattle near us before BSE - aka "Mad Cow disease") and she just smiled.

I hope to attend the local history talk "On the Edge - Religions and Radicals on Wanstead Flats" on 9 November. Check out https://newsfromnowhereweb.wordpress.com/meetings/on-the-edge-religions-and-radicals-on-wanstead-flats/

Wanstead Flats Fire July 2018

Pictures taken last weekend from the top of a 308 bus showing the recent fires (from the week before). It was probably the worst fire I can remember in 30 years.

A scary time for many local residents who live adjacent to the flats and it caused massive disruption when surrounding roads were closed (my own car was trapped in Capel Road by a huge emergency water hose for a few days. A minor inconvenience in the scheme of things).

Many thanks to the London Fire Brigade and the City of London Staff.

It looks a little bit like a war zone but there has nearly always been fires every hot summer and the heath will recover and grow back.

This morning I went for a run through the flats and you could see some tiny green shoots, here and there, following the recent rain. Nature is amazing. 

Upshire Walk & Site of Boadicea End Game?

Off message but went for a great country walk on Sunday around Upshire in Essex.

Check out the free Essex Walks website.

I thought that I knew the area quite well but this 5.5 mile walk was different and apart from the distant buzz of the M25  (and crossing the motorway), it was very quiet and we hardly saw anyone until the end of the walk.

Near the start is "Boadicea obelisk" which you can see in photo on right (in between are deer running away from us). Which is probably just an 18th century folly but local tradition says it marks the site of the suicide of the Iceni Queen Boadicea following the defeat of her army nearby by the Romans.

You can walk over a broken barbed wire fence and visit (trespass?) the obelisk but there is nothing written on it. It is strange place and I found it very atmospheric. Who really knows what happened here?

The rest of the walk was lovely with lots more history and going up and down hills with great views but nothing too strenuous. The final bit, cross country in Epping Forest proper was another highlight. This is a recommended walk only 25 minutes by car from Newham, London.

More pictures on Facebook

Epping Forest and Upshire Walk

Off message: but a great 9 mile pathfinder walk today on my own doorstep in glorious winter sunshine.

East London Narnia
Click to bring up detail.

Photo album on FaceBook here

London Marathon 2012 Wk 26: "how will I get through it?"

Now there is less than 3 days to go before the start of the London Marathon 2012. Week 26 of my marathon training finished on Sunday when I did my last long run in Epping Forest. Starting from Queen Elizabeth hunting lodge in Chingford then a 75 minute run around and inside the forest. Epping Forest is the Jewel of East London. The best part of the run was through the forest along the little used paths and trails. You may get lost from time to time but the solitude is well worth it. You would not believe  that this ancient woodland is so close to central London.

Yesterday I registered and picked up my London Marathon 2012 "running pack" from the Newham ExCel centre. On the way into the main Exhibition hall there was this "how will you get through it" message board. All runners were encouraged to write something about how they will get through the run. I made some silly comment on it but the truth of the matter is that for most of us it will just be one long, knackering and bloody painful experience.

I did the London Marathon 10 years ago and afterwards swore that I would never do it again. Of course, eventually I forgot how awful it was and began to think that it wasn't that bad and I should give it another go. So I am. But it is only now that I have been practising the long, long training runs that it all comes to back to me how 'orrible distance running is. But I have committed to run and will hopefully give it some purpose by raising money for a charity set up to prevent young people becoming homeless and helping them out of it if they do.

Check out "Alone in London". Click here to sponsor me on the Justgiving website or click below.

London Marathon 2012 Wk 12: To Warren pond and back

According to the training programme I had to either enter a half marathon race or run 13 miles as fast as I can. I couldn't find a race this weekend so decided to make my own run. The 15 mile Epping Forest Centenary Walk starts nearby to where I live. Warren pond is about half way. So I thought I would run there and back. I had a running backpack with extra juice, clothing, phone and money.  I started off after I finished my Council Surgery. The weather was

fantastic. Blue skies and winter sunshine.

I still got lost in a couple of times in Leyton flats. But managed to find my way to the reservoir and across the foot bridge over the North Circular. Then shortly after the Rodney "Gipsy" Smith memorial I got lost again and ended up in Woodford Green. I managed eventually to get back on track and reached Warren pond (see picture) which is right next to Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge where I started last week's run. By coincidence there was a cross country run taking place organised by the local running club Orion Harriers. I turned back home towards Forest Gate.  I got lost again in Hatch Grove and came to a complete halt and had to backtrack. Eventually finding Highams Park lake and getting back on track. I got lost for the last time after the reservoir.

After running along the A104 for a while I managed to cross the road and find a path back to the Centenary Walk.  At around this point I was running on empty. My legs stopped doing what I wanted them to do and every step was pretty sore and painful. I remembered why I hadn't done a marathon since 2002. I slowed right down to a very simple jog and managed to get myself home.  There and back took about 2 hours 50 minutes. I got lost a couple of times which did not help. I did a 10 minutes walk/job/stretch in the beginning and at the end a 10 minute walk cool down. so I think that I did 14 odd miles cross country in about 2hrs: 30 minutes. Which is not great but not bad at this stage of the programme.  After a quick shower and change I hobbled over to the West Ham Scouts to support their traditional Pensioner "Christmas" Dinner and Show. 

I am running the London marathon in April using the official advanced training programme and will be raising funds for Homeless Youth charity "Alone in London". Click here to sponsor me.

London Marathon Training Wk 11: Epping Forest

I've started getting back into the training programme after crimbo and New Year.  My achilles seems better but still no interval sprints.  I'm using energy sport drinks for distances that take longer than 30 minutes and I think that they do help a little.

The run of the week was in Epping Forest.  It started at the car park opposite the Butlers Retreat cafe (currently being refurbished) in Rangers Road, across Chingford plains and around Connaught Waters (see picture).  Then an anti-clock wise circular route through the forest following various random paths that happen to take my fancy. Coming out of Bury wood into Chingford plains again and ending back at Butlers retreat.  It took around 75 minutes and was a enjoyable but muddy run through some gorgeous scenery.

Next to Butlers retreat there is the 16th Century Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge. I once (for a very short time) had a telesales job in the stables next door.  It was a complete and utter con job.  If you ever get an unsolicitored letter or postcard in the post telling you to ring a number since you have won a prize - don't.

I am running the London marathon in April using the official advanced training programme and will be raising funds for Homeless Youth charity "Alone in London". Click here to sponsor me.

More photo's from run on Facebook here.

Epping Forest Crimbo Walk 2010

Superb Christmas day walk around Epping Forest.  Started off at the Warren Pond car park opposite the Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge (below left). 

I once worked right next door to the Hunting Lodge in a telesales call centre "selling" water filters.  I left as soon as I found out it was a complete and utter con job.  Unsolicited mail sent from Eastern Europe saying that you have won a prize (top prize a car) and to claim it you should ring this number!  Yeah right.

It was completely dishonest and criminally fraudulent.  It was openingly recognised and laughed at that no-one who replied would win the car.  Yet the managers appeared to believe that this was a completely legitimate business - ripping off the elderly and the vulnerable. Norman Tebbit was the local MP at the time.  No surprises there.  Red raw capitalism - don't you just love it?

The walk itself was lovely and I recommend a stroll to anyone who lives locally.  Pictures on Facebook

Epping Forest Council By-Election: BNP standing - help needed

There were 6 BNP Councillors in Epping Forest, now one has stood down (for “business reasons”?) and there is a by-election on Thursday 30 August. In 2004 Labour lost two seats in this ward to the BNP. It appears that a number of BNP national organisers now live in the area – Eddy Butler, Julian Leppart and convicted terrorist and Jew beater Tony Lecomber (as in far right photo - hopefully being nicked for something serious - his quote “The sick minds who would have us believe that Jews were gassed at Auschwitz are completely twisted). Delightful crew!

Contact local Party organisers Tom or Margaret (UNISON member) on 020 8508 6916. Help also wanted on Election Day.

It would be great if any local Party or trade union can organise canvass or leafleting teams. Alderton ward is only minutes away from Debden Underground (central line – zone 6) and not that far from the M11.

On this Saturday 25 August meet up 10-30 to 11am at a street stall held in the Debden Broadway (again a few minutes from Debden tube) were you will be given walks and leaflets.

UPDATE: not good news at all - BNP retain seat and Labour loses ground! Need to think about how we tackle BNP in East London. Skilled working class/self employed/middle class Loughton is very different than Barking & Dagenham. But the fascists are still able to win? hmmm

Election Results: Thursday 30th August 2007.
Epping Forest DC, Loughton Alderton BNP 393 (32.2; -5.4), Residents 367 (30.1; +1.0), Con 163 (13.3; -3.1), LDNeil Woollcott 172 (14.1; +10.5), Lab 98 (8.0; -5.2), UKIP 28 (2.3; +2.3).Majority 26. Turnout 36.7%. BNP hold. Last fought 2006.