North Weald Village Life Strengthening the Community
FREE North Weald Bassett Community Magazine Circulation: Issue: 165 May 2020 Page
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Stay safe and well I don’t know to start this month, but I do want to say I hope you are safe and well. What a world we are living in at the moment. However this has affected you, I hope you are coping. For me, I have a full house. Two of my daughters returned home from university. One was just settling into her first year and then my eldest was in the process of completing her final year. My youngest daughter was supposed to be sitting her GCSES but of course that won’t be happening now and grades will be decided by teachers based on mocks exam results taken previously and school work etc. Andy has been told to stay in for 12 weeks. Our three dogs love the attention and the walks. I know many people have used the time to paint, declutter and do their gardens. I haven’t done any of that, I seem to be just as busy. I, like many others, are missing seeing other family members including my dad. My sister is doing his shopping and dropping that off, I am of course still sorting out his health issues online with doctors etc and ordering other items for him online. I do miss him though. He hates technology, doesn’t really now how to use a mobile phone, so I haven’t been asked to Skype or FaceTime so haven’t seen him for about six weeks, I do of course speak to him at least once a day.
Cover photo: Rainbow coloured roses, chosen as a tribute to the rainbow theme for Covid-19.
Contents May 2020 Issue Page No.
6. Brain Teaser 6. Hospital support care homes 7. Planning applications
12. Photos of the month
I have to say, I knew we had a wonderful community but I didn’t realise how wonderful. We have of course our group of co-ordinators and volunteers, of which I am one, and they are truly wonderful and have helped so many people and will continue to do so. Please contact us or reach out to us we are there to help you all. There are many of us who had boxes out for donations for Princess Alexandra Hospital and I did take a lot of donations to St Margaret’s Hospital for the patients and staff on Poplar Ward.
17. Here to help
I love how in the Facebook group, people are offering items they don’t want to others or if they need something such as paint to paint a fence panel we are all sharing,
27 . Badgers
19. Gardening 21. Defibrillators 23. Church Chat 24. Poem 26. First Aid at home 29. Citizens Advice 32. Bird Column
I couldn’t be prouder of our community and I know I will be talking about their generosity and support for many years. As you will see this month’s magazine is an online issue only, I do apologise and feel very guilty that those without the ability or option of seeing this issue will perhaps miss out. The decision to do this was not taken lightly but I felt it went against Government guidelines and was the responsible decision not to encourage people to go out and collect their issue. I am hoping this is just for this issue and next month I will have a printed issue but this will depend on circumstances. Please stay safe, follow the guidelines and keep well. June Editor Page 3
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Editor June Peachey june@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk 07814 863955 Write to: 49 York Road, North Weald, Epping, Essex CM16 6HU www.northwealdvillagelife.co.uk Subscription: If you would like to guarantee your personal copy or perhaps you have relatives or friends who would like to receive their own copy, you can subscribe for £25.00 for 12 issues. Contributions & Editorial: If you would like to contribute editorial, poems, recipes, letters or anything else, we would be delighted to receive these. Please send them to us via letter or email. Advertisers: Please email or telephone us for full advertising rates and sizes. Booking Disclaimer: Whilst every care has been taken to ensure any data in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher nor it’s editorial contributors can accept and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party, or loss or damage caused by errors or resulting from negligence, accident or any other concerns. North Weald Village Life does not officially endorse any advertisement material included within this publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reported,
Email: june@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk
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May BRAIN TEASER —Win a box of chocolates This month as this is an online issue, I didn't want you to have to print out a page to enter this month’s Brain Teaser. So this month we have a different type of brain teaser—a Boggle style. All you have to do is find as many words as you can from the letters in the grid. All letters in the word must connect and you can’t use the same tile twice in one word. Depending on the number of letters, the words will each have a score.
If you email me at June@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk with your words—the one who scores the highest will win the box of chocolates.
A
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This is open to all ages. Please make sure your answers are emailed to me before 12th May.
Scores will be allocated:-
3 letter words—1 point, 4 letter words—2 points, 5 letter words—3 points, 6 letter words—4 points, 7 letter words—5 points, 8 letters or more—10 points.
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Essex firefighters to drive ambulances Firefighters from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service have joined NHS staff on the front, to support them in their efforts against the coronavirus pandemic. The 10 firefighters, who are on-call firefighters at fire stations across Essex, will work as ambulance drivers, alongside East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) paramedics. The move comes after an agreement was reached that allowed fire service personnel nationally to support the work of the NHS during the crisis. The firefighters have volunteered for this additional responsibility area which demonstrates their fantastic dedication.
Support your key workers/staff with a treat There are so many key works in North Weald working especially hard at the moment for the village. Our group of volunteers would like to co-ordinate some ‘thank you packages. We are starting by requesting for ‘treats’ to be donated for giving to staff at Cunningham House staff. If you would like to donate some chocolates, pamper goods, bottles etc these can be dropped off on the doorstep or in the box in these locations: Kate (27 York Road)
June (49 York Road) Tracey (16 Lancaster Road) Will (24 Cunningham Rise) We will be doing the same for other key workers/staff too.
Shipping containers on fire In the early hours of Saturday 11th April at 3.10am, Firefighters were called to a fire in Ongar. On arrival, crews reported that several shipping containers in a builders yard in Nine Ashes Road were 100% alight. Crews extinguished the fire by 6:05am. The cause of the fire has been recorded as accidental or deliberate, both possibilities. Source: Essex County Fire & Rescue Services
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Hospice supports Care Homes St Clare Hospice has stepped up its support for residential and nursing care homes across West Essex amidst the Covid-19 outbreak.
ing care homes to access professional peer support for their staff. We have developed a timetable of bitesize sessions on relevant topics, which will be delivered by a multi-disciplinary team of St Clare Hospice professionals via a video or telephone conference. The topics covered include: managing anxiety, selfcare and wellbeing, and balancing their roles in both work and home life.”
The charity has developed a new service offering peer support to care home staff, as well as widening the reach of their Compassionate Neighbours volunteering project to offer a phone call Support for care home staff is being delivered free of charge to befriending service to isolated residents. residential and nursing care homes across West Essex, and The support is being offered to the more than 40 residential and hopes to expand into East Hertfordshire in the coming weeks. If nursing care homes across West Essex which are within the you work in a care home, or want to find out more about the catchment area of the Hospice. The West Essex CCG (Clinical service, please get in touch with Stacey Towler on Commissioning Group) which oversees the delivery of NHS stacey.towler@stclarehospice.org.uk or call 07986 971860. services in the area, have worked with St Clare to develop the St Clare Hospice is currently recruiting for more Compassionate model and are supportive of the project. Neighbours and is offering remote, digital training for new volunSt Clare Hospice’s Compassionate Neighbours Project Manag- teers. For more information visit stclarehospice.org.uk/ er, Stacey Towler, is co-ordinating the extra support for care compassionate-neighbours homes and explains: “After seeing coverage in the national news about the pressures residential and nursing homes are facing during the coronavirus pandemic, we felt it was important to reach out to our neighbouring care homes to see what support we might be able to offer them. “After speaking to care home managers, it became apparent that they would benefit from peer support for their staff, as well as phone call befriending for their residents who are feeling isolated during lockdown.” Outlining the support for residents, Stacey Towler said: “In order to support more care home residents during the coronavirus pandemic, we have established a buddying system between our Compassionate Neighbours volunteers and our local care homes. Each Compassionate Neighbour will be allocated one care home and will make several phone calls a week to different residents who have said they are feeling lonely or isolated and would like to have a friendly call and a listening ear at this time. We hope that these relationships which are necessarily established over the telephone for now, will be able to develop into longer term face-to-face relationships once the coronavirus pandemic is over.”
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St Clare Hospice has also brought together a multi-disciplinary team of professionals – which includes social workers, occupational therapists and a chaplain – to offer emotional and peer support, and encourage resilience. The hospice charity has developed a range of sessions, which take place virtually via a video conferencing platform, to support care home staff. The sessions are designed to offer a safe space for workers to talk about how they are being affected by Covid-19; help them to manage anxiety and promote self-care; and allow them to meet up ‘virtually’ with other care home workers that may have similar experiences.
Broken Down/Misted Sealed Units Replaced Locks/Hinges Renewed Conservatories Cleaned/Repaired Cat & Dog Flaps Fitted Front Door Panels Renewed Handles Replaced Letter Plates Replaced Guttering Replaced/Cleaned Full Maintenance of UPVC & Aluminium
The project aims to deliver 30 sessions over the next 10 weeks, with access for up to 60 care home workers per week. This means that up to 600 care home staff could benefit from the project in the coming weeks.
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The project co-ordinator, St Clare Hospice’s Compassionate Neighbours Manager Stacey Towler, explains: “It was highlighted to us that there was a need in our local residential and nurs-
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Planning File No: 020575 Application No: EPF/0678/20 Applicant Name: Miss Layla Pitts Officer: Caroline Brown Location: 1 Marconi Bungalows High Road North Weald Bassett Epping CM16 Proposal. Windows in the rear dormer changed to Juliet balcony doors
Planning Applications
Planning File No: 003193 Application No: EPF/0698/20 Applicant Name: Mr M. Overley Officer: Caroline Brown Location: 7 Harrison Drive North Weald Bassett Epping CM16 6JD Proposal. Two storey side extension and single storey rear extension. (Revised application to EPF/2146/18). Planning File No: 006479 Application No: EPF/0716/20 Applicant Name: Mr G Darlington Officer: Francis SaayengOfficer Location: Foster Street Farm Foster Street Hastingwood Harlow CM17 9HS Proposal. Application for Variation of Condition 2 `Plan numbers' of EPF/0803/19 (Erection of x10 no. detached houses, with new vehicular access & a new road, provision of parking with hard & soft landscaping).
Comments to be received by 11th May.
Comment online at www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/iPlan or by post to: The Director of Planning and Economic Development, Epping Forest District Council, Civic Offices, 323 High Street, Epping, Essex CM16 4BZ Any enquiries should be made to the Application Processing Team T: 01992 564436 E: appcomment@eppingforestdc.gov.uk
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Please send News, Events, features, letters articles to me via post or email (details on page 3.) to reach me on or before the deadline
Deadline for next issue: 10th May 2020 Deadline for June issue: 10th June 2020
Every Family Matters – keeping your child safe online
VE Day 75 celebrations cancelled
Technology can provide young people with a window to the world which has been utisilised a lot during the lockdown and can offer them lots of different opportunities to learn new things, have fun and stay in touch with friends and family.
Epping Town council confirmed that their VE Day 75 celebrations planned for Epping on Friday, May 8 and 10, have been rescheduled to VJ Day over the weekend of August 15, providing the current health situation allows.
Staying connected is important right now and if your child is not currently at school, you might find they are spending more time online at home, playing games, scrolling through social media, or chatting to friends.
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Tragic house fire Firefighters were called to a house fire in Woodfield Terrace in Thornwood Epping at just before 7pm on Wednesday 8th April. On arrival fire crews confirmed that the two-storey terraced home,, which measures around 10 square metres, was approximately 50% alight. Firefighters managed to gain access to the building and rescued two people from the property. A man sadly died at the scene after firefighters rescued him. A woman suffered smoke inhalation and was immediately assessed and treated by paramedics at the scene. The fire was contained by firefighters and extinguished by 8.30pm. The cause was investigated and found to be accidental after an electrical fault. My thoughts go to the woman who was rescued and their friends and family. This is everyone’s fear and must have been horrific. I was involved in a house fire when I was little that was caused by an electrical fault, it was not as tragic but it was awful.
Parent Helpline Are you a parent of child or young person under the age of 19 and have concerns about their education or even their development?
Wish somebody a happy birthday, or announce a birth, death, marriage, or special anniversary Just send these to me via email and I will include these in a future issue or on the Facebook Group
You can call a qualified Educational Psychologist, this call is confidential and personal details will not be recorded or passed to other sources but they will listen to your concerns and work with you to hopefully resolve the issue and move forward. This helpline is run by Essex County Council. You can call Mondays and Wednesday between 1pm—5pm (during term time). Their number is 01245 433293.
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Epping Town Show cancelled Epping Town Council has voted unanimously to cancel this year's Epping Town Show which was scheduled to be held on Sunday 5th July. Next year's show will be held on Sunday, July 4, 2021.
Councillor Barbara Scruton told yesterday's virtual council meeting: "I don't think people will be wanting to mix by that time (July). I think they will still be very careful about going out into large crowds." Councillor Mari-Louise Whitbread said cancelling the show was a "sad but safe" decision. The council had said that moving the show to later in the year would impact on the grounds maintenance programme which prepares the football pitches and staff holiday absences. Councillor Barbara Scruton added that it would be difficult for the stallholders, who are used to the event being held in July, to reorganise for a later date in the year.
Don’t forget to visit the website: www.northwealdvillagelife.co.uk
To find out news updates, initiatives or Coronavirus updates Or sign up to the Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/Northwealdvillagelife
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Town council reports financial situation Epping Town Council has lost income from the weekly Monday market totallng about £3,050 up to the end of the financial year because of the coronavirus situation. In addition, the town council has reported lost income through the loss of bookings at Epping Hall and the Jack Silley Pavilion totalling about £2,760.
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Town clerk Beverley Rumsey told yesterday's virtual council meeting that the loss of bookings income would be constant throughout the lockdown situation while the loss of market income would be a constant figure while the market is suspended until further notice, however she added the council was currently not having to pay for rubbish collection for the market. The financial position was reported to councillors to highlight the end-of-year situation so that the council can plan and budget accordingly.
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Support launched for young people facing bereavement
passionate about YBC. We hope that the group can offer a friendly, online community to help facilitate this for young, local people.”
With social contact and face-to-face support severely restricted in the UK due to COVID-19, organisations like St Clare Hospice are stepping up to ‘fill the gap’ by facilitating ‘virtual’ social and emotional support within local communities for those who are experiencing bereavement.
YBC is open to young people living in West Essex and East Hertfordshire, aged 18-30, who have experienced bereavement – no matter how long ago. To visit the YBC and to join, please visit facebook.com/groups/youthbereavementcafe
The Hospice’s most recent endeavour is a new online community for bereaved young people in West Essex and East Hertfordshire: the Youth Bereavement Café (YBC). The ‘YBC’ is currently being run within a Facebook group, to offer a virtual space for young people (aged 18-30) to meet and connect with others who may share similar experiences – but will open as a face-to-face service when it is safe to do so.
YBC is part of a network of seven other Bereavement Café events led by St Clare Hospice, which are usually hosted in local venues throughout West Essex and East Hertfordhsire. Though all currently temporarily suspended due to COVID-19, the Hospice’s effort to connect local people and communities virtually through online tools does not end with YBC.
Community Engagement Manager at St Clare Hospice, Sally Original plans for YBC were to launch at the end of May 2020 at Muylders, who instigated the launch of the Bereavement Café a venue in Harlow, but organisers have decided to launch it ear- initiative in early 2019, explains, “Although it has been the corolier (in a virtual capacity) to ensure young people have access to navirus situation that has prompted us to take the YBC online, we really feel that this is something that could benefit local peothe support they need during the coronavirus ple throughout this period and also beyond. In lockdown. the coming weeks, we are planning to launch YBC is the brainchild of Emma Boys, who was several other similar online communities. Please supported by St Clare Hospice’s young person do watch this space for further news on this!” and children’s bereavement service when her If you’d like to speak to a member of the St Clare own mother died at the Hospice in September Hospice team about their Bereavement Cafés, 2017. Now one of St Clare Hospice’s volunplease contact their Patient & Family Support teers, and a facilitator of the YBC, Emma is passervice on sionate about supporting other young people who have experienced loss. Emma Boys, YBC facilitator, said: “I’ve found grief to be quite isolating at times. When my mum had first died, I struggled to find other people my own age who’d experienced the death of someone close to them. So I’m excited to launch the YBC in the hope of connecting young bereaved people, so they can feel less alone whilst navigating their grief. “Bereavement is already such a difficult experience to go through,” explains Emma Boys, “but with the added implications of coronavirus impacting both people’s mental wellbeing and ability to connect with their usual support networks, the grieving process becomes all the more difficult to navigate. “We felt that now, more than ever, it was so important to launch this form of support for local young people who may really wish to reach out to others.” Gemma Marks, also a St Clare Hospice volunteer and YBC facilitator, described the YBC online Facebook group as a platform “open for you to use in a way that best suits you. Whether it’s meeting and talking to others, recommending supportive resources that you’ve found useful, sharing your own experiences or simply reading about what others have shared.
“Each person grieves in their own way – and there is no right or wrong way to experience bereavement” Gemma continues. “However, at St Clare, we believe that talking to others with similar experiences can really help and make a difference. When I lost my sister at age 26, unfortunately, there wasn’t this type of group for young people to meet others – which is why I am so Page 11
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PHOTO OF THE MONTH This month we have a range of photos. Many people are spending their exercise time walking around the village and enjoying the true beauty we have on our doorsteps.
Photo by Joanna Taverner-Averkiou
Photo by Lisa Harmen
Photo by Mellissa Hills
Please send your photos to me— Page 12
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Email: june@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk www.northwealdvillagelife.co.uk June@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk and I can share these
with readers.
Don’t forget to send details of events to me for the June issue by 10th May to be featured in the magazine.
Photos taken on a walk around the village by Meliisa Halls.
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Colour to care St Clare Hospice, has partnered with local artists, illustrators and adults alike - to take part in a therapeutic, relaxing activity.” and tattooists on a new ‘Colour to Care’ project, which includes the launch of two thoughtful colouring-in and activity books. According to a study published in the Creativity Research Journal in 2017, colouring is a relaxing, therapeutic activity which has been proven to be good for mental health, and can be utiWith pages jam-packed full of puzzles, quizzes and beautiful lised as an accessible self-help tool to help reduce anxiety – the artwork designed by local artists, illustrators and tattooists, St perfect remedy for those experiencing anxiety and worries due Clare’s new books offer both children and adults alike a calming activity to fill in the time whilst staying at home. Also included to the current coronavirus pandemic. are thoughtful rainbow templates to colour and display in your windows (inspired by the project initiated by Kezia Roberts in Both books are available to order and receive via post, however Leeds), in honour of frontline workers who are saving lives and there is also a digital version of the activity book that you can providing essential services in the face of COVID-19. print from home. St Clare simply asks that local people make a suggested donation of just £2 for the activity book, and £5 for the colouring book, to help raise much-needed funds for the Hospice after the cancellation and postponement of many of their fundraising events due to COVID-19.
“By donating to St Clare Hospice, you are directly contributing to the quality of care we deliver to local people living with lifelimiting illnesses, and their families,” explains Dani. “During the virus outbreak, our services are still very much needed in the local community; and we are committed to being there for those who need us now, and in the years to come when the pandemic
Is under control. We need your support more than ever to ensure that we can do this – and our new Colour to Care books are a beautiful and poignant way to support us during this time.” To get your book today, visit: stclarehospice.org.uk/colour-tocare
“We’re delighted to have the support of so many talented local people to create this unique resource,” says Dani De’ath, Community and Events Fundraising Manager at St Clare. “Ten talented people donated their time towards creating artwork for the books – which together, contain 26 stunning original illustrations for you to colour in – 21 of which feature exclusively in the colouring book! From unicorns and moons, to butterflies and our very own Clare Bear – there’s something for every age! Many thanks to the artists who contributed – Liz Smith, Claire Brace, Gem Pang, Alice Jacobs, Isabelle Ellen, Chris Hatch, Elizabeth Florence, Annie Long, Lydia, and Millie.” Dani adds, “As you can see, Colour to Care is a special project and a lovely example of collaboration with local people at this difficult time. The books are a great resource for families - kids Page 14
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Conflict resolution It comes as no surprise that as we are now spenfing more time together at home for longer periods of time and this can of course put additional pressure on family relationships or amplify existing tensions.
Disagreement will happen from time to time, but here are three steps from Essex Livesell that may help to try and resolve any arguments:-. •
Pause - is a disagreement escalating to a point where you are no longer in control and you are just reacting? If so, take a breath and re-assess the situation.
•
Think - try to reflect on why an argument started. Ask yourself how you were feeling before the conversation started and whether you were already feeling anxious or tense.
•
Resolve it – take a step back. Is this argument about something important, or can you come back to it when you are both calmer?
More information about how to effectively resolve conflict at home can be found on the Essex Livewell website.
Help to brighten up local care home Staff at Cunningham House have asked if any children would like to draw some colourful pictures of rainbows that could be used to decorate the home and bring some colour to the residents. If your child would like to do this, you can send them to:Paula Blundell Cunningham House Pike Way North Weald Essex CM16 6BL Or drop them off when you are out on a walk.
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LETTER
Dear Editor,
A big thank you to our local traders. As usual they are serving us well through these difficult times. Life would be much more difficult without them.
Thank you too June for your co-ordinating work with the support group and the Village Life. Yours faithfully J. Watkins
Mayor and Deputy Mayor to continue for second year Epping Town Mayor Grahame Scruton and Deputy Mayor Michael Wright are to continue in their roles for a second year because of the ongoing coronavirus situation. A new Mayor and Deputy Mayor had been scheduled to be elected at the Annual Council Meeting in May however new legislation removes the need for an annual meeting this year, permitting the current chairman and vice-chairman to stay in post until May 2021. A council report states: "This has been designed to avoid unnecessary administration and make the transition out of this difficult period simpler." Councillor Wright said a continuation was "the most sensible" decision. “To do anything else is counter productive. We are all used to the present system (of a mayoral election in May) and I'm more than happy to carry on in the role." Councillor Mari-Louise Whitbread had suggested a six-month review with the possibility of a new mayor taking over in October, however this was dismissed in preference to a full second year being served by the current Mayor and Deputy Mayor. The new legislation also removes the requirement for a town council to hold an Annual Town Meeting this year. Page 16
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We are here for you. I would like to firstly say thank you to all the co-ordinators who have been working closely with me to answer any requests for help and to those very kind volunteers who are working with us to provide the help to our residents who may be self-isolating, vulnerable or shielding. A few of the tasks we have undertaken include:•
Collection of repeat prescription requests and delivered to chemist.
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Collection of medication and delivered to homes
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Shopping requests for essential items
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Donation of food to those struggling
•
Delivery of newspapers
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Friendly regular phones calls or emails
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Distribution of donated food
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Arranging transport for hospital/Dr appointments
If you need help or not sure where to get help, please telephone any of us co-ordinators. I have to say I have met some wonderful residents, from a distance of course, whilst helping people out. You can email us at hello@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk Or telephone any of us:-
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Gardening Hints for May Hello all, I am really not sure where to start this month as we find ourselves in lockdown, a situation we have never faced before. I hope that you and all your families are safe and well. As you will know the nursery is closed to customers and as such we find ourselves working all hours and delivering here there and every where. We have never sold so many veg/salad seeds as we have in the last 6 weeks, how ever we do hope that you are enjoying growing your own food. Hopefully you will enjoy the process and realise that home grown tastes so much better than any shop bought. Most veg and salad crops are easy to grow, if you aren’t sure please speak to Lisa on our facebook page and she will advise you. Whilst on the subject of salad and veg, please remember to protect delicate plants from the cold nights and late frosts up until the end of May, including tomatoes, beans, cucumber, squashes etc. Peas and broad beans can be sown straight out now. Earth up potatoes as they start to produce leaves, make sure all leaves are covered with compost/soil right up till the end of May. We also find ourselves selling bedding and hanging baskets plants earlier than normal, again these need to be protected at night the same as veg, ideally in a heated green house. If you cant do this, wait until the end of May before purchasing them. Now is the time when the mowers come back out of the sheds, keep your lawns mowed regularly, and start using feed, weed & moss killer. Get your flower beds dug over and ready for the summer bedding, if you have poor soil dig in some well rotted manure, this will improve the quality of the soil and give your plants a boost. Make a point of using a hoe to remove weeds in the flower or veg beds. If you have buxus hedges or plants, you should now start spraying them with provanto or bug clear 1 to prevent attack from the box caterpillar which has now made its way to the South East, as many of you discovered last year. Spray them every 5-8 weeks, if you do spot a caterpillar then pick it off of your plant, its amazing how much damage they can do, literally over night. We also have relatively new product available which protects your box plants from blight so we also recommend you use that.
May is the time to divide Hosta’s as they come into growth. Your forsythias will now have finished flowering, so if need be now is the time to prune them. As your roses will now be starting to sprout new leaves, spray them once a month with Rose Clear, to prevent black spot, and keep your rose bushes nice and healthy through the summer months. Well folks, I think I will leave it there for now, its tough times for almost every one at the moment. We fall out of bed each morning and hit the ground running, not stopping until we fall into bed again that evening. We are tired, achy and worn out as many other retailers are at the moment, how ever we can not complain, we need to think of our fantastic doctors, nurses, hospital cleaners and every one else who really are putting their lives on the line to look after our hospital patients, for them we are all so very grateful, as I know you are too. We look forward to being in safer times where we can welcome you in once more, until then we will continue to remain closed to the public and will deliver for as long as we can. You can order by phoning us or via our fb page. I obviously cant stand and have a natter with you at the moment, but if you need any advice you can phone me, or message Lisa via our fb page and she will assist you, after all she’s got nothing else to do whilst shes stuck at home! (don’t tell her I said that!) Take care one and all
Cheers Nigel (Art Nursery Garden Centre)
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Parish council pays tribute to councillor who "wanted to make a difference" North Weald Bassett Parish Council sadly announces that councillor Brian Eldridge, councillor for Hastingwood Ward and vicechairman of the council, passed away after a long-standing illness on Sunday, March 29.
Mr Eldridge, a medical microbiologist and parasitologist in the NHS for 40 years and councillor for more than 15 years, worked tirelessly for Hastingwood and was very active in the parish on environmental issues. Parish council chairman councillor Alan Buckley said: "Brian will be sadly missed and the parish council has lost not only a great councillor but a great friend to this Parish."
Parish clerk Sue De Luca said: "He was one of the nicest and active councillors I have ever met. I will miss him greatly. "Every once in a while someone comes along who wants to make a difference, Brian was that person. He will be so missed." Editor’s Comment: I would like to send my sincere sympathies to Brian’s family and friends. I have seen evidence of Brian’s hard work at many meetings and I know of his dedication.
OFFICAL UPDATE RE. GOV.UK TEXT MESSAGES Following the alert sent out this morning, please see the official government response to messages such as the one shown below:
Temporary closed due toCovid-19
Email with any queries peacheygarages10@btconnect.com
“The Government has only sent one text message to the public regarding new rules about staying at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Any others claiming to be from UK Government are false. Criminals are able to use spoofing technology to send texts and emails impersonating organisations that you know and trust. We would remind anyone who receives an unexpected text or email asking for personal or financial details not click on the links or attachments, and don’t respond to any messages that ask for your personal or financial details.” If you receive any such messages, report them to Action Fraud - www.actionfraud.police.uk/report-phishing
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IMPORTANT Defibrillators Recently I understand defibrillators from both Thornwood and North Weald have been needed to help people who have become unwell whilst awaiting emergency services.
So to ensure all residents are aware of the location of our defibrillators, here are the details. Once you ring emergency services to inform them of someone needing emergency assistance, they will give you the code required to access the defibrillator looked in coded cabinets.
North Weald:- Outside the Methodist Church Hall.
Thornwood—Outside the Parish Hall.
Criminals still at large Despite us all trying to stay safe and well and worrying about our family and friends, please take note that crimes are still being committed. Cars which are not being used as often are key targets. Windows are being smashed to gain access to valuables that have been left in the car—please make sure all valuables are not left in the car. Bikes are prime targets also, please make sure your bike is locked and a word of advice from Epping Forest Neighbourhood Watch is to take a photo of your bike, just in case it does go missing. Sheds, allotments and gardens are also areas in which garden tools and equipment is being stolen from. Business premises that are not being used because of closure due to Covid-20 are also being seen as a key target for criminals. Please remember to report any thefts to the Police.
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EPPING ONGAR RAILWAY Since the last North Weald Village Life was published we have all been suffering from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the Railway, in line with government policy, has temporarily closed to protect our customers, volunteers and staff. We continue to monitor the situation and up to date information can be found on our website at: www.eorailway.co.uk We look forward to welcoming visitors back to the Railway during the summer. It is a little known fact that between 1880 and 1920 people brought their farms from Scotland to our local area. In some cases, whole farms were transported by rail including buildings, farm equipment, animals, foodstuff and belongings. The Scottish Farmers were dairy farmers (many from Ayrshire). Rodger Green, our historian, has started to research this and has written to all the farms involved (J. Allison, Nash Hall, High Ongar. Craig, Paslow Hall {London Coop}. Macauly, Spains Hall. McKinlay, Roding Farm. Kerr, Ongar Park Farm. Anderson, Pickerells, Fyfield. Addison, Witney Green. Addison {or Adamson}, Bundish Hall. Gemmill, Bilsden Farm. Holms, Waterend Farm. White, Berwick Farm. White, Fyfield Hall.) to see if they have any information and maybe illustrations of the events at that time. One of the prominent farmers and spokesperson at the time was Primrose McConnell 1831- If any reader has any information or photographs that could help, please contact the Railway at the address below. ANOTHER A PIECE OF HISTORY This archive documents an extraordinary event involving steam locomotive driver Arthur Green, dating back to 7 June 1957. The article draws on material, donated to the Railway in 2018, by Arthur’s son, Peter Green. At the time the Epping to Ongar line was operated by London Transport who hired steam stock from British Railways. Arthur Green was working out of Epping Shed, a sub-shed of Stratford Depot. Peter relates how he was occasionally allowed to ride on the footplate when going fishing at Ongar. His father would stop the train at the bridge just short of the station (Cripsey Brook) to allow his son to get off for his fishing expedition and then pick him up later. On 7 June there was a mid-air collision between two RAF 111 Squadron Hawker Hunter F Mk 6 aircraft. The Hunters were part of the Black Arrows Aerobatic Team originally formed in 1956. They were a forerunner of today’s Red Arrows and had been taking part in an aerobatic display rehearsal when the two aircraft clipped wings at the end of the North Weald runway. One of the Hunters made its way to Stansted Airport where it landed successfully. The second crashed at the end of the runway (which was then much nearer to the railway line), where Arthur’s train was derailed. Unfortunately the aircraft pilot, Flying Officer David Garrett, aged 27, was killed in the accident. Driver Arthur Green was at the controls in the driving trailer of the two-coach, push-pull train, with the fireman in the locomotive pushing from behind. The track was badly buckled by the explosion and the leading driving trailer derailed. Arthur Green was thrown from his driving seat but was able to bring the train to a stand. Three of the 20 passengers were slightly injured.
Driver Arthur Green (closest to the camera) at Ongar Station Original photo H.C. Casserley. Reproduced with kind permission of his late son R. Casserley
Driver Green received a letter of commendation for his actions, dated 30 July 1957, from E.D. Trask, Motive Power Superintendent at Liverpool Street Station.
Robert Good Epping Ongar Railway Volunteer Society robertg@eorailway.co.uk
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CHURCH CHAT It seems a lifetime ago - back when I was writing the last article for the North Weald Village Life. Back then, none of us could have predicted how much life would change. As I write this I’m praying for you and hope you’re doing OK. You’ll have read elsewhere about the support we’ve got in the village. June is expertly leading several of us who are here to support you, ably assisted by a small army of amazing volunteers. Together, we’re able to pick up essential items if you cannot get to the shops and we’re here if you need to talk. Please don’t be afraid to ask for help – in these times, we really need one another. Most of my days at the moment are spent on the phone or online talking to people who I’ve not met in person, but am becoming good friends with. Like everyone else I’m learning to juggle supporting others, with work and a family and it’s pretty messy at times. But I’m well aware that for many people at the moment life is beyond messy. In fact it’s awful. Coronavirus has shown us just how cruel a place the world can be. I’ve no idea where we will be by the time you read this, but I’m certain it’ll worse than it is as I write. The current crisis is really testing people’s faith; faith in each other, in ourselves and of course in God. How can God allow this to happen? That question has of course resounded throughout human history. In over 2000 years no human has ever found an adequate answer, and yet millions of people still turn to prayer and place their hope in God, particularly in the midst of suffering. Why? There is something else that has resounded throughout history, and usually it resounds much louder than anything else. It is love. It’s what we naturally do. We rally around those who lose loved ones, we help strangers by picking up essentials, we stand on our steps and clap to show our heartfelt thanks, and we talk for hours to people we’ve never met because the thing that binds us all together and cuts through everything else is love. The Bible is the thing we have that teaches us about God. Written by humans throughout history. Humans who all experienced different disasters, traumas and challenges and the thing they all write about is that through it all, they each experienced something of God’s love. And that love (as love always does), changed them for the better. •
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hope and love in the midst of incredible darkness. And that is how it has been throughout history. Christianity is not about rules or an out of touch, distant deity. It’s about love and it’s about how WE fit in to the great story of love that stretches far beyond our time on earth.
Light, hope and love will overcome and in the days, weeks and months ahead we will experience those things most keenly through one other. We have more pain to go through, but together we will go through it and as we do, we will find increasing glimmers of hope and love - because in the end, love always wins.
If you’d like to connect with church services from the Epping Team you can do so online. The links to facebook and YouTube are below. We’re live streaming at 10am on Sundays (and increasingly at 6pm too) but you can watch any of the services at any time. www.youtube.com/channel/UCXb5XnQLZkIeRYZal_6zbRw www.facebook.com/eppingchurchUK/
With love, Rev Tom x Page 23
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Covid-19 The world has been rocked and quite possibly will never again be the same, Lives have been lost and transformed all at once due to a virus called Covid-19 that’s to blame. No super powers bringing us all to our knees, As they claim victory over our fallen cities.
No final battle played out to a leader’s sinister plan, No lives being held ransom to a single crazed man. Far worse is a virus for which there is as yet no cure, Spread across the world reaching all the righteous , the good and the pure. No hiding place can be reached from which you won’t be found,
No respite to those taking solace on sea, air or ground. It’s a world war against an enemy without a face, With battles being fought at home amongst families and friends being common place. There are measures put in motion to try and curb it’s advance, Though still many choose to ignore them and therefore leave many lives to chance. With the frontlines being the health services for whichever country you are in, As the pandemic rages on waging a war that we simply must win. Our thoughts, prayers and future plans, Are with all those nurses and key workers tirelessly striving to keep up with demands. All hoping that one day we can all look back on this knowing we all did our best, To help us all get through a time that will no doubt be classed as a test.
A test where those taken for granted do us all proud, And to simply stay at home and isolate is recommended and allowed. A test in which we must all all play a role, As for an end to the spread must be our first true goal. Maybe then an end to this war can be seen,
Though we’ll all remember the battle we had with Covid-19!!! Source: Andy—resident poet. This sums up the experiences we will remember as we get to gripes with life today. If anybody else has poems, memories or letters they would like to share on this very sub-
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5 FIRST AID TOP TIPS FOR PARENTS With such strange times that we are living in, first aid has become even more important for all of us staying at home. As a First Aid Instructor at Kiddi First Aid, I thought I will share 5 First Aid Top Tips for Parents to make sure we are ready to help our little ones, should we ever need to do so: Have a Choking Chart Choking is the one of the biggest worries that most parents have, especially around the weaning stage. Prevention is always a key aspect in first aid, therefore make sure that food is chopped appropriately, in chunks that are less likely to cause choking. Things to watch out for are grapes, slices of sausage, lollipops, and even marshmallows, which have a tendency to easily clog up small airways. If you do need to help, it might be worth having a visual reference handy on your fridge, which you can download and print from the Kiddi First Aid website at www.kiddifirstaid.co.uk This PDF Choking Chart is totally free for you to have! Keep those peas frozen When children are on the move, it is nearly certain that at some point a bump or a bash may happen, no matter how much you try to prevent it from happening. Therefore, it might be a great idea to keep a bag of peas frozen for such event. All you need to do is wrap the bag in a tea towel and hold it on the bumped area. Another thing to remember is to monitor your child, which is crucial if they bump their head. Check your first aid kit Do you know where your first aid kit is? And do you know what you have in your first aid kit? I would definitely recommend checking the contents of your family first aid kit, as you never know when your kit may become handy. Close the shed Now that we are spending more time in our gardens, think about hazards in the area. Sheds are places with so many hazards for little ones. Not only do we keep sharp tools there which can be really dangerous to a tiny person, but also a huge variety of chemicals like solvents, paint stripper, weed killer, plant food, oil, etc. Children want to explore new territory, so please keep a watchful eye on them whilst playing in the garden, or even better, just close the shed.
Call 999 or 111 if you need help One very important message to remember in these strange times is that you MUST call 999 or 111 if you need help. Even with the lockdown and the wonderful NHS staff helping us deal with the pandemic, they are still there to help us. If in any doubt, call for help. I always hope that we use our first aid skills as little as possible, however if we do have to help, doing anything is better than nothing. Therefore, prepare yourself for these cases, gain knowledge and confidence in first aid, and remember that prevention is key as well. Stay safe. Monika Farrell Kiddi First Aid Instructor www.kiddifirstaid.co.uk
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Editor’s Comment:- Thank you Monika. Monika is a very qualified and experienced lady with many years of first aid knowledge and experience. She lives in the village and hopes to start up first aid classes in the village in the future, but she has written this article to specifically to help local parents who are at spending more time with their children at home right now in these current circumstances. Email: june@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk
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Badger Cubs Rescued In April, in a garden of a home in Epping strange noises were heard. On investigation three badger cubs were found. Derek Barry from Harlow Badger Rescue attended and picked up the cubs and took them to his home. There was no sign of the mother, so twigs were left at the entrance to the sett to see if she returns. The badgers were dehydrated and needed food. Derek focused on looking after the cubs. Despite checking frequently, no badger visited the Sett so it was assumed the mother must have died. The weather turned cold and the three badger cubs were taken into Derek’s utility room. After a couple of weeks, Derek took them to a special wildlife centre who are now continuing to look after them along with another cub found from another area of the country. Derek shared photos of the beautiful badger cubs with me. This shows the importance of informing them if a badger is found dead or injured. Derek can then check any local setts to see if there are any young that need help and sometimes it may appear a badger is dead but it may be that they are injured or in shock.
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Temporary change to postal arrangements on Saturdays Our postmen and postwomen are working very hard across the UK in challenging conditions. As we said at the start of the coronavirus crisis, there will be some disruption to services. Relevant factors include high levels of coronavirusrelated absences and necessary social distancing measures. From 2 May we will temporarily no longer deliver letters on a Saturday. We will continue to provide a letter delivery service from Monday to Friday as normal. The majority of parcel services will be delivered on a Saturday including 1st and 2nd Class Parcels, Royal Mail Tracked 24 and 48, Royal Mail Tracked Returns, Special Delivery Guaranteed and International tracked services. Customers should continue to post both letters and parcels as usual on Saturday. We will continue our Saturday collections from businesses, post offices and post boxes as normal.
I would like to add a big thank you to all our local postmen and women, they have continued to deliver smiling and saying hi despite the fact that I know there has been a big increase in items posted and the concerns over Covid-19 and their health.
Thank you for your
Donations Thank you to everybody who donated to the Princess Alexandra Collection Boxes arranged by Jackie in the High Road, Theresa in St Adrews Close, Nicola in School Green Lane and myself in York Road. A very large collections of items donated by residents such as snacks, tea, coffee, water, smellies, toothbrushes and toothpaste, fruit and PPE were collected and taken direct to PAH. Recently, a large collection of smellies, shower wash, soap etc was collected by myself and Nicola and I took this to St Margarets Hospital and donated it to Poplar Ward patients as because of their age they have not had many visitors and were running out of these essential items and nurses were buying them from their own pockets. So thank you to everyone who donated. Page 28
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Coronavirus: Information from Citizens Advice The coronavirus pandemic is having a massive effect on the way we live. The government and other public services are making frequent changes to what they do and what we all need to do. It is important to keep up with these announcements, day by day. This article concentrates on changes which we can be reasonably sure will still be in place when North Weald Village Life is published. Some of them may not be well-known. First, housing. Private sector tenants who are receiving housing benefit or housing costs in Universal Credit may well see an increase in payments. The local housing allowance, which is the maximum that can be paid for different types of housing, has gone up a lot in this area. For instance, the maximum payable for a two-bedroom house or flat in North Weald has gone up by ÂŁ32.30 per week. Private landlords can still start possession proceedings but now have to give 3 months notice to end the tenancy. There will be no court hearings for existing cases, except for emergency injunctions and applications, until at least the end of May, and there will be no evictions. All action on rent arrears for Epping Forest District Council tenants is on hold until the end of May at the earliest. Secondly, Council tax. All action to recover arrears of council tax due to Epping Forest District Council is on hold until at least the end of May, but as things stand at the moment you will eventually have to pay up. However, if you have suffered a drop in income youi may well be eligible for council tax support, which will reduce your bill. Thirdly, benefits and tax credits. The Department for Work and Pensions is moving as many staff as possible onto Universal Credit to deal with a huge surge in new applications. As a result a lot of their work is being put on hold, though regular payments should continue as normal. This means, among other things, there will be no new reviews or reassessments across all benefits until at least the end of June. Any time-limited benefits due to run out will be extended. Face-to-face assessments for all sickness and disability benefits have also been suspended, as have all requirements to attend jobcentre appointments in person. All debt recovery has been suspended. Some elements of Universal Credit and tax credits have been increased. Citizens Advice: We are still providing advice, but only over the telephone. Advisers are working from home and all our offices are closed. The telephone service is available from 9.30 to 2.30, Tuesday to Thursday, on 0300 330 2107. Calls cost the same as a local call. This number is for all kinds of advice except for help with claiming Universal Credit or consumer issues. For help to claim Universal Credit you should call 0800 144 8444. For consumer issues you should call 0808 223 1133. Calls to these two numbers are free. There is also a mass of up-to-date information on www.citizensadvice.org.uk.
Finally, a warning. Scammers and other criminals are not taking time off. They regard this as a new opportunity. Among the online scams are companies offering fake holiday refunds, virus testing kits or vaccines, overpriced or fake goods such as facemasks, hand sanitiser and hard-to-get goods, fake online resources such as sensationalist articles or false coronavirus maps, and emails using voluntary action as a hook for people to share their personal details. Take care. Stay safe. Source: Paul Stockton
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07932 724730
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Bird Column May 2020 Hello. Here are a few jottings to cover birdlife and wildlife in general. Obviously our lives and interactions are not as they would normally be but I will attempt to give a hint or two as to what we may see or hear when out and about in the North Weald area. For those of you not able to get around for the time being then some of what I will mention can cover looking out for natural history from a garden or even a window. I have seen a considerable increase in people taking walks around the environs of our village and with a spell of largely dry and mild weather there have been plenty of days when it has been the ideal way to fit in the outdoors exercise that is part of the 'lockdown' strategy. Indeed for those of you exploring some of our local open spaces with your children this could be an opportunity to foster a real interest in what is flying, singing, skulking, buzzing or slithering around the various habitats. Youngsters appreciating local nature dovetails with being aware of wider environmental issues so it potentially provides a double bonus for the world around us in years to come. Connecting with nature can offer real benefits for our mental and physical wellbeing which of course is an essential requirement at this challenging time. Indeed there have been suggestions that the current health crisis could provide a widespread boost for wildlife. There could be more migratory birds as there will be far fewer people hunting small birds in parts of the Med so that many more individual birds will be able to complete their spring migrations. In the UK many councils will be drastically reducing their non essential mowing of verges and open spaces leading to a resurgence in wild flowers and consequently a boost in insect numbers. I have heard the my first Cuckoo of 2020, calling from the scrubby area a little south of Weald Common. Bad news for their host species. The first Swallow was spotted in the first few days of April, not seen a House Martin yet and Swifts won't be turning up before the end of April but will suddenly be very obvious as they whizz around our summer skies. Linnets tend to show well in mid to late Spring, often targeting weed seeds in quiet side roads. There have been almost daily sightings of Red Kite with about 50% of the sightings involving 2 birds. They will often be flying low and relatively slow over the village so keep an eye out - a special bird. The breeding season is well under way and the dawn chorus is starting earlier and earlier, certainly by 5am in mid April and much earlier than that before too long. A special sound when several different species get going but admittedly somewhat annoying when it is a pigeon or dove uttering a loud 'coo-coo' at 4am !!! If you are taking your exercise around our open spaces you should be aware of some birds singing or calling from many vantage points - from trees, bushes, hedgerows, even from a rooftop or lamppost. Birds will use song to establish and maintain territories for nesting, of course you shouldn't do anything to disturb or expose nesting birds, it can leave them vulnerable to predators and it has been a criminal offence to do so for some decades now. If you take a longer walk away from the centre of the village then you should be hearing Skylarks at several places, they are ground nesters and favour areas of rough grass. They sing as they rise into the sky, their strategy is then to land away from the nest and walk unseen through the grass to the nest, trying to put potential predators off the trail. Of course some people will have to stay at home and their only engagement with nature will be in a garden or looking out of the window. Even a small garden can have a few birds frequenting it and the presence of a feeding station can add to the variety. Of course getting hold of products such as seeds is not high on our list of priorities at the moment so we will have to rely on the birds finding the insects, spiders, grubs, worms and caterpillars that are living in our gardens. Supplying some fresh water can be a real bonus for our feathered friends. There may even be some baby birds to be seen as spring progresses so keep an eye out. Of course it is not just the birds that can be seen. As the sun sets so the bats come out and they can be quite easy to see in lots of places around the village - it is hard to envisage that there are so many hiding away over winter before feasting on flying insects during the warmer months of the year. Plenty of flies, bees, wasps, hoverflies etc are to be seen on the wing and probably the most obvious - and most popular - are the butterflies. There have been a few different types around but the one favourite I have had ever since I was a child is the quite delightful Orange Tip - brilliant white with an obvious splash of bright orange at the wing tips. They are an early species and I have seen one at Weald Common - I look forward to seeing more. If you see a bird or insect you are not sure of then you can of course look in a book or check online to try and identify the correct name of the species. Anyway, there is always something to keep an eye out for and we have good access to open spaces and footpaths so savour any opportunities that present themselves during the next few weeks. Above all, keep safe and we will see how things unfold in the weeks to come. Paul Corbet Page 32
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Essential Local Numbers The Alzheimer Society
01992 717676
North Weald Chemist
01992 523887
Cats Protection
0333 200 1484
North Weald Methodist Hall
01992 522143
Citizens Advice Bureau
03444 77 0808
North Weald Library
033301 32683
Crimestoppers
0800 555111
North Weald Village Hall Bookings
01992 523731 www.northwealdvillagehall.org/
Doctors High Street, Epping
01992 579270
North Weald Parish Council
01992 523825
Doctors The Limes, Epping
01992 566500
Queens Community Hall Book-
07522 473024
Doctors The Limes, Epping (appointments)
01992 573838
NHS Urgent help & advice
111
Doctors The Limes, North Weald 01992 524383
Essex Police
0300 333 4444
Epping Forest District Council
01992 564000
Police, Neighbourhood/local
101
Epping Town Council
01992 579444
Police, Emergency
999
EFDC & ECC Cllr Chris White-
01992 573557
Police Online reporting
www.essex.police.uk/doitonline
MP Alex Burghart
0207 2191613
RSPCA
01279 306058
Samaritans 24 Hours a day
116 123
Stuart Poulton
01992 522607
24 Hour
01992 572607
alex.burghart.mp@ parliament.uk
MP Mrs Eleanor Laing MP
020 8508 8608
MP For Thornwood
Eleanor.Laing.mp@parliament.uk
Hospital, St Margarets, Epping
01992 561666
Hospital, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow
01279 444455
St Andrews Church
01992 577168
London & Essex Boarding Ken-
01992 522183
St Andrews Primary School
01992 522283
North Weald Airfield
01992 564200
Traveline
0870 6082608
LOCAL CLUB DIRECTORY 3rd North Weald Beavers
North Weald Preservation Society
Queens Hall Charity
Tel: 01992 524672
Tel: read 01992 522618/522630
Tel: 522910
British Legion, North Weald Branch
North Weald Cricket Club
Rapier Cycling Club
Tel: 01992 614415
Northweald.play-cricket.com
Tel: 524631
Epping Ongar Railway Volunteer
North Weald Scouts Group
Taoist Tai Chi Society
Tel: 01277 365200
01992 524672
Tel: 01992 523854/07803243625
Harlow Badger Group
Theydon Jazz Club
Tel: 07941 185171
North Weald Seniors Society for over 70’s
Friends Force Hertfordshire/Essex
Tel: 522196
Thornwood Seniors
Tel: 522464
Tel: 577872
Epping Forest Rotary Club
North Weald Wireless Station Bowls Club
Tel: 07855 911323
Tel: 522803
Forest Highlanders Pipes & Drum
North Weald Women’s Institute (Afternoon)
Tel: 01279 415563 www.3valleymvc.org.uk
Tel: 01708 250820
Tel: 522700
West Essex Flower Club
North Weald Angling Club
Queens Hall Bowls Club
Tel: 524631
Tel: 01992 524071
Tel: 523375 or 522052
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Tel: 07814 863955
Email: june@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk
01945 588325/davedyer24@gmail.com
Three Valleys Male Voice Choir
www.northwealdvillagelife.co.uk
Page 34
Tel: 07814 863955
Email: june@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk
www.northwealdvillagelife.co.uk