December 2022 North Weald Village Life

Wishing everybody a Merry Christmas

I love Christmas, I love families being together and the twinkle of Christmas lights. But I think I love the idea and the whole fairy tale more than the reality of shopping, wrapping, spending money etc.

Don’t get me wrong I do love carefully choosing presents for people well those that are easy to shop for. I find shopping for men so difficult. Sorry if this comes across as sexist it isn't meant to be. But having three daughters does help keep me up to date with new things, trends and deals. Even the whole subject of advent calendars have now grown. It isn't always chocolate now it can be pork scratchings, tools, make-up, gin, candles, coffee, tea the list goes on. I have to confess the girls bought me one this year the first one I have had for many many years and it was a chocolate one. Yum.

It is also mixed feelings because with the cost of living increasing and less money in banks and pockets, I know many people are feeling the pain and struggle to buy food and presents as well as paying for electricity and fuel for the car. Looking back, my family had very little money when I was growing up but do you know what I remember most was not the present I got but the fact that the four of us played a game of cards or a board game which is something we very rarely did. Our treats consisted of nuts (still in the shells) and dates. If we were really lucky we used to have a small pack of orange and lemon sugared slices. The fire used to be roaring (our only source of heat). We would all be together. So please remember this. Christmas shouldn't be about how much you spend. I know how difficult it is when you have children and you want to make their Christmas special. But drawing and colouring some Christmas cards together, make a book mark or bake some cookies together and decorate with some icing these make great presents and are fun to do. Handmade is special. Whatever you do, I hope you can spend it with family or friends. If you know someone who isn't perhaps invite them to yours for Christmas lunch or take a plate of food around to them. Christmas is really the season to think of others and it is for everyone.

One thing that doesn't cost is a wonderful walk in our lovely forest. I love to do this no matter the weather. Fresh air is great for you too as well as the surroundings are calming. It is something we should do after all the worry and panic of Christmas planning and shopping.

For those of you who have lost loved ones, Christmas can be difficult and Christmas this year will be different for us since the loss of Andy’s mum a few months ago. Everyone is different, some don’t want to celebrate as they don’t feel ready to and others decide they want to celebrate with family around them as those they have lost would want them to do. My husband and I will be celebrating with our girls but Marion will be with us in our hearts at all times. We usually visit her every Christmas morning so this year will be hard but together we will be ok. Please remember they are with you I am sure. Merry Christmas everyone. Enjoy and stay safe.

Cover photo I love this cute cheeky Christmas chap.

Recycling your Christmas tree

Light up a Life memorial services

Planning Consultations Latton Priory

Stay safe this Christmas

New Playground officially opened

As a small business owner should I network? 16. Women’s night-time safety surrvey

Foster Carers welcomes John Lewis Christmas Commercial

Essex residents urged to test carbon monoxide following serious incident

Carers know your rights

& 27. Photo of the month

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.

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, stored in retrieval systems or transmitted in any form electronically. Mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the permission of the publisher.

a box of

• Holly

• Carols

• Gifts

• Songs

• Snow

• Icy

• Hope

• Love

• Games

• Pudding

• Turkey

• Cracker

• Family

• Gravy

• Wine

• Jokes

• Joy

• Shopping

Thank you to S. Smith and well done for winning the November Brain Teaser.

Just search and find the words, ring them and then send your completed wordsearch to me by 20th December. Please send it to: - Christmas Brain Teaser, NWVL, 49 York Road, North Weald, CM16 6HU. This month’s prize is a box of biscuits. Don’t forget to include your name, telephone no and email address and home address.

Stay Safe—Clean your Cooker

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service is urging Essex residents to keep their hobs clean and clear after a family had a “lucky escape” from a house fire yesterday.

Firefighters were recently called to a fire in Colchester at lunchtime on a Sunday. A slow cooker had been put on top of the stove and the hob had accidentally been turned on.

Ian Ryder, Watch Manager at Colchester Fire Station, said: “Thankfully everyone in the house escaped unharmed and were alerted to the fire early as they had working smoke alarms that raised the alarm.

"Using your hob as a storage area or a worktop can be tempting, but please never take the chance.

"Whether it's washing, tea towels or even items like a slow cooker in this case, it's incredibly easy to accidentally turn your hob on. If that happens and something is on top of it, a kitchen fire is inevitable - so please, keep your hob and oven clean and clear of clutter at all times.”

The fire could have been prevented. Firefighters are recommending people to think twice before using the hob as a storage area – even temporarily, as tempting or convenient as it can appear.

Hob and cooker top tips:

• Never use the hob or cooker as a storage area

• Keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob

• Keep the oven, hob and grill clean, and in good working order – a build-up of fat and grease can ignite a fire

• Double check the cooker is off when you've finished cooking

As the cost of living rises many people are turning to slow cookers and air fryers to cut energy bills. While they can be an efficient alternative to using the oven or hob, the fire service is urging residents to ensure they buy from reputable retailers and the appliances are in good working condition and safety tested.

If you are concerned about fire risks in your home or know someone who lives alone or might need a helping hand, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service offer FREE home safety visits to anyone living in Essex. The visit involves simple safety tips to help reduce the risk of fire and they can also provide and fit smoke alarms completely free of charge if they’re needed. To book a visit call 0300 303 0088 or book online: www.essexfire.gov.uk/book

Source: Essex County Fire & Rescue Service

07814

Email: june@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk www.northwealdvillagelife.co.uk

biscuits! H O F G O A F A T B U C O H D E

Y L L O H G N I P P O H S Y P

H O G C J M S U R R U S E Q T

V O I R A M D R G O G K L P R

H S O G C R Y C I N R I L J Q

N O A N R R O C F U O H O S R

U E L I Q H A L T N Z Y H S U J S D H D A W O N S P U U V W T

O H N C J O K E S E S Y S A M Y O E J T K U L V M W R A S C H

Give a gift this Christmas

A community campaign has been launched to help ensure no child in the Epping Forest district will go without a Christmas gift this year.

Last year over 90 gifts were donated or purchased with crowdfunded money. All were given to children aged between 2 and 17 in the Epping Forest district. Many had been referred by local schools and frontline children and family service providers.

Local residents and businesses can donate a gift or purchase funds in the following ways:

• Donate online Donate to the Epping Forest Christmas Giving Campaign wonderful.org/fundraisers/Rk8kn

• Choose and buy a gift online Choose and purchase a gift from the Essex Police Amazon wishlist www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/RHOKD96CNUXN? ref_=wl_share

• Buy a gift for us to give Deliver an unwrapped gift to the reception desk at Epping Forest District Council Civic Offices. The address is 323 High Street, Epping CM16 4BZ. We are open weekdays from 9am to 5pm. Please bring your gift before 15 December for us to wrap. With the rising cost of living having an increasing impact on many household budgets, we hope that the Epping Forest Christmas Giving scheme will make Christmas extra special for struggling families.

Free weekend parking in December

As we head towards Christmas Epping Forest District Council are again offering free parking in our car parks across the district on weekends throughout December.

The offer applies to all Epping Forest District Counciloperated public car parks, helping local people and visitors while they do their Christmas shopping.

Councillor Sam Kane, Portfolio Holder for Internal Resource at Epping Forest District Council said: “We are very pleased to continue offering free weekend parking throughout the month of December for residents and visitors to enjoy their local shops, bars, cafes and restaurants leading up to Christmas. We encourage residents and visitors to visit our towns and help support local businesses.”

Parking on bank holidays is free in all EFDC operated public car parks.

Please don’t forget to mention to advertisers that you saw their advert in North Weald Village Life

Copy Deadline for Event Details

For the January Issue 20th December

For the February Issue—20th January

North Weald W.I.

North Weald W.I. meet at our Village Hall on the first Wednesday of each month starting at 1.45pm. enjoying an interesting speaker and a friendly get together. We welcome visitors, pay £4.00 on the door.

Home Instead Singing For The Brain

This runs on the third Wednesday of the month at Theydon Bois Village Hall in the morning. These sessions bring people affected by dementia together to sing a variety of songs they know and love, in a fun and friendly environment. We do vocal exercises that help improve brain activity and wellbeing. We also serve light refreshments and enable the group to chat amongst themselves. This event is free of charge and organised by Home Instead, Epping

British Legion invitation

You to a regular meeting in the Village Hall on the 3rd Friday of the month at 1930hrs.

West Essex Flower Club

West Essex Flower Club is meeting this month on Monday 5th December with arrangements entitled ‘Tis the season’ by National Flower demonstrator Jacqui Arnold at Thornwood Village Hall. Doors open for members Finger Fayre only at 12. 15pm followed by our demonstration open for all at 1.45pm. Visitors pay £7.00 on the door.

Home Instead Memory Lane Café

This runs every second Wednesday of the month in the afternoon at Theydon Bois Village Hall. These are fun afternoons, we run a quiz or a competition, serve light refreshments and always have a sing along of our favourite songs. One of our team, Kevin, plays his guitar and we have song sheets so it is simple to join in.

Get ready for the Winter Reading Challenge!

This year's challenge starts tomorrow, Saturday 26 November, so get down to your local library to collect your booklet and get started with all the wintery fun!

Join our plucky penguin Lyra, as she travels around the zoo to learn all about different winter traditions, and help her out by completing 6 fun challenges of your choice!

Toddler Father Christmas

A special opportunity for Toddlers to meet Father Christmas in his grotto! Enjoy singing a nursery rhyme, making a craft, and hearing a story before visiting the grotto to receive a special gift.

We’ve got lots of special goodies up for grabs too, so come and collect your challenge booklet from any Essex library!

If you run a community event or charity event, don’t forget to let me know so I can share the details with readers just email me June@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk

North Weald Allstars Jazz Session

1st Saturday of each month 12pm onwards

Tickets available on the door £12

Ploughman’s Lunch

Held in the North Weald Village Hall

Starts at 12.00

Every Second Saturday each month - This is organised for the the benefit of the Senior Citizens Society, a North Weald institution.

NEW Community Thornwood Market

Saturday 3rd September 2022

9.30 – 1pm

Thornwood village hall

Lots of different styles including food, local artisans

Warm Places

Epping

Civic Hub, Civic Offices, 323 High Street, Epping CM16 4BZ

Don’t forget to send details of any events you are holding in the local the area.

Memory Café

Every 3rd Wednesday of the Month 10am 12pm This is a free event

At St James’ Church Hall, Ongar Welcoming café especially for those with varying degrees of memory issues and those who love and care for them. Enjoy activities, bingo and more. Sponsored by Home Instead

Ongar Farmer’s Market

Sunday 4th September 2022

10am– 2pm

Pleasance Car Park (Next to Chipping Ongar Library)

Lots of different styles including food, local artisans

Monday & Tuesday 10am to 4pm Call 01992 910701 Refreshments / Activities / Wifi available

Epping Library, St Johns Road, Epping CM16 5DN

Monday 9am to 5.30pm / Tuesday 9am to 5.30pm / Wednesday 9am to 5.30pm / Thursday 9am to 5.30pm / Friday 9am to 5.30pm / Saturday 9am to 5pm Wifi available

Epping Sports Centre, 25 Hemnall Street, Epping CM16 4LU Call 01992 565670 / Email enquiries@eppingsportscentre.org

Every day 11am to 2pm Refreshments – vending machines available

North Weald

North Weald Library, 138 High Road, North Weald CM16 6BZ

Tuesday 9am to 1pm / Thursday 2pm to 5.30pm / Saturday 9am to 5pm

Ongar

St James Hall every third Wednesday of the month 10-12

Chipping Ongar Library, The Pleasance, High Street, Chipping Ongar CM5 9AB

Tuesday 9am to 1pm / Wednesday 9am to 7pm / Friday 9am to 5.30pm / Saturday 9am to 5pm

Ongar Sports Centre, The Gables, Fyfield Road, Chipping Ongar CM5 0GA

Every day 11am to 2pm

Tel: 07814 863955 Email: june@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk www.northwealdvillagelife.co.uk

New service joins the Community Hub

Essex Cares Ltd becomes the latest partner to join the Epping Community Hub, based at the former Epping Forest District Council Offices in Epping.

Essex Cares Ltd supports individuals with a diagnosed learning disability and/or Autism into paid employment and work opportunities. They provide customers with a bespoke service which covers CV writing, applications, interview preparation, interview attendance support, job coaching and sustainment. They are at the hub:-

• Wednesday 10am to 2pm

• Friday 10am to 2pm

You can contact Essex Cares Ltd via telephone 0333 013 5438, Email employment@essexcares.org or Website: ecl.org

GriefLine support

GriefLine (01279 945089) is a local resource offering much -needed emotional support via telephone, across West Essex and East Herts, to anyone struggling with their grief around the loss of someone.

GriefLine operates from 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday. It is run by a team of St Clare staff and volunteers, trained to deliver emotional support to those who are struggling with their grief.

Anyone who has experienced a loss, whether recently or in the past, is welcome to call GriefLine. No previous connection to St Clare Hospice is required to access support.

If you would like to speak to someone about the loss of someone, no matter how long ago you were bereaved, the number to call is 01279 945089.

GriefLine is free to call, though charges may apply in line with your standard network rate.

For more information on GriefLine, visit: griefline.co.uk

Run, run reindeer at St Clare Hospice's Santa Fun Run

St Clare Hospice, is inviting local supporters to ‘paint the town red’ at their festive Santa & Elf Fun Run event, taking place from their St Clare Hospice Shop in Debden on Sunday 11th December 2022 at 12pm.

This family-friendly festive fundraiser includes a 5k fun-run, where you can ‘dash through the streets’ wearing a complimentary, snuggly Santa suit as part of the run. A festive-fanatic’s dream come true!

On the day, Hospice supporters can also expect to enjoy a range of festive treats on the day. And with every penny raised going towards St Clare’s free, compassionate care and support, it’s a heart-warming way to celebrate the festive season.

To book your ticket, please visit the St Clare Hospice website at stclarehospice.org.uk/santarun

Entry is £15 for adults and £5 for children (which includes Santa suit for adults, and Elf ears for the kids). Santa suits and elf hats will be available on the day as part of your entry. Those who raise sponsorship will also be eligible for a free festive medal.

The event will be starting and finishing at the St Clare Hospice Shop in Debden, 72 The Broadway, IG10 3SY on Sunday 11th December 2022. Registration from 11am, with the run starting at 12pm.

For more information, contact please contact Clare Morris on 01279 773750 or email fund@stclarehospice.org.uk

Email: june@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk www.northwealdvillagelife.co.uk

Apologies

I am very sorry but in the article in the October issue from Alan Buckley concerning the gardens by the shops in the village I missed out the last paragraph thanking a very kind group of people in addition to those mentioned. So I have included it below.

“Sadly, the North Weald Bassett Preservation Society ceased to exist during the last 12 months, but former lady members have continued to maintain the box garden on the village green at Wheelers Farm Gardens for which we are most grateful.

Thank you ladies.

Cllr Alan Buckley

Recycle your Christmas

This January 2023, you can recycle your Christmas tree with local charity St Clare Hospice, who will come and collect your tree from your home in return for a donation to their vital hospice cause.

According to figures, approximately 6 million Christmas trees will end up in landfill this year, amounting to around 250 tonnes of waste that could be used for compost. Local schemes, such as St Clare Hospice’s annual recycling project, help to reduce the negative environmental effects of waste post-Christmas – instead taking trees and turning them into wood chippings and compost, in partnership with a number of local organisations and waste management services, such as HTS Group and Dunmow Waste Management.

Earlier this year, in January 2022, St Clare’s Christmas tree recycling programme collected more than 1,200 trees, raising over £18,000 in vital funds for their local care and support services. That is enough to fund more than 200 visits by the Hospice at Home team who give vital personal care to people in the comfort of their own home.

Volunteers working with St Clare Hospice will visit homes on Saturday 7th, Sunday 8th and Monday 9th of January 2023 to collect real spruce, fir and pine Christmas trees.

This year, the charity will be collecting trees from the following postcode areas: CB10, CB11, CM5, CM6 1, CM6 2, CM6 3, CM6 4, CM16, CM17, CM18, CM19, CM20, CM21, CM22, CM23, CM24, EN9.

Please register your tree through justhelping.org.uk/register-treeor contact the fundraising team on fund@stclarehospice.org.uk or 01279 773750. The Hospice simply asks for a suggested minimum donation of £12, to collect your tree from home and recycle it locally.

Registration is now open, and closes on 3rd January at 10am. For more information and FAQs on St Clare’s ‘Recycle Your Christmas Tree’ programme, please visit their website at: stclarehospice.org.uk/recycle-christmas-tree

against climate change

Essex County Council colleagues boost climate change knowledge by completing Carbon Literacy training.

To combat the effects of climate change in the county, Essex County Council (ECC) is upskilling its workforce to be more aware of how climate change affects Essex and what can be done to combat it, both individually and collectively.

Delivered through independent and group learning, Carbon Literacy training gives ECC members and officers a strong understanding of the causes and effects of climate change.

The training specifically focuses on climate change in Essex and how the county is currently being affected.

ECC’s senior leadership is fronting the charge with Leader Cllr Kevin Bentley, Executive Director Climate, Environment and Customer Mark Ash and ECC Climate Czar Cllr Peter Schwier all having completed the training.

On successful completion of the training individuals receive Carbon Literacy accreditation from the Carbon Literacy Project.

Across Essex County Council more than seventy individuals have already received this accreditation, with plans to increase this to 1,000 in coming months.

Part of the training course includes pledging to undertake an individual action and activity within a wider group to reduce carbon emissions.

Tackle Covid-19 and Take the shot

The NHS in Hertfordshire and west Essex is urging everyone to get vaccinated during the World Cup.

The football tournament will provide plenty of opportunities for people to get together.

Getting vaccinated means that we can meet up to celebrate without worrying about spreading Covid or flu.

Dr Jane Halpin, CEO of Hertfordshire and west Essex integrated Care Board, said: “Many of us may be coming together in the next few weeks to cheer on England, Wales or other teams at World Cup.”

“But we also know that crowds are what viruses like best, whether that is the common cold, flu or even Covid. So, the best possible defence will be vital – not just on the pitch, but at home too.”

If you are eligible for a Covid or flu vaccination this autumn, make sure you are going into the tournament match fit by topping up your protection.

It is easier than ever for people to book Covid and flu jabs at dozens of sites and pop-up clinics across the Hertfordshire and west Essex through the NHS website or by calling 119. They can save your life and keep you out of hospital. So don’t score an own goal this World Cup, take a shot now so you can enjoy the football – along with Christmas and the New Year.

Find out more about local vaccinations at https:// hertsandwestessexics.org.uk/covid-19-and-flu

Staff and councillors ramp up their fight

Love North Weald

The St John's Epping Christmas tree festival is fast approaching & your local Church of England, North Weald, (St Andrew's & North Weald Sunday Morning Church) invite you to take photos of things around North Weald that represent love and/or joy to you. This could be someone who does lots for the community, or a pretty tree, or a pet, your school, your favourite place, the Queen's Jubilee celebrations, your friends, the pub, or anything! Winning photographs will be made into bauble decorations and displayed on our tree in St John's.

Send your submissions to Jaimee at summersaimee@gmail.com. Please ask permission of anyone photographed before sending in your photos as they will be publicly displayed. Let's share the love and joy of our local community this Christmas!

With love from Jaimee, St Andrew's Church and North Weald Sunday Morning Church.

‘

Light up a Life’ memorial services this December

West Essex and East Herts charity, St Clare Hospice, is set to host a series of heartfelt ‘Light up a Life’ memorial services this December; giving families the opportunity to celebrate the lives of lost loves ones this winter.

Light up a Life is our annual celebration of everything that St Clare stands for –joining together with families from across our community in honour of their loved ones. Candles are lit as we remember, with every shining light representing the life and memories of a loved one. Everyone, of all faiths and none, is welcome to attend these free services.

The services taking place at the Hospice in Hastingwood this year are:

Monday 12 December, 7-8pm

Thursday 15 December, 7-8pm

Saturday 17 December, 3-4pm

Saturday 17 December, 7-8pm

All of the Light up a Life events at the Hospice are ticketed, operating on a first-come firstserved basis – tickets can be booked on the St Clare website. There are also details of other services being held at locations across West Essex and East Herts.

For information about the Light up a Life services, requesting a Star, or adding a name to the Book of Remembrance, visit stclarehospice.org.uk/light-up-a-life-2022 or get in touch directly with the Hospice team on 01279 773750 or light@stclarehospice.org.uk

Planning

consultations

– Latton Priory

At a cabinet meeting held in the beginning of November, Councillors asked Place Portfolio Holder, Councillor Nigel Bedford to ensure residents receive clear guidance so as not to confuse 2 important planning consultation processes.

Latton Priory is a strategic development site allocated for a minimum of 1,050 new homes. It will form part of the Harlow and Gilston Town developments within Epping Forest district. It is also set to accommodate primary and secondary schools, employment land, gypsy and traveller pitches, community facilities and significant green space.

Cabinet approved proposals to consult on the Latton Priory Masterplan produced by site promoters CEG and Hallam Land for 6 weeks beginning in mid-November.

Councillor Bedford said Latton Priory Masterplan consultation has been extended into January. It will include workshops and the widest possible public contributions, taking into account Christmas and the New Year.

Outcomes of the consultation will be reported back to Cabinet.

The separate 6-week Local Plan Main Modifications consultation that will run to 9 December was also discussed.

The Local Plan consultation is being conducted under the control of the government-appointed inspector. Councillor Bedford stressed that representations are only invited on the further Main Modifications as any other matters previously agreed by the planning inspector will not be reconsidered.

Councillor Bedford said that once the inspector had considered the responses, including evidence presented throughout the examination, he will determine whether the Local Plan is ‘sound’. If it is determined to be ‘sound’, the Local Plan could then be formally adopted by the Council.

Both consultations will be clearly distinguished from each other on the Epping Forest District Council website.

Keeping Warm and Safe this Winter

With the advent of the colder weather and rising fuel costs, Trading Standards are warning people to take care and buy wisely if thinking of purchasing a portable electric heater . As with any product you get what you pay for and 'cheap' may prove to be costly in the long run.

A small portable electric heater may be useful for heating a small space and prove a practical way of controlling your heating costs in the short term, but it may not be the most cost effective over time.

As with any electrical appliance always check the heater is CE or UKCA marked. These marks are conformity marks indicating the items have been made to and tested against the relevant safety requirements - those that are not marked could prove dangerous . The mark can easily be copied so be aware of cheap products as these may not have been through the conformity assessment procedure. Check that the product is fitted with a three pin UK plug and avoid buying second hand as you don’t know what condition the heater is in and how it’s previously been used. Check for any damage (to the product casing and cable/plug) and ensure you read the instructions thoroughly before use. Finally, never leave a heater switched on unattended and don’t place other items either close to or on the heater while it’s in use.

Email: june@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk www.northwealdvillagelife.co.uk

Epping Community Hub

The Epping Community Hub based in the former Epping Forest District Council Office is a one-stop shop for residents to access a wide range of services for help and advice.

Services you can access in the Epping Community Hub include:

Adult Social Care – an Essex County Council service

Barclays Bank

Changing Pathways

CHESS Homeless

Department of Work and Pensions

Epping Forest Citizens Advice

Epping Forest District Council services

Epping Forest Foodbank

Essex Partnership University NHS Trust

Voluntary Action Epping Forest

For more details visit

Epping Community Hub webpage

Warm Places

Stay safe this Christmas

Christmas should be a fun, safe and enjoyable time but it is worth following a few pointers to ensure it is safe:-

• Check your Christmas tree lights conform to British Standards.

• Never place candles near your Christmas tree or furnishings and don't leave them burning unattended at any time.

• Decorations are often flammable and can burn easilyDon't attach them to lights or heater.

• Always switch Christmas lights off and unplug them before you go to bed.

• Remember! After drinking alcohol, the risk of accidents in the kitchen is greater.

• Most fires start in the kitchen so don’t leave cooking unattended.

• Drive safely this Christmas.

• If you smoke, make sure that your smoking material is extinguished before you go to bed.

• Use Christmas as a reminder to clean your smoke alarm to remove dust.

• Don’t overload plug sockets.

• Check on elderly relatives and neighbours - make sure they are fire safe.

Email: june@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk www.northwealdvillagelife.co.uk

New playground officially opened

Three years of planning and fundraising has resulted in the official opening of the new play area on the Lower Swaines recreation ground in Epping.

The equipment - on three sites on the Epping Town Councilmanaged recreation ground - has been funded thanks to the efforts of Epping Playground Association which raised £176,000.

Town Mayor councillor Barbara Scruton, who cut the ribbon to officially open the play area on Saturday, said: "The initial design was for an all-inclusive playground that children from 0 to teenagers, parents, grandparents, friends and neighbours could all enjoy. The target set for the playground association's design was £120,000.

"The association spent hours working on small grant applications."

She added: "The Town Clerk entered into discussions with Epping Forest District Council's S106 officer and Qualis (which is developing five sites in Epping) many months ago.

"It was wonderful when £50,000 was awarded to Epping Playground Association (by Qualis) towards the project. The target had finally been reached.

An additional £40,000 was received from the National Lottery to take the total raised for the project to £176,000.

Councillor Scruton added: "The playground demonstrates what can be achieved when we all work together as a community."

Epping Playground Association chairman Siobhan Garrett said: "When we started this project in 2019 we knew we needed a new playground for our community.

"What we could never have predicted is a virus and pandemic that would shut our children away from the world, and each other, for months on end.

"Trying to fundraise coming out of lockdown was near impossible but that experience made us work even harder and dream even bigger because we knew we all needed this - somewhere safe and fun for us all to come together and play."

She thanked Epping Town Council, Epping Forest District Council and Essex County Council and local councillors for their support, advice, grants and donations, as well as the National Lottery and Qualis, local businesses and local and national organisations for their funding contributions, and the playground association trustees for their continued efforts towards achieving the goal.

She added: "We had an amazing group of volunteers that spurred us on when we needed them. We've had volunteers create our logo, give us advice on creating a brand and giving their time at events.

Email: june@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk www.northwealdvillagelife.co.uk

As a small business owner should I network?

This question had been on my mind for a few months and despite researching it, I really wasn't sure of the answer.

I am a small business owner, a sole trader, I work on my own. Sometimes I have questions, or unsure as to what I could be doing to improve my business. I have always believed the saying everyday you learn something new it would be nice if that was something that would help my business.

I have never been to a network meeting, I have been to many business events but and of course talked to different people and enjoyed it but often don’t see them or speak to them again.

So after months of wondering I took a leap of faith and attended an open evening of a local business network group in Epping. All day I was unsure that I would actually attend but I did, I had no idea of whether it would be worth it or who I would meet but thought it was a free event and worth my time to check it out.

As soon as I arrived I never stopped talking. Everybody was welcoming and friendly, they asked about my business and I asked about theirs, soon we were laughing and I was learning how nice it was to be with other local business owners. I stayed for the entire evening and went along to the next meeting, as a trial to see if I would like the meeting format, content etc having never attended one before.

That was in March and I joined right there and then. Every Thursday I go along to the breakfast meeting in Epping. I have made some great friends and the support the group has shown me is fantastic, both on a personal and professional level. I enjoy the format of this particular network group, I learn something every time just by chatting or listening to other business members.

It is a great way to start the working day, you also get hot drinks and breakfast.

So to answer the question, and the only way to truthfully answer it was to experience networking for myself, and the answer is yes you should network as a small business.

So why not try it for yourself. Contact the Epping Forest Business Group (details to the right) or you can contact me and you could always come along with me as a guest so you can try it once for yourself.

Support has been made available for small businesses

Earlier this year Epping Forest District Council and Colbea partnered to provide support to businesses helping them to adapt their services in order to minimise carbon emissions whilst creating opportunities to reduce running costs. Moving forward, an expansion to the type of business advice available through Colbea is now available in Epping Forest. This offers local businesses new ways to navigate the recent challenges they face because of economic uncertainty and these new, free services include:

Free business consultancy delivered on a 1-1 basis: General business advice and guidance for businesses which could include support around; business planning, grant applications and developing marketing strategies. This support is accessible for businesses of any stage, size and sector; including pretrading/start-up businesses.

First Steps to Start Up Success courses: An introduction to business course which is also suitable for those who are thinking of starting their own company or who have already recently started a business.

Introduction to Finance courses: Perfect for small businesses owners or employees who have responsibility in overseeing financial operations and would like to know more about best practice.

To access any of the above services, businesses can contact Colbea directly on Call 01206 548 833 or Email enquiries@colbea.co.uk,.

Email: june@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk www.northwealdvillagelife.co.uk

June

Editor, North Weald Village Life

Remembrance Sunday in North Weald

Many local people turned out to remember at the Remembrance Sunday event at St Andrews Church and after at the Annual Act of Remembrance and Thanksgiving at North Weald Airfield Memorial and Debt of Honour. The later event at the Memorial and Debt of Honour which is situated in front of the North Weald Airfield Museum is always well attended, but this year there were more people in attendance.

Wreaths were laid and the two minute silence was of course implemented. Thank you to North Weald Parish Council for organising this annual event.

Women’s night- time safety survey launches

Men and women asked to share their views on women’s safety at night.

Essex County Council (ECC) has teamed up with the University of Essex to lead a research project about women’s safety at night.

Following a countywide survey conduced by ECC on women’s safety late last year, it was evident that women felt most unsafe at night with 47% of respondents stating this. The survey also found that 21% of women felt unsafe in pubs, clubs and bars at night with 45% of women avoiding certain nightlife or hospitality venues because they made them feel unsafe.

Residents are being asked to share their views on night-time safety with a particular focus on anything related to businesses and services that run during the night such as pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants. While this research is focused around women’s safety, the survey is open to both men and women.

As part of ECC’s commitment to making the county safer for women and supporting them in feeling safer too, this research project is one of the many initiatives launched by the Safety Advisory Group (SAG).

The SAG works with partners, support organisations, and residents, to gain a better understanding of the real fears people, in particular women have about safety. It then aims to address these issues and bring about positive change.

The online survey takes around 5-10 minutes to complete and responses will be used to inform future work of the SAG.

Deputy Leader of Essex County Council and Chair of the Safety Advisory Group, Cllr Louise McKinlay said: “We want all women to feel safe when out at night, and we hope that this research will help us to understand how we can address the key challenges and issues faced. By inviting men to also take part in the research, we hope to better understand perceptions from their point of view too.”

“We are pleased to be working with a very talented team from the University of Essex to conduct this research and I look forward to seeing what the research reveals.”

Dr Noelia-Sarah Reynolds and Dr Juneho Um, from Essex Business School at the University of Essex are leading the research.

Dr Reynolds said: “We are delighted to be carrying out this research, which will not only help to make women feel safer when they go out in the county at night, but will also be of benefit to the economy and businesses operating in the area

“I am very keen for research to have a broader societal impact – this is a clear example of how research can make a difference in the community.”

Dr Um added: “It is a privilege to be involved in research aimed at making people feel supported and safe and to see, in turn, what impact this has on the night-time economy.”

The survey is open until Sunday 18 December and can be found at: Women's Safety at Night (Survey) (qualtrics.com).

www.northwealdvillagelife.co.uk

Foster carers in Essex welcome John Lewis Christmas commercial

Foster carers across Essex have expressed their delight at the new John Lewis Christmas commercial which highlights the amazing role foster carers play in welcoming children into their homes.

The 90-second commercial follows the story of a foster dad as he attempts to master the art of skateboarding with failed attempts and several injuries along the way. It is not until the end of the commercial that we learn why he has gone to so much trouble. The foster carers open their door to a social worker and a teenage girl with a skateboard in hand. The emotional advertisement shows how foster carers go above and beyond to welcome children into their home and to connect with the children in their care.

Foster carers Debbie and her partner Ali, from Epping have been fostering for six years and said: “We thought the advert was great, it made us cry. It’s fantastic to see John Lewis focussing on fostering and bringing it to the forefront of everyday life. For us as foster carers when we know we have a child arriving we do try to make them more comfortable by doing things and arranging things that matter to them.

“For anyone who sees it and is thinking of fostering, take that step forward, don’t doubt yourself or your abilities. You can make a difference to that young person’s life and give them the Christmas they deserve.”

Foster carers Brian and Lorraine from Clacton-on-Sea said: “It was admirable to see them shining a light on our vulnerable young people in care. With the way things are in the economy at the moment it really brings into focus what is important at Christmas and in life. If you’ve seen the advert and it’s made you consider fostering, look into it, it’s a wonderful thing to do. The experiences of fostering are amazing and seeing a smile on a young person’s face for the first time is worth a million dollars.”

This Christmas there will be over 1,000 children in care across Essex. With families getting together and giving and receiving gifts Fostering is incredibly rewarding, offers great flexibility and puts family at its heart. Carers are welcome from any background, including single, married, LGBTQ+ or retired.

Essex County Council matches children to your family, offers all foster carers excellent local training with an active network of support groups providing opportunities to meet and learn from other foster carers. It also offers 24/7 local support, a dedicated social worker and access to a clinical psychologist and mental health coordinators. Families can receive on average £483 per child, per week to help with the costs associated with raising a child.

To find out more about fostering visit: https://www.essexadoptionandfostering.co.uk

Increase to Homes for Ukraine payments for sponsors

In recognition of the continued generosity shown by Essex residents under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, Essex County Council (ECC) is increasing the financial support available to sponsors.

The Government scheme originally launched in March, and there are now more than 1,900 Ukrainian arrivals staying with over 650 families across Essex.

Sponsors are already entitled to payments of £350 per month from the Government as a “thank you” and to help with increased costs. ECC has now agreed to add a discretionary £200 a month increase for Homes for Ukraine sponsors, during months 7 to 12 of their guests’ stay.

This means sponsors will receive £550 each month for months 7 to 12 while their guests are staying with them. Where hosting arrangements continue, payments will be backdated for sponsors whose guests have already been in Essex longer than 6 months.

There is no need for sponsors who are currently receiving payment to contact ECC, but we ask them to bear with us as we make the necessary payment adjustments. The new payments will be received as soon as possible.

In addition, ECC has also agreed to make a one-off payment of £500 this December to every Homes for Ukraine sponsor who has guests with them for at least part of the month.

The increase in payments recognises costs for sponsors will have risen in recent months due to the rise in prices caused by inflation and increases in energy bills.

Councillor Louise McKinlay, ECC Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community, Equality, Partnerships and Performance said: “The response from Essex residents to the Homes for Ukraine scheme has been incredibly positive, with so many of them opening up their homes to Ukrainian arrivals.”

“We are keen to reward residents for their ongoing generosity, while also recognising that many sponsors will be facing additional pressure on their finances and may be worried about the rising cost of living.”

“These additional payments will hopefully give sponsors some peace of mind and certainty as we head into what we know will be a difficult winter period.”

“We are continuing to work with our partners across local and national Government as well as in the voluntary sector to ensure Ukrainian arrivals receive all the support they need, both as soon as they arrive and for as long as they live in Essex.”

Sponsors who are not currently receiving the optional ‘thank you’ payments can find out more about how to apply on the Essex County Council website –Information for sponsors.

The increase in financial support will be funded by the Government Homes for Ukraine funding.

Email: june@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk www.northwealdvillagelife.co.uk

Essex residents urged to test carbon monoxide alarms following serious incident

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has issued a warning to residents to take action against a ‘silent killer’.

On Friday 18th November, firefighters were called to a house in Basildon where a gas cooker had been left on causing a strong smell of gas. It was not clear how long the cooker had been on, but it is possible it had been on all night.

Fire crews tested the air quality and found a high level of carbon monoxide inside the property. The occupant, an elderly man, was left in the care of the Ambulance Service as a precaution.

Carbon monoxide is known as a silent killer. You can't see it, smell it or taste it. Which is why it's so important you have working carbon monoxide alarms if you have a gas boiler, gas appliances or an open fire or log burner.

A working carbon monoxide detector can detect harmful carbon monoxide levels in your home and can help protect you and your family.

Will Newman, Head of Prevention at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said: “With the weather getting colder, more of us will be starting to use our heating and it’s really important that you have a working carbon monoxide detector at home if you

have a gas boiler, gas appliances or an open fire or log burner.

“Carbon monoxide poisoning is often called the silent killer as without a carbon monoxide detector, it’s difficult to detect the poisonous gas.

“You can buy a carbon monoxide detector from most DIY stores and if you are in a rented property, the landlord has to provide a carbon monoxide detector.

“Remember to test them regularly, at least once a month when you test your smoke alarms.”

If your carbon monoxide alarm goes off or you experience any symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning:

• Turn off any gas appliances

• Open windows and doors to ventilate the property

• Do not use your appliances/open fire/log burner until it has been inspected by a competent tradesperson

• If you feel unwell, call 111 and speak to the NHS

• If you think there is an immediate danger, call the Gas Emergency Helpline on 0800 111 999 or the relevant service for your area

• Call a registered engineer to check all your fuel-burning appliances. To check if an engineer is on the gas safe register visit www.gassaferegister.co.uk

Source: Essex County Fire & Rescue Services Ltd

Parish set to become single district council ward

A Local Government Boundary Commission review of district council ward boundaries includes a proposal to include the parish of North Weald Bassett in one single district council ward.

Currently the Parish is covered by three district council wards.

Parish council vice-chairman councillor Ann Grigg told the last council meeting: "I think that's better."

Councillor highlights street lighting concerns

Concerns have been raised by a North Weald parish councillor over the number of street lights that are not working in the parish.

Councillor Andy Tyler told the last parish council meeting a number of residents had spoken to him about the issue.

He said: "We're paying for everything and getting absolutely no service."

Origins of the word ‘magazine’

The word ‘magazine’ is used to describe a periodical publication consisting of works by different authors – ‘North Weald Village Life’ magazine being an example. But did you know that magazine’ originally meant something completely different, and came from a language other than English? Read on to find out more!

For centuries, Arabic has contained the noun ‘makhzan’ meaning ‘storehouse’, and its plural form ‘makhazin’ meaning storehouses’. The plural form was soon incorporated into Italian as the word ‘magazzino’, and in the 1580s, into French as magasin’. Both words retained the original Arabic meaning as being a (singular) place for storing goods.

In the 1600s, the word entered English for the first time – but with a narrower definition. At this point in history, Britain’s military was engaged in colonisation efforts. For this reason, magazine’ was specifically used to denote a military storehouse for storing weaponry and ammunition.

The meaning of ‘magazine’ in the publication sense did not merge in Britain until the 1700s. At this time, content was largely being consumed in the form of news stories (in newspapers) or in-depth insights (in books). To add variety, publishers also began to produce general-interest periodicals. One such periodical was first released in 1731, and covered a range of topics from science and history, to poetry and gardening. Its author, Edward Cave, settled upon the name ‘Gentleman’s Magazine’ – as he wanted the publication to act as a ‘storehouse of information’ for its gentleman readers.

Cave’s use of the word ‘magazine’ soon caught on as, until this point, the English language did not have a specific term for these general-interest periodicals. This is why we continue to refer to such publications as ‘magazines’ today.

Source: Amar

Why Wintry Wood Wonderers Wednesday Warm-Ups?

Wintry Wood Wonderers Wednesday Winter Warm-Ups was formed because all about us seems doom and gloom with little to lift the spirits, I hoped a walk in the forest would bring cheer and a sense of well being and it really does. Even when the weather turns cold and wet there is always something to see that makes you feel glad you made the effort to get up and go.

We walk in Wintry Wood and the adjacent buffer land owned and managed by the Corporation of London.

Wintry Wood/The Lower Forest is a little known part of Epping Forest it seems, from it’s boundary at the traffic light junction of the North Weald Road with the Harlow Road (B1393) to Woodside all of this magical wood is in the parish of Thornwood. It costs the local residents nothing for the care and maintenance involved in having a forest open for public use. It is a wonderful amenity both good for our physical and mental wellbeing - a wonderful place to take a stroll.

If you would like to soak up the atmosphere that is Wintry Wood, and are perhaps a little apprehensive of walking in it alone why not consider joining in a “Wintry Wood Wonderers Wednesday Winter Warm Ups” we meet on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at forest gate no.11 which is opposite St Margarets Hospital at 11am. The walk lasts for about 1-11/2 hours taken at a slow strolling pace, the group has come together for just the purpose of enjoying a walk in the forest with like minded companions, some come alone some with a friend, it is open to everyone of any age, dogs on leads are welcome too. Do not expect a ramble - more of an amble. A stroll with a chance to chat and take in the beauty and history surrounding us.

Wednesday - December 14th - 11am - Gate 11 opposite St Margaret’s Hospital

Wednesday - January 11th - 11am Wednesday - February 15th - 11am

Hoping to see you and meet you there!

Any questions or details please contact me 01992 577191 or Friends of Wintry Wood FB page or email friendsofwintrywood@outlook.com

Wintry Wood on a Misty Autumn Morning

Source: De Spence

ONGAR NATURE WATCH- Christmas Time

The Christmas tree was introduced to Britain from Germany in the early nineteenth century by Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III, but having a tree in the house at Christmas did not occur outside of the royal family. Queen Victoria as a child was familiar with the custom, and a tree was placed in her room every Christmas, decorated with lights and ornaments, surrounded by presents. After marrying her German cousin Prince Albert, the tradition became widespread throughout Britain when, in 1846, the popular royals were pictured in the Illustrated London News standing with their children indoors around a tree. Victoria was very popular with her subjects, and what was performed at court immediately became fashionable. Soon nearly every home in Britain had a tree with candles, sweets, fruit, gifts and homemade decorations.

The Norway spruce is the traditional Christmas tree but others are the Nordmann fir characterised by its dark green colour, and the Blue spruce with its viciously sharp silvery-blue to dark green foliage. There are two other popular Christmas trees - the Korean fir which has bright green needles with white undersides and the fragrant Fraser fir Mistletoe has long been associated with Christmas. It is a parasitic plant that grows on branches of trees, and extracts nutrients and water from them by rooting into their bark. The most common tree on which it grows is the apple, but it is also found on ash, hawthorn, lime and other trees with soft bark. Because it lives on trees, mistletoe has, through the ages, become the subject of many tales and superstitions.

Long ago, the Druids believed that mistletoe was sacred and offered protection from evil as well as being a source of magic. The tradition of kissing under a sprig of mistletoe at Christmas may have derived from the ancient custom of hanging mistletoe out-

side houses as a sign of hospitality.

It is also possible that it originated from a fertility rite as, in medieval times, women wishing to conceive would wrap sprigs of mistletoe around their wrists and waists. Mistletoe is an evergreen and each plant is either male or female. In March, it produces tiny yellowish-green flowers, and pollen from male plants is spread by the wind to female plants. In the winter the female plant develops soft white berries each containing a single seed. Birds, especially mistle thrushes, feed on these and may rub seeds into cracks in bark as they clean the sticky remains of berries from their beaks. When the berries are swallowed by birds, the seeds are not digested but pass unharmed in their droppings. If they land on the bark of a suitable tree they germinate and grow.

Holly is one of our native evergreen trees and helps brighten our woodlands in the depths of winter. It is also common in Hedgerows and many people have holly in their gardens. The leaves are leathery with dark green upper surfaces and pale green undersides. Holly bushes and lower tree branches have leaves with sharp spines along the edges and at the tip to protect them from browsing animals while higher up the tree the leaves have only an apical spine. The leaves have waxy surfaces to prevent moisture being lost when the soil is frozen and the tree cannot obtain water. This explains why holly survives well when cut for Christmas decorations.

Like mistletoe, holly is either male or female and bears tiny white flowers in May and June. The female flowers develop into berries which are green initially but, by October or November, ripen to crimson. They are readily eaten by birds and the hard holly seeds are passed in their droppings and germinate when they fall on suitable soil. This is why tiny holly plants are often seen growing in our gardens.

Keith Snow

Carers- do you know your rights?

This Carers Rights Day, carers across the county are urged to find out their rights and what support is available to them.

There are around 150,000 unpaid carers in Essex playing a vital role in supporting families and friends to live independently within their own homes and communities.

While rewarding, caring can be challenging with many carers sacrificing parts of their own lives to help enrich the lives of others.

Maintaining school attendance, employment, social activities and friendships can be hard and that can have an impact on a carers’ own physical, emotional and financial wellbeing.

Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, Cllr John Spence said: “This Carers Rights Day I would urge anyone who cares for someone to please take a few minutes to have a read through your rights and what support is available to you. I would also like to thank carers across the county for the life-changing work they do on a daily basis.”

“Looking after someone can be rewarding, but at times we understand it can be tiring and challenging. Without support, caring can take a serious toll on health, finances and wellbeing. It is therefore crucial that carers know what support we as a county council and our partners can provide. The health and wellbeing of carers matters, just as much as those they care for.”

Carers Rights Day is an annual campaign lead by Carers Uk that aims to raise awareness around carers rights. It is also an opportunity to thank carers for their selfless contributions and highlight

the support available to them.

Earlier this year, Essex County Council (ECC) launched The Essex All-Age Carers Strategy 2022-26 which outlines how ECC and partners will support unpaid carers of all ages undertake the invaluable contribution they make to society.

ECC Commitments to carers included within the strategy include: to ensure carers can easily access the information, advice, guidance and support when they need it, early into their caring role to develop professional practice and processes to improve identification and support to carers to improve transitions for carers as they move through specific phases or life events in their caring role to ensure carers have increased opportunity to access good quality support, including opportunities for breaks, to maintain their own wellbeing and those they care for to ensure carers’ needs and rights will be understood and recognised across Essex communities.

to recognise that carers will be the experts that influence, shape and be involved in the decisions that are intended to improve their support and wellbeing

A whole host of support is available to carers in Essex. This includes information and guidance, befriending services, counselling, financial assistance, help with breaks and respite and more. Details of support can be found here: https://www.essex.gov.uk/ are-you-a-carer

robertraymentplumber@gmail.com

Email: june@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk www.northwealdvillagelife.co

The aeroplane is a P51 Mustang out for a spin from the

Photos: Terry Taylor sharing a wonderful photo of his amazing robins and wishes readers a very merry Christmas

Photos: These three photos are from Jimmy Waters

The angry Moon over Thornwood tells you Thornwood is angry!

The angry Sunrise over Thornwood - is just that

Airfield

Photos: Pat Dyer this is what happens when the winter sun shines just for 5 minutes.

December Gardening Hints

Well here we are with the Christmas edition of June’s very fine magazine. Another year older but almost and certainly not wiser. The past six weeks have been possibly the wettest I have ever known. All good for established trees and shrubs which suffered during the long hot dry summer, but not so good for gardeners attempting jobs that need doing at this time of the year.

My advice is that any jobs can wait until the weather is more pleasant. Trying to plant, dig, prune etc you can do more damage then if you wait until the sun shines.

If you haven’t planted spring flowering bulbs in pots it is still not too late, it just means they will flower a little later than those planted earlier.

If you bought a fresh cut Christmas tree, I hope you are keeping it watered , also I hope you kept it in a bucket of water for a week before bringing it indoors. This will complimentary hydrate the tree keeping it fresh throughout the Christmas holiday.

Here’s hoping all of you have a healthy happy Christmas and New Year and as always look forward to spring and the gardener’s year starting again.

Lets all keep looking forward to better times ahead which I am sure will be around the corner and toast the New Year with a drink of your choice, Mine’s a beer, cheers

Source: Nigel, Art Garden Centre. Vicarage Lane.

Epping Eppingen Association celebrate

After forty years of promoting friendships the Epping- Eppingen Association celebrated their twinning with the beautiful BadenWürtenberg town of Eppingen.

North Weald Village Hall

“Pantomime 2022”

A group of fifty Eppingen people arrived in Epping on the last Friday in October. They were greeted with a welcome lunch of pumpkin soup prepared by the Epping in Bloom Team and served in their garden. Their hosts entertained them for the rest of the day. A formal ceremony took place on Saturday morning in Epping Hall. Over 100 people were in attendance. Members of the associations, tennis club members, representatives of both town councils, Mayor of Epping Barbara Scruton, Oberbürgermeister of Eppingen Klaus Holaschke, President Humphrey Wheeler, M.P. Dame Eleanor Laing, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Essex Michael Chapman and Chairpersons of the clubs Jim Heath and Heike Lachowitzer were there.

During the ceremony speeches of welcome and thanks were made. The many long years of friendships and community ties between the two towns had thrived despite political differences which exist in the world. Klaus Holaschke presented the town mayor with gifts and a certificate confirming Eppingen’s commitment to ever closer links with Epping. Dame Eleanor Laing thanked all those involved in the twinning saying how important close community and cultural links were.

After the speeches there was an interlude when the Epping Forest band played. This was very fitting as the band has visited the town on numerous occasions and played at their Altstadt fest.

The two chairpersons of the clubs Jim Heath and Heike Lachowitzer cut a cake which was later enjoyed with coffee. The formalities were concluded with singing the two national anthems. Our guests dispersed some spending time with their hosts and others taking the opportunity to visit London.

Later that day our guests together with many people associated with the association attended a celebratory dinner in Epping Hall. Over 100 people attended old friends had time to catch up and new friends were made. There was much laughter and a thoroughly happy evening was had by all.

David Hatch magician otherwise known as Professor Whizzy entertained with some amazing illusions and rounded off a wonderful evening.

The weekend was by no means over Our guests were transported to Maldon on Sunday morning where they visited the Heritage centre and learnt about the history of this little Essex town, they had time to see the boat yard before a lunch. Later in the afternoon they were taken to the Tiptree jam making factory. They visited the gift centre and the museum before having a typical English afternoon tea. They returned home to spend the evening with their hosts.

On Monday they were due to go home. However, many found time to wander through Epping, visit the market and some of the town’s shops. Finally, before departing we had a very jovial lunch together in The Bull at Theydon Bois. With fond farewells they were waved off. We look forward to seeing our friends again next year when two visits to Eppingen are planned.

We would welcome new members and know the hospitality you would receive would be superb.

If you are interested contact Joy 01279 428622.

Don’t forget to visit our website: www.northwealdvillagelife.co.uk

Or sign up to the Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/Northwealdvillagelife

Tel: 07814 863955 Email: june@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk www.northwealdvillagelife.co.uk

The second phase of results from Census 2021 are out.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published the next phase of Census 2021 outputs for England and Wales looking at topics including migration, country of birth and household size and structure.

The demography release sheds light on the characteristics of people living in England and Wales and shows a similar picture to 2011.

In Epping Forest the results show that:

• Number of households has increased by 5%, from around 51,800 in 2011 to 54,600 in 2021

• Epping Forest has a higher proportion of married or civil partnership couple households (34% in Epping Forest vs 30% in England) and a slightly higher proportion of older family households (10% compared to 9%)

• Epping Forest has a lower proportion of one person households compared to England (27% compared to 30%)

The number of England and Wales residents born outside of the UK has increased by 2.5 million in the decade since the last census, new data from Census 2021 show.

While the number of households increased, in line with the increase in the overall population, the make-up of those households is similar, with 6 in 10 being single family households and 3 in 10 being one person households.

The average household size in England and Wales in 2021 was 2.4 people per household, as it had been in 2011.

The census helps inform the delivery of public services throughout the UK. Different groups and organisations use census statistics in a variety of ways. For example, academics use census population estimates for predicting trends, local authorities for planning policy and local services, businesses for product development and store locations, and local groups to support funding applications.

Photo: C. Jones

Tree planting underway at Weald Common

North Weald Bassett Parish Council has been working closely with Essex County Council’s Senior Forestry and Woodland Officer to create a new woodland area.

A total of 2,462 trees are being planted on the field adjacent to the Weald Common access road, off High Road, North Weald.

Native species have been sourced such as willow, poplar, hazel, alder, hawthorn, sweet chestnut and oak.

The area has been divided into three planting compartments with specific species chosen for each to ensure they are planted in the right place for the conditions.

It is hoped the new woodland will enhance the biodiversity in this important location.

The well-trodden pathways that cross the field have been used as a planting guide and will continue to allow access for walkers once the planting has been completed.

The parish council has been in discussion with St Andrew’s Primary School in North Weald to involve the school community with the exciting project.

So is everybody ready for this festive time, that is fast on its way? Have you all managed to silence the worried voices in your head, that are associated with this day?

In a time of such monetary worry, when cost just only seems to rise, Can we all still give so much to others, while hiding the terror in our eyes.

We all know we should be frugal, as this time of year is always tight, Thou this year is especially difficult, with energy and living costs fast racing out of sight.

Still its Christmas and giving is what we all like to do, Whether its to family or friends, or helping the many in need that so often count on you.

Sadly we have personally experienced great loss, like so many others have done this year, Leaving the thought of a celebration, something that doesn't give the usual excitement or the feeling of cheer.

Although I know our lost loved ones would urge us to still be happy and enjoy all that we’ve got, With the simple cost of living in the back of my mind, even that is asking a lot.

But hey its Christmas, the one time when its love and joy to all, As the simple act of smiling causes a warm feeling that’s so very hard to stall.

So happy Christmas to you all, may this year bring you love and memories to last, May all the burdens that weigh you down, be lost in an enjoyment that’s needed and vast.

Source: Andy resident poet. With mixed emotions at this time of year.

Citizens Advice: Who else can help?

In last month’s North Weald Village Life we summarised the range of services we can offer to everyone who lives, works, or studies in this area. We can’t do everything, so sometimes when people come to us we refer them on to more specialist services which seem to us to meet their needs. As far as possible we try to refer people only to services which are, like us, free to use. Some are nationwide services, others are local. You can access many of these directly, so this article is mainly about those services.

If you’re struggling with your mental health your first port of call is invariably the GP. We all know how overstretched GP services are but you can access free NHS talking therapies without referral from your GP. The service in this area is provided by VitaMinds. Their website is: https://www.vitahealthgroup.co.uk/nhs-services/nhs-mental-health/west-essex/ . You can also phone them on 0333 015 2966.

Voluntary Action Epping Forest provide a wide variety of services, notably for people who have learning disabilities, or who are housebound. For instance, at Citizens Advice our biggest area of work is advice and representation on benefits, but we don’t have the resources to do home visits. VAEF fills that gap. They can visit housebound residents to give advice and help fill in forms. They also provide gardening and handyman services. You can contact them via their website – https://vaef.org.uk/ - or phone 01992 910701.

Sometimes people find themselves in such a crisis situation that they have run out of food and money and they have to tun to foodbanks. In this area there are two foodbanks, which operate in different ways. The Epping Forest Foodbank is part of a nationwide network of foodbanks funded by The Trussell Trust. They deliver emergency food parcels to people in need. You have to be referred to get the service, either by us or by a health professional such as a health visitor.

The other service is 3Food4U. They do not require a referral: you can just turn up. Unfortunately, the nearest location to North Weald is the Zinc Arts Centre in Ongar. It is open from 1.00pm to 2.30pm on Thursdays.

If you’re not sure which organisation might be able to meet your needs an excellent place to start is the website for Epping Forest Frontline - https://eppingforest.essexfrontline.org.uk/ . This was designed by our colleagues at Uttlesford Citizens Advice and is funded by the NHS and the County Council. It lists all the voluntary and other organisations in the area and describes what they do. You can search by subject-matter, such as “disability”, “older people” or “mental health”. There will be contact details for each organisation and you can request a callback from many of them. Just a reminder about how to contact us at Epping Forest Citizens Advice. The best way is by phone. The number, which is free, is 0808 278 7855. We have advisers on hand to answer between 9.30 and 2.30, Tuesday to Thursday. We are very busy at the moment so if you can’t get through at first try again.

We also have an adviser at the Hub at the Civic Offices in Epping every Thursday between 10.00 and 2.00 if you want to talk to someone face-to-face.

If you just want information you can try our national website: https:// www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

Source: Paul Stockton

Editor’s Comment:- This is the last contribution from Paul at Citizens Advice. I would like to thank you so much for your wonderful help and advice over the years.

Tel: 07814 863955 Email: june@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk www.northwealdvillagelife.co.uk

BIRD FEATURE - DECEMBER 2022

Welcome to the bird / nature article for December 2022. The last month of the year with the winter arriving and the potential for one or two cold snaps which would make things very hard for our feathered friends. The colder the weather the harder it will be for smaller birds to survive. There have been one or two interesting sightings during the mid to late November period. I have previously mentioned that Ravens have been frequenting the Pilgrims Hatch / Kelvedon Hatch area and in the last couple of weeks there have been further sightings at Writtle and not far from Epping. Well I can add North Weald to that list as this morning, in the last weekend of November, I saw one at the top of the communications mast close to the railway bridge. I should clarify that it was the bird at the top of the mast, not me, I was safely at ground level looking up ! Not only is the Raven much bigger than the Carrion Crow but this bird was perched for a couple of minutes and spent most of the time making its distinctive calls. Perched on top of such a tall structure gives the Raven a superb vantage point from which to scan the surrounding fields. I believe the recent sightings relate to the pair that raised two young at Kelvedon Hatch, the young birds are probably dispersing to check out nearby areas. I shall certainly be keeping an eye out over the winter.

Another interesting sighting was a Snipe which flew up from damp fields near the Church Lane water treatment works. Wading birds such as Snipe, the smaller Jack Snipe and the Woodcock have a habit of flying off at the last moment, referred to as being 'flushed'. During the colder months they are more likely to be seen in our area, certainly not common but occasional sightings can be expected. Recently spotted have been single Red Kites and Little Egrets with neither species being around much over the summer and early autumn. Both of these birds are very distinctive and are unlikely to be confused with any other species.

Last autumn and winter there was a group of up to 7 Red-legged Partridges frequenting the area, mostly the gated section of the flood relief channel at Weald Common. I have seen 2 or 3 in recent weeks but these sightings have tended to be between the village and Bobbingworth, as yet they have been absent from our immediate area.

As part of the preparations for the 3,000 tree planting on Weald Common, the site has been mown and it was very interesting to see way that the birds reacted to this. A day or so after the mowing there were over 30 Magpies foraging at the common and then the following day there were over 40 Pied Wagtails plus at least 16 Meadow Pipits. Surprisingly the wagtails were not easy to spot, an initial look across the site showed up just a couple of them. However once I stopped walking, got my 'eye in' and scanned the common I realised there were loads of them, all foraging on the ground with their distinctive way of literally wagging their tails up and down. I counted up to 40 and there were definitely a few more in the far reaches of the common. Meadow Pipits were in a small group, some of them flew up with their weak flight and calls. With a few more Magpies and Jackdaws it would be fair to say that quite a few local birds were taking full advantage of insects, seeds etc exposed by the mowing.

The sudden increase in bird activity at Weald Common shows how quickly nature adapts to circumstances and the birdlife ensured that they exploited this change. We had a very dry summer and the ground remained rock hard for many weeks. With the wet autumn conditions softened and again birds took advantage of the change with Blackbirds in particular now able to get at the worms that had previously been out of reach, hiding down in the damper level of the earth. This is where social birds are lucky, once a food source has been located the other local birds are quick to get in the action and flocks form as more and more turn up. Any individual bird that doesn't switch on to these new opportunities will struggle to survive.

There have been quite a few Skylarks continuing to frequent the periphery of the village. One flock that I saw at farmland near the railway line numbered at least 17. On one occasion there were a dozen or so mixed in with 50 or so Redwings and Fieldfares, presumably replicating what had happened at Weald Common - a food source had been located and it ended up with 60 plus birds concentrated within a few metres of each other.

Of course concentrations of feeding birds will attract the attention of predators, locally for us this will normally mean Sparrowhawk. They are ambush predators, they will fly low over hedges etc and hope to catch a small bird unawares, even chasing them into the foliage if the prey tries to escape through a bush or hedge. You can get 200 plus Woodpigeons in a flock, all feeding on emerging crops etc and studies have shown that subordinate birds end up at the edge of the flock. More dominant birds are in the middle of the flock which means they should be safer from the attentions of any predators. We see a large group of birds but we don't always see the dynamics that are in play within that flock.

I previously mentioned seeing Yellowhammers within the village, generally a pair that frequents the fields near Church Lane water treatment works. This pair is still around that area, not every time I visit but more often than not they are to be seen. The male still shows distinctive largely yellow plumage, the second bird is browner and streakier, either a female or even a juvenile. The 'hammer' in the name comes from the Germanic word for Bunting, which is the bird family to which Yellowhammer belongs. There have been plenty of tit flocks roving the area and on several occasions I have seen tiny Goldcrests within the flocks. They are a very confiding bird, they carry on foraging in bushes and the lower parts of trees, quite happy to do so regardless of your quite close presence. If you do get a close look at a Goldcrest you will see what a lovely looking bird it is and appreciate just how small it is. Being so small makes them particularly vulnerable in cold spells as the smaller the bird the greater the heat loss in relation to its size.

The only slightly larger Wren suffers from this problem too and in prolonged frozen conditions the Wren can suffer massive losses, going from one of the UK's most common birds to being much scarcer. Nature eventually will work its magic and Wren numbers will recover within the next few breeding seasons. A pair of Mute Swans continues to frequent the disused golf course, relocating between some of the larger ponds. There has been a cygnet from time to time. In flight they are seriously impressive but are normally to be seen swimming serenely across the ponds. They eat pond vegetation and can be seen tipping down into the water for a nibble. Ring necked Parakeets continue to be a regular sight around the village. Recent weeks have seen up to 11 flying around and I have seen them at Weald Common, Tempest Mead, Church Lane, the village hall and even had three turn up in my small garden on just one occasion. that very time a Heron flew over and one of the Parakeets went straight after it, basically chasing it off although I think the Heron was really just carrying on where it intended to go anyway. The parakeet then flew back down to rejoin its two associates. If these birds have found feeding stations to exploit then they will no doubt continue to stay in our area. Just reflect that some of the birds you will see in your garden may well have come here from continental Europe, especially Robins, Chaffinches and Blackbirds. Such immigrants can really boost the numbers of birds that are in the UK. Even when we have a cold spell, our weather generally is not as harsh as that in other parts of Europe, having lived in Germany as a child I can vouch for the fact that even in lowland areas just a few hundred miles from the UK we got that much more snow in winter. I am not talking 20 foot drifts but enough to make it sufficiently bad to drive some birds to relocate to the UK. Of course that was over well over 50 years ago so with climate change the effects may be lessening as the decades go by. If only someone would pay me I would happily spend a few weeks researching this ....

All the best, Paul Corbet

Tel: 07814 863955 Email: june@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk www.northwealdvillagelife.co.uk

The Alzheimer Society 01992 717676

Citizens Advice Bureau 0808 278 7855

Crimestoppers 0800 555111

Doctors High Street, Epping 01992 579270

Doctors The Limes, Epping (visits/emergencies) 01992 566500

Doctors The Limes, Epping (appointments) 01992 573838

North Weald Chemist 01992 523887

North Weald Library 033301 32683

North Weald Village Hall Bookings 01992 523731 www.northwealdvillagehall.org/

North Weald Parish Council 07572 507591

Queens Community Hall Bookings 07968 824283

Queens.hallcc@gmail.com

NHS Urgent help & advice 111

Essex Police 0300 333 4444 Epping Forest District Council 01992 564000 Police, Neighbourhood/local 101 Epping Town Council 01992 579444 Police, Emergency 999

Doctors The Limes, North Weald 01992 524383

EFDC & ECC Cllr Chris Whitebread 01992 573557

MP Alex Burghart (MP for North Weald)

MP Mrs Eleanor Laing MP

MP For Thornwood

0207 2191613 alex.burghart.mp@ parliament.uk

020 8508 8608 Eleanor.Laing.mp@parliament.uk

Hospital, St Margarets, Epping 01992 561666

Hospital, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow 01279 444455

London & Essex Boarding Kennels & Cattery (Kents Farm) 01992 522183

Police Online reporting www.essex.police.uk/doitonline

RSPCA 01279 306058

Samaritans 24 Hours a day 116 123

Stuart Poulton 24 Hour

01992 522607 01992 572607

St Andrews Church 01992 577168

St Andrews Primary School 01992 522283

North Weald Airfield 01992 564200 Traveline 0870 6082608

LOCAL

3rd North Weald Beavers Tel: 01992 524672

British Legion, North Weald Branch Tel: 07973 867 827

Epping Ongar Railway Volunteer Tel: 01277 365200

Harlow Badger Group

Tel: 07941 185171

Friends Force Hertfordshire/Essex

Tel: 522464

Epping Forest Rotary Club

Tel: 07855 911323

Forest Highlanders Pipes & Drum Tel: 01708 250820

North Weald Angling Club Tel: 01992 522303 www.nwdas.co,uk

North Weald Bantham & Ongar Bowls 01992 571535

North Weald Cricket Club Northweald.play-cricket.com

North Weald Scouts Group 01992 524672

North

Tel: is 01992 522677

North Weald Wireless Station Bowls Club Tel: 522803

North Weald Women’s Institute (Afternoon) Tel: 524631

Queens Hall Bowls Club

Tel: 523375 or 522052

Queens Hall Charity Tel: 522910

Taoist Tai Chi Society Tel: 01992 523854/07803243625

Theydon Jazz Club 01945 588325/davedyer24@gmail.com

Thornwood Seniors Tel: 577872

Three Valleys Male Voice Choir Tel: 01279 415563 www.3valleymvc.org.uk

West Essex Flower Club

Tel: 524631

Tel: 07814 863955 Email: june@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk www.northwealdvillagelife.co.uk