North Weald Village Life Strengthening the Community
FREE North Weald Bassett Community Magazine Issue: 169 September 2020 Page
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September Already I can’t believe we are headlining into Autumn. Some of the last days have felt autumnal with leaves flying around in the strong winds. During August I think we experienced most weather conditions with the exception of snow!! So schools are starting back, although not as they have been before, it will be a different experience for pupils. Teachers and staff. It is a shame that some things such as books, sharing pencils, being together for assembly or playtime will not be allowed. Hopefully things will return to more of a norm but I agree it is important to take precautions to protect everyone. Although children wearing masks all day – I find that suggestion hard to appreciate, they are not comfortable and will be hard to enforce especially in young children. A lot of readers have commented how much they enjoy the photos in the magazine, particularly of the village and wildlife. So if you do take any phots on your walks, please share them with me as I know many people will appreciate these.
Cover photo: Chosen because of it’s cuteness appeal.
Contents September Issue Page No.
Thank you everybody who sent me congratulations on reaching my 14th anniversary since the launch of North Weald Village Life.
4. Brain Teaser
I am always looking for suggestions on places that suit my readers to collect their copy of the magazine from. I know some are still reluctant to queue up and go into the shops to collect their copy. If you have any suggestions please let me know. North Weald Parish Council have offered to have some at Thornwood Village Hall where they are based due to Covid restrictions and guidelines so you will be able to pick up your copy from there which is particularly great for Thornwood residents. North Weald Library said they were not allowed to distribute the magazines from their due to restrictions but this has now been lifted so you can collect from there. If anybody would like their own personal copy posted to them I can arrange this but it will cost £30.00 for a year (12 issues) this covers postage etc.
6. Planning applications
I hope some of you enjoyed the Eat Out initiative especially at local pubs and restaurants. We did as a family. It did make a considerable saving and it seemed to increase the footfall and business in these particular businesses that do need our support. One thing I believe the pandemic has done, is make us shop and appreciate local businesses more. I have always shopped locally, the importance of local business is something I do of course appreciate but I have been chatting to many other people who are now using local shops much more regularly than they have ever done before. I am sure this will continue long into the winter. My youngest daughter, having had the opportunity of sitting her GCSEs this year removed for obvious reasons, in addition to not having a prom or the opportunity of a leavers assembly, found out her exam results by email. I am delighted to say I have another clever daughter, who got A’s in all 10 subjects, including 4 x A**s and 3 x A*s. I am a very proud mum and have three clever daughters. Where did they get their brains from? Hope to see you around the village and please take care.
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5. Grow your own feed. 9. The Bell Hotel 11. Safe driving in rain
15. Crime has decreased 16. & 17. Photos of the month 22. Gardening Hints 23. Church Chat 25. New Customs Clearance 27. Thinking of leaving your job 29. Poem 33. Rockin Robin 34. Birds 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 deadline is 5th of each month.
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.
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SEPTEMBER BRAIN TEASER —Win a bottle of wine • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Autumn Leaves School University Uniforms Campus Teachers Form room Bus pass Friends Homework Projects Lectures Washing Term time Cooking Rotas Timetables Essays Sharing
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Thank you to Mrs N. Bradley who won last month’s brain teaser. Just search and find the words, ring them and then send your completed wordsearch to me by 12th September. It must be sent to:- September Brain Teaser, NWVL, 49 York Road, North Weald, CM16 6HU. This month’s prize is a bottle of wine.
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Changes to social distancing measures in High Street Concerns over changes made to the social distancing measures in Epping High Street are being raised with Essex County Council by Epping Town Council. Town and district councillor Nigel Avey said at the town council meeting held on 13th August that he was "questioning" the reopening of Cottis Lane and the repainting of spaces outside Wildwood and the Caffe Nero area where parking bays are now parallel to the pavement.
Can you help? Essex Police are appealing for witnesses following a collision in Ongar on Thursday 20th August, which has left a man with serious injuries. Essex Police received reports at around 4.10pm that a blue Ford Galaxy had collided with a tree in Moreton Road. A man driving the vehicle was airlifted to hospital in a lifethreatening condition.
The road has been closed while we carry out our enquiries. Anyone with information or dash cam footage is asked to call Chigwell Roads Policing Unit on 101 quoting incident 861 of 20/08 or you can visit www.essex.police.uk.
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Grow your own food
Epping Forest District Council Community, Culture and Wellbeing team has put together special packs of different seeds for you to plant, nurture and grow at home. This is perfect for gardening beginners; all you need is a sunny window sill to get started and something the whole family can get involved in. In your pack you’ll find: • Coir pods (they are made up from coconut fibre) • Recyclable paper cup • Seeds You will be amazed when you see the seeds start to grow. As well as your seed pack you will have access to online support from our expert horticulturalist. Packs are free. Your first one will be a lucky dip – you won’t know what the seeds are until you open the pack. Once your first batch has grown, get in touch and your next pack will be chosen for you from a variety of seeds. To get a Grow at Home pack, contact Victoria Robertson, Community Development Officer— vrobertson@eppingforestdc.gov.uk or telephone 07548 162271 Once packs are reserved, you can collect them from one of our pick-up points. • Wednesday - Epping Forest District Museum - 2 pm – 3.30 pm • Friday - Community Garden Cottis Lane car park, Epping— 10 am – 11.30 am Sunday - Epping Horticultural Society Trading Hut Meadow Road Allotments, Epping CM16 5BW 10 am – 12 noon There is a limited stock of grow packs, get yours before it’s too late.
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Planning Applications TPO Application No: EPF/1748/20 Officer: Robin Hellier Applicant Name: Jason Planning File No: 020277 Location: 54 Tempest Mead North Weald Bassett Epping CM16 6DY Proposal: TPO/EPF/40/98 T63: Hornbeam & T64-T66: 3 x Oaks - Crown reduce by up to 4m, as specified. Any representations on applications should be made in writing, by Monday 14th September 2020 Epping Forest District Council www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk 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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EVENTS As clubs, societies, organisations reopen their events and meetings please let me know. If you have events planned please let me know too.
Public Exhibition Monday 7th—Saturday 12th September 10am-4pm
You can find out about initial suggested proposals for five sites in Epping. Residents who want to find out about the new sports centre and swimming pool proposed on Bakers Lane, together with other amenities and car parking on Cottis Lane together wit new homes for young people/families in St Johns Road, should attend on any of these days to view proposed plans and ask questions.
If you need help, whether it some groceries or essentials for you or your family, Free Food for You have organised a weekly drop in session at Queens Community Hall on Thursdays between 3pm— 5pm. No judging, no assessment or referrals needed. Just pop in. This Charity have been set up this year to provide help to anybody who needs it. They have previously been helping local people in Waltham Abbey and the surrounding area but now they are hoping to help any local people and families in North Weald, Epping and Ongar. Also Volunteers are needed on Thursdays, so if you have a few hours to help this would be a great way to help local people and
Deadline for the next issue is 10th September
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Hospice in the running for national awards St Clare Hospice, has been shortlisted for three prestigious people during these unprecedented times and ensuring the susCharity Times awards, recognising the Hospice’s recent tainability of the Hospice with emergency fundraising appeals. achievements and the strength of their partnerships. Being shortlisted for these awards seems to be a fitting reward, St Clare Hospice has been shortlisted for awards in the follow- recognising the hard work of everyone in the Hospice, and the ing categories: Rising Leader of the Year – for St Clare’s Chief fantastic support from our community – it’s great to have some positive news to share with everyone!” Executive, Sarah Thompson; Change Project of the Year – for the redevelopment of its bereavement services in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic; and a joint award with Weston Homes for Corporate Community Local Involvement.
The awards, which recognise, celebrate and promote best practice within the charity sector, will be announced on Thursday 3rd September at a virtual event organised by the Charity Times. Sarah Thompson, Chief Executive at St Clare, said: “I’m thrilled that our hard work across the Hospice has been recognised by being shortlisted for these three awards. I have no doubt that the Hospice has been recognised for such prestigious awards due to the substantial work by all of my colleagues over the last few years, which has culminated in our rating by the Care Quality Commission improving from Good to Outstanding.
Sarah continued, “Throughout everything, the support of our local community has been amazing, and it has really kept us going in recent months. I’m so proud of the partnerships we have developed with local organisations and businesses so it brings me great pleasure to see one of our longest-running partnerships, with Weston Homes, being recognised in this way.” Sushma Dhami, Patient and Family Support Services Manager, explains why the Hospice has reshaped its bereavement support services. “Launching a service like this, to reach all local, bereaved people who need support, was always within our team’s strategy for the near future. However, the pandemic has rightly reframed the development of this service into a more urgent timeframe.
“As the local hospice for West Essex and East Herts, our duty is always to respond to local need as quickly and effectively as we can – and this time, bereavement has taken one of the ‘front “All of the team at St Clare Hospice have been working so hard seats’ in our most immediate developments to our care and in the recent months, continuing to deliver expert, compassion- support services during this time. We believe that no one should ate care – both at the Hospice and within the local community - have to face their grief alone.” amidst the pandemic, developing new services to support local
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The Bell Hotel The Home Office has temporarily placed asylum seekers at The Bell Hotel in Epping during the pandemic. Without the full facts, many unfounded rumours have since circulated on social media, and many residents have been unnecessarily alarmed. Asylum Seekers are a Home Office responsibility. The outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic disrupted normal Home Office processing arrangements. It needed to find some additional temporary accommodation.
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Hotels temporarily closed to normal business due to the Coronavirus are an obvious solution. Using Housing Associations, the Home Office has booked various hotels across the UK to accommodate the temporary delay.
The Bell Hotel is a private business and this is an emergency Government action taken during then pandemic. Epping Forest District Council were informed rather than consulted. The Home Office notified the local council in advance of this hotel being used for this purpose. Their Housing service was informed as a matter of courtesy by Clearsprings Housing Association and they have a point of contact to flag any concerns or issues. The Home Office and councils work together closely on issues around the housing of asylum seekers.
Government spending ultimately comes out of the tax payers’ pocket, but none of the costs for The Bell are being paid for locally by Epping Forest District Council or local taxation. All the costs are being met by the Home Office from national government funds. All of those staying at the Bell Hotel are asylum seekers. Asylum seekers have often fled conflict and persecution in their home countries. The UK has a statutory duty to provide support for asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute while their claim is being Some people have asked Epping Forest District Council if the people temporarily housed at the Bell will be getting local council houses. The council have confirmed that this is ‘almost certainly not’ the case. All UK councils share the task of helping to accommodate asylum seekers. The current temporary arrangement at The Bell has no bearing on where people may eventually live. The Council also confirmed that their housing allocation policy puts local people first. You have to have been a resident of Epping Forest district for at least the previous 7 years before we will put you on our housing waiting list. Epping Forest District Council reported that Essex Police has confirmed there has been no increase in local crime, or crime associated with people staying at The Bell which is something that local residents were concerned about.
Please send News, Events, features, letters articles to me via post or email (see below) to reach me on or before the deadline Deadline for next issue: - 10th September 2020 Deadline for November issue: - 10th October 2020
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Safety advice for driving in heavy rain Essex County Fire and Rescue Service is warning drivers to take extra care on the roads following forecasted heavy rain in Essex. Jim Palmer, Assistant Director, Head of Prevention and Protection warns drivers to be aware of how dangerous it is when driving in heavy rain and they have provided some safety advice.
Driving during heavy rain •
Allow extra time for your journey as you may need to find an alternative route if the roads are flooded/closed
•
Don’t use cruise control in wet weather, the chance of losing control increases. To prevent loss of traction the driver may need to lift off the accelerator and reduce speed. This cannot be achieved if cruise control is engaged
•
Turn your headlights on to increase your visibility
•
Give yourself the best chance of being able to see clearly in wet weather by renewing windscreen wipers if worn or damaged
•
Stopping distances are greatly increased when the roads are wet, so make sure you increase the distance between you and the car in front.
•
Do not brake suddenly
•
If you come across a flooded road, simply do not take the risk. You can not know exactly how deep the flooded area is, and what the condition of the roads is under the water. You will not only ruin your car, but you'll put yourself in danger too.
Stay safe on the roads. Source: Essex County Fire & Rescue Service
Pub to receive best floral display award Epping Town Council's Rosebowl award for the best floral display at business premises in the Parish is to be presented to The Black Lion pub. Well done to them.
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No objection to rugby club's plans
Plans to improve facilities at Epping Upper Clapton Rugby Club with a new all-weather pitch and function room - and an enabling development of nine houses - have met with no objection from North Weald Bassett Parish Council.
The club, in Upland Road, Thornwood, also wants to relocate its floodlights, demolish its old clubhouse and provide additional parking. The properties - three semi-detached houses and a terrace of three houses - would be built on a previously-used overflow car park. Each property would have off-street parking and a rear private garden. Club chairman Paul Donnelly, speaking at a recent parish council planning committee meeting, described the club as "the largest sports club in Epping Forest". He told the meeting: "We are a very open environment club. We support the community. We've been shut since March 14 however other sports have been able to go back in. "We set up a COVID-19 testing station last week. Epping Town Football Club could not train pre-season so they've been training free of charge, Epping Youth the same.
"Active Essex are running six weeks of activities for children and last week they had on average 58 children a day. "There is no sign of rugby coming back at the moment (because of the COVID-19 situation) but we can still make these facilities available." Mr Donnelly added: "You can see what we are doing for the community. This would give us the finances to thrive not just to survive. We need this facility and so does the community." He said there would be 218 parking spaces under the "new regime" compared to the current 98 spaces. Parish council clerk Sue de Luca reported the objections received from three residents which expressed concerns over issues such as the impact on the street scene, concerns over the "urbanisation" of the area and the appropriateness of the development in the Green Belt. Other issues highlighted were the floodlights, car park, traffic speed and concerns over wildlife, damage to flora and fauna, the loss of hedgerow and the function hall use. Councillor Sheila Jackman said: "It is a community facility and they do seem to be doing a lot of work with young people in the community that isn't just rugby."
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Councillor Dick Spearman said: "If anyone was doing this now - 17 houses - any developer would have to do 40 per cent 'affordable' housing. Doing it this way (through two applications) doesn't look good."
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A Very 2020 Race for Life Many people know about or have taken part in the Race for Life event that takes place every year raising vital funds for Cancer Research UK. Usually this event takes place locally on the Airfield in July and over the years I have joined many women (and now men) in taking part. I think I have taken part at least 8 times.
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On Saturday 26th September, a Very 2020 Race for Life 5k event is being planned and many are joining in the race for life-saving research. This year you can take part wherever you want, whether it’s from your local park or your back garden, on your own or with your social bubble.
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This year, event plans aren’t quite the same and vital cancer research has been delayed this year. So Race for Life is being done differently in 2020.
So I have signed up along with my daughter to do the Race for Life, walking 5k in our lovely forest. As you know I lost my mum to breast cancer last year so this cause is very close to my hear. If you would like to sponsor us, you can do this at:- https:// fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/junes-very-2020-racefor-life-5
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Town council committee secretary to retire Epping Town Council committee secretary Doreen Kennedy is retiring at the end of August after 17-and-a-half years service to the council. Mrs Kennedy, who has worked under four town clerks, has handled the administration for planning applications being considered by the council and planning committee meetings as well as managing the mayor's diary and working on the council's minutes. Town clerk Beverley Rumsey told the Town council meeting held on 13th August that: "Doreen has been an excellent team player and support to her colleagues over the years. She will be very much missed by us all."
Wish somebody a happy birthday, or announce a birth, death, marriage, or special anniversary Just send these to me via email - June@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk
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Walk in Memory St Clare Hospice is inviting members of the local community to attend their second annual Walking in Memory event, which will take place at the Hospice in Hastingwood on Sunday 20th September. This year’s event will have additional safety measures in place due to the Covid-19 outbreak to ensure the fundraiser can go ahead safely and adhering to all current government guidelines. This includes having three staggered start times of 10am, 11am and 12noon with a maximum of 100 people at each time slot to allow social distancing. Sarah Thompson, St Clare Hospice CEO, said: “Walking in Memory is a very special event for the whole family to take part in and is a thoughtful way to honour those who we love and miss by coming together with others who understand. This year, more than ever, we know our community needs an uplifting event like this and a special way to remember those we have lost – whether during the coronavirus outbreak or before. Many people have struggled with bereavement on their own whilst in isolation, and as the lockdown measures begin to lift, this is a special way to make up for that lost time and to grieve.” Walking in Memory is St Clare’s flagship fundraising event of the year and aims to bring together local people and families to take part in a 5k countryside walk to celebrate the lives of those who have died. Starting from St Clare Hospice, the 5k route winds through the beautiful fields and footpaths of the local, Hastingwood countryside, courtesy of Paris Hall Farm. On the day, participants can also expect to receive a complimentary, hand-held windmill that can be personalised in memory of the person they are walking in honour of. St Clare’s ‘top fundraiser’ from last year’s Walking in Memory event was Carley Chitticks who walked in memory of her mum Michelle, who was cared for by the Hospice in 2019. Carley and her family raised an impressive £8,260 in sponsorship. Carley Chitticks commented: “We took part in St Clare’s first-ever Walking in Memory event last year and it was a really special day. We will be taking part again this summer, and encourage everyone who joins us to try and raise as much sponsorship as they possibly can. Anything you raise will help to fund the amazing care St Clare Hospice provides – for local families like ours. You never know when you might need the support of your local hospice, and we cannot imagine what we would have done without it at our time of need.” Registration for Walking in Memory is now open via stclarehospice.org.uk/ walkinginmemory Tickets cost £10 for adults and £5 for children, or £27.50 for a family of four. Please note: Everyone is welcome to attend the event, but due to the nature of the course it is advised that the landscape is unsuitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. On the day, participants will be asked to arrive no more than 30 minutes before their agreed start time. This is to ensure that each timed group of people is kept separate from the others, to minimise the amount of people coming into contact. For more information on taking part in Walking in Memory, please contact Emma Broadbent on 01279 773754 or emma.broadbent@stclarehospic e.org.uk Page 14
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Crime has decreased Epping Forest District Council have reported that crime offences for burglary, personal robbery and shoplifting have significantly dropped over the past year. But the COVID-19 lockdown has seen a spike in domestic violence, safeguarding issues and fly-tipping in the Epping Forest district.
New figures released by Essex Police show a 34% increase in solved crimes across the district and a 3.5% reduction in crime across the county. The figures cover July 2019 to July 2020 – encompassing lockdown. The Community Resilience team includes 3 Essex Police officers funded by Epping Forest District Council. Based at the Civic Offices in Epping, they have been working flat out on a whole variety of district-based crimes.
Cllr Holly Whitbread, Cabinet Member for Housing and Community, said: “COVID-19 has been the catalyst for many of these issues. People being locked down together, at home, not seeing relatives or socialising has caused a ‘pressure cooker’ effect resulting in many of these crimes.” “But our team has been working diligently throughout to keep the district and its residents safe, as the burglary, robbery and shoplifting figures show.” “Similarly, we’ve seen large unauthorised gatherings in the Epping Forest area, mainly of young people.” “The Police, Corporation of London and other agencies are working hard to prevent these gatherings, but we should not be having to put resources into such things. If you feel safe and the precautions don’t apply to you because you are young and healthy, take a moment to think about your mum, your dad or your grandparents. You could catch and pass the disease on without ever showing any symptoms, and the consequences could be devastating for a more vulnerable loved-one.” “Together we are making progress, let’s all work to make sure we keep it going.”
Don’t forget to visit the website: www.northwealdvillagelife.co.uk To find out news updates, initiatives or Coronavirus updates
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Also on Instagram and Twitter Based in North Weald. Essex CM16 Page 15
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Please send News, photos, recipes, letters, poems and more to June@northwealdvilla gelife.co.uk
PHOTO GALLERY—Your photos This is becoming a favourite feature. This month we feature some wonderful photos of local wildlife. Please share your photos by emailing them to me June@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk These photos were kindly sent in by Keith Jones. Keith shares many clips especially of the hedgehogs who frequent his garden in the North Weald Village Life Facebook group, he regularly has families of hedgehogs visiting him. He does make it very enticing for them too. I hope he will send us
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Badger Photos—These have been taken by Lisa Hyams-Price who is lucky to have these badgers visiting her garden regularly. Again she takes videos and photos and shares these in the North Weald Village Life Facebook group.
The two photos above featuring the sunflower and woodpecker were sent in by Ken Care.
Please send your photos into me— June@northwealdvillagelife. co.uk so I can share with readers.
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Flash floods During August, Epping Forest District Council experienced a high number of calls to their customer contact centre regarding the flooding. If you are experiencing any issues regarding flooding, please use the following guidance to get you to the right area for help as quickly as possible. •
If the flooding is from a raised manhole cover please contact Thames Water on 0800 3169800
•
If the flooding is from a road gulley drain or storm drain please contact Essex County Council on 0345 6037631
•
If your house is flooding please call their customer contact centre on 01992 564000 and an operator will respond to your call as quickly as possible, please accept our apologies for any delay in answering your call due to very high call volumes
Field Fire Firefighters were called to a field fire in Ongar in the morning of 31st July. On arrival just before 10am, crews confirmed that 30 acres of stubble, left over from harvesting a 63 acre field, was on fire. Crews worked with a farmer to create a fire break, where the farmer turned over soil to stop the fire spreading to a neighbouring field of crops and were able to extinguish the fire by 11am. The cause of the fire is unknown but crews believe the fire had spread from a nearby road. Watch Manager Steve Harrison from Harlow Fire Station said: “The farmer turned up at the same time that we did and offered to make a fire break, it was a really big help and it would have been much harder for us to extinguish the fire without his help. “Please ensure all cigarettes are properly extinguished and do not leave glass bottles in direct sunlight in this heat. We believe this fire started from the road and it spread very quickly in this hot and windy day.” Source: Essex County Fire and Rescue Service
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Based in North Weald
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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.
Stay safe, stay alert and speak up As other parts of the country face renewed local lockdowns, Epping Forest District Council is encouraging local residents to stay safe and speak up when they see Covid safety guidelines broken.
Council Leader, Councillor Chris Whitbread said: “We have seen a tremendous community effort to fight Covid after the last few months. The war has moved from our homes to our high streets. As infection rates fall, we’ve been able to reopen many of our businesses and return to something more like normality.” It’s great to see our high streets adapting and coming back to life. We all want to build on that recovery.” “We are seeing face coverings, frequent hand-washing and good social distancing. However, the challenge now is to make sure that we don’t slip into old habits.” “We’ve seen what can happen when the rules are not followed in other parts of England and Scotland. Coronavirus is still here. It remains highly infectious and dangerous. It is vital we don’t throw away our hard-won gains. We must all stick to the guidelines to keep our local economy alive.” Councillor Whitbread added: “Everyone has a role to play. We all have a responsibility to ourselves and those around us to STAY ALERT to STAY SAFE.. If you go to a shop, pub or restaurant where you see the safety guidelines are not being followed, speak up. Talk to the manager. Explain what you think is going wrong and ask them to put it right. If they won’t listen, walk out. Don’t put yourself, your family and friends at risk.”
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Gardening Hints for September Hello one and all, Can you believe we are now reading the September edition of the NW Village Life Magazine? This year has certainly flown by. September is a busy month in the flower garden and the veggie garden alike. Herbaceous perennials will now be starting to die back, leave the leaves on until they have died right back, as the leaves start to die the goodness within them will go back into the root system, providing lots of energy and goodness and as such you will end up with a stronger healthier plant next year. Hopefully, your hanging baskets are all doing well, continue to dead head frequently and feed them 2 or 3 times a week with miracle-gro or tomato feed. With hanging baskets there are often many plants competing in a very small place with little room for roots to grow, as such the goodness in the compost is used up vey quickly, so giving extra feed now will help your plants to survive for much longer, hopefully right up until the frosts arrive later in the year. Spring flowering bulbs will be into us at the end of August, ready to be planted out from then. Keep camellias and rhododendrons well-watered, they will now be forming their flower buds for next year, should they dry out now the buds will still form but they will drop off before the flowers get to open. Now is a good time to divide herbaceous perennials, you can also collect seeds from them & from many annuals. Dividing perennials will give you not only more plants for next year but will also provide you with bigger, healthier and stronger plants. Continue to dead head roses to encourage further flowering. In the veg garden sweetcorn should soon be ready if not already, to test if its ready to harvest simply squeeze a kernel, if it produces a milky coloured sap then its ready to pick. Dig up your main crop potatoes to prevent slug damage. Leave them in the sun to dry just for a couple of hours, once dry they can be stored in hessian sacks and if kept in a cool dark place will keep well over winter. Marrows can also be left on the plant for an extra week or two totoughen up their skins, they can then also be stored over winter. Veggies such as carrots or parsnips once harvested and dry can be stored in a bucket of sand over winter. There are many veggies which can be grown at this time of year, these include broccoli, sprouts, carrots, peas, leeks, kale, lettuce, broad beans &peas. Pot up strawberry runners, to give you fresh plants for next year, strawberry plants are generally good for 3 years before they start to produce less fruit, so by using the runners you will have a continuous supply of plants and fruit. Give your lawns a final application of feed weed & moss killer. Dig over flower beds, remove weeds, apply some well rotten manure, the worms will then work this into the soil over the winter to give you a nice base to work with next spring. If there is anything you aren’t sure about then pop into the nursery where Lisa or myself will endeavour to advise you. Don’t forget we also have a Facebookpage (@ArtNGC) which Lisa keeps updated with info & current stock photos, and as many of you have mentioned she is often up through the night posting things and answering questions via messenger, she has also started an Instagram page (artnurserynw) which is all above my head! So on that note I will leave it there. Cheers Nigel (Art Nursery Garden Centre)
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CHURCH CHAT CS Lewis, the author of the Chronicles of Narnia once wrote… “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” The problem with this is that whilst I know that CS Lewis is right to truly love IS to be truly vulnerable – I just don’t enjoy being vulnerable. If I’m honest I don’t want to go there too often. It’s safer to stay, for the most part, in the other place, the safer place.
I also know that the longer I stay in the safe place, the slower I will grow. There, I won’t discover who I was really made to be. In order to discover that, I need to spend more time in the risky place, for that is the place of transformation. As a Christian, I believe that we were all made in the image of God and made with a far greater potential than we know. A potential to love and to be loved in a way that is utterly transformational. Jesus’ life shows us this. The New Testament is full of stories about ordinary people (just like you and I) who encountered the love of Jesus and, once they did, their life was never the same. It was far better than they ever thought possible because they became more fully the person they were always meant to be. That’s what being a Christian should be! The trouble is, it often isn’t and that’s because, for the most part, we cling to the safe places and, as CS Lewis said, there our hearts become hard.
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The thing all these people in the Bible had in common was that their journey of being transformed always started with vulnerability. They were willing for their hearts to be softened, they took a risk, and in so doing they experienced something remarkable – the overwhelming, never-ending, wreckless love of God. And nothing was ever the same for them again. That’s why I became a Vicar. For I believe we all have a potential far greater than we know and that when we risk everything and allow ourselves to be fully loved, just as we are – then we discover that the risky place is actually the safest place there is. Are you willing to go there? I’m still working this out and trying to spend more time taking risks, asking questions and exploring life. I’m thinking about out how we might start a new church in North Weald, a church for people who don’t do church! Where we can ask these questions and work things out together. If you’re interested, or just want to chat more, please let me know on the contact details below.
With love and prayers, Rev Tom x tomwarmit@gmail.com
Email: june@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk
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Recent Tree, hedgerow and land clearance Many of you during your walking in the village may have seen the field and hedgerows close to Tempest Mead and behind the Village Hall being removed or cut back. A lot of people were worried and I received numerous phone calls asking me to find out what is happening. I contacted Howard, Manging Director of Peer Group who own this land, formally known as Ongar Park and he kindly provided an explanation that he wanted me to share with readers. This land has not been cleared because of any imminent development planned for this area and the tree clearance not in anticipation of building work starting. These fields were last cleared in 2017 and they were overdue to be cleared again. They have not cleared, and have no intention of clearing, the designated wildlife zone close to the Redoubt.
Many people will not be aware that Ongar Park is a private estate and access is limited to the footpaths. There are sign posts already on the estate marking footpaths and bridleways. In the coming months, Peer Group will be arranging for all of the footpaths and bridleways to be more clearly marked with posts and marker arrows. Howard did request that if anybody is aware of any anti-social behaviour and other abuses of the land that it is reported to the police and to ourselves.
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Animal Health Welfare Officers from Trading Standards are responsible for investigating welfare complaints in relation to farm livestock in the Essex area and in this prolonged hot weather we are currently dealing with, we have noticed a large increase in complaints from concerned members of the public.
Access to water is a legal requirement and whilst most livestock owners are very responsible, we do sometimes find that there is merit to the complaints that we receive. Officers will endeavour to respond as soon as possible and if you are concerned about an animal you have seen please contact us via Citizens Advice 0808 2231133. If possible, please take a picture of the animal concerned and the area it is in, this will assist officers in locating the animal
Don’t forget to check out the website Www.northwealdvillagelife.co.uk
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New Customs Clearance Facility It has recently been bought to my attention by Trevor Archer, a member of North Weald Airfield Users Group, that the proposed Customs Customs Clearance Facility on North Weald Airfield is expected to become fully operational from 1st January 2021. A number of residents were informed sometime ago that this site was originally assigned by the Government for this purpose but would only be used as a result of a Brexit no deal.
It now appears that the decision to use this as a Customs Clearance Facility has been made and will be starting at the beginning of 2021. This is one of only 3 sites in the South East designated for this purpose to relieve congestion at the Channel Ports. It is the understanding that this facility will be in place for at least the next 2-3 years and could process both export from and imports to the UK. HMRC's online advice to exporters states that the facility will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As local people know, the only access onto the airfield is via the roundabout at the junction of Vicarage Lane and Merlin Way. HMRC have confirmed to North Weald Airfield Users Group that this facility is expected to begin operating from the beginning of next year, but have so far not provided an answer to their questions regarding the daily or weekly volumes of traffic that will be anticipated.
CALL FREEPHONE 0800 917 2794 Or VISIT US AT www.homeglazingrepairservice.co.uk Page 25
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There are of course local concerns regarding the movement of traffic, number of lorries and potential delays.
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Thinking of leaving your job? Citizens Advice offers some guidance on giving notice
If you want to leave your job you’ll normally need to give your employer some warning. This is called your notice period. If there’s nothing in your contract or terms and conditions, or if you don’t have a written contract, you should give at least 1 week’s notice. It’s best to resign in writing. Send a letter or email saying how much notice you’re giving and when you expect your last day to be. You can give more notice than your contract says, if you want - your employer can’t make you leave earlier. You can ask your employer to agree to reduce your notice period. Reassure them that leaving early won’t cause them any problems - for example, agree to finish any urgent work – and may save them money. If your employer doesn’t agree, but you want to leave early anyway, think about whether this would cost them any money. For example, if they’d need to get expensive agency staff to replace you at short notice, they could take you to court for compensation. If you have a fixed-term contract you don’t need to give notice if you want to leave on the last day of your contract. If you want to leave before the last day of your contract, check if the contract says you can give notice. If it doesn’t say anything, you should give at least 1 week’s notice. You should get your full normal pay if you work during your notice period. This should include any work benefits you get, such as pension contributions or free meals. If you leave early, your employer still has to pay you for work you’ve done. If you’re off sick or on maternity leave, paternity leave or adoption leave you’ll only get whatever you would have been normally paid in those circumstances. However, you’re entitled to full pay for 1 week of your notice period, whether you give notice of only 1 week or more than 1 week. If your employer tells you not to work in your notice period you should get the same amount of pay. Your employer might either pay all your notice pay at once and dismiss you straight away - this is called pay in lieu of notice or PILON - or pay you as usual until the end of your notice period when your contract ends. This is sometimes called garden leave.
You can ask to take holiday in your notice period, but it’s up to your employer to decide if you can take it. If you go on paid holiday in your notice period you’re entitled to your usual wage. When you leave you’ll be paid for any holiday you have accrued but not taken, up to your first 28 days of holiday entitlement. This is called your statutory holiday entitlement. If you get more than 28 days a year (including bank holidays), this is called contractual holiday. Check what your contract says about leftover contractual holiday. You might still get paid for any days you don’t use. Your employer can tell you to use up any holiday you have left over. They’ll also need to tell you when to take it. Check your contract to see how far in advance your employer should tell you to take holiday. If there’s nothing in your contract, they need to give you at least 2 days’ notice for each day of holiday. For more information on leaving a job, go to our website: www.citzensadvice.org.uk. Source: Paul Stockton
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Mortal Haze So this year’s crazy summer is now coming to an end, Despite sometimes beautiful weather allowing staycation to become the new trend. The nights are drawing in as daylight hours soon start to lack,
While all the schools and universities start a new norm regime as they have the green light to go back. Things are still far away from normal as everyone tries hard to fit in, It’s now a world that’s changed so much that no-ones really sure how to begin. Though the world will keep on turning and new procedures will be learned, Slowly etching new norms into our minds, getting a bit easier each day until hopefully we’ll all feel more reaffirmed.
It wont be classed as the new normal. as we’ll all take it in our stride, As the new generations will already be adapted, having lived with the regulations applied. The world will settle back to yet another type of phase, And we’ll all be adapted as we carry on through our mortal haze. Source: Andy—resident poet. How true this is. Things change so quickly but the younger generation will be more prepared to cope with any future changes that may occur having lived through this pandemic.
Have you seen this? I came across this on our hedge, I thought it was a clump of moss but then noticed it was attached to a wild rose stem. It’s the size of a tennis ball and is created by the larvae of a Gall wasp. We have five rose gall wasps in the UK. The one that causes this gall is very small and it doesn't sting. Each gall contains many larvae, each living in their own chamber inside the gall. The larvae create a chemical which makes the leaf or bud of the wild rose mutate into the ball you see in the photo. The gall reaches full size in late July to early August and doesn’t harm the plant. The larvae don’t leave until the following spring when they’re fully grown. I don’t know if you have seen one of these before, I certainly haven’t. Ken Care.
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EPPING ONGAR RAILWAY – PASSENGER SERVICES HAVE RESUMED
The first passenger carrying train for many months passes Blake Hall Station on route to Ongar on 1 August Photo: Chris Kennedy As announced in last month’s issue, your local Heritage Railway recommenced regular passenger operations on 1 August. Volunteers had worked hard to ensure appropriate ‘social distancing’ measures were in place throughout our facilities. We were very pleased to welcome customers back to the Railway and initial passenger numbers were just right for us to thoroughly test all our new procedures. A big thank you to all those who were able to attend. We introduced a new timetable, with services running from North Weald to Ongar and then non-stop into Epping Forest, where we came to a stand approximately 200 metres from our boundary with the London Underground, before reversing to North Weald and then returning once more to Ongar. Initially, the service was provided by our Class 117 Diesel Multiple Unit, paired with a Class 121 making up a two-car unit. If, as expected, our passenger numbers continue to grow, we will offer more diesel and steam hauled services, including dining trains, in the near future. For details of our current services please visit our website at: www.eorailway.co.uk After the long period of ‘lockdown’ we are once again seeking volunteers to work with us on the Railway. If you would like to join us and assist with our maintenance programme or in an operational role on running days, please contact: membership@eorailway.co.uk Robert Good Epping Ongar Railway Volunteer Society robertg@eorailway.co.uk
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07932 724730
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Ongar Wildlife Society (OWLS) There are still no foreseeable meetings of OWLS, so the focus is still on wildlife in our gardens. Last month I planted large pots with nasturtiums and these attracted female small white butterflies to lay their eggs. Now the eggs have hatched and the caterpillars are feeding and growing, eventually to become the next generation of butterflies.
Here is a photograph of one of the small white butterfly caterpillars enjoying a nasturtium leaf and the adult into which it will develop. Although I have welcomed small white butterflies into my garden, they are considered a pest by those who grow cabbage crops. Planting nasturtiums close to netted brassicas will attract the butterflies away from the crops to lay their eggs. Caterpillars can then be managed and so we can coexist with these insects. All of those who found solace in nature during the lockdown are being urged to join the annual Big Butterfly Count in which we can help assess the help needed to protect butterflies from extinction. The scheme was launched in 2010 and has rapidly become the world’s biggest survey of butterflies; last year just over 116 thousand records of butterflies and day-flying moths were submitted from across the UK. TV naturalist Chris Packham is encouraging members of the public who found that nature helped them through the recent months of lockdown to return the favour to the natural world by contributing to the Big Butterfly Count scheduled from Friday 17 July to Sunday 9 August 2020. To take part, you’ll need to find a sunny spot and spend 15 minutes counting the butterflies that you see. The data gathered by the public will be used by scientists to determine where conservation efforts should be targeted in future. Butterflies play a crucial role in the ecosystem, and are both pollinators and components of the food chain. However, due to climate change, farming practices and habitat loss, many butterfly species are under threat, with numbers having declined significantly over recent decades.
When OWLS starts again, meetings will be held at 8pm at Budworth Hall, High Street, Chipping Ongar CM5 9JG on the third Monday evening of the month at 8pm, but unfortunately this will not be for some time yet. Keith Snow
Social distancing is still important Social distancing is vital, now more than ever, to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. Wherever possible, it is important to maintain a minimum distance of two metres between you and someone outside of your household.
Where two metres is not possible, a minimum distance of one metre plus is advised, along with other mitigating measures such as face coverings and good hand hygiene.
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BIRD FEATURE - AUGUST 2020 Welcome to another report on some of the bird related sightings and highlights in our area, as well as a nod to some of the wider natural history to be found locally. This covers mid August through to mid September and sees autumn migration truly getting underway and the large scale movements of birds can throw up rarities in unexpected places so it is well worth keeping an eye out. The latter part of July and into early August saw some fine weather with some very hot days but has also seen a spell of heavy thundery showers. Most of the breeding season has been completed, some birds will have had two broods and even a third brood depending on circumstances. There is never any guarantee of breeding success and weather conditions and food availability are crucial elements of the breeding season. If lower numbers of chicks successfully fledge then it can make some species vulnerable to a catastrophic drop in numbers if the following winter turns out to be particularly harsh. If you already have a low number of individual birds then of course there is a reduced ability for that species to absorb heavy mortality during winter. Even in a good year there are many, many fledglings that perish through predation or accidents (such as flying into windows) as their inexperience proves costly. Over the next few weeks most summer visitors will depart our shores looking to spend the winter in warmer climes. One of the first species to desert our area is the Swift with most of them departing through early August. In contrast the House Martins and Swallows will still be in evidence much later into autumn and indeed a very small number of Swallows have been recorded into the start of winter but this is very much the exception. These species rely on insects and their food supply diminishes rapidly as temperatures fall. Occasionally we can see good size gatherings of these species as they form up into flocks and if a particularly large swarm of flying insects is detected then as many as 200 or so can be seen swooping after them. I have seen such flocks on previous occasions in early autumn, especially when rain is looking likely but half an hour later all the birds had gone. As with so many sightings of wildlife it is a case of being in the right place at the right time.
Of course migration involves long journeys for birds and some of the warblers are very small and lightweight and desperately need to fatten up to give themselves enough energy to undertake their epic journeys, They don't do the migrations in a continuous flight but will stop off on the way to rest up and refuel. But in the course of a few days they will rack up many hundreds and ultimately thousands of miles. Birds that weigh barely as much as a 50p piece will start off in the UK and end up in sub Saharan Africa, with all the risks involved, including being hunted by humans, the smaller species for 'sport' and larger species for food. Moden techniques using tracking devices have thrown much light onto some of the mysteries of bird migration and even now in 21st century we are only just establishing precisely where some of these species actually spend their winters. Climate change is altering the way some birds migrate and is leading to several species colonising the UK over the last 20 or 30 years or so. The Little Egret can be seen around our village, especially in winter, and this was an absolute rarity just a couple of decades ago but now happily nests in a number of areas of the UK. There is ongoing speculation regarding other species that might spread to the UK now that our weather is that bit warmer. The South East has the best weather so should be a prime area for the advance spread of new varieties. One of the features of birdlife at this time of year is the way that young birds disperse. Autumn is often the most likely time to see various warbler species in our gardens as young Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Whitethroats travel through foraging for insects and berries in shrubs and trees. Juvenile Starlings - they look browner than the adult birds - will flock together and roam the locality looking for food. I have already seen parties of Long-tailed Tits on the move at various local sites, these consist of families with this year's young birds amongst them. These roving groups can be joined by other birds such as Blue Tits and Great Tits. They will readily use feeders in gardens. Members of the crow family such as Magpies, Jackdaws and Rooks will form into small flocks with the latter two species forming groups of 100 or more when they locate a good feeding location. You can often see them flying over the village in the evenings as they head for their communal roosts. The Red Kites seemed to be absent for a couple of weeks in July but right at the end of the month I again started seeing a pair, so they are still in the general area. On one day I saw 2 Red Kites, 5 Buzzards, a Kestrel and then a Sparrowhawk all within the space of less than ten minutes. When I was a child only the Kestrel would have been a likely sighting. The big threat for Sparrowhawks in the 1960s were pesticides which caused numbers to crash, it became a rare bird throughout the UK. This was an accidental by-product of agriculture but today some birds of prey are still suffering significant losses through the deliberate use of poisons. We should be seeing increasing numbers of gulls over the next few weeks. Don;t forget we generally get 3 species in our area ... the large Lesser Black-backed Gull, the medium sized Common Gull (usually singly or in a pair) and the smaller Black-headed Gull (loses the dark head in winter and the most numerous of the 3 species), Occasional Herring Gulls pop up and rarely a Greater Black-backed Gull (a very big gull). Autumn ploughing will see good numbers of gulls following tractors. Gulls eat a wide variety of foods and will happily swallow up earthworms. If you feed the birds then try to keep the feeding station clean, avoid any build-up of mouldy food or bird droppings. It can be helpful to move feeders from time to time to avoid these problems and don't put out too much food at any one time, try to judge how much is the right amount for your particular location. Always practice good hygiene when you clean or touch feeders as wild birds can carry a variety of diseases and obviously food mould will be stacked with bacteria. A fresh, clean supply of water can be as important as food for birds but again hygiene is the key word. Some late summer butterflies will be on the wing and also dragonflies and related insects, so if you get the chance enjoy seeing them whilst you can. Further to comments that I have made previously I am trying to I.D. more species of insects and I am happy to report a recent success. I saw a very menacing looking yellowish, stripey sort of insect land on my fence and remain there for a few minutes basking in the sunshine. I thought it was a hornet but I did some very quick searches online and pinned it down to being a Hornet Mimic Hoverfly, basically a harmless hoverfly that has evolved to look like a relatively dangerous hornet. A great way to deter predators. My message would always be that when you are out and about, keep an eye and an ear out for what is around you, there is so much to see and hear locally. Appreciating nature can make you that much aware of environmental issues and the need for us all to look after nature.In North Weald we are blessed to have so many accessible footpaths and open spaces where a wide variety of species can be watched or listened to. All the best, Paul Corbet Page 34 Tel: 07814 863955
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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
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
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
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
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Tel: 07814 863955
Email: june@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk
www.northwealdvillagelife.co.uk
