Walthamstow Village in Bloom 2021 Judging Day - 13 July
Walthamstow Village in Bloom •
In 2003 Walthamstow Village Residents’ Association (WVRA) formed an Environment Committee in response to concerns raised by residents about litter, fly-tipping, graffiti and anti-social behaviour. The Village was in a terrible state, so we organised the first of our annual spring cleans and started a monthly gardening club and have, over the years, adopted most public spaces.
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We first entered London in Bloom in 2008/09 and since have won many Gold awards, both nationally in the Urban Community category, and as a London Village. We enjoy the structure, support and inspiration that the Bloom initiative provides.
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We raise our own funds and secure grants, beg sponsorship from local businesses, take advantage of freebies and propagate plants from division and seed. Being 100% volunteer-led, it’s the peoplepower that’s vital to us.
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We have been invaluably assisted and supported by Waltham Forest Council especially officers Justin Sander, Paul Tickner and Kirsty Waugh and their colleagues and contractors.
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We continue to advise and help new and established groups across the borough. There are now so many that we have joined up and formed The Waltham Forest Community Gardeners online group to share ideas and support each other.
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Despite the pandemic and thanks to the Bloom Effect, our Village thrives and has adapted to the “new normal”, with people clamouring to live here, properties being renovated and shops opening. New visitors are always delighted to discover our “gem of a Village” and our tremendous community spirit.
Walthamstow Village in Bloom covers the Walthamstow Village and Orford Road Conservation Areas and surrounding streets. It encompasses areas of the Hoe Street and Wood Street wards of the London Borough of Waltham Forest.
Introduction & History
Walthamstow Village is an ancient nucleus of present day Walthamstow, located in north east London.
The Domesday Book records that Walthamstow, at the time of the Norman Conquest, comprised four separate village settlements. The parish at the time was called Wilcumestou, probably Old English for the welcome place. At the Village’s centre are St Mary’s Church, consecrated 900 years ago, and a 15th century timber-framed hall house known as The Ancient House. From the 18th century the church common was built upon with the erection of the workhouse (now Vestry House Museum), the Squires’ Almhouses and the National School and other notable buildings, many of which will be seen in our tour of Walthamstow Village in Bloom William Morris was born in Walthamstow in 1834. The family lived in the now renowned William Morris Gallery and attended St Mary’s Church until 1856. The coming of the railway in 1869 generated a rapid population increase. With the houses came the shops and by 1877 Orford and Beulah Roads were the shopping centre of Walthamstow. The relocation of the town hall from Vestry House to Orford Road in 1876 confirmed its status until the opening of the station at the Central and the relocation of the town hall to Forest Road drew away commercial development leaving the Village intact. The Village was designated a conservation area by Waltham Forest Council in 1967 and the adjoining Orford Road area designated such in June 1990. In 2003 the WVRA successfully campaigned for Retail Parade Status to be re-granted to Orford Road. In 2015 it became pedestrianised as part of the Mini-Holland scheme and is thriving with independent shops, galleries and restaurants.
Walthamstow Village in Bloom 2019-2021 • The COVID-19 pandemic has brought challenge, hardship and tragedy to many. In the Village, residents, groups and businesses have pulled together and, with creativity, ingenuity and good humour, managed to function and make the lock-downs bearable and sometimes even fun. • Connections and contacts made over the years and enthusiastic support from the Bloom Committee has enabled us to continue gardening throughout the pandemic and, as part of the Walthamstow Village Residents’ Association (WVRA), to reach out to all sections of the community. • Over the past two years, our community gardening was restricted for only three months. Committee meetings and volunteer work continued in socially-distanced and virtual ways. • The street-scene is looking lovely with even more front gardens, balconies and forecourts tended and blooming and an increased interest in horticulture and nature, in general. • The photo opposite is a tribute to the NHS, funded and created by Wood Street Walls in 2020 from the design by @HolyMoly. Village east gateway Addison/Ravenswood Roads.
Supporting each other during lockdowns • Meetings continued online and it was “business as usual”. • We sponsored, cooked and delivered a curry supper to thank the local shopkeepers, staff and their families for keeping us all supplied during lockdown. • We initiated projects and disseminated information from other groups via emails, posters, social media and helped set up WhatsApp groups for each street to ensure every resident had supplies and support, and that no one felt isolated. • We supported and advertised the independent businesses and restaurants that continued trading by delivering during lockdown. • We work with businesses and with WF council to suspend parking along Orford Road to allow pubs and restaurants to set up tables in the street to maximise custom. • Committee members ran and volunteered at WF’s Food Distribution Centre, ensuring 5,000+ food parcels were delivered to residents and the surplus and perishable items to food banks, sheltered housing, looked-after-children, foster-carers and people in need. • The WVRA and WF Community Hub worked together to produce an online Christmas Carol event with local choirs.
Gardening Club
We’ve seen a 50% increase in volunteers since June 2020.
Since 2004, the Village Gardening Club has met at the Village Square at 10.30 am on the first Saturday of every month. In 2020 we had to cancel April and May’s gardening day, the annual spring clean and the Plant & Seed Swap. During the lock-down hiatus, volunteers came forward to garden and care for beds or to litter-pick as part of their daily exercise and were given packs of hi-vis jackets, tools, instructions etc. We resumed Gardening Club in June 2020 and with a list of gardening tasks, volunteers chose to work alone, in pairs, or in small socially-distanced groups. We ensure that everyone observes the latest Government Guidelines on social-distancing and respects each other's safety. Some wear a mask and bring hand gel/wipes. We provide green waste bags hi-vis jackets, gloves and all gardening equipment.
Planters, flowerbeds and floral displays • We felt it was vital during lock-downs to keep everything looking beautiful for passers-by to enjoy and to keep up spirits. • Our volunteers rose to the challenge and looked after their adopted areas as their daily exercise. • We held a series of online virtual walks with pictures and explanations so people could still enjoy the planting. • As our Chelsea Fringe walks were cancelled, we joined Forest Flora’s 2020 Up The Garden Path trail, placing information boards at our key sites. • With its well-spaced benches, the Village Square has become THE place to meet since the lockdowns. This is a blessing and a curse and the flowerbeds have suffered. • We are very grateful to WF council for rebuilding 3 planters that were badly damaged by lorries. And for continuing to supply and maintain lamppost displays throughout the Village.
New Planting 2020-21 • To save water and labour, we complete most of our planting in autumn/winter: •
2 x 4,000 Purple for Polio crocus corms via Rotary International
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100+ mixed Perfect for Pollinators perennials
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30 grasses
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25 shrubs
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5 fruit trees
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Ferns and plants for the wildlife Stumpery
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Wildflower seeds for prairie, rain gardens and meadow beds
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1,000 mixed bulbs - WF’s Big Bulb Giveaway
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1,000 mixed bulbs - Metropolitan Public Gardens Association.
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100s spring bulbs – Resident, Andrew Blount
Community Meadows Church End and Grove Road Orchard
• In 2020 we let the meadows grow from the seedbank in the soil. In April 2021 , Nick with David and Sarah spent over 70 hours digging and weeding the beds. • We marked the beds into square metres and, at April’s Plant & Seed Swap, residents sowed a cup of measured seeds in each square. • Tim has been mowing the paths and we have information boards to help people enjoy the meadow and the wildlife it attracts. • On 18 September we plan to run our meadow cutting event, a produce and plant swap and a BEE17 Honey and gift stall.
Village Veg – our on-street community allotment • In 2021 the project is again being ably led by Caroline Barton. • In winter we added compost and feed to replenish the soil. • Caroline designs the beds to allow for crop-rotation. • Many of the plants were grown by kind residents from the seeds saved from our Plant & Seed Swaps. • Community planting and maintenance is supplemented by volunteers coordinating separate visits. • A team of seven "Weekly Waterers" tend and water with the hose hidden nearby. • Plants are labelled and passers-by can help themselves. • Plans to add water-butts have been postponed till 2022.
Garden and Beautiful Premises Challenges 2021 • Our Front Garden and Beautiful Premises challenges are back for 2021 (and this year include virtual Back Gardens too!). Entries to be submitted by Friday 16 July. • Again, coordinated by Teresa Deacon, residents and businesses can enter their own or nominate gardens and displays. • Every entry will be awarded a Certificate of Participation. • We continue to encourage planting for wildlife and pollinators.
Advising Defra #PlantForOurPlanet
• Walthamstow Village in Bloom is being showcased by Defra as a shining example of a community that encourages individuals, groups and businesses to take action for nature, to protect and enhance our natural world leaving a legacy for future generations. • Thanks to a recommendation by the RHS, on 2 June 2021 we gave a tour to Defra Minister, MP Rebecca Pow and her entourage. • On 29 June, the Defra press office filmed us while we worked and interviewed volunteers for their #PlantForOurPlanet social media campaign to help create momentum in the leadup to the UN Climate Change Conference, COP 26.
Green spaces and good practice •
Being a London Village, every green space is important.
• Since 2003 we have used perennial and drought-tolerant plants in our planters and beds. Responding to the climate-change emergency we are veering from “show garden” displays to more natural displays of biennial and annual “wildlife-friendly” plants from seeds sown direct in spring to reduce watering and increase biodiversity. • We have “rain gardens” by roadsides and the gateway “fresh air” planters are designed to capture particulates from traffic. • We ensure that there are nectar and pollen-rich plants flowering throughout the year. We leave seed-heads and hips over the winter. Berryfield Close is planted with a variety of berry-bearing shrubs. • Lavender Corner in Vestry Road is alive with bees and we make lavender-bags to sell from the harvested heads. • Network Rail carried out drastic work to the vegetation on the embankments that cut through the Village. On 23 April, our MP Stella Creasy held an online question-and-answer session with representatives of Network Rail so we could raise our concerns. Network Rail officers gave a presentation and explained the reasons for the work and plans for re-planting in tiers with trackfriendly, native trees, shrubs and wildflowers. • The four-acre St Mary’s Churchyard is managed by head gardener, Tim Hewitt. The churchyard is now a haven for wildlife and a welcoming space for everyone to enjoy. Volunteer Wendy Bolt organises annual wildlife surveys. Tim has held workshops and walks led by experts to spot and identify bees and bats. Our rector, Revd. Vanessa Conant and her husband Cameron are totally community-and environmentally minded and join in with and support our work.
Green spaces and good practice, continued • In 2019, thanks to the RHS and Wildlife Trusts initiative Wild About Ponds, we created a network of ponds and bog gardens of all sizes, to increase biodiversity and to inform and inspire others. • Residential gardens together make up the biggest green space so we spread the word regarding increasing “greening”, wild areas, ponds and habitats for fauna, native and Perfect For Pollinator planting, No Mow May, Hedgehog Highways and using water-wisely. • Our Wildlife Area (the buffer zone of the Vestry Road playground) is planted with native flora. We’ve added a dead-hedge, woodpiles and a bug-hotel. We enter this area only twice a year to cut-back, clean birdboxes and re-fill bird feeders. We have around fifty bird and bat boxes in our Village trees. • We only use peat-free compost and Tim shares leaf-mould and compost made in the Churchyard. We have brown wheelie bins for kitchen and garden waste that are collected weekly in the summer and fortnightly in winter. • We use no harmful chemicals and instead experiment with “organic” ways to deter slugs and snails and use companion plants in the Veg Plots. • We promote reducing, recycling and reusing resources and lend tools and equipment to other groups. We hold Plant, Seed & Pot & Produce swaps in spring and autumn. • Via social media we inform residents about the Big Butterfly Count, Big Bird Watch, free trees from the Woodland Trust, free seeds via Grow Wild and other similar initiatives.
Henry Maynard Primary School • Following our revamp of the school’s Community Garden in 2019, during lockdown it became overgrown with brambles, nettles and weeds. • In 2020 we pruned, weeded and tidied it so pupils, in their "bubbles" can use it as an outdoor classroom. • Year 5 Children made us lovely plans to show what they had planted in the raised beds. • The maintenance of the garden is now being taken on by a group of parents headed by Emily Carter and advised by us. • We donated 850 Allium “Purple Sensation” bulbs and information sheets funded by BEE17; a bulb for each pupil to grow at home during the winter lockdown.
“Through the Garden Gate” – working with other groups and communities • We get many enquiries from people asking for advice regarding community planting and starting groups. We help with advice, equipment and funding, visiting when and where possible. • We work closely with the Church Hill Road Gardeners, led by Penny Wiles, who are entered as an IYN for the second time. During 2019-21 we helped fund and plant an orchard, donated bulbs and advised and partfunded a noticeboard, planter and planting. • We are advising Addison Road Medical Surgery with their bid to create an eco-friendly garden via the initiative “Greener Practice” Engaging General Practice in actions for the health of patients and planet and with planting a tree to honour Dr Augustine Obaro who sadly died of COVID in January 2021. • In June we worked with WF Community Hub to create a garden for staff at CGL, the alcohol and drug centre in Beulah Road, as part of an employability project for young people. • The XR Welcome Garden at Church End is growing food using permaculture and has benefitted from our funding. • We are part of the Waltham Forest Community Gardeners and Forest Flora groups and join in and promote events. Plotted on a map, the many gardening groups almost cover the borough.
St Mary’s Churchyard • Village in Bloom committee member and St Mary’s head gardener Tim Hewitt is entered into the Churchyard category for the second time and being judged in person for the first. • The churchyard has been breathtakingly beautiful and an absolute sanctuary for residents and wildlife during lockdowns. • Tim is now funded to work three full days and has created a year-round programme of events. • Jakob Hartmann, with David Christmas made a beautiful, accessible path using recycled materials and sand bought by donation from us. •
Wendy Bolt continues her wildlife surveys.
• Village residents and the church community have embraced Tim’s Burials in Bloom initiative. • The Village beds benefit from woodchips, leaf-mould and compost made in the Churchyard.
BEE17 •
BEE17 is a community beekeeping project set up by Richard Smith and Helen Lerner in 2013 to support bees and plants and provide an insight into the lives of honey-bees and the role that beekeepers play.
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With the experience gained over the past eight years, Richard has expanded BEE17 to five apiary sites including four hives in St Mary’s Churchyard and ten in Beulah Road.
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Owing to the cold, dry weather at blossom-time, the bees made no spring honey. Fingers crossed for the summer harvest!
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The two original BEE17 hives, situated in the woodland at the back of Helen’s garden, remain not-for-profit. In 2019/20 we raised over £1,000 and in 2020/21 £1,000 from honey and handmade honey and wax products at pop-up shops and stalls.
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In addition, in 2020-2021 BEE17 has funded 8,000 Purple4Polio crocus corms for the Village and 850 Allium “Purple Sensation” for Henry Maynard school.
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We sponsor planting to ensure that there are nectar and pollen-rich plants or trees in flower throughout the year; the Village is now an ideal place for bees with its many green spaces, orchards, meadows, street trees, planters and gardens.
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In The Village magazine, our BEE17 website and Facebook page we ask that everyone buys bulbs, seeds and plants with all pollinating insects in mind and we direct people to the RHS Perfect for Pollinators plant lists.
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We look forward to resuming our open days and inviting people to visit the hives.
Achievements •
2009, London in Bloom’s Best Urban Community – Silver-gilt
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2017, London in Bloom’s Best London Small Village – Gold
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2010, London in Bloom’s Best Urban Community – Silver-gilt
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2017, London in Bloom’s Special Conservation Award - BEE17 project
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2010, London in Bloom’s Commendation Award - Helen Lerner
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2010, Britain in Bloom – Silver-gilt
2017, London in Bloom’s Front Garden Award - Mr & Mrs Martin – 9 Church Lane
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2011, London in Bloom’s Best Urban Community – Gold
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2017, London in Bloom’s Community Champion – Gerard Clegg
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2011, Britain in Bloom – Silver
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2017, Britain in Bloom – Gold
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2012, London in Bloom’s Best Urban Community – Gold
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2017, Britain in Bloom – Growing Communities Award
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2012, London in Bloom’s Floral Display Award
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2017, Britain in Bloom - Community Champion – Helen Lerner
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2012, London in Bloom’s Christmas Lights Award
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2018, WF Community Hub – Pride of the Village Award
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2012, London in Bloom’s Front Garden Award - Mr & Mrs Martin – 9 Church Lane
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2018, London in Bloom’s Best London Village – Gold
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2018, London in Bloom’s Greener Streets Award
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2013, British Empire Medal, Services to Walthamstow, Helen Lerner
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2014, London in Bloom’s Best London Village – Gold
2018, London in Bloom’s Front Garden Award - Mr & Mrs Martin – 9 Church Lane
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2015, London in Bloom’s Best London Village – Gold
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2019, London in Bloom’s Best Small London Village – Gold
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2015, London in Bloom’s Greener Streets Award
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2019, London’s overall Best Entrant 2019
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2016, London in Bloom – Gold
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2019, London in Bloom’s Community Champion Award, Helen Lerner
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2016, Britain in Bloom – Silver-gilt
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2020, London in Bloom – Gold (virtual judging)
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2020, Britain in Bloom – Inspiring Others & Recognition
Sunday Times, September 2020 RHS The Garden, December, 2020
The Guardian, January 2021
2020/21 Cuttings
We feel proud that we have proved our resilience and that we can adapt our gardening and events to suit these challenging times.
• We hope to soon resume all our fundraisers and events, such as the Curry Supper Quiz. • Future socially-distanced events planned this year include the autumn Produce & Seed Swap, Meadow Cutting and a honey stall, the Village Jumble Trail and our AGM. • We have postponed till next year our plans to green Ravenswood Industrial Estate using old barrels planted with grape vines, hops and junipers with a raised “botanics” bed by the outside seating areas of the gin distillery and breweries. The estimated cost for materials and plants is £800.
Fundraising and Awareness •
Our events are advertised via leaflets, social media and posters. Over 650 residents are sent weekly “What’s on in the Village” emails. MP Stella Creasy advertises events in her weekly e-newsletter.
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We have a 15-minute film made by Sarah Vincent and the Waltham Forest Video Workshop showcasing our work for anyone wanting to improve their area. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Gk6kFH2qsM
Membership of the WVRA costs £15 per year, per household. We have around 200 members.
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Caroline Barton designed a set of Village notelets that we sell at our pop-up shops and stalls.
We have a Walthamstow Village Residents’ Association website, and Facebook pages and Twitter accounts for Walthamstow Village in Bloom, Village Veg and Walthamstow Village.
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We sell Village lavender bags that we make from gathered flowerheads.
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Council contractor Urbaser, Petals in Bloom florist, local garden centres and residents donate plants and we take advantage of national offers of free seeds, bulbs and plants.
Our busy committee members also work with St Mary’s Church, Orford Road Social Club, with older people, foodbanks, local schools, the WF Community Hub’s Youth Group, the Orford Road Traders’ Association and many other local projects and charities.
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Local businesses and residents kindly donate money, goods or vouchers for raffles and events.
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WF Council generously provides our lamppost baskets with summer and winter displays and the watering and feeding of all.
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WF provides a Christmas tree and lights, and lights around all the lampposts in Orford Road.
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John Chambers Building & Plumbing donates his skilled labour and van throughout the year.
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The WVRA produces a magazine edited by Daniel Barry and designed by Molly Moloney that is delivered to 2000 properties. It is generously sponsored by Estates 17.
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Our main sponsors are Estates 17, NISA and BEE17.
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We have just been awarded £500 by Nisa’s Making A Difference Locally charity.
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BEE17 has donated around £2,600 in cash, plants and bulbs.
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Sponsors & credits, our grateful thanks are extended to
Sponsors & credits
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The Vestry House Museum staff and their volunteer gardeners for the use of the garden for hosting judging day, despite the building upheaval.
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Walthamstow Village Residents’ Association Committee – funding projects and support.
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Estates 17 – sponsors of The Village magazine and Henry Maynard School planting,
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BEE17 – sponsorship, plants and bulbs.
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Village Nisa – sponsorship.
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The staff and committee of the WF Community Hub.
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John Chambers Plumbing & Building Services - sponsorship, labour, van, tools.
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Photos: Daniel Barry, Teresa Deacon, Jakob Hartmann, David Christmas, Caroline Barton, Helen Lerner.
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London Borough of Waltham Forest, officers and contractors.
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Hoe Street Ward Councillors and MP Stella Creasy - support and promotion of events.
Walthamstow Village in Bloom Committee •
Helen Lerner, Caroline Barton, Jakob Hartmann, Nick Springett, Clive Meredeen, John Chambers, Teresa Deacon, David Christmas and Tim Hewitt.
Village Veg Committee & Weekly Waterers •
Caroline Barton, Colin Stinton, Darryl Abelscroft, Caroline Lennon, Jeffa Thomlinson, Emma Hall, Nicola Hughes, Sam Hilsdon, youngsters Ralph and Ruby with Sally Weston and Mark Tempest.
Gardening Club Stalwarts •
Helen Lerner, Teresa Deacon, John Chambers, Caroline Barton, Jakob Hartmann, Colin Stinton, David Christmas, Megan Whitear, Maggie Jules, Vanessa Darnborough, Cathy Macnaughton, Carole Sturdy, Nick Springett, Diana Marshall, Andrew Blount, David Christmas, Jane Burt, Steve Lowe, Miranda Keeling and Duncan McMillan with little Bee.
Walthamstow Village Residents’ Association •
Megan Whitear (Chair), Helen Lerner, Shameem Mir, Sue Carter, Daniel Barry, Paul Gasson (Treasurer), David Baker (Secretary), Tomasz Fiszer (Membership) Joga Kabra, Molly Moloney, Rob Atkin-House (Planning).
Sincere thanks to all the lovely people of Walthamstow Village who aren’t mentioned above.