Talk About Epping Summer 2021

TALK ABOUT EPPING

EPPING WAR MEMORIAL: 100 YEARS OLD

8TH MAY 2021

The Mayor’s view Epping Town Show

strength and I would encourage you to familiarise again with what is on offer from the stallholders.

Sunday 4th July 2021

As I write this article I am at the end of my term as Mayor, the incoming Mayor being chosen on the 18th May. I am the second Mayor to have served two consecutive terms and for obvious reasons they have been very different years. In a normal year, the Mayor has the pleasure of attending numerous events and meeting residents of the Parish. This was the case in my first year. In contrast, this was not possible in my second year, although as we move slowly back to some normality, I, together with the Mayoress, were at the invitation of Epping Bowls Club, able to open their 2021 season on a very sunny Saturday afternoon in April. It really brought home what we have all missed during the last year.

Behind the scenes, Epping Town Council have continued to operate as near normal as possible. This often meant adapting to changing legislation at very short notice. Epping Hall itself and the Jack Silley Pavilion have remained closed for much of the last year, but with restrictions scheduled to be lifted in the very near future, we are looking forward to welcoming back all the clubs and groups who use these facilities.

The Monday market is now back at full

Epping has held a Charter Market since 1253 and it is vital for its continued existence that the community support it. The various facilities at Stonards Hill, including the café, and the other recreation grounds, are now fully open. The recently refurbished tennis courts are proving to be very popular since being reopened and this is good to see. The Epping Playground Association are working very hard raising funds to renovate and improve the playground facilities at Lower Swaines recreation ground. Look out for their various fundraising events at Lower Swaines and in particular at the Town Council’s Town Show on Sunday 4th July 2021, subject, of course, to restrictions being lifted as scheduled. It only remains for me to thank my fellow town councillors for their hard work and support over the last two years, to thank all the Council staff who work tirelessly for the benefit of the town and special thanks to the Town Clerk, Beverley, without whom the Council would not operate as smoothly as it does. Finally, I wish the incoming Mayor an enjoyable year and hope that they are able to attend all the usual events normally attended by the Town Mayor in support of our community.

Grahame Scruton

Come along to the Town Council’s annual community event at Stonards Hill recreation ground on Sunday, 4th July (12 noon to 5pm). There will be a variety of traders and community stalls with a range of items for sale and different games, entertainment, arena acts, music, a range of food and refreshments, fun fair and more.

As the Covid-19 situation continues, there will be changes to the look and format of the event to allow for social distancing such as 2 metres between stalls and the whole event will be outside on the recreation ground.

Free entry and limited car parking. Bring your family, dogs, sanitiser and deck chairs!

The Town Show will only go ahead in line with the roadmap out of lockdown and Covid-19 guidelines from the government.

For more information contact 01992 579444 or email gvallis@eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk

Epping Town Council meetings

During the last year, Epping Town Council have been holding planning, Council and other committee meetings remotely, on Zoom. From 7th May, Epping Town Council will resume in-person meetings. Remote meetings have worked well and many residents have joined us to share their views on planning applications or Council matters. At the current time, government legislation does not allow us to continue remote meetings.

Details of meetings are available on Epping Town Council’s website at: www.eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk and all meetings are open to the public. Agendas and background documents will be uploaded to the website the week before each meeting. All minutes can also be found on the website, so you can see what decisions Epping Town Council make.

Young Townsperson of the Year 2021

Epping Town Council are delighted to announce that we have given two Young Townsperson of the Year Awards for 2021. Both received many nominations for their outstanding contribution to Epping life over the past year.

Julie Turrell runs Julie’s café at Stonards Hill recreation ground and Julie has taken great care to keep in contact with her customers while lockdowns have been in place. Julie has gone the extra mile to ensure those who may otherwise be limited in their activities have had a vital outlet for social contact.

George Sack, a pupil at Epping St John’s School, has been a huge support to young students during the last year, assisting them with online and lockdown learning.

Epping Town Councillors were so impressed with their work and commitment to others that they will be awarded at a ceremony and presented with their certificates by Epping’s Town Mayor, when restrictions allow.

Congratulations to these inspiring young people, whose contribution to their community is so much appreciated.

Please look out for anyone who may be worthy of this award next year.

Nominations will be taken in Spring 2022. Please contact Epping Town Council for more details.

Email: info@eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk

Epping Bowls Club

Epping Bowls Club celebrated the launch of the 2021 season on Saturday 17th April with special guests Grahame Scruton, Mayor of Epping, and his wife Libby. Together they declared the club’s 110th season open. After a glass of fizz, the ribbon was cut for the official opening and the Mayor fired bowls across the green to try his skills before members enjoyed their first roll up of the season. Club President Peter Bates and Club Captains Ron Perryman and Margaret Hopkinson welcomed members. A one-minute silence was also included in honour of the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh.

Grahame Scruton said: “I am delighted to be invited to officially open Epping Bowls Club’s 2021 season. I know you are a long-established club and you have survived many challenges over the years, not least this pandemic. We truly hope this season runs more smoothly for you. Good luck.”

The Mayor reflected on spending much of his youth at Epping Cricket Club next door where his dad was a cricket nut and Club Secretary. He said, “I never knew what was over the fence and now I do!”

Epping Bowls Club was established in 1911 and is based at Lower Bury Lane, opposite Epping St John’s School’s back entrance. The Club is keen to recruit new members for this season.

Club President Peter Bates said: “We are delighted to welcome the Mayor and his wife to help us promote the joy of playing bowls to a wider audience. We will play under strict guidelines laid down by Bowls England to make sure everyone is protected.”

The Club defied all odds last season to ensure regular and safe play for all members. This season will see a return to friendly competition against other clubs. Free to attend ‘Come & Try’ days were held on Sunday 25th April and Sunday 9th May from 10.30-3.30pm. Anyone retired, semi-retired or younger, or working from home is welcome to try bowls. It’s a fun and friendly activity and good for health and well-being. Just bring flat soled trainer type shoes.

Visit www.eppingbowlsclub.co.uk

On the 9th of January 2020, we opened our doors to the Mayor of Epping to help celebrate the 100th birthday of Gladys. It was a celebration to look back on fondly, however no-one could have predicted at that time that a global pandemic was lurking around the corner that would change our lives so dramatically.

More than a year later and restrictions have lifted to the point that we can cautiously open our doors again and welcome loved ones back to visit. Today was the first visit for Gladys since the latest restrictions were introduced, outside of picture sharing, FaceTime and using the visiting suite, our residents haven’t had the normality of family visits. It was a truly heartfelt and emotional moment when family members filled the room with joy. The staff at Ashlar House looked on with pride and emotion at this momentous time.

We hope that many will now be reunited with their loved ones as restrictions ease.

How to keep Epping’s communities connected as lockdown eases

As we emerge out of lockdown restrictions and into spring/summer one thing has become really clear: there’s a thirst for community and connections in Epping.

Over the past year, we’ve been overwhelmed by the mutual support and inspiration of our Fit School community. Whether through our online classes, or just checking in on each other, we’ve been fortunate to be part of a community. Yes, it happens to be our business but it’s more than that. It’s about a shared sense of purpose, values and responsibility to each other. We might be Pilates teacher, personal trainer and running coach, but they’ve kept us going as much as we have them.*

There isn’t just one community in Epping. We connect people through fitness; others do it with yoga. There are new parents or parents-to-be, church and school communities, business communities, newcomers to the area, book lovers, dog walkers, nature enthusiasts, sports club members or the recently retired. The list is endless.

Isolation is a massive challenge to our society and it doesn’t just affect the elderly. As fantastic as communities are when we’re in them, what about those on the outside?

If the past year has taught us anything, it’s that connection and feeling like we belong to something, has kept us going. As humans we need connection. Isn’t that one of the reasons lockdown has been so tough? Aside from the obvious challenges that Covid has brought, each of us will have experienced separation, loss and isolation.

So if you have yet to find your community in Epping, please reach out. Believe us, there are people out there ready to welcome you in. And if you’re not quite ready for human interaction after months of isolation, you aren’t alone.

Keeping Epping’s communities connected starts with us and you.

*Thanks to Zoom our community now includes children, partners, dogs, cats, geckos, ducks, chickens and extended family too.

Karen and Chris Laing run Fit School in Epping.

We are trusted providers of fitness, running and Pilates classes in Epping, Essex.

We help our community achieve healthy habits for life and for the whole family. www.fit-school.co.uk Instagram @fitschoolessex

Community Award 2021

Epping Town Council have awarded Voluntary Action Epping Forest with a Community Award. Voluntary Action Epping Forest have worked extremely hard over the last year coordinating food and assistance for those needing help during the coronavirus health situation. This is in addition to all the existing good work they do. They will be presented with their award by Epping’s Town Mayor at a formal ceremony, when health restrictions allow. Congratulations to everyone involved.

Epping Weather Station shows influence of Global Warming in 2020

Epping’s own automatic weather station, run by Epping Town Council (and kindly donated by a local resident), has completed its first year of operation and already is showing that global warming is affecting us here in Epping. As there was a weather station in Epping from 1979-2013, we now have 35 years of data for comparison and 2020 emerges as the warmest yet, with a mean annual temperature of 11.5 °C, approximately 1.1 °C above the average. We’ve had a series of new records through the year. January and May were the warmest of those months in our records. We had the third warmest April and November, the fourth warmest February and June and we recorded our hottest July day (36.0°C) and our hottest September day (31.2°C).

We also had our wettest October on record and probably our wettest August, except that the storms on the afternoon of 16th flooded the Stonards Hill base and knocked out the power supply, so we missed data for three very wet days. It was our 6th wettest year overall and this despite a very dry April and May.

We stream live weather data to our website’s front page at www.eppingweather.org.uk so if you want to know the current temperature, wind, rain, air pressure and so on, it’s on your computer or smartphone just a click away. There’s also the past seven days, month to date and last month’s data online. The full analysis of 2020’s weather is available on the website and we also publish monthly reviews of weather data as ‘weather news’. All our data can be provided to anyone who needs it; schools are particularly welcome to use our data and to help write monthly weather summaries or provide photographs. Contact us through the website.

23rd April 2021

FLEECEWARE ON THE RISE

COMPETITION

TIME! Art and Photography Competition for allages

Why not enter a piece of artwork or a photograph into our competition as part of the Epping Forest District Festival of Culture 2021?

To enter either take a photograph or make a piece of art – a drawing, a painting, a model, needlework, sculptureetc – provided its subject is anything to do with Swaines Green and it is made during 2021.

For an entry form and full details please go to our website www.swainesgreen.org.uk

The closing date is Sunday 3rd October 2021

The following classes are open: The classes are: ages 11 or under; ages 12 to 17; over 18

The submissions will be judged by a panel of local art expertswitha small prize beingawarded in each category.

Fleeceware is a recently coined term that refers to mobile applications that come with excessive subscription fees, and in March over 200 such apps were discovered being advertised on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

The applications attract users with the promise of a free 3-day trial, but once the trial is over, they are charged a recurring subscription fee - even if they have deleted the appuntil they cancel the subscription in their device’s app subscription settings. One app offers a short free trial followed by a $66 (£47.73) per week subscription, potentially costing the victim $3,432 (£2,482.19) per year unless cancelled. These fleeceware applications are actively advertised on major social networks.

How to avoid Fleeceware apps:

• Be wary of free trials of less than a week - make sure you understand how much you will be charged and that the app is worth the recurring fee

• Be sceptical of viral adverts for apps - the adverts for fleeceware are likely to have enticing messaging and images to attract users’ attention. They likely do not reflect the actual functionality of the application.

• Read the small print - a closer look will likely reveal the true price of the app. Pay close attention to the ‘In-app purchases’ section and be aware that even if it is a free trial, as there may be automatic charges thereafter.

• Secure your payments - ensure that your payment methods are secured behind a password or biometric check. This can also prevent accidental subscriptions by children.

Coopersale Community

Coopersale Community is led by a dedicated group of volunteers who live, work and/or worship in the village. The group meets monthly to plan and deliver fun initiatives that help make the village a friendlier, safer and more connected community.

Coopersale Community was born from the spring 2020 lockdown. Whilst covid 19 turned the world upside down, people in Coopersale found ways to offer support and bring joy to neighbours. Coopersale Community is a way to unite these individual initiatives, increase participation and create greater positive outcomes for everyone in the village.

In its first year, Coopersale Community has worked to improve road safety and held a summer planting competition, Scarecrow Festival and Christmas Light-up Night. The group looks to build strong partnerships to continue these activities and grow initiatives to engage everyone in the community. In March 2021, Coopersale Community was officially constituted as a non-political volunteer group.

Everyone invested in Coopersale is welcome to join Coopersale Community. Volunteering looks different for individuals based on interests, skills and availability. There are currently two vacancies on the committee, but people who wish to take part in one-off events are encouraged to get in touch as well.

Contact details: www.coopersalecommunity.co.uk or email: coopersalecommunity@gmail.com

If anyone has any stories about how their community has come together to support each other over the past year, please email: info@eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk marked Talk About Epping, so we can share that information in the next issue of our town magazine. Photos to accompany the stories would be most welcome, with those in the photos written permission.

Qualis Management creates job opportunities

April 2021: Qualis Management is expanding its team with the recruitment of a number of new roles within the business. The company, which took over Epping Forest District Council’s housing repairs and void services at the end of September 2020, is encouraging people from the local community to join the company and begin a rewarding career.

It is a really exciting time for Qualis Management as it continues to improve on performance each month, invest in new technology that provides the most efficient and effective service to customers along with taking on new work streams. Customer satisfaction is pivotal and the company is totally committed to finding environmentally responsible ways to work.

Ben Johnson, Managing Director of Qualis Management comments: “We are currently recruiting for a number of key roles across the business to help expand our team, which include multi-skilled operatives with trade backgrounds, Quantity Surveyor, Maintenance Surveyor, Operations Managers and a Customer Experience Manager. These new roles will all play a major role in delivering a high quality service to our customers. Anyone interested in joining the business should regularly visit the career section on our website to keep up to date with the job opportunities that become available.”

For further details about any of the roles and future opportunities please visit here: https://www.qualisgroup.com/careers

Qualis Group is a holding company, wholly owned by Epping Forest District Council.

Thank you to everyone who has submitted an article for Talk About Epping. Please keep them coming in. Please include words and pictures.

You will find lots of information about Epping in the community noticeboards around town. Look out for community magazine Epping & Theydon Bois guide (copies of which can be collected from Epping Hall in St Johns Road by appointment}.

Reopening of halls and services

Epping Hall in St Johns Road and the Jack Silley Pavilion at Stonards Hill recreation ground are now reopening for bookings.

Both buildings have been closed for hirers during lockdowns. Epping Hall is Epping Town Council’s main office and staff have continued to work safely behind the scenes to maintain the services and functions we provide for the town (a list of these can be found on page 12).

We have lots of classes at both buildings, including children’s dance, tai chi, yoga, karate, baby groups, meetings and functions such as dinners and wedding receptions. The halls are very popular and do get booked up, so if you would like to hire one of our community spaces, please get in touch. We are delighted to be able to start welcoming our hirers back, in line with government health guidance and we look forward to seeing our community enjoying their events again. www.eppingtowncouncil.gov.ukinfo@eppingtowncouncil.gov.ukTel:

Stonards Hill tennis courts

The newly refurbished tennis courts at Stonards Hill recreation ground have been extremely well used since restrictions allowed them to reopen on 29th March 2021. There are two courts with floodlights for evening use. The courts are available for free public play (small charge for floodlights in the evenings) or private paid coaching lessons and these can be booked online through ClubSpark. You will need to register for a free account and then they will be available to book. https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/

Please respect the distance of other users as you enjoy this wonderful green space.

Epping Town Council look after 5 playgrounds in Epping:

Stonards Hill recreation ground playground

Ivy Chimneys playground

Lower Swaines playground

Frampton Road playground

Parklands, Coopersale playground

Please enjoy our playgrounds safely. Be aware of other users and follow the on site guidance.

Epping’s Monday Market

Epping’s Monday market reopened for all our traders on Monday 12th April 2021 in line with government guidance on non-essential retail. Epping’s historic market charter dates back to 1253 and gives Epping the right to hold its Monday market by Royal assent.

During the national lockdowns, as government restrictions have allowed, Epping’s Monday market was open to ‘essentials’ traders; those selling food, household goods, pet food and plants. We have made changes to the layout of the Monday market to aid social distancing and traders.

Epping Town Council would like to thank our loyal traders for their dedication and hard work during this past difficult year. We are delighted to have our market back in town as it is so important to our community.

Thank you to customers for continuing to shop safely and maintaining social distancing in our market and High Street.

1st Theydon Garnon Scouts Animals Are Affected by Rubbish

Epping in Bloom news from 2020

On the Epping in Bloom allotment plot, the team managed to grow some lovely butternut squashes along with some blue Hubbard squashes. They were picking raspberries right up until the end of October.

The garlic was planted by our newest member of the team Megan back in November and it’s growing really well.

It should be ready for harvest sometime in June. Our current scarecrows of a horse and his owner are helping to scare away the birds and are helping to bring smiles to all.

Christmas in the garden

Some of the Epping in Bloom team were able to meet at a safe distance to help bring some Christmas sparkle in December to the community garden with 2,000 colourful lights.

They light up the three bay trees and herb garden area. A mixture of baubles and floral decorations were added to the lavenders and other plants to help bring some festive cheer. Snow in the garden only lasted a few hours in January before the rain washed it all away, but it did look lovely.

All of us have worked so hard, often on our own, to keep the garden maintained during these challenging times.

We are all looking forward to safer times when we can host some educational horticultural days.

We would like to thank all the visitors who have been helping by taking home their litter. If you would like to become an Epping in Bloom volunteer when we reach safer times, please express your interest by emailing: Eppinginbloom@gmail.com

Epping in Bloom update 2021

During the lockdown period, many of the volunteers have been maintaining the garden and the allotment individually. One thing we have noticed is the increase in rubbish being left in the garden; masks, bottles, sandwich packets and coffee cups, so please help us to take your rubbish away. We don’t want to keep picking it up. We maintain the flowers and plants to keep the garden looking the best it can and to give seasonal interest and enjoyment to all our visitors that tell us how much they love visiting the garden. We have a variety of birds that love to visit the garden too and the last thing we want to see is one getting tangled up inside a dirty mask!

On a positive note, the 2,000 spring blooms we planted back in October begun flowering in February; first the crocuses, followed by the daffodils and now you will see lots of colourful tulips in bloom. We will replant all the beds with new summer bedding towards the end of May and plan to make a few more changes to other areas in the garden by the entrance. Pop in soon to check out our progress. The daffodils and flowers we planted at the entrance to St Margaret’s hospital are looking lovely at the moment. When they finish flowering, we will add in some wildflower seeds to bring more colour to the area for the summer. The community allotment has now been prepared for the growing season ahead and we are so pleased that we are able to meet up again in small groups. We have planted a few varieties of early potatoes, peas, mange tout and have put in more raspberries.

Check out our Facebook page: eppinginbloom to keep updated with a few courses we will run on the plot this year with safety measures in place.

Email: eppinginbloom@gmail.com to join as a volunteer.

1st Theydon Garnon Scouts hoping to make Epping a cleaner town

The Scouts are working towards their Environmental Conservation badge and have been learning about the dangers to wildlife and nature that litter imposes. They have been dismayed at the amount of litter they have seen discarded on Epping’s streets and surrounding countryside whilst on their daily walks during lockdown. To try and help clear up Epping they decided to spend an evening litter picking in fields and on Bell Common and collected a lot of rubbish. They also decided to have a competition to design an anti-litter poster; Councillor Cherry McCredie kindly judged them. After choosing the winning poster, Councillor McCredie said: “This was so hard to judge as there were so many fantastic entries. Congratulations to all the scouts who took part and to the winner”.

The winning poster was designed by Arthur Edwards.

Please help to keep our community clean by disposing of your litter responsibly and recycling where possible. The Town’s street cleaners do an excellent job, but they do need everyone’s help as litter spreads at an alarming rate.

In spite of Covid-19, at the AGM of Epping Rotary Club, President Barbara Scruton was able to report that the club has had a successful year and continued to support many good causes both locally, nationally and internationally. She said this was as a result of innovative fundraising ideas and personal challenges and the generosity of members and the public who supported them. This included a virtual Cabaret evening and Christmas party enjoyed by club members and their families.

In June last year, there was a devastating fire in a block of flats; Woodland Grove, Epping and the club donated funds for vouchers for families that lost belongings.

At times, it has been difficult to keep up with the changing rules around the pandemic and in the middle of the Santa Sleigh collection, Epping was put into Tier 4 which prevented Santa from completing all his planned routes. Unfortunately, Carols on the Green was a casualty to the great disappointment of local residents. The Club did, however, support the Town’s Christmas celebrations by sponsoring the Christmas tree on the piazza. Another casualty was the ‘Kids Out project’. However, the club made a contribution towards boxes of toys, each worth £85, to be distributed at Christmas to children living in London homeless refuges.

Epping Rotary Club continues to support St Clare Hospice. Funding was provided for additional ward curtains to help with the need for rotation of curtains during Covid. A cheque for £1000 was presented to the Hospice to support their Hospice at Home appeal and all being well, the annual golf day will take place in September.

The Rotary Club of Epping has been supporting Norway House in small ways for several years with outings for the children to the seaside, small donations, a Christmas visit from Santa, a refurbished computer and printer; all things that the residents really appreciate. This Easter, Epping Rotary donated Easter eggs for all the children living there. The Club has agreed to sponsor a piece of equipment for the new playground at Lower Swaines recreation ground, which will be a great community asset for the area.

Following a very interesting talk from Reverend Lee Baston on his work in Africa, the Club was pleased to make a donation to The Five Talents Micro-Finance Scheme operating in Kenya.

The President reported that it had been an honour, but with sadness, that she had represented Epping Rotary at the memorial service for His Royal Highness, The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in St John’s Church. HRH was an honorary member of several Rotary clubs and respected what Rotary does and what Rotary achieves. He will be remembered for a great life of service.

Members are now looking forward to June when they can have weekly lunchtime meetings in Epping Hall. If you are interested in finding out more about Epping Rotary, email: eppingrotary@outlook.com

All events are subject to any changing government guidance. Information correct at the time of printing.

Epping’s War Memorial is 100

Epping War Memorial was 100 years old on 8th May 2021. The War Memorial will be cleaned in June 2021, subject to dry weather and we hope to hold a rededication service and commemorative events. It is a Grade II listed monument to protect it for future generations.

John Duffell, secretary of the Royal British Legion, Epping & District branch (and a Town Councillor), has an extensive collection of wartime historical information and we hope to hold an exhibtion to showcase this.

Further details will be provided once the current health restrictions ease. Keep an eye out for posters and information on Epping Town Council’s website at: www.eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk

Lower Swaines playground refurbishment

Could you be an Epping Superhero? We need you! Having agreed on plans for a major upgrade of the playground at Lower Swaines Recreation ground, Trustees of registered charity, The Epping Playground Association need your help. With a fundraising target of £120,000 set to cover equipment and installation costs, the parent volunteer Trustees have already raised over £10,000 in grants, pledges and generous donations. Playground plans will regenerate the area in keeping with the natural landscape, providing play spaces for children and encouraging activity for all residents in Epping.

“We’ve already received some offers of support from local residents and businesses,” says Trustee Habibah Wise, “but it feels like a big amount of money to raise and we’d really like to get things moving.”

Covid restrictions have definitely slowed down fundraising opportunities which is why the team is appealing to the people of Epping to help out. The community project is being backed by local buisnesses and recent successful grant applications include £1500 from Epping Town Council, £2000 from County Councillor Chris Whitbread and a further £500 from an Epping Community projects micro grant. Once Covid restrictions ease, the team plan to put on fundraising events to help raise awareness of the charity and create fun, active, community events for the people of Epping. How can you help?

1. The easiest and quickest way to help is to donate via our GoFundMe page (www.gofundme.com/EppingPlayground), where you can also view the plans.

2. Are you a business who would consider sponsoring an item of playground equipment or help support a fundraising event?

3. Does your employer have a benevolent fund which would support a local charity?

4. Could your school/organisation help support this local charity through a fundraising event?

5. Volunteer time/talents to help with fundraising events.

6. Share our fundraising efforts with your friends/family.

7. Donate at www.paypal.me/Epping Playground.

Other ways to help: Nominate Epping Playground Association at smile.amazon.co.uk

Follow us on: Instagram: epping_playground_association

Facebook: EppingPlaygrou1

Get in touch at: eppingplaygroundassociation@gmail.com

Our Trading Hut opens on Sundays, 10am - midday, at the Meadow Road allotments, offering the lowest prices on all the provisions you need to maintain your garden, as well as friendly advice from experienced gardeners. We sell everything from bamboo canes to bonemeal, potting compost to potash, rooting powder and so much more. You can take advantage of our amazing low prices just by becoming a member of the society for just £2 a year!

Support our Mini Flower Show at the Town Show on Sunday 4th July 2021 at Stonard’s Hill recreation ground, which we are hosting during the day.

Please check out our website for more details on the flowers you could enter by visiting our website: www.eppinghorticultural.org.uk

During the day we will be selling lots of goodies and plants; please visit our stall and take away a bargain too! We are not holding our annual Horticultural Show this year. Instead, we will host a virtual show in August. More details of submission dates for pictures to be sent to us for the different classes will be shared on our website sometime in May. On behalf of all the Epping Horticultural Society committee members, we would like to wish you a happy growing season ahead filled with much joy.

By Victoria Robertson

Many people have found their allotments such a great place to be over the past year in particular. Do get in touch if you are an Epping Parish resident and want to be placed on our waiting list for Meadow Road or Lower Bury allotment sites in Epping.

The Boys Holocaust Survivors in the Epping Forest District and other District Council events

This free exhibition tells the story of Holocaust survivors sent to Holmehurst Hostel in Loughton and the staff that supported them. Showcasing video testimonies from the survivors and objects from the Jewish Museum and Imperial War Museum, London, the exhibition will explore the story of the concentration camps and the Loughton boy’s liberation and survival.

Open until 4 September 2021. Online talks in association with The Boys. You can book your place by calling 01992 564226, lines open 10am-4pm, Mon-Fri, or book online at: https://eppingforestdc.bookinglive.com/. All talks are £5.

The People on the Beach Journeys to Freedom After the Holocaust by Rosie Whitehouse: Thursday 20th May: 7pm-8pm.

We Came from Hell to Paradise The Lake District Holocaust Project by Trevor Avery: Thursday 17th June: 7pm-8pm. Edith & Gerson Frydman Their Journey Before, During and After the Holocaust, by Robin Frydman Schall, Thursday 8th July: 7pm-8pm.

News: Stay safe, stay aware and take care.

Free information pack with advice on how to avoid scams, when to call 999, avoiding fire in the home and much more. Email kmurray@eppingforestdc.gov.uk to receive a free copy.

Wildlife walks route inspiration

If you are looking for some suggestions for where to head out on a walk a little further afield, then check out https://www.visiteppingforest.org/explore to browse some local options and learn a little more about the wildlife and history of the area.

Youth Council launch MiLife C19

The latest Epping Forest Youth Council Project, MiLife C19, is an online resource for secondary schools. The MiLife section on www.milife.org.uk includes useful signposting, films about fitness, relaxation and craft making and even lesson plans for teachers.

This resource is designed by young people for young people and has been informed by the Youth Council’s own COVID-19 Health & Wellbeing Survey.

Key items: 250th exhibition and accompanying talks programme at Epping Forest District Museum Free resources including: local walking routes, mental health support for young people and ‘stay safe’ packs.

(Image for The Boys exhibition of the young Holocaust survivors in the District has been kindly donated by a local family. With kind thanks to The Fox family.)

EPPING TOWN COUNCIL

2019-2023

Members - Hemnall Ward

Cllr N Avey nigel.avey@btinternet.com

Cllr C Burgess christine_burgess@hotmail.com

Cllr C McCredie 07831 501598

Cllr B Scruton 01992 572333

Cllr M-L Whitbread mlwhitbread1@gmail.com

Cllr J Whitehouse 01992 561875 jon@jonwhitehouse.org.uk

Members - St John’s Ward

Cllr S Baker To follow

Cllr J Duffell 07847 357493 johnduffell@live.co.uk

Cllr R Griffiths 07917 841823 griffiths74@gmail.com

Cllr H Pegrum 01992 572173

Cllr G Scruton grscruton@gmail.com

Cllr M Wright 07926 516097

Cllr N Avey, Cllr C McCredie and Cllr Jon Whitehouse are also District Councillors.

Other Local Representatives

EFDC & ECC Cllr Chris Whitbread (01992 573557) Cllr.Christopher.Whitbread@essex.gov.uk

EFDC Cllr Les Burrows (01992 572003) cllr.lburrows@eppingforestdc.gov.uk

EFDC & ECC Cllr Holly Whitbread (07508180426) holly.whitbread@btinternet.com

EFDC Cllr Janet Whitehouse (01992 812503) cllrjanetwhitehouse@gmail.com

MP: Dame Eleanor Laing MP (020 8508 6608) eleanor.laing.mp@parliament.uk

talk about epping deadlines

Articles for the next edition of Talk About Epping must be submitted before 23 July 2021 (Autumn issue) and 8 October 2021 (Winter issue). Submissions should be sent to Epping Town Council via email: info@eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk clearly marked ‘Talk About Epping’. Please send in copy on a word document (200-300 words max). Please attach pictures as separate jpegs (not inserted into the word document) The editor may amend copy appropriately.

invitations for the m ayor

If you are organising an event which you would like the Mayor or a representative of the Town Council to attend, please email: info@eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk

marked Invitation for the Mayor or tel: 01992 579444

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor attend many different events over the year to support our local groups, businesses and organisations.

For more stories, visit our website: www.eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk

Follow us on twitter: @eppingtown

FORTHCOMING MEETINGS

Please note: meetings have now returned to in-person meetings, in accordance with government legislation (from 7 May 2021) and will be held at Epping Hall unless otherwise stated.

May 202111 Planning6.30pm

June 20218 Planning6.30pm

July 202113 Planning6.30pm

FOR NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING, SEE EPPING TOWN COUNCIL’S WEBSITE FOR MEETINGS

New Town Councillor: May 2021

Following the relocation of Cllr Ingrid Black, Epping Town Council have a new Town Councillor, Simon Baker. Thank you and best wishes to Ingrid. Welcome to Simon.

epping town council

responsibilities

Bury Lane Cemetery Halls: Monday Charter MarketEpping Hall, St Johns Rd

Christmas MarketJack Silley Pavilion, Recreation Grounds: Stonards Hill

Stonards Hill

Allotments: Ivy ChimneysLower Bury Lane

Lower SwainesMeadow Road

Frampton RoadTown Show

Parklands, CoopersaleContinental Markets

Brook RoadBakers Lane Toilets

Talk About Epping (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter)

Consultee on Planning

Epping Town Council’s Planning Committee consider every planning & TPO (tree protection order) application in Epping and give their views to Epping Forest District Council, who are the local planning authority.

Thank you to David Jackman, Everything Epping Forest, for his ongoing media support and any pictures in this issue. Visit: www.everythingeppingforest.co.uk

Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/epping.towncouncil