Blogs - Newsroom and Reader Blogs for Epping Forest, Waltham Forest, Wanstaed & Woodford

Flash Bristow is a self-employed web designer living in the Leytonstone
area for over 10 years. She is interested in music, electricity pylons
and human rights.

What do you foresee for Waltham Forest in 2026?

The council have released their Preferred Options Core Strategy, a public consultation which runs until 19 February.

Fancy some art and architecture?

For the next two weekends, there are plenty of free events and activities in Waltham Forest.

What happened to our tree wardens?

I was sad to read that Waltham Forest is felling trees instead of maintaining them.

Confined by Swine Flu

On Saturday evening I was at a party celebrating the Arts Trail – on Sunday morning I woke up with a raging sore throat, aching allO over. I was immediately concerned that I had swine flu.

A cultural smorgasbord in Leytonstone...yours, for the next week!

Last week, Leytonstone Arts Trail kicked off. This week it’s been joined by its older brother Leytonstone Festival as well, bringing all manner of things noisy, pretty, contemplative and fascinating to our patch of Waltham Forest.

Clyde's legacy

Clyde Loakes is shortly to stand down as Leader of the Council. Many comments on stories in this website wish him good riddance. So in a potentially controversial act, I'd like to consider Clyde's legacy.

Farewell at last, Lincolns!

At last it’s over. The chaotic den opposite my house – Lincolns Public House – is finished. After four years of licence hearings, many hours of lost sleep, one near-fatal stabbing and who knows how many people urinating in the street, the local residents can finally look forward to a peaceful summer. However, this has been very hard-earned by the entire community.

If we’re going to tackle “Enviro-Crime”, let’s be positive about it!

“We’re wiping out enviro-crime.” This is the bold statement declared on banners across Waltham Forest, accompanied by an anonymous hand wiping out graffiti. "Fly-tipping, littering, graffiti and dog fouling are ruining our borough". In other words, “This borough is being ruined”.

Planning for summer already? It can only be the Leytonstone Festival!

It may be cold outside, but tucked up in a warm corner of the Epicentre, an enthusiastic group meets to plan this year’s Leytonstone Festival.

"If I can't figure it out, what's a tourist meant to do?

Whacky routes. That's what you get from Transport for London (TfL)'s journey planner, as I found out recently when on a trip with Radio 4's Peter White.

Leytonstone's wonderful art space

There's a wonderful art space in Waltham Forest. If you're in Leytonstone, it's staring you in the face. I bet you didn't even know it exists!

I've destroyed a work of art!

That title sounds dramatic, until you realise it was graffiti - by that upstart young Cartrain, no less. You see, a group of neighbours from Ferndale Area Residents Association are dedicated to keeping "our patch" clean. We hold regular litter picks, and paint over or wipe out graffiti. And last time out, I erased some of Cartrain's work. A sprayed "bomb" with George Bush's head in it was among the unsightly decor on a wall near to Leytonstone High Road overground station - and we painted over everything that was there.

Leytonstone Christmas Market makes fake Lapland look impressive.

This year, there's a market in Leytonstone. Fantastic! It was promoted on the council's website as part of the "turning on the lights" Christmas events, and it runs for two weeks, from 8am to 8pm each day.

Your local school needs YOU!

"What's that large building at the end of my street?" That's what I often pondered as I walked my dog on Wanstead Flats. A large red brick building with "Leyton School Board" written on it, and pointy green iron railings all around.

"Reclaim the streets? Yeah, right!"

Did you go to Car Free Day in Leytonstone last month?

NHS experiences in Waltham Forest.

It feels like I’m always up at Whipps Cross these days, visiting the hospital.

What to do in Waltham Forest?

This time last year, my mum came to stay. Normally she would want to save up in order to dine at the Ivy and shop in Covent Garden, but this time I persuaded her to let me entertain her locally.

Double blessing, or double edged sword?

A few years ago, I was lucky to receive funding to set up my own business. I came to realise that the reason I got the support depended on where I lived – not just which area, but which side of the street!

The best and worst of Leytonstone

What do you love about Leytonstone? What do you hate? Now's your chance to show everyone, as part of Leytonstone Festival.

Appearing on The ONE Show

Well, I certainly had a surprise last week! Raef from the Apprentice turning up to serenade me in my front room, live on national TV! But I'll start at the beginning...