Save Wanstead Flats

Save Wanstead Flats
Originally uploaded by discarded production unit

Save Wanstead Flats

Mass Community Picnic

Sunday 5th September

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Protect-Wanstead-Flats-and-Epping-Forest/142307172448681

Wanstead Flats Sunset

Wanstead Flats Sunset
Originally uploaded by AndyRob

Sunset over Wanstead Flats Alexandra lake.

A good time to go bat spotting

Wanstead Flats Sunset

Wanstead Flats Sunset
Originally uploaded by AndyRob

Goldfish in Alexandra Pond

I saw some goldfish in Alexandra Pond today, just where there's a shallow bit formed by the high water level, opposite the little row of shops. My eye was caught by a red coloured fish about 4-5 inches long, basking in the sunshine. Looking further I could see 9 or ten others, brown coloured, and some much bigger. That's the first time I've noticed fish in the lake but knew there must be some in there due to the fishing birds such as heron and cormorants which are  attracted to visit sometimes.

The Orbit

The Orbit is a new sculpture to be built for the Olympic park at Stratford, Newham.

It's a giant tower and a piece of art by Anish Kapoor

Stratford High Street Market Station

Soon to be the new DLR station known as Stratford High Street:

From TfL:

"This station will be a twin platform station where the platforms are either side of the tracks. It is located just south of the Stratford High Street with footbridge connections to Bridge Road to provide access and regeneration to surrounding areas. In order to locate the station here, Bridge Road will be permanently closed from November 3 2008, except for emergency vehicle access. The road closure will avoid taking any permanent land from Rokeby School and ensure the station remains close to Stratford High Street."

Lots more information can be found at Subterranea Britannica

Photo by suburbanslice

Stratford Old Town Hall

Stratford Old Town Hall
Originally uploaded by portemolitor

So this is Stratford Old Town Hall, originally West Ham town hall, now hardly used by Newham council and a candidate for getting sold off or something.

One More Cup of Coffee - Bob Dylan - Andy Roberts Music

One More Cup of Coffee - Bob Dylan - Andy Roberts Music

What's the best coffee you can get in London? I like straight espresso but the coffee you get served in London varies hugely from one coffee shop to another. There's a little cafe near me in Manor Park called the Mediterranean Cafe which is run by a Moroccan and Polish couple and the espressos there range from very acceptable to very good.

From the chain cafes my favourite is probably Cafe Nero but Cost can be OK. I wouldn't go anywhere near Starbucks - YUK!

Milk Float Movie

Milk Float Movie
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

Milk Float Movie filmed in Newham

Clock Mill

Clock Mill
Originally uploaded by Old Four Eyes

The Clock Mill at Three Mills Island rebuilt 1815-1817 by Philip Metcalfe using the Clock Tower from an earlier building and an even older bell. The Mill was in use until 1952. Because of water extraction for the reservoirs further up the Lea Valley there is no longer sufficient water to work the machinery even though it is technically still in operating order. Rumour has it that work on the Olympic Park will create enough water flow to theoretically get the mill working again.

Greater Spotted Woodpecker

Greater Spotted Woodpecker
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

The greater spotted woodpecker has become a regular visitor in my Newham garden and recently been joined by ring necked parakeets.

University of East London, Royal Albert Dock

University of East London, Royal Albert Dock
Originally uploaded by Old Four Eyes

University of East London, Royal Albert Dock

The students of UEL have a spectacular setting on the Royal Albert Dock. The campus was opened in 1999, the famous buildings designed by Edward Cullinan Architects.

The Univesity itself was officially opened in 2000 by mayor Ken Livingstone who said it was the first new university in Lonodn for 50 years. I know because I was there.

Young Mayor of Newham

Queens Market Green Street Development Upton Park

Newham Council planning officers have recommended planning consent be
granted for St Modwens proposed 100m redevelopment of Londons Queens
Market.

St Modwen is planning to redevelop the market near Upton Park tube station
into 91,000 sq ft of market stalls and shops and 350 homes.

The retail will be divided into 23,000 sq ft of market stalls and 68,000 sq
ft of shops. It will also include a 20,000 sq ft civic front office
facility facing onto Green Street.

The scheme, which goes before the council next Wednesday, has faced
opposition from local group The Friends of Queens Market who fear that
St Modwen will hike rents once the scheme has been developed. Newham Council
owns the freehold of the land and St Modwen will take a long lease on when
the development is completed.

South Indian Restaurants

Newham must have the best concentration of South Indian restaurants in Britain, with dozens of Dosa houses in High Street North alone. Manor Park and East Ham is the epi centre of south Indian cuisine.

Manor Park Station Sign London Overground

Manor Park Station Sign London Overground
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

This new sign is an attempt to guide people coming off the London Overground station at Woodgrange Park heading from the main Manor Park railway station for trains in to Liverpool Street Station and out to Essex.

Greylag Goose

Greylag Goose
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

It's always nice to see a native greylag goose amongst all the Canada Geese on the duckpond at Wanstead Flats.

Organic Vegetable Boxes

I put my postcode in to do a local search for organic vegetable boxes for delivery in Newham and got some interesting results:



We quite like the Riverford boxes but they do come all the way up from Devon so the local vegetable box delivery option from Hackney could be better in some ways.

minute by minute 2

minutebyminute2
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

This was filmed in Newham, just.

Minute by Minute

Earl of Essex Manor Park, Newham

This is the corner of Romford Road by the Earl of Essex at Manor Park broadway.

Pic by Karin Bultje