Glistening Chigwell is such a beautiful place.


Willow Chowdhry with Chigwell Snowman

By Wilson Chowdhry

Christmas will be a little more special this year after recent snowfall covered Chigwell with just under 2 weeks till the 25th. I doubt the snow will remain till Christmas Day but this is the closest it's been for many years.

Children have been sledging in the snow and trails can be seen throughout the glistening snow in Hainault forest.

Even better, snowmen adorn many of our local streets. They provide a very welcoming presence, whilst they seem to greet those who pass by them.

My daughter Willow and I built a snowwoman ourselves. The initial one took 3 hours to build but fell to the ground after we went shopping for a carrot nose.

On Tuesday however we spent less than an hour and this one is still standing two days later.

We hope that it brings all of you as much joy as it did while we were making it.

If you have pictures of your own snowmen, or beautiful images of the snowfall in Chigwell please email them to wilson@eastilfordbettermentpartnership.  I will add them to this post, for others in Chigwell to enjoy them too and for posterity.

The snow has turned into ice on many of our minor roads, so please drive safely. Not all roads in Chigwell are on a gritting programme and the snowfall was very deep this year. 

On the Sunday night two cars became stranded on Romford Road,  at that time no roads had been gritted and vehicles were skidding quite madly. I am not aware of any accidents but there were a few close calls.

Most local schools were closed and some schools have still not returned opting for on-line school as a perceived safer and more effective alternative.  

Its amazing how frozen drops of water can bring a country to a standstill, but nature is both beautiful and dangerous.

If you have the time, I would recommend a walk in Hainault Forest, the glistening snow has such a mystical effect. 

I can't help but think that when Charles Dickens wrote 'Chigwell is the greatest place on earth' that he too experienced a winter like this one.

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