Please place items into the green bin LOOSE if your bin has incorrect items in it will not be emptied and a sticker detailing why it was rejected will be placed on your bin, once you have removed such items the bin will be collected on your next designated recycling collection please wash, flatten and take all tops off plastic bottles, (tops in black landfill bin please)
Top tip To get more recyclables in your bin, break down all cardboard boxes and squash all tins, cans and plastic bottles.
We are calling for all local businesses to get involved with Small Change Big Difference week 2009 between 13th and 18th July...
Simple changes at work make a positive environmental impact and could save you money.
Lights left on overnight use enough energy in a year to heat a home for five months!
We want local organisations to pledge to make one simple change and keep it up for a year. We've set up a mini-website for the campaign where you can choose the pledge you want to make, find out what impact your small change will have if you keep it up for a year, and see what other people have promised to do.
Handy tools for your big lunch! from the organising team at the Eden Project...
The Big Lunch Brochure, your handy manual to serving up a Big Lunch is now available to buy online at www.thebiglunch.com Packed with wild ideas and straight up facts it's the big lowdown on all you need to know for July 19th, and it's all for just £2.00. You can also get batches of our leaflets - an upbeat message on the front and lots of practical info in the back - to help you spread the word about The Big Lunch with your neighbours.
We have The Big Lunch Posters to help you promote The Big Lunch in your street. Some examples can currently be found at www.edenproject.com/documents/big-lunch-posters/poster1.pdf and another at www.edenproject.com/documents/big-lunch-posters/poster6.pdf and there will be a full range including designs for the workplace available on our website soon. They have space for you to add in contact details or information about your plans to get your street lunching.
If you're a teacher, youth leader or work with young people, find out how The Big Lunch can support you in what you already do as well as giving you lots of ideas to get young people involved with the big day in our free handy guide online at www.thebiglunch.com
Tell us what you're up to
Is yours going to be the biggest Big Lunch? Is it going to be unusual in any way or happen in a strange place? Have you got a street band, some budding artists or exotic recipes? Have you got an especially friendly street or are you trying to plan a Lunch on a street where no one speaks to their neighbours?
We're on the lookout for Big Lunch stories to use in the media to really raise awareness of The Big Lunch, so if you've got an interesting story to tell we'd love to hear from you. Contact the Big Lunch team on 020 7636 8152, info@thebiglunch.com or through one of our groups below.
Make Connections
The Big Lunch is now on social networking sites so come and join us, share your plans, ask questions and make new Big Lunch friends.
Find us on Facebook - our group is "The Big Lunch - an eden project, the official site: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63448562733 , Twitter twitter.com/thebiglunch, post your Big Lunch photos on Flickr www.flickr.com/groups/1091071@N23/ and have a look at some of ours http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebiglunch/
After the sucessful screening of The Age of Stupid during the Green Festival, Peterborough Enviornment City Trust is now looking to screen The End of the Line.
The world’s first major documentary about the devastating effect of overfishing premiered at Sundance Film Festival.
Imagine an ocean without fish. Imagine your meals without seafood. Imagine the global consequences. This is the future if we do not stop, think and act.
To register your interest in attending a screening of this film email: nyree.ambarchian@pect.net http://endoftheline.com/
Resurgence magazine has created a 'Quick Carbon Calculator' that allows you to calculate annual CO2 emissions on the spot, without referring to your energy bills. Following on from their award-winning Carbon Calculator designed by low-carbon pioneer, Mukti Mitchell, this new Quick Carbon Calculator is even simpler and easier to use.
Resurgence has been at the forefront of the environment movement for over 40 years presenting a positive perspective on the latest environmental trends that has inspired millions of individuals around the world. The new online calculator isn’t designed to make people feel guilty about their lifestyle. On the contrary, Satish Kumar, who has edited Resurgence for the past 35 years explained why such a tool can simplify your life:
“This calculator will help you reduce your carbon emissions and increase your quality of life.
Reduction of carbon emissions need not be a burden – it can be a source of pleasure. You have to be the change you want to see in the world. When you change the world will begin to change.”
National average emissions are currently 10 tonnes per person per year. In 2004 the UK government pledged to cut emissions by 20% by 2012 to around 8 tonnes per capita. They have now pledged 80% reductions by 2050 to around 2 tonnes per capita, which is the sustainable CO2 quota per capita globally.
“The bold targets set by government show that we’ve all got to look at our lifestyles and make some changes,” explained Mukti, who’s original calculator has been widely cited as the most accurate on the web, “The new Resurgence Quick Carbon Calculator can help pinpoint the areas where it might be easiest for you to make those changes.”
The calculator has already received excellent reviews from both environmental professionals and the general public. Peter Yeo, admitted his surprise at his own footprint:
“The calculator showed I currently produce between 6-7 tonnes of CO2 a year which was surprising as I live a relatively low-impact lifestyle.
Nevertheless, it also revealed my biggest carbon culprit to be the oil burner used for heating my property. This has prompted me to look into alternative sources of heating that will save me money in the winter and whilst reducing CO2 emissions at the same time ”
The Resurgence online Quick Carbon Calculator provides accurate information about carbon footprints – enabling individuals to make informed choices. To reduce your carbon footprint, Resurgence suggests starting at your current level and reducing it by 4% per year. This allows you to play your part in reaching the national targets in a surprisingly easy way!
To try the Resurgence Quick Calculator click here...
Peterborough Environment City Trust’s two week Green Festival, which ended on Sunday, has been the most successful one yet according to organisers from the green charity.
The Green Festival has been running for 18 years and according to Janine Starling from PECT this year has been the most successful in terms of the number of local people attending events throughout the fortnight.
Janine said: “The launch day on Saturday 23rd May had a fantastic buzz and there were definitely more people attending than we have had in previous years. I think this was down to the fact that we had some great activities for the whole family to enjoy, and the entertainment with the junk band was superb. The sunny weather helped too!”
Janine continued, “We also noticed more people getting involved in the events throughout the Green Festival fortnight such as the swish clothes swap, the cycle race, and the eco-fashion show in Queensgate. There were around 500 people at the grand finale summer party organised by Riverford Organic Veg at Sacrewell Farm on Sunday, despite the rain!”
PECT carried out surveys throughout the Festival with people that had attended, responses included:
“The whole family had an amazing time”, “Enjoyed it all would like to see more events like this” and, “Good range of family activities to enjoy and good ideas on how we can improve our green-ness.”
When asked which part of the Festival they had least enjoyed, one attendee responded “that it doesn’t go on longer.”
Event organisers are now seeking ideas for the theme of next years Green Festival which will launch on Saturday 22nd May 2010.
The theme in 2008 was ‘get a green grip’ where reusable carrier bags were given out to cut the number of plastic bags in the city. This year the theme was grow it, cook it, eat it, focussing on healthy eating, growing your own food and supporting local farmers.
If you have an idea for the theme of the Green Festival in 2010 send it over to the team at PECT by emailing janine.starling@pect.net or calling 01733 866439.
Earlier this week we screened climate change film the Age of Stupid, around 90 local people turned out to see it which is great!
Below is the review I wrote for my weekly column in the Evening Telegraph, Shades of Green...(it's in the ET every Saturday in the Life section).
This week Peterborough Environment City Trust screened climate change film the Age of Stupid as part of the Green Festival. It stars Pete Postlethwaite as a man living alone in the devastated future world of 2055, looking at old footage of 2008 and asking: why didn't we stop climate change when we had the chance? The film follows the stories of six people around the world and reveals how the effects of climate link them all.
A pitifully poor Nigerian woman is juxtaposed with a fifty year old American man enjoying the benefits of a gluttonous oil company salary: early retirement. She is shown fishing, working to pay for the medical degree she so desperately wants. Her meagre catch (two under-sized fish) is the effect of oil spilt in the river. An ongoing problem which Shell hasn’t bothered to sort out despite enjoying billion dollar profits from Nigerian oil. Meanwhile our cheerful early retiree relaxes in his boat with a beer, catching an abundance of large fish which he releases back into the water; his freezer is fully stocked with supermarket bought fish.
Oil is a finite resource which will only last for around 40 more years. Nevertheless, the oil business is set to gain enormously if we keep consuming rapidly rather than looking for alternative ways to power our world. You can’t help but cringe when the camera catches one Shell employee describing the moment you strike oil, “you can smell it straight away and it smells so much like money it’s delicious.”
The film highlights the vested interest that world leaders (particularly in America) have in oil. Why are American cities designed so it’s impossible to get around without a car? Why was investment in electric cars scrapped? Why where railway lines across the US torn up?
My favourite bit of the film was annoying wind farm woman. So determined not to have a wind-farm built where it might spoil her view that she rallied a team of equally annoying cohorts to oppose the turbines. When asked why she didn’t want the wind-farm she responded ‘this is one of the least windy parts of the country’. Cue film-makers gleefully cutting to an earlier scene where she raises concerns that it will be too windy to put up their protest air balloon.
After the wind-farm is rejected by the local council she is asked whether she thinks climate change is an important issue, “Yes of course it is; it has to be the most important issue we face. I try to do my bit.”
The film left me feeling awed by how huge the problem we face is. But also inspired that my efforts to be green do make a difference. It’s frustrating that whilst less than 1% of scientists doubt that climate change is a result of human activity, 60% of the general public STILL think climate change could just be a big myth. It’s time we all worked together, many hands make light work.
Yesterday saw Peterborough city centre become bike-ville. It was all about cycling with a smoothie bike (pedal and squeeze fresh organe juice), old fashioned bike display, local amateur cycle group races, and a kids BMX track all crammed into Bridge street and the Cathedral Grounds.
At 4pm members of the public were allowed a go on the professional race course, before the professionals took over at 7pm. It was a really exciting evening and there was definitely a buzz in the city.
Let's hope the tour series comes to Peterborough again next year. Well-done to Opportunity Peterborough and Peterborough City Council for arranging it all!
The pictures show: Janine and Ben from PECT get ready for the lap of the route. Janine pulls Nyree round the course in the PECT trailer before they swap over and Nyree pulls Janine. The Tour series stage where the winners were presented their trophies. The Finishing line!
Here are a few of the city's green godesses getting ready for the pic down at Green Backyard on London Road (community gardens next to the Apex flats - open on Wednesdays and Sundays).
The pictures show: Jenna from Peterborough City Council (with green wellies) and Hannah Gray (missing half her head) from the ET. Charlotte Palmer from Peterborough City Council. Sophie Antonelli from thr Green Backyard.
Two members of the team from Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT) went along to meet Sir David Attenborough at his book signing in Waterstones. His visit coincided perfectly with the Green Festival as reported in the Evening Telegraph recently...
Janine and Karen spent the hour in the queue thinking up a good question to ask Sir David, but when they finally reached him they were a bit star struck and didn't ask anything!
(Above) Here they are having their picture taken with Britain's best-known natural history film-maker...
...and Janine having her book signed with the lovely Anna from Waterstones, Bridge Street, (the lady who arranged the signing) in the background.
Riverford Organic Vegetables and Sacrewell Farm Visitors Centre open their gates for the Grand Finale of the Green Festival 2009
Sunday June 7th marks the last day of this years’ Green Festival, and also falls upon National Open Farm Sunday. To celebrate this there will be no admission fee to Sacrewell Farm and Country Centre.
This is the first time Sacrewell Farm and Riverford have joined forces to welcome the public to a vegetable-themed summer party on Sunday 7th June from 10am-4.00pm at Sacrewell Lodge Farm, Thornhaugh. Entry is free.
There will be plenty to enjoy for the whole family, including some unique vegetable themed athletics! Have a go at squash putting, Riverford’s version of the shot put. Try your luck on the vegetable shy – you might find certain vegetables are harder to knock over than the more traditional coconut!
Win prizes on the fruit hoopla and play Riverford’s mystery veg, guess the weight and how many potatoes in the sack competition. Line up for welly wanging and compete in the organic tomato and spoon race.
For something a little less energetic, the Sacrewell Visitor centre will be running many other activities, including tractor rides, pony grooming, animal feeding and cream teas in the old mill garden.
“The Green Festival this year has been fantastic, and we are delighted to be able to host the grand finale summer party,” said Mark Moody, Marketing Coordinator of Riverford. “We hope everyone will get stuck into the vegetable athletics and have a great day out.”
Open Farm Sunday is an event held across the UK, and aims to raise awareness of farming alongside nature to produce environmentally friendly food. This event also gives the public the opportunity to experience and learn about farming practices. Sacrewell Farm and Riverford are hoping that people who have not visited the farm before will take advantage of the free open day and come along to see everything they have to offer.
Gates open from 10am – 4pm, the visitor centre and shop will be open as usual and there will be a BBQ serving food along with the Stables restaurant.
Please call 0845 367 1159 or email summerparty@riverford.co.uk to book your free places, giving details of how many people are coming. Booking is not essential but will help Riverford make sure there are enough sausages for everyone!
