Latest news about environmental initiatives in our local area
Upcoming Eco Events
Summer Festival of Conservation & Sustainable Living 1-31 August at The Living Rainforest, Hampstead Norreys
Beeswax Wraps and Soaps Workshop Tues 20 Aug Marlborough
SustainHUBle Eco-friendly Pop-up Market Thurs 22 Aug Hungerford
GreenFest Sat 7 Sept Hampstead Norreys
West Berkshire Climate Conference Mon 28 Oct Mon will explore different ways residents, businesses, local organisations in West Berkshire, and West Berkshire Council, can help tackle the climate crisis. The conference will be opened by Rt Hon Richard Benyon MP. A conference agenda will be published in the coming weeks. Tickets will be available from noon on Mon 16 Sept. More information here.
Petitions and Campaigns to Support
Change.org petition to get every product clearly labelled with its carbon footprint
38 degrees petition to EU for mandatory carbon emissions labelling
Petition to parliament: all products sold in UK to have compulsory labelling of their carbon footprint
Climate Change
• David Attenborough’s strongest message so far: Climate Change – The Facts
West Berkshire Climate Emergency petition progress
A few months ago many of you kindly signed a petition which was asking Richard Benyon, the MP for Newbury,
Speech made by nine-year-old Louis de Chazal at the students’ climate-change strike in Newbury on Friday 19 July 2019
This is the full text of the speech made by nine-year-old Louis de Chazal at the students’ climate-change strike in
West Berkshire Council Declares Climate Emergency – What Happens Next?
As predicted, West Berkshire Council unanimously passed a motion on Tuesday 2 July 2019 which had been agreed beforehand by
Letter to my local councillor
I have copied below the text of an email that I wrote to my local councillor, Clive Hooker (Conservative, Downlands),
Climate Change Talk By Dr. Mike Morecroft
Climate change seems to always be in the news these days. The science shows that the world is warming as a
West Berkshire Green Exchange – Zero Carbon discussion document
West Berkshire Green Exchange are a voluntary sector organisation setup in 2013 whose aim is to bring together those people in
West Berkshire Climate Action Network Petition Appeal
Miri Lee and the West Berkshire Climate Action Network have launched a petition is to ask Richard Benyon, MP for
Local Student Climate Change Strikers
Like many parts of the UK, our area has seen recent Student Strikes for Climate inspired by Swedish student Greta Thunberg but it has
The Role of Trees in Carbon Capture
How Planting Trees in West Berkshire Can Offset Carbon Emissions by Dr Mike Morecroft, Natural England
Introduction There is wide recognition of the threat posed by climate change and the need to act urgently to reduce
Use Ecosia Search Engine To Plant Trees While You Search The Web
Berlin-based Christian Kroll set out in 2009 with a mission to create a search engine with a positive environmental and
Food
• The Wheatsheaf in Chilton Foliat (Britain’s most sustainable pub) serves 80% organic food & drink, (much of it local), uses green energy, grows their own herbs and fruit, and invites diners to donate £1 to the Carbon Footprint charity on each bill.
• You can also bring in organic homegrown produce in exchange for credit at The Wheatsheaf!
• Price comparison between food shopping at Packaging Not Included zero waste shop in Marlborough versus the supermarkets
• You can drop off your used cooking oil at The Red House pub in Marsh Benham who has it collected
• It is commonly accepted now that meat (especially beef) production creates a lot of carbon. But you also have to take into consideration carbon emmissions of fruit and vegetables that are flown around the world
Britain’s Most Sustainable Pub – The Wheatsheaf in Chilton Foliat
It’s official – The Wheatsheaf in Chilton Foliat is Britain’s most sustainable pub. This is not according the the owners,
So you want to grow your own veg?
Hannah Fraser from Bloom Garden shares her tips for growing your own veg Growing your own veg can be hugely
Zero Waste Packaging Not Included Shop in Marlborough
Packaging Not Included, the brainchild of Hayley Lambert (see interview below), is Marlborough’s first packaging free food and cleaning products
Low Energy Cooking
Did you know that it’s possible to save 40-50% of the fuel needed to cook, without buying any new equipment?
Local Environmental Groups
Please consider joining a local group to meet likeminded people in your community and learn more about actions you can take to reduce waste and fight climate breakdown. (Please leave a comment below if you would like to have your group featured here).
- West Berkshire Green Exchange
- West Berkshire Climate Action Network facebook group
- Thatcham Against Plastic
- Newbury Climate Strike
- Hungerford Environmental Action Team
- Pangbourne and Whitchurch Sustainability Group (PAWS)
- Sustainable Wantage
- Extinction Rebellion Devizes & Marlborough
Plastic & Recycling
• According to Oxfordshire Recycles, the carbon impact of food going to waste is bigger than the impact of the plastic packaging. A wrapped cucumber lasts 3 times as long as an unwrapped one! However, 79% of all plastic items ever produced are still in the environment and having an impact on the planet.
• The first three month of trading at Packaging Not Included in Marlborough has proved a huge success in reducing single use plastic
An Explanation of Plastic Recycling by Dr Peter Cox
An Introduction to Plastics Recycling by Dr Peter Cox Dr Peter Cox is a chartered mechanical engineer who first started
Surfers Against Sewage Litter Picks
Surfers Against Sewage is a marine conservation charity that has expanded their ‘beach cleans’ to inland rivers, mountains and urban
Terracycle Recycling in aid of Canine Partners
It’s surprising how much you can recycle when you know how! Here is the list of items that Terracycle will
Make Eco-Bricks to Keep Plastic out of Landfill
An Eco-brick is a plastic bottle crammed full with so much plastic that it is heavy and strong enough to
What’s The Problem with Plastic
Plastic is a versatile material, and for some uses there is no alternative. However, it is so durable that when
Monthly Wantage Repair Cafe
First Saturday of the month. Volunteer fixers will be on hand to help with small electrical and household items, simple
Electric Cars & Tech
Scoop Electrical Services
Scoop Electrical Services has many years of electrical experience and deals directly with domestic clients, trades, businesses and landlords. They
A Beginner’s Guide to Electric Cars
As the owner of an EV, Richard has written this article based on his own knowledge and experience as a
Green Machine Computers achieves ISO 14001 accreditation for Environmental Management
Green Machine Computers Ltd has recently received accreditation under ISO 14001, a set of rules which defines the standard for
Water
how to protect our waterways from pollution and to minimise water waste in our homes
Yellow Fish in Newbury
If you live in the Gaywood Drive or Two Rivers Way area of Newbury you may have noticed an abundance
