Free resource packs available to help communities go green

A novel set of free resources to help householders and local communities to reduce their environmental impact has just been launched by the Communities Cutting Carbon project.
Community Greening Packs contain useful gadgets such as energy monitors and water-saving equipment, along with a wide range of useful information from local organisations on how to go green. They are available now for free loan to communities in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

For more information click here

Green Directory for Leicestershire & Rutland

Vale Villages in Transition Green Day, Bottesford

The Rural Community Council (RCC) has produced a Green Directory in partnership with the Communities Cutting Carbon project. The directory provides information on more than 30 community green groups in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, and gives details of local food projects, recycling schemes, car sharing groups and so on. There are also details about the many support organisations, such as Communities Cutting Carbon, that can help local groups to get a new project off the ground.

One of the green groups listed is Vale Villages in Transition, a local initiative, focused on the Vale of Belvoir. It is part of a growing international movement to address the twin challenges of peak oil and climate change. Events so far include several film showings, public talks and a well-attended Green Day. 

The RCC provides help and support to those who live and work in rural Leicestershire & Rutland. It is involved with a wide range of projects and issues, all of which are becoming of increasing importance as the quality of rural life, and the services provided for rural communities, deteriorate.

To read more about the Green Directory and download a copy click here

Melton's Green Environmental Agony Aunt

Melton Borough Council now has its very own ‘Green Environmental Agony Aunt’. ‘Ask Amanda’ will promote the principles of environmentally sustainable practices, clear up any common misunderstandings and in general raise awareness to the Boroughs residents on a range of issues including waste minimisation, recycling, carbon reduction and the changing climate. She will also provide advice on a wide range of issues such as our recycling service, waste reduction, home composting, offer green tips such as how to make the most of your leftovers and in general encourage sustainable lifestyles and habits.
For more click here

Leicestershire residents take up 'green cone' deal to reduce food waste

Nearly 2,000 green cone food waste digesters have been bought by county residents keen to recycle their leftovers. Since May 2008 the special bins have been sold at a cut down rate by Leicestershire County Council, on behalf of the Leicestershire Waste Partnership, helping families reduce the amount of leftover food they send to landfill.

All sorts of food waste, from fish and chips to curries and fruit to cooked meat and bones, can be scraped into the device which cleverly turns it into water, carbon dioxide and nutrients which are absorbed back into the soil.

Kathy Platts (pictured) from Sileby said: “By putting leftover food into the kitchen caddy that comes with the digester you see how much you waste. We’ve reduced what we buy, so there are long-term savings.

“There are immediate benefits in the surrounding area - I’ve seen a big difference in the surrounding plants, they’re very lush.”

The Green Cone costs £7.50*, which includes free professional installation, other composters such as wormeries and Green Johannas are also available at discount prices.

Tony Kershaw, County Council Cabinet Member for Waste and Chairman of Leicestershire Waste Partnership, said: “Using a food waste digester helps reduce the cost of sending waste to landfill, which is rising yearly. The digesters we have on offer are really great value and help us all do our bit for the environment.”

To order a food waste digester call 0800 019 2061 or visit: http://www.greatgreensystems.com/

For more information on all the units available visit: www.leics.gov.uk/waste

*Offer available to Leicestershire residents only – excludes Leicester city.

New wood planted in Wymeswold



View of Wymeswold from new woodland

A new native woodland has been planted at Wymeswold with help from woodland charity the Woodland Trust.
The new two acre wood, planted with the help of the local community, consists of 750 trees - a mix of native deciduous species including Oak, Ash, Cherry and Hawthorne – in partnership with the Trust’s new MOREwoods programme, which offers help, advice and, in some cases, funding to landowners across the country.

Local landowner Kathy Simpson decided to have the wood planted on her land in the rural North Leicestershire village to “enhance the environment and leave something for the future.” However, without the expertise or finance to plant a wood herself, she contacted the National Forest, who then referred her to the Woodland Trust. After an inspection of the site, she was extremely pleased to receive 750 trees from the trust along with the necessary planning proposal.

Read more on this in the April/May issue of Village Connect (out end March).

To find out how you can get involved with MOREwoods in Leicestershire, see http://www.MoretreesMoregood.org.uk/planting, email morewoods@woodlandtrust.org.uk or call 0845 293 5689

The Green Place in Sileby reopens

The Green Place gift shop

After a couple of months of hibernation, The Green Place in Sileby will be re-opening on 5th March. Regular visitors will notice new products in the green gift shop and and new snacks in the cafe. The first 10 customers to visit on Saturday March 5th will get a free goodie bag and there will be some great bargains on old favourites from the gift range. Look out for some great computer deals too, with machines from £95 while stocks last.

Got a wood burner?
If you regularly use logs, take a look at the Smart Splitter which the Green Place now stocks, a safe and effective way to split logs. No electricity needed or heavy, dangerous axes to swing. 2-year guarantee and special price of £70. See it demonstrated on Saturday 5th.

What's going on?
There are plans for some major development in the next few months. The first will be an array of solar panels covering the roof, to provide a chunk of the Green Place's electricity and take them a step closer to being carbon neutral. Also, the first draft plans have been drawn up for some extra space for shop/workshop/activities.

Book of Green
The Green Place have five copies of the Book of Green eco-living directory to give away. A great source of green and ethical business across the UK. Please ask for a copy in the shop.

The Green Place is run by Complete Wasters, a social enterprise whose aims include promoting Fair Trade, recycled and eco-friendly products. As well as a gift shop, cafe and computer shop, it also has a weekly veg stall and runs regular events and workshops.
For more information go to http://www.completewasters.co.uk/

The Green Place, 6 Cossington Road, Sileby (next to Chine House vets)
Telephone 01509 815181

Wind turbines: not in my back yard

Two years ago planning permission for eight wind turbines in the Vale of Belvoir near Bottesford was turned down, much to the delight of the strong protest group who had campaigned strongly against the scheme. Last month, it was the turn of Queniborough residents to celebrate when the Scottish Power Renewable's plan for four turbines close to the village was rejected.

BBC News - Queniborough wind turbine plan is turned down

Now, a group opposed to a plan to put eight wind turbines on the site of the old Asfordby mine are hoping their campaign will be successful. They say the noise created from the turbines will have an adverse affect on the lives of those living nearby. However, Peel Energy, who submitted the planning application last December, argues that the wind farm poses no enviromental problem and the visual impact would be limited within two kilometers of the site.
For the latest on the campaign to 'stop the turbines' click here

It's a tricky issue. We want renewable sources of energy, but not at a cost to our quality of life and our local environment. So, where is the best place for wind farms? What do you think?

What green spaces do you value?

Wymeswold Meadows Nature Reserve by Kate Jewell

People in Leicestershire are being urged to have their say on the green spaces they value. The county council wants to hear from people about their favourite green spaces, whether they are parks and meadows or large green wedges between towns.
There are already a number of protected areas in Leicestershire, such as Bradgate Park, Conservation Areas and Green Wedges. The council are particularly interested in hearing about more local areas that are important to people in their community. It could be a small strip of waste land that local children play on, a roadside verge that provides particular wildlife habitat, a village green or public garden, or even large areas of green space between towns and villages.

You can make your views known either by attending your local community forum meeting before the end of March (there will be sessions on green spaces at each one), or by making your comments using the council's interactive, online map of the county.

For more information go to http://www.leics.gov.uk/greenspaces

Film and Green Day in Bottesford - March 2011

The community group Vale Villages in Transition have organised two events which will take place at Bottesford Village Hall in early March.

On the evening of Friday 4th March from 7.45pm, the group will show the film “The Power of Community”, which tells the inspiring story of how Cuba coped with increased fuel prices by switching to sustainable agriculture and urban food production.

On Saturday 12th March from 2pm to 6.30pm, the group are organising a Green Day, which will feature local food providers, energy saving advice, kids’ activities and much more.
For further information, visit http://www.valevillagesintransition.org.uk/FutureEvents.html, or contact the group on 07812 564 059.

Both events have been supported by Climate Friendly Communities grant funding from the Communities Cutting Carbon project (http://www.ruralcc.org.uk/climate-change). The funds were made available thanks to the support of each of the local authorities in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

This news item is taken from http://www.ruralcc.org.uk/latestnews.html