Green Matters - October to December 2011
Eco pioneers awarded
Eco campaigners across the borough have been praised for their work to make schools greener and more sustainable.
Nearly 100 children and adults were recognised at the Hackney Schools' Green Heroes Awards at Stoke Newington Town Hall for projects that include improving energy saving, recycling, composting, gardening and sustainable transport.
Among the winners were Grasmere Primary School's Sebastian Carandini, Anna King, Celia Hobbs, and Lily McKay who helped recycle classroom materials, water the school's vegetable and plant beds, switch off lights, turn down heaters, cycle to school, and pick organic vegetables for the kitchen.
Sebastian, 10, said: "I really enjoyed being part of the recycling team. We made a big difference in school."
Surjit Vohra, a science teacher from The Urswick School, won the Lifetime Achievement Award. Described by colleagues as a 'pioneer of the ecological movement,' Surjit has run gardening clubs, recycling programmes, litter pick-ups and helped plant thousands of flowers and shrubs across Hackney.
Her efforts at Urswick resulted in the school being awarded a Green Flag earlier this year.
Saci Lloyd, author of 'The Carbon Diaries' children's books about an ecologically bleak future, congratulated all the winners at the 28 November event.
She said: "The future is directly affected by what we do today. This is a great movement we're in. You are pioneers."
The Green Heroes Awards were organised by The Learning Trust.
12 December 2011
A helping hand...
Something new - and fresh - is starting on streets and estates right across Hackney: a garden swap scheme.
If a resident with a garden is unable to look after it, they can sign up to Garden Swap. Hackney Homes will then match the garden with a green-fingered volunteer who will help maintain it.
Residents can even grow flowers or vegetables as a group - making once unused space much more productive.
Those who want to get involved with the scheme can take advantage of free gardening-related training courses from Hackney Homes, as well as exciting trips and days out with teams of experienced gardeners.
Hackney Homes Head of Building Maintenance, Jim Paterson, said: "The interest in the Garden Swap scheme has been promising and we look forward to matching residents so that they can build long-term friendships and help transform their gardens."
More information
Pick up a form from the local neighbourhood housing office, call: 020 8356 1722 ,or visit: www.hackneyhomes.org.uk/gardenswap.htm
28 November 2011
Wat-er way to travel
The waterways of the Lower Lea Valley are at the heart of a regeneration project which aims to redevelop East London as a 'water city' as part of the legacy of the 2012 Games.
Spectators visiting the Olympic Park next year, will be able to use the waterways as an alternative, and more picturesque, mode of transport to the Games.
Next summer, a waterbus service will run between Tottenham Hale and Homerton Road Bridge, and from Limehouse Basin to Old Ford Lock. Spectators can then enter the Olympic Park from both disembarkation sites. The waterbuses will cover the route in 50 minutes from Tottenham, and 30 minutes from Limehouse, at a top speed of four miles per hour.
Prior to the Games, the waterbus will also stop at Three Mills for those wishing to explore the 18th-century House Mill, Three Mills Green or visit the amenities around Bromley-by-Bow.
The River Lee has spent many years in the shadow of its more famous rival, the Thames, but next year, the Lee and its tributaries will take centre stage at the heart of the renaissance of East London. John Middleton, Head of Economic Development, London Thames Gateway Development Corporation, said: "The River Lee is the spine of East London and this redevelopment project supports our desire to stimulate additional development to drive a waterside renaissance."
Improvements to the River Lee have been funded by British Waterways, Transport for London and Hackney Council.
More information
For more information, visit: www.water-chariots.co.uk
28 November 2011
Borough wins cycling award
Hackney has picked up a London Cycling Campaign award for the best project for children or young people for its Hackney Bikers' breakfast scheme.
It has resulted in 845 children cycling to school - and a 58 per cent increase in overall numbers compared to pre-project figures.
The Council's Streetscene Team worked closely with 15 schools across the borough, providing resources including posters, stickers and bike mechanics.
Tom Bogdanowicz, from the London Cycling Campaign, said: "Judges were highly impressed by the Hackney programme - it took a great idea and multiplied it to encourage hundreds of schoolchildren to cycle more often."
More information
For more information about cycling and School Travel Plans in Hackney call: 020 8356 8469, or visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/stp
28 November 2011
Greener Hackney event
Many thanks to all of those who attended the inaugural Greener Hackney event on 15 October. It was great to see so many people there, and we hope it will prove to be a strong foundation for our future work together.
The workshops and the general discussion raised a number of issues and ideas which we will be looking into over the next few months, including:
- The need for more guidance from Planning on renewables and other aspects of sustainability
- The difficulty for small food growing projects of accessing suitable amounts of compost
- The value of installing PV on council homes
- The value of supporting co-ops and other groups who want to team up to invest in renewables together
- The problems facing food growers on Colville Estate and food growers more generally both in terms of the preservation of these spaces for growing and the need to ensure they are treated well e.g. not sprayed with weedkiller
- The potential to use empty properties and other spaces to promote energy efficiency to residents
- The importance of supporting community-led behaviour change projects
- The value of small, community led initiatives and local champions, and the need to share their stories more widely
We have already begun acting on some of these. Planning officers have arranged to meet with Sustainable Hackney to discuss their guidance, and the planning website has been updated with specific guidance on installing PV in conservation areas, which can be found in Information Sheets 1 and 6. In addition, issues on Colville Estate in particular have been raised with Hackney Homes.
We intend to hold the second Greener Hackney event in April next year - this will be an opportunity for us to update you on progress made on your suggestions above and also look to the future and consider what more we should be doing. We hope that even more organisations will be able to attend, including Hackney Homes and other housing providers.
17 November 2011
Food, glorious, food
Borough schools have been holding farmers' markets as part of a programme to teach pupils about where their food comes from.
Earlier this year youngsters from Jubilee, Sebright and Millfields primaries spent time on an organic farm, experiencing everything from cheese-making and keeping hens, to growing and harvesting vegetables.
The pupils then applied their new knowledge by setting up farmers' markets and selling school-grown food, as well as produce from local, and sometimes organic, manufacturers.
The schoolchildren are fully involved in running the stalls, enabling them to learn about the importance of sustainability, locally produced food and animal welfare.
The money raised goes towards more farm visits or food education.
The project was developed as part of the Soil Association Farm Academy programme, which helps schoolchildren to learn about farming and food, connecting local producers with the community.
The next market will be held at Millfields school, E5, on 9 December. Teacher Roz Wilson, said: "The scheme is really important to help pupils realise where their food comes from. The pupils will become champions for helping to promote healthy eating in the wider community."
More information
For more information, call, 020 7837 2250 or visit: www.soilassociation.org
14 November 2011
Increased cycle docking stations
The capital's cycle hire scheme has been extended further into the borough, it has been announced.
Following campaigning from the Council, Transport for London will create nine new Barclays Cycle Hire Scheme docking stations in Hackney.
Stations are to be introduced near Haggerston Park, Hoxton Station and Hackney City Farm, and on Eagle Wharf Road, Whiston Road, Thurtle Road, Regents Row and Pitfield Street.
Installation works are due to be completed by next February, with each station taking up to four weeks to build. Residents near to the proposed sites will receive information regarding the works closer to the time.
For more information on the Barclays Cycle Hire Scheme visit: www.tfl.gov.uk.
14 November 2011
An apple a day
Sutton House has received £5,000 worth of funding to set up an apple orchard in its new garden.
The cash will support growing local varieties of apples and it is hoped residents and communityn groups will sign up to plant and maintain the urban orchard in Homerton.
Fruit juice firm Copella donated the money as part of its campaign to increase English apple numbers.
To celebrate the news, as well as National Apple Day, Sutton House staff held a family day at the 500-year-old building.
The 20 October event saw visitors plant trees for the new orchard, learn horticulture tips and create a family tree.
Christopher Cleeve, Learning Officer at Sutton House, said: "It's exciting to have some of our local varieties coming back to the area and it will really put us on the map as somewhere locals can come to learn more and have a great day out with the family."
On 15 October, Stoke Newington Farmers' Market also held its own celebration for National Apple Day. At its St Paul's Church home there was a chance to press apples, go apple bobbing and sample some of the oldest UK apple varieties.
For more info on volunteering at Sutton House, call: 020 8986 2264; visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/suttonhouse
31 October 2011
Green volunteers
Young and old gave more than 1,100 hours of their free time to help maintain Hackney's award-winning green spaces in September.
The Council hosted 75 hours of volunteer sessions for residents aged five to 75, which ranged from creating bird boxes to helping out with a wildlife programme in Springfield Park.
Members of the borough's park user groups also planted bulbs at Haggerston Park, and helped to run Stoke Newington Fun Day.
Eugene Clerkin, from the Tree Musketeers, said: "Planting, preserving and protecting trees in parks is most enjoyable as it is good, physical hard work and it is a responsibility that links you to your own local Environment and to others."
Cllr Jonathan McShane, Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Culture, added:
"Hackney's award winning parks and green spaces are a haven for wildlife and great way for the community to come together.
"There are many fantastic opportunities to get involved every week and give something back to your local community."
More information
For more info on individual, group and corporate volunteering opportunities, visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/parks-volunteering.htm
31 October 2011
Make energy while the sun shines
The first solar panels to be installed on a borough estate are now helping residents reduce their energy bills and have a positive impact on the environment.
Panels have been fitted at Linslade House in Haggerston to generate power for the 50 properties in the block.
Using solar electricity cuts energy bills and carbon emissions. Linslade residents will be able to see their savings via a monitor in the communal area of the block and a reduction in their bills is forecast within months.
Whiston Road residents and the local tenants and residents association were closely involved in the project.
Cllr Philip Glanville, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: "This marks the beginning of a green programme on estates right across the borough which will also include replacement of thousands of boilers to new energy efficient models."
31 October 2011
Winning Blooms
Some of the borough's keenest gardeners have been honoured in this year's Hackney in Bloom awards.
A panel of judges visited more than 70 gardens to pick winners in nine categories.
Anil Chakowa won two awards - best front garden and best container garden - for her plot on Green Lanes, N16; The Beehive, New North Road, was named best business premises; Robin Hood Community Garden, Big Hill, won best community project; Strand Building, Urswick Road, got first prize for best voluntary organisation garden; Lee House Rehabilitation & Employment Service in Rectory Road picked up best educational garden; Dr Taiiana Parrott in Kenton Road won best food growing project; Isaac and Esther Ramsey, from Maury Road, got the 'young and green fingered' award; and Benthal primary won best school garden.
Cllr Jonathan McShane, Cabinet Member for Heath, Social Care and Community Services, said: "Congratulations to all this year's winners who have provided beautiful gardens and green spaces for us all to enjoy."
The competition is organised by the Council in partnership with Hackney Homes and sponsors.
It recognises those who work hard to make the borough a pleasant place to live.
For more info, visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/hackneyin-bloom.
17 October 2011
Compost giveaway
More than 60 residents came out on the hottest October day on record to pick up free compost, along with some top tips for their plants and gardens.
The popular giveaway saw more than five tonnes of compost hauled away by keen gardeners on 1
October. More than 50 per cent of attendees said they planned to use it for food growing, while the rest took compost for general gardening.
ecoACTIVE Education also offered activities for children and families on the day to help raise awareness of the importance of composting.
Participants got the chance to take part in a treasure hunt and make recycled newspaper plant pots.
There was also 'A Love Food Hate Waste' stall, and soil expert Doctor Compost was on hand to answer queries.
The Hackney Marshes event was organised by the Council's recycling team.
For more information about composting in Hackney call: 020 8356 6688, or visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/composting
17 October 2011
Harvesting the fields
London Fields Farmers' Market celebrated the harvest festival this year by offering produce grown in Hackney community spaces.
Local fruit, vegetables and preserves were sold at the 25 September event supported by The Capital Growth project, which aims to create neighbourhood food growing spaces across London.
Louis Schulz of London Fields Farmers' Market said: "I think it's fantastic that you can now buy food that has never left Hackney. If you don't have your own allotment or back garden where you can grow food, you need to seek out markets such as this in order to get super-fresh, low-food-mile vegetable or fruit."
As well as food and live music, the market had plenty of other harvest festival activities on offer, including a scarecrow-making workshop.
Capital Growth offers practical help, grants, training and support to groups wanting to establish community food growing projects as well as advice to landowners.
3 October 2011
The country comes to town
Almost 900 pupils from primary schools across the borough gathered to experience the countryside life in the middle of London.
Countryside Live was created by Lee Valley Regional Park in partnership with the Countryside Foundation for Education. The idea is to bring the classroom into the countryside and provide London-based children and teachers with a memorable and educational rural experience, said organisers.
The two-day event, which took place on Leyton Marsh over 21-22 September, included activities and demonstrations to help portray what the countryside is all about. These included a giant hive to show how bees make honey; hands-on activities such as willow weaving, wood turning and butter making; as well as meeting cows, sheep, rabbits, ducklings, pigs and other animals.
Shaun Dawson, chief executive of the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, said: "It's an incredible opportunity for children to do things they normally wouldn't do, understand how life in the countryside really works and simply get close enough to touch the animals."
3 October 2011
Junk in the trunk
Around 500kg of unwanted household items were donated for reuse at the Give or Take Day recycling event at Leabank Square last month.
More than 100 people turned out to support the event - organised by the Council's Recycling Team and funded by North London Waste Authority - which was part of the Hackney Wick Festival (17 September).
Residents picked up useful recycling advice from the information stall, and there were recycling fishing games for younger attendees available throughout the day.
Cllr Feryal Demirci, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: "It is gratifying to continually have so many residents supporting the Give or Take days.
"They are fun and a successful way to divert materials from entering the waste stream. I hope many more people are encouraged to come along to our recycle and reuse activities in the future."
The next Give or Take recycling event takes place on 15 October, 11am-3pm, at Petchey Academy, Shacklewell Lane, E8 2EY.
3 October 2011
Page updated: 18 Jan 2012
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