Green Matters January to March 2011
Glorious food recycling funds
Hackney will share in a £3.7million fund to help London boroughs boost their recycling services.
The money will be used by the Council to help residents living in flats recycle more by expanding food recycling services to an extra 8,000 properties.
The Council's recycling team is set to meet with Tenant Resident Associations and housing managers to plan how services will be introduced, and it is hoped they will be up and running by autumn. Cllr Feryal Demirci, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: "I am delighted that people living in blocks of flats will now be able to recycle more. Recycling food waste is an easy way to cut down the amount of rubbish dumped in landfill. Expanding this service will really help make Hackney greener."
The £122,422 award follows a successful bid by the Council to The London Waste and Recycling Board, which was set up in 2007 to transform the management of waste in the capital.
It is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the London Development Agency.
More information
For more info on food recycling call: 020 8356 6688; or visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/recycling
21 March 2011
300 trees for 'ecotherapy'
A Housing charity has planted about 300 trees at a site in Hackney as part of an 'ecotherapy' programme.
And in partnership with Groundwork London, more trees are set to be planted at Clissold Community Garden, in Clissold Road, to engage people in gardening through the Peter Bedford Housing Association's 'Roots and Boots' programme.
The social landlord works alongside people who have faced long-term social exclusion through homelessness, mental health problems, or learning difficulties.
Staff hope the trees, provided by the Woodland Trust, will eventually produce fruit for participants to make into jams, jellies and chutneys.
Community gardener, Michael Turrisi, said: "Growing your own food is a simple, but also very powerful activity that is rapidly gaining more and more interest in London."
The project is funded by Ecominds, a new scheme run by mental health charity Mind on behalf of the Big Lottery Fund.
More information
For more info about Peter Bedford call: 020 7923 9255; or visit: www.peterbedford.org.uk
21 March 2011
Food waste getting you down?
The Council has teamed up with Love Food Hate Waste (LFHW) to offer some top tips for spring-cleaning fridges, freezers and store cupboards.
LFHW is a campaign that encourages people around the country to turn leftover food into delicious meals and snacks.
These include using stale biscuits and cake to make trifle or cheesecake bases; and adding paprika, Worcestershire sauce, sweet chilli sauce, and a splash of vinegar to an almost empty marmalade jar to create a tasty marinade for meat and fish. Other ideas to avoid generating food waste include remembering that food can be frozen right up to its use-by date; and that in most cases, best before means food may be past its tastiest, but is still safe to eat. The exception is eggs, which should not be eaten past their best before date.
Cllr Feryal Demirci, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: "With many people in Hackney feeling the pinch, now is a good time to focus on food waste.
"People in Hackney could be wasting up to £50 a month by throwing away food that could be eaten."
A free LFHW cookery book, featuring winning recipes from residents and restaurants across North London, gives leftovers a new lease of life when transformed into a series of dishes. Download it at the link below, or call the recycling team to request a copy.
More information
For more hints and tips visit: www.love foodhatewaste.com; for the recipe book visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/greenerliving-love-food-hate-waste
21 March 2011
Spring river cleaning
Volunteers are being sought to help clean up the River Lea, which runs through Hackney.
This spring, environmental charity Thames21 has teamed up with Government body, the Environment Agency, to offer training and support to volunteers. They will remove floating pennywort - a plant that starves water of light, nutrients and oxygen - as well as reporting pollution and illegal fishing.
John Bryden, Environment Agency Biodiversity Officer, explained: "The Lea is a great river with spots of real beauty and tranquillity, but some of the areas are currently a little unloved and don't live up to their full potential."
Debbie Leach, Thames21 Chief Executive, added: "The project is a great opportunity to get people involved, increase their access to the river and improve the area for the community and wildlife."
Call Vicky D'Souza on: 020 7093 6383; or: 07827 852 599; or: email: lovethelea@thames21.org.uk
21 March 2011
Have your say on Lea Valley vision
Two events this month will give residents an opportunity to have their say about the future of the Lea Valley.
Proposals by the Lea Valley Regional Park Authority for the future development of the area over the next 10 to 15 years are open to public consultation until 29 March 2011.
The authority will be holding an exhibition to present its ideas at the Waterworks Centre, off Lea Bridge Road, E10,
on 11 and 12 March, from 10am-2pm. Residents are invited to come along and discuss proposals with staff.
The second event is being organised by the Lea Valley Federation, which describes itself as a 'critical friend' of the authority. It is holding a meeting at the Round Chapel, in Powerscroft Road, E5, on 15 March at 7.30pm, to discuss the authority's proposals, alongside its own vision for the future of the park.
You can find the Park Authority proposals, a survey and e-mail address for comments on the Lea Valley Park website. To view the Lea Valley Federation's proposals, visit www.leavalleyfederation.org.
8 March 2011
Vegetable growing classes from Growing Communities
A social enterprise is offering organic vegetable growing classes throughout the spring and summer.
The sessions kick off on 26 March and continue until the end of August. They range from all-day courses in setting up an organic vegetable garden, to tips on how to grow organic produce in containers and creating richer compost for your garden.
The workshops are run and supported as part of the Capital Growth programme, a fund that aims to create 2012 new community food growing spaces across London by the end of 2012.
There's also still time to apply for training to become a professional gardener. Growing Communities is on the hunt for four new 'urban apprentice growers' as part of its mission to get more people trained to grow organic produce. It has recently been awarded funds by the Big Lottery's local food programme to expand its 'Patchwork Farm' scheme, which provides some of the produce for their organic vegetable box delivery business.
Sara Davies, from Growing Communities, will be training the apprentices. She said: "We're looking for people who are serious about becoming a grower and who want to help us increase the amount of organic food that is grown in London. We hope to offer apprentices a chance to take on their own organic site when they have finished their training to grow salad for our boxes."
The deadline for apprenticeship applications is 9 March. For details of both schemes call: 020 7502 7588 or visit www.growingcommunities.org.
7 March 2011
A little bit of Give or Take
More than 100 people visited Shacklewell School on 19 February to swap unwanted clothes, books and toys.
The council-run Give or Take Day was the first opportunity of the year for people to exchange household goods and other items they no longer needed for something they wanted.
Around a tonne of material was diverted from landfill thanks to the event and many residents walked away happy with the items they had picked up for free.
Mary Johnstone, from E8, said: "We are moving house so it was a great way to pass on the stuff we had sorted from our kitchen. There were some really good books and furniture there, but I made myself resist the urge to take anything home."
Cllr Feryal Demirci, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: "Reusing in this way is an important way of making Hackney greener. The message is getting through now about how important recycling is, with more residents recycling more items. But now we all need to start thinking about how we can reuse items we don't want and reduce the amount of rubbish we produce."
Give or Take Days are usually run three times a year and are always advertised in Hackney Today. You can also watch out for them by following the council's greener living pages on Facebook and Twitter.
7 March 2011
Broken toaster? Now you can recycle it
Ten new recycling banks have been installed on Hackney's streets to collect broken kettles, hair dryers, phones and other small electrical goods.
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) will be collected and sent to a sorting factory in North West London. Items in working condition will be sold through charities and other outlets, with the remainder being recycled at a factory in Kent.
Cllr Feryal Demirci, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, visited one of the new banks on 16 February. She said: "Waste electrical items can be very polluting to the environment. Recycling them through the new facilities will help make Hackney greener."
Find your nearest bank
- Old St, next to the new Fire Station, EC1V 9EY
- Thurtle Rd, outside Haggerston School, E2 8LR
- Chatsworth Rd, opposite Rushmore Rd, E5 0LS
- Kenninghall Rd, near Nightingale Rd, E5 8BY
- Kingsland Shopping Centre, car park entrance, E8 2LX
- Well Street, opposite Orchard Primary School, E9 7PA
- Morning Lane, in Tesco car park, E9 6ND
- Green Lanes, near John Scott Health Centre, N4 2HD
- Lordship Rd, between Lordship Terrace and Lordship Grove, N16 0PT
- Stamford Hill, in Morrisons car park, N16 5SA
21 February 2011
50 merry men, women and a dog
Around 50 people turned out to get involved in an orchard-planting day near Springfield Park.
The Robin Hood Community Garden in Ferry Spring Lane, E5, was overrun with brambles. Now volunteers are turning it into a welcoming public space with relaxation and learning areas, herbs, bee hives and plants that encourage biodiversity.
The event on 6 February was run by the Robin Hood User Group and the London Orchard Project.
Nine fruit trees were planted including three different varieties of apple, two pear and plum, plus an apricot and sweet cherry.
User group member, Katherine Jackson, said: "It's about reclaiming the site for the whole of the community, because this was always a public site.
"I'm looking forward to a time when the gate is open all day."
After the planting, budding 'orchard carers' were signed up to take on watering responsibilities over the coming months.
Children stencilled the fruit varieties onto the tree stakes, and also cut out fruit shapes and wrote down their hopes for the orchard. These will be added to a banner being made by pupils at Harrington Hill Primary School.
More information
For info or to volunteer, drop by the garden from 10am-1pm every Thurs, or visit: www.robinhoodgarden.wordpress.com for orchard info visit: www.thelondonorchardproject.org
21 February 2011
More trees for estates
Children from Sebright Primary School visited nearby Whiston estate to plant a selection of trees on 8 February.
Hackney Homes' gardeners were helped by 31 pupils to plant pear, apple, oak and lilac trees. They learnt about each tree and had fun getting involved in digging and planting.
Gardener Michael Brawn said: "Days like this really encourage children to build a relationship with their environment and be proud of the green spaces that they use every day."
Teacher James Green added: "It's lovely to see our children getting involved with improving their area, creating more green spaces and developing an appreciation of nature and their environment."
It was part of a wider Hackney Homes scheme to help brighten the borough's estates and enhance the local environment. This year, the organisation - which is responsible for the borough's council housing - aims to plant over 800 trees on its estates.
Are you a Hackney Homes resident and want to get involved in making your estate a better place to live? Come to an Involvement Day on 5 March, from 10am, at the Assembly Rooms, Hackney Town Hall, Mare Street.
21 February 2011
Green business
Two Hackney organisations have been recognised at a London-wide environmental award ceremony.
The Arcola Theatre won both the 'greening the third sector' and 'resource conservation'
categories in the City of London Corporation's Sustainable City Awards.
The Dalston institution aims to become the world's first carbon neutral theatre, through its Arcola Energy programme, which covers activities ranging from recycling bottles to using a hydrogen fuel cell to power lighting in the cafe and on stage.
Hackney Community Transport (HCT) was highly commended in the 'sustainable travel and transport' category. The organisation was short listed for its 'caring for the environment programme', which works to reduce the C02 emissions of its fleet; encourages individuals and voluntary groups to travel together and save fuel; and supports staff in learning how to drive in a fuel-efficient manner.
Lord Smith, Chairman of the Environment Agency, who presented the awards, said: "The innovation seen here tonight is exemplary. However, the challenge we will face over the next decade will be to ensure that this commitment does not wane. Although we have made great strides toward mainstream acceptance of sustainability, this needs to be built upon, not only to protect our environment, but to safeguard future economic growth."
21 February 2011
New year trees
Pupils teamed up with professional gardeners to plant a host of new trees on the Nelson Mandela estate, N16, as part of Tu B'shvat - the Jewish New Year for trees - on 20 January.
Hackney Homes gardeners worked with Simon Marks Jewish Primary School, in Stoke Newington, to provide the trees, which included a poplar, rowan and an ornamental pear. They also helped youngsters to plant the trees correctly and offered some tips on how to care for them.
Ward councillors Linda Kelly and Rita Krishna joined in, along with teachers and local residents.
Cllr Jonathan McShane, Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: "This festival is a fantastic example of the work we can do in the community to improve our environment and make Hackney a greener place to live.
"It's wonderful to see the children from Simon Marks helping out to make a positive change on the estate."
Christophe Tabi, Hackney Homes Interim Head of Estate Environment, added: "This year, we plan to plant over 800 trees on our estates.
"Trees help to brighten the estate, enhance the environment by attracting more birds and wildlife, and improve the quality of life for residents."
7 February 2011
Estates recycling record breakers
Residents on Hackney's estates are recycling at record breaking levels.
Figures show that by the end of last year, recycling reached its highest level ever, with a massive 315 tonnes of material - the weight of 35 buses - collected in December.
With around half of all residents living on estates, the Council has installed 2,500 recycling bins to serve these communities. Mixed plastics, cardboard and Tetra Paks, as well as glass, cans and paper, can be disposed of at estate recycling sites.
Cllr Feryal Demirci, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: "Our residents are recycling more than ever, which is fantastic news. The improvements to facilities on estates are making it much easier for residents to recycle. But we need to do even more."
If everyone living on an estate recycled everything possible - 60 per cent of all household waste - a massive 1,500 tonnes of recycling would be collected in the borough each month.
This would save the Council £100,000 each month, which could be spent on other vital services.
Last November and December, recycling officers visited over 5,000 properties to tell residents about facilities and how they could recycle more.
More information
If you live on an estate or in a block of flats and have no recycling facilities call: 020 8356 6688.
7 February 2011
Tick the box about batteries
The Council has launched a survey to encourage more people to use battery recycling points in Hackney.
The average household uses 21 batteries a year. Less than two per cent of these are recycled however, creating up to 30,000 tonnes of waste every year in the UK.
Most batteries contain heavy metals, which can seep into the ground, causing soil and water pollution, and posing a threat to wildlife. Cadmium, for example, is present in a lot of batteries. It can accumulate in fish, making them inedible and damaging whole ecosystems.
Battery recycling facilities can be found in most of the borough's libraries. Batteries can also be put out with residents' Green Box collections. (It's helpful to the recycling crew if they are kept in a separate bag.)
Thirty rechargable battery packs are up for grabs for those who answer a short questionnaire. Each pack contains four fully charged AA rechargeable batteries, and a charger for AA and AAA batteries.
More information
To take part in the survey and be in with a chance of winning visit: www.surveymonkey.com/s/batteryquiz; for battery recycling info call: 020 8356 6688.
7 February 2011
Nappy days are here
Parents and babies visited Hackney City Farm on 28 January to find out more about real nappies.
It was the latest in a series of 'Nappuccino' events, that provide information about switching from disposable nappies. The Council offers parents and carers a voucher worth £54 to help get started. The money can be redeemed against nappies or laundry services.
Since the scheme started in 2005, over 1,600 parents have joined - more than anywhere else in London. By using washable nappies, people have helped stop 330 tonnes of disposable nappies going to landfill - which would have cost around £42,000 in disposal fees.
Nappuccinos are held each month during term time, with events planned for 18 February, 25 March and 20 May, from 10.30am at Hackney City Farm. They are run in partnership with the Hackney Real Nappy Network and
not-for-profit enterprise Nappy Ever After. To attend, register with Leonor Barricarte Bulnes on: 020 8356 7930.
7 February 2011
A green giant
A new exhibition in central London tells the story of how London's biggest open space has been transformed over several decades.
The Lee Valley Regional Park has been regenerated from a neglected post war area into an award-winning green space and sports destination, now home to some of London's 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games venues.
A dedicated Act of Parliament in 1967 empowered the Park to develop and preserve 10,000 acres of land, stretching 26 miles along the River Lee from Ware in Hertfordshire to East India Dock Basin on the Thames, and passing through Hackney's Middlesex Filter Beds on the way. The free exhibition invites people to learn the previously untold story of some of London's most beautiful 
green spaces, heritage sites and conservation areas.
A '2020 Vision' also outlines the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority's plans to transform the area further by 2020 by working with local councils like Hackney, and explains the authority's role in developing an inclusive and sustainable legacy the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The exhibition runs until 12 February at NLA, The Building Centre, Store Street, WC1. Opening hours Mon-Fri, 9.30am-6pm; Sat, 9.30am-5pm.
More information
For info call: 020 7636 4044; or visit: www.newlondonarchitecture.org
24 January 2011
Get to know some wild inhabitants
A new schools programme is offering pupils a chance to learn about wildlife while in the great outdoors.
Primary and secondary schools are invited to take part in a range of activities, education projects and events as part of the 'Wild Place Your Space' community project.
Run jointly by the RSPB and the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, it focuses on a number of the Park's wild areas, including the Middlesex Filter beds in Hackney. The park is home to hundreds of plants and animals including peregrine falcons, kingfishers, grass snakes and common lizards.
Schools that book sessions will be offered textile-recycling banks by overseas aid charity TRAID. Any schools that take up this offer will also get free, guided class trips to the Lee Valley.
The project was awarded £379,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to engage East Londoners with the wildlife on their doorsteps. Education Officer Lucy Gijsen said: "We're aiming to help over 8,000 pupils discover and learn from the wildlife on their doorstep.
"What we'll find out links with the National Curriculum and can tell us so much about the world around us."
More information
For info and booking call: 020 8525 0547; email: wildplaceyourspace@rspb.org.uk
24 January 2011
Have a green heart this year
It's St Valentine's Day on 14 February, and if a loved one showers you with gifts, you may be wondering what to do once your roses have lost their bloom.
If you live in a street level property, roses and other flowers can be put in your compost bin or with garden waste in your Brown Bin for collection every fortnight. Remember to take off any plastic wrapping first.
Garden waste collected in Hackney is composted down and used in the borough's parks.
Valentine cards and chocolate boxes can be put out with other cardboard in your weekly Green Box collection. Plastics like the trays in chocolate boxes can also be collected. It's really helpful for your collection crew if you sort each material into a separate bag.
If you live in a block of flats you can also recycle more than you think. Paper, cardboard and plastic can all be collected in your local recycling bank. If you read this before you have bought something for the big day, why not try and make Valentine's Day a little greener this year by picking presents that contain recycled materials or making your own.
More information
For info visit: www.recyclethis.co.uk
For info about recycling in Hackney call: 020 8356 6688; or visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/recycling
24 January 2011
Running hot and cold
The Council has given a pond in Haggerston Park a face lift as part of ongoing work to improve the green space.
But when the rain refused to help out with the final stages of the project, the Council called in firefighters from Bethnal Green Fire Station to fill up the pond.
They were cheered on and assisted by around 60 students from Sebright School, E2, and a team of volunteers.
Since work began, the pond has been dug out, re-lined and topped with clay to make it more watertight. The pond has also received an upgrade to a wooden viewing platform which children use to gather water and insects for examination.
The Council has been working with the Hackney Park User Group to improve the park, and the initiative includes planting 200 trees in the Haggerston Park Community Orchard and Food Growing Garden. An upgrade to the BMX track is due in the spring. Cllr Jonathan McShane, Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: "Parks are an important community resource and the Council has invested in improvements to many parks, including Haggerston over the last year. It's really good to see the community coming together to make a positive change to their local environment."
More information
For more on the Haggerston Park User Group, visit: www.haggerstonpark.org.uk
10 January 2011
New life for old bulbs
Residents can now recycle low-energy light bulbs thanks to a ground-breaking partnership between the Council and green company Recolight.
The Government, retailers and energy companies are phasing out traditional light bulbs, and low-energy versions are increasingly common in homes. Hackney is the first London borough to offer this service. New banks for low energy bulbs have been installed at five on-street recycling sites around the borough.
Light bulbs of any sort should not be put in the Council's Green Box recycling service, because if they break they could be harmful to collection crews. Older style light bulbs are not recyclable.
Bulb recycling sites
- Chatsworth Road (outside Rushmore Primary) E5
- Lordship Road (near Lordship Terrace), N16
- Old Street (outside Shoreditch Fire Station), EC1
- Martel Place (off Dalston Lane), E8
- Well Street (opposite Orchard Primary), E9
10 January 2011
Judges spot owl play in photo competition
Hackney has come out on top in a competition aiming to showcase the wildlife that shares London's streets, gardens and parks.
Year 11 Petchey Academy student, Adam Hawkins, snapped up the under-18s prize in London-wide photography competition, 'Life Between The Lines'.
He received praise from judges for his shot of a barn owl in flight, captured in Dagenham.
The competition also showcased projects that support wildlife, and first prize went to Mabley Green Community Meadow, E9.
Set up by Mabley Green Users Group with support from the Council this summer, the meadow has been transformed by an army of volunteers.
The planting of bulbs, shrubs and wildflowers has seen increasing numbers of bees and birds recorded at the site.
The competition was run by the RSPB and London Underground.
More information
Visit: http://www.mableymeadow.blogspot.com/
10 January 2011
Page updated: 4 Apr 2011
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