Green Matters July to September 2011
Save energy, save money - new energy saving helpline from Hackney Council launched
The average household spends over £1,000 on gas and electricity each year - and energy prices are on the increase. However, there are lots of ways to reduce your bills, and our new dedicated energy advice line can help you to make savings. Just contact our helpful team on 0800 281 768 now for advice on a whole range of energy-saving subjects including:
- easy ways to save money by saving energy
- fuel bills and debt
- fuel switching
- insulation
- draught proofing
- heating controls and systems
- generating your own electricity at home
The energy advice line number is 0800 281 768 - and calls are free from a land line. Not only can our advice save you money, it can help you lead a greener lifestyle too.
19 September 2011.
On your bike
As cycling becomes ever more popular in the borough, people are being urged to take advantage of a free training scheme.
The Council offers a variety of support from one-to-one sessions for complete beginners to group sessions.
The skills learnt include balancing a bike; gaining confidence to start riding on the road; troubleshooting bad habits for experienced cyclists; riding on the road with your children. There is also the chance to take part in all ability cycling clubs.
Young people who may be starting a new job, or moving to a new school or college, could particularly benefit from one-to-one tailored advice from a professional instructor who will go through the best routes and techniques with them.
Leyla Tenvere, 17, has been able to ride a bike since she was a small child, but still managed to gain useful tips and advice to boost her cycling skills and confidence at a group cycle training session.
She said: "It was really enjoyable and we were able to pick up lots of useful information about things like bike maintenance and stopping safely in an emergency. I'd recommend the training to anyone that rides a bike."
The Council also offers specialist cycle training courses for HGV drivers so they can experience using the roads on a bike.
Anyone who lives, works or studies in Hackney is eligible for the free training.
Cycling is a popular method of transport in Hackney, not only for its health benefits but because it's also faster and cheaper than many other options.
Cllr Feryal Demirci, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: "Our cycle training gives everyone the opportunity to build confidence to safely enjoy the excellent cycle routes in Hackney. I'd encourage anyone thinking about riding a bike, or wanting to develop their cycling skills, to take up the free training on offer all year round."
More information
For more information, please visit the Cycle Training page.
19 September 2011
Help give a bird or bat a home
A bird and bat box-making event at Springfield Park on 4 September proved popular with residents.
Young and old came to help put together kits to provide homes for a range of wildlife.
Volunteers made six bird boxes and two bat boxes at the free session, organised by the Council and London Wildlife Trust.
There are now fewer and fewer natural nesting and roosting spaces available in an urban environment like Hackney's, which is undergoing significant regeneration and development.
So small scale projects like this help create a safe haven for the borough's wildlife. The workshop also contributed to meeting a target in the Council's Biodiversity Action Plan of putting up 100 nest boxes and 50 bat boxes in the borough's parks over the next five years.
Springfield Park is one of two Local Nature Reserves in Hackney, the other is Abney Park.
This means both areas are deemed to be the most valuable for wildlife in the borough, they have statutory protection, and people are encouraged to learn about and enjoy wildlife there.
More information
Email: kate.mitchell@hackney.gov.uk; or call: 020 8356 3448.
19 September 2011
Eating off the land
Hackney's community food-growing projects invited people in to see how their garden grows.
Some of the borough's most innovative green schemes took part in the Capital Growth Edible Open Gardens Day on 3 September. The London-wide event saw 50 community gardens open their doors to the public, with helpers on hand to run talks, tutorials, barbecues and even bike tours.
Dalston Eastern Curve was one local garden that showcased its space. Visitors heard about food-growing at the E8 site - which this year includes beans, courgettes, cucumbers, squash, pumpkin, tomatoes and herbs. A clay oven was fired up for pizzas, with fresh mint tea and chocolate mint plants on offer.
There were also advice on how to get involved by becoming a gardening volunteer.
Other participating spaces included Cordwainer Gardens, E8, The Floating Allotment, N1, and Wenlock herb garden, N1.
Rosie Boycott, chair of London Food, said: "This is a great way of showing people that if you want to grow your own, there are alternatives to joining huge waiting lists for sought after allotments."
19 September 2011
Sustainability event at Arcola Theatre
Hackney's Sustainable Environment Partnership is holding an event on Saturday 15 October at the Arcola Theatre. All residents of Hackney are welcome to attend.
The event will be an opportunity to hear about the challenges facing the borough, and what we can do to tackle them. There will be a range of speakers, stalls from local organisations and an opportunity to network over refreshments.
For more information or to register your interest, please contact Fran Bury on Francesca.bury@hackney.gov.uk.
6 September 2011
Hackney Schools recycling more than ever
The summer term saw the highest ever recycling rates recorded in Hackney schools, with pupils and teachers doubling the amount of paper, tins, cans and bottles that they recycled last year.
The Council provided new canteen bins to help capture more recycling. Plastic bottles, sandwich packets and yoghurt pots from packed lunches were all easier to recycle, and helped to raise recycling levels in schools.
Some Hackney schools are now also recycling food waste. A trial scheme started in 10 schools during the summer term. The food waste is diverted from landfill and is instead taken to a compost processing plant, thereby avoiding the production of harmful gases.
The compost produced is then used to enhance the quality of the soil in school grounds and to help plants grow better. This process is a great way to help pupils see and understand the full benefits of recycling.
But there is still room for improvement, and with the new school year about to begin the Council hopes to see even more waste being recycled in Hackney.
Cllr Feryal Demirci, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: "With all these recycling schemes in place, schools are becoming a hub of recycling activity.
"Having so many options for recycling in schools is helping to develop a real recycling culture among pupils, and to make our young generation a green one."
The Council works with EcoACTIVE a Hackney-based environmental charity to deliver workshops in schools to help staff and pupils establish recycling schemes and recycle as much as possible.
More information
To find out more about booking an EcoACTIVE session call: 020 7923 7899.
5 September 2011
Salad Addresssing
Growing Communities is opening up its three main food gardens to residents on 18 September.
The social enterprise produces organic salad leaves at Clissold Park, Springfield Park and Allens Gardens and is giving local people a chance to meet the growers and apprentices as well as find out more about organic food production.
Its crops are sold to restaurants, cafes and people across the borough in its vegetable and fruit box scheme; and the salad bags have been highly commended in the Soil Association Organic Food Awards 2011.
In addition, the sustainable building at the Allens Garden site has an eco-classroom with a green roof to attract insects, a composting toilet and sustainable insulation. The site is being featured as part of this year's architectural programme Open House London.
Growing Communities' Director, Julie Brown, said: "We're really proud of our zero-food-miles salad and it's great that the Soil Association judges thought it tasted fantastic too. The quality and variety of leaves are testament to the hard work of our growers, Sara and Pip, and their team of apprentice growers and patchwork farmers - all graduates from our apprentice scheme."
More information
For more information, call: 020 7502 7588; or visit: www.growingcommunities.org
5 September 2011
Kestrel Spotting in the City
London Wildlife Trust (LWT) is looking to bird lovers to help it establish the number of kestrels residing in the city.
Nationally, kestrels have undergone an overall decline, but the population has seen fluctuations, with current trends suggesting an increase.
The charity wants to know if this trend extends to London, which has seen the surrounding countryside change and the city become much more important for wildlife. LWT is asking those who see the fan-tailed bird of prey, which is known to visit Hackney, to log the sighting on its Kestrel Count 2011 website.
In addition, the Council is working with nature website iSpot to arrange free wildlife workshops for target groups in Hackney.
The website also helps visitors identify unknown sightings by allowing them to upload photos for other users to confirm the species. iSpot is particularly keen to work with young people, black and minority ethnic groups, people with disabilities and those from lower socio-economic groups.
For the Kestrel Count 2011, visit: www.wildlondon.org.uk; for more on iSpot workshops, call: 020 8356 3438; email: kate.mitchell@hackney.gov.uk; or visit: www.ispot.org.uk/
5 September 2011
Over in the Meadow
A project to protect and increase meadow habitat across London has been launched this month.
'Mad About Meadows' aims to raise awareness of the decline of urban meadows and the species that depend on them.
Nationally, 97 per cent of meadowland has vanished since the 1930s.
Meadows support a huge range of wildlife including a diminishing wild bee population, birds such as the house sparrow, whose numbers are also in decline, and an array of wild flowers.
The project is run by London in Bloom, with the London 2012 Changing Places programme, London Wildlife Trust and other partners including Hackney Council. It hopes to develop meadowland in London through better management, restoration, and recreation schemes, as well as creating a technical advisory group and online information portal so the public, local authorities and other organisations can take part.
Carlo Laurenzi, London Wildlife Trust Chief Executive, said: "With 3.8million gardens in London, people can make a real difference by creating their own marvellous mini-meadows at home."
22 August 2011
Kynaston Gardens lands £48k overhaul fund
A down-at-heel green space has been awarded £48,225 to give it a face-lift.
The Friends of Kynaston Gardens received the grant from Groundwork UK and the Big Lottery Fund's Community Spaces programme.
The N16 gardens - which in the past have faced problems with anti-social behaviour and street drinking - are owned and managed by the Council, which is working in partnership with Groundwork UK and the Friends to carry out the improvements.
Matt Dillon, from the Friends of Kynaston Gardens, said: "This is brilliant news and means that soon the once-neglected space on Kynaston Avenue will be blooming with a community garden and children's play space which everyone can enjoy."
Cllr Jonathan McShane, Cabinet Member for Health & Community Services, said: "This shows what can be done when the Council and the community work together. Hackney has many little green treasures cared for by volunteers who are doing a great job. I'm looking forward to seeing the plans become a reality for this green space."
More information
To join the friends or get involved email: kynastongardens@gmail.com; for info on Hackney's parks call: 020 8356 8428/8429; or visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/parks
22 August 2011
Action plan for future - what do you think?
The Council wants to know what residents think of its plans to protect and enhance wildlife in the borough over the next five years.
Hackney is holding a 12 week long consultation on a proposed Bio-diversity Action Plan (BAP).
In areas like Hackney, biodiversity plays a vital role in cleaning the air, reducing the effect of 'urban heat islands' which create higher than average temperatures in the city in summer, and helping to control water run-off and so reduce flooding.
The plan has identified six priority habitats including school grounds and woodlands like Abney Park. It also identifies the most important species found in the borough like birds including swifts and jays, to plants like honeysuckle and the Maiden's blush moth.
Hackney's parks and green spaces provide opportunities for people to experience nature close at hand, as well as valuable space for urban wildlife.
Covering 97 hectares of natural habitat such as woodland, meadow and rivers - equivalent in size to 160 football pitches - they are home to a number of important plants and animals including house sparrows and Britain's rarest native tree - the Black Poplar.
Wildlife is also found in the built and urban environment. Buildings and structures can provide homes for a range of creatures including bats, birds and plants.
It has also been shown that contact with the natural environment can improve wellbeing and reduce stress.
Cllr Jonathan McShane, Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Culture, said: "Improving biodiversity and protecting the range of plants and animals we have in Hackney is a priority for the Council. We want to know what you think of our proposals to conserve and enhance these precious areas in Hackney over the next five years."
Consultation runs until 24 October. To give your views, visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/biodiversity-consultation
More information
For more information on biodiversity in Hackney, call: 020 8356 3438; or email: kate.mitchell@hackney.gov.uk.
22 August 2011
Community garden
Resdients have celebrated the launch of a newly created community garden close to the River Lea.
Robin Hood Community Garden, at the bottom of Big Hill, E5, has been in development since last April, when clearance of the former derelict site began.
The garden user group now plans to open the space to the public, and an event on 17 July marked the transformation brought about by their hard work and dedication.
The site now boasts wildlife meadows, an orchard and raised beds brimming with vegetables and herbs.
More than 100 people turned out for a packed afternoon of entertainment including music from all-girl ukulele punk band the Pukes; a story of the garden in photos; board games in the orchard; samples of honey and beekeeping information; and a medicinal herb walk.
All this was washed down with mint tea, fresh cakes and homemade elder flower champagne, while children ran in and out of the vegetable plots, munching on pea pods and raspberries. The garden user group also plans to host a series of workshops and talks, for all ages, on themes ranging from art to ecology. Plus residents can join in group gardening sessions, every Thursday and Sunday, from 10am to 1pm.
For more info email: rhugroup@gmail.com, or visit: http://robinhoodgarden.wordpress.com
8 August 2011
Walk on the wild side for bat enthusiasts
A group of residents met at dusk for a bat walk at Millfields Park.
The event was arranged by the Council and Millfields User Group to raise awareness of wildlife in the park and to find out which species of bat are making it their home.
The walk on 29 July was led by bat expert Alison Fure, who provided the 20 adults and four children with bat detectors and explained how to spot the nocturnal creatures.
There are 17 species of bat known to breed in the UK, nine of these in Hackney. All bats are legally protected in this country because their numbers have declined over the past century.
Alison identified three species of bat in and around Millfields - the common pipistrelle, soprano pipistrelle, and Daubenton's bat. The bats probably make their homes in large trees in the park, or in surrounding buildings. Common pipistrelles are only 4cm long and weigh as little as three grams, but they can eat an amazing 3,000 insects in a single night.
The Council is planning to make further improvements to Millfields Park to make it even more bat friendly.
To find out about wildlife activities in Hackney, visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/hackney-biodiversity-partnership.htm, email: kate.mitchell@hackney.gov.uk or call: 020 8356 3438.
8 August 2011
Heaps of praise for face-lift
London Wildlife Trust volunteers worked with the Butterfield Green User Group (BUG) and Council to transform areas of the much loved park in Stoke Newington.
The 18 volunteers turned over compost heaps, weeded and mulched the orchard, cleared rubbish, and created four new habitats for insect on 7 July.
Maggie Chataway, from BUG, said: "We are truly impressed and grateful. The insect houses are works of art.
"The work in the orchard is also tremendous - the compost heaps are now viable and a lot of the trees have been re-mulched, which will help in their fight against drought."
A community orchard was planted on Butterfield Green by residents in 2007, which won a British Urban Regeneration Award in 2008.
The Council works regularly with the London Wildlife Trust on volunteering projects across the borough, including activities at Springfield Park, Stoke Newington Common, Haggerston Park and Clapton Square.
To find out how to get involved with volunteering in Hackney's parks and green spaces, visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/parks-volunteering
8 August 2011
Recycle on-the-go increased
The Council is installing more than 100 new on-the-go recycling bins across the borough.
They have two compartments, one for recycling and one for litter, allowing people to dispose of plastic bottles, newspapers, drinks cans, glass and cartons responsibly.
The first bins were rolled out as part of a trial in Hackney Central, Stoke Newington and Shoreditch last spring.
It was a big success with over 40 tonnes of material recycled in them last year. The new bins are being installed in Hackney parks and Stoke Newington High Street, Lower Clapton Road, Hackney Road and the south end of Kingsland Road. Plans are in place to install more in other retail areas later this year.
Cllr Feryal Demirci, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: "Over half the rubbish that goes into our litter bins is recyclable. By providing these new bins we are supporting residents to keep as much waste as possible away from landfill sites. Together we can all help make Hackney a cleaner and greener borough."
8 August 2011
It's all go in Mabley Meadow
The group behind a wildflower meadow in Mabley Green, E9, have put together a programme of activities for summer and early autumn.
The Mabley Green User Group transformed an area at its southern end into a field of spectacular wildflowers last summer.
Now everything is up and running, a series of events and planting days are planned. On 31 July, from 1-4pm, there will be a chance to learn how a log can be turned into a mushroom farm.
Following on from a successful workshop on 18 June, local sculptor Gary March will be working at the meadow from 1-14 August, creating benches. Come along to check out what's going on, or chip in, from 12noon-5pm, on the final day and help to put the finished benches into place.
There will also be a summer picnic on 20 August, from 12noon-3pm, as well as daffodil and bluebell bulb planting and seed sewing sessions in September and October.
More information
For more info and to get involved email: mableymeadow@gmail.com; or visit: http://mableymeadow.blogspot.com/
4 July 2011
Bankers bug out
Volunteers from financial institution BNY Mellon spent a day volunteering at Haggerston Park to help improve the area for wildlife.
They were taught how to construct insect loggeries and learnt why these support wildlife in urban parks. Loggeries provide a habitat for many insects to flourish, which are a valuable food source for birds and bats. Council staff worked with London Wildlife Trust to run the day on 8 June. Steve Harris, from BNY Mellon, said: "There was lots of great feedback from the team who found this both very hard work, but a lot of fun too. I sincerely hope the loggeries stay for many years - as it takes up to six for beetle larvae to hatch."
Haggerston Park has a woodland area and a newly renovated pond, which provides a great habitat for birds, dragonflies and frogs. The Council works with a number of groups to look after Hackney's green spaces, and is happy to hear from potential corporate volunteers.
More information
Individuals or organisations that would like to volunteer should call: 020 8356 8428/9; or visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/parks-volunteering
4 July 2011
Summer fun for youngsters
The award-winning St Mary's Secret Garden, in Haggerston, is opening its doors to local children as part of its Grow, Cook, Eat holiday project.
The project is funded by charity Help a Capital Child and will give youngsters the opportunity to sow and grow. There will also be a chance to do some cooking and, most importantly, taste and eat garden produce.
Grow, Cook, Eat is open to children, aged between six and 11, who enjoy getting their hands dirty and like tasty food.
The sessions are free
and run from 10am-1pm, on 25 July, and 1, 8, 15 August. Later in the year,
a Halloween special is due to take place on 24 October. Spaces are limited, so call or just drop by the garden to book.
St Mary's - which is also supported by the Council and The Learning Trust - took the Best Voluntary Organisation Garden prize in the 2010 Hackney in Bloom competition. It also received a Green Pennant Award, a national recognition of high quality green spaces managed by community groups.
For more info call: 020 7739 2965; or visit: www.stmaryssecret garden.org.uk
4 July 2011
This could bee heaven
A new programme aiming to train 75 new beekeepers over the next year has been launched in Hackney.
Capital Bee is part of the Capital Growth programme, set up to encourage food growing in London.
Rosie Boycott, journalist and Chair of London Food, launched the programme last month at St Mary's Secret Garden in Hackney, one of the programme's seven training sites across the city.
Trainers Gustavo Montes De Oca, and Zoe Palmer also work with young people at local social enterprise, The Golden Company, which produces honey, hives and cosmetics. Two more trainers, Ian Bailey and Alessia Boli, will also be working with students at several hives in Hackney City Farm.
London has over 2,500 registered hives, so people are never far from a honeybee. Those who don't want to work with bees directly, can encourage them by growing bee-friendly plants ranging from flowers in a window box to a fruit tree in the garden, or by just allowing weeds to grow.
For more info visit: www.capitalgrowth.org/bees; for Golden Company visit: http://www.thegoldenco-op.com/
4 July 2011
Page updated: 11 Oct 2011
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