Green Matters March 2010
Waterway to make a difference
More than 20 people got involved in British Waterways’ towpath tidy on the River Lee Navigation on 13 March.
With painting works, litter and graffiti clearance to be done, there was plenty to keep everyone busy.
Volunteer Felicity McClintock said:
“Towpath Tidy is a great opportunity to get out and do something active in your area.
Today we’ve all rolled up our sleeves and worked together to make a real difference to this stretch of the Lee Navigation. It’s been really satisfying to see the impact of all our hard work which will hopefully be enjoyed by lots of people across Hackney who use this waterway daily.”
Simon Bamford, a British Waterways’ manager, added: “We want communities in Hackney to feel a sense of ownership in their local canals and rivers, and Towpath Tidy provides a great opportunity for people to get involved and find out more.”
Towpath Tidy is part of a nationwide programme that is supported by the Campaign for Rural England, Keep Britain Tidy’s The Big Tidy Up campaign, the Inland Waterways Association, and Thames 21.
More information
For more events call: 0845 671 5530; or visit: www.waterscape.com/towpathtidy
22 March 2010
‘Prairie’ planting
Butterfield Green in Stoke Newington is all set for spring – thanks to a project to give its plant life a boost.
Members of the Butterfield Green User Group and the Council’s Parks service joined forces to replace shrubs with a ‘prairie-style’ design of wild grasses and flowers.
The main benefit of using these sorts of plants is that they come up every year and require little care. Their flowers and seed heads also provide food for butterflies, bees and other insects.
Speaking at the planting session on 12 March, Annie Wilson, of Butterfield Green User Group, said:
“Many local people had expressed an interest in improving the planting in Butterfield Green.
“We were keen to use sustainable planting rather than bedding plants that get thrown away at the end of the season, so we worked with the Council to create a planting scheme that is sustainable, attractive and beneficial to wildlife.
“We look forward to seeing the fruits of our labour in the summer when the entrance should be ablaze with colour. We would like to thank everyone from Hackney Parks Service who worked hard to make our vision a reality.”
22 March 2010
Estates double food recycling rate
Food waste recycling on estates has doubled since the scheme was expanded to cover more parts of the borough earlier this year.
With 62 estates now participating, February collections were more than twice the size of those in January. Food waste is turned into compost, which is used in Hackney’s parks and green spaces.
Monika Hazelton from Lea View House Estate, E5, encourages fellow residents to take part. “It’s great news that we have doubled the amount of food waste being recycled on Hackney estates in such a short space of time. Those who contributed should feel good about doing something positive for the planet. This means that residents are committed to recycling as much as possible and we can achieve even higher rates as the year continues.”
Residents on participating estates are issued with a small kitchen caddy and compostable liners to collect food waste, which is then emptied into recycling bins on site. Food such as fruit, bread and pasta, raw vegetables and tea bags can be recycled through the scheme.
More information
For details of the food waste service for estates call: 020 8356 6688; email: recycling@hackney.gov.uk; or visit the recycling on estates page.
22 March 2010
Keeping green on the move
Recycling on the go will be easier than ever before from next month, when 60 new litter bins are due to be trialled in Hackney.
The new units, which collect recyclables at one end and litter at the other, allow passers-by to recycle their newspapers, drinks cans, cartons, glass and plastic bottles, at the same time as disposing of general waste.
The bins will be tested out in Hackney Central, Stoke Newington and Shoreditch, with the intention of eventually providing bins in other town centres around the borough.
Cllr Alan Laing, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said:
“We are committed to making it as simple as possible for our residents to recycle away from the home. We know that over half the rubbish that goes into our litter bins is recyclable, so we hope that by providing these new bins we can support residents to keep as much waste as possible away from landfill sites.”
8 March 2010
Waste not ...
Residents can pick up tips on cutting food waste from stalls popping up around the borough.
Part of the nationwide Love Food Hate Waste (LFHW) campaign, the stalls offer practical information to help people make the most of the food they are buying, and waste less of it.
Residents can also pick up a free food waste rescue pack, which includes a spaghetti measurer to help with portion control, and a Food Lovers cookbook packed with recipes that can help use up leftovers.
Sofia, 25, from Dalston, visited a stall at Kingsland Shopping Centre in January. She said: “The stall gave me loads of simple ideas to reduce the amount of food I throw away.
“My free spaghetti measurer is great. I feel better now I’m cooking the right amount of pasta and not creating lots of waste.”
The stalls are part of the North London Waste Authority’s (NLWA) contribution to the campaign, which began last July and ends this month.
So far 110 events have taken place in Hackney and the six other boroughs in which the NLWA arranges the transport and disposal of waste. Thousands of people are contributing to the NLWA’s aim to divert 5,630 tonnes of food waste from landfill during this period.
8 March 2010
Jobs in the great outdoors
Residents are invited to apply for new jobs keeping Hackney’s estates clean and green.
Hackney Homes, which manages the borough’s Council housing, is recruiting gardeners and cleaners, as well as a horticultural development officer. Gardening duties will include cutting grass, pruning shrubs, planting flower beds, and general maintenance. Staff will also support residents with communal gardens.
Cleaners will mop and sweep communal areas, as well as pick up litter from lawn areas, footpaths and roadways.
The development officer role will include managing tree maintenance, as well as Hackney’s entry in the annual London in Bloom competition.
Christophe Tabi, Hackney Homes Interim Head of Estate Environment Services, said: “Just walking through the estates in Hackney, you can see that we are making massive improvements to the environment.
“We want to continue these improvements and that is why we are boosting our workforce.”
More information
For more details and to apply visit: www.hackneyhomes.org.uk
8 March 2010
Climbing greenery
It’s not just budding mountaineers who will be reaching new heights at the Castle Climbing Centre, N16, this spring.
Community-led vegetable box supplier, Growing Communities, has teamed up with the Green Lanes centre to launch a new growing site in its grounds.
Ida Fabrizio and Sophie Verhagen, who graduated from Growing Communities’ urban apprenticeship scheme last year, are preparing the site for the new raised beds which will be certified by the Soil Association, and used to grow a wide variety of organic salad leaves.
Vegetable box scheme co-ordinator, Nicki East, said:
“We’re really excited about our new micro-site, we’ve also started a new community pick-up point at the Castle which means that over the next couple of years, box scheme members will be able to see their salad leaves being grown when they come to collect their bags.”
For details, pick-up times and locations, visit: www.growingcommunities.org
8 March 2010
Page updated: 15 Jun 2010
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