Some people have an extraordinary ability to actually make things happen rather than just talk about what needs to be done. 

Peterborough is full of such movers and shakers - and the number of grassroots environmental projects set up in our City proves it.  Nevertheless, it’s always nice to learn about what other people are doing in the UK. For this reason, we’ll be welcoming two environmental radicals to speak this Friday at the Brewery Tap in Peterborough. 

Pam Warhurst is co-founder of Incredible Edible Todmorden, a food project that gets people involved in local food production. The initiative has helped volunteers turn their neighbourhood into 'edible public spaces' by growing food wherever possible – including car parks, pubs, pavements, and schools. Pam is also Chair of the Board of Forestry Commissioners and previously served as a member of the Board of Natural England.

Hermione Taylor founded The Donation, a website that makes sustainable living fun, social, and mainstream. In 2009 Hermione and a friend cycled from London to Morocco, but rather than asking their friends to sponsor them with money, they decided to ask them to sponsor them by doing simple green actions instead. Hermione since developed the concept, raised funds and build a fantastic support network – and the result is The DoNation!
 

As well as hearing from Pam and Hermione, we’ll be launching Project Dirt – a new online network for green projects in Peterborough which will make it incredibly easy to see in one place how great all of our green movers and shakers really are!

Come and join us in the function room at the Brewery Tap from 6:00 to 7:30pm this Friday 23rd March! Spaces are limited so please reserve yours here www.greeniversity.org.uk/events/list/

Tags: Peterborough Greeniversity | Ian Tennant | Peterborough Environment City Trust

Do you or your community group have an idea that could make Peterborough a greener place? Or perhaps you’d like to do something, but aren’t sure what?

Citizen Power, Peterborough in Transition and PECT are holding a competition to help people like you develop ideas, find others to work with, get expert advice and win money to get your idea off the ground.

We’re particularly interested in ideas that fall into these themes: Energy, Food, Travel & Waste – but we’re open to other ideas too!

The competition is a two stage process, starting with a half-day workshop at The Green Backyard (see below for address) on Saturday 3rd March between 10:00am and 4:00pm. During this workshop we’ll help you meet others interested in the same idea, and match you with expert mentors who can help you refine your idea.

You’ll then have two or three weeks to develop your idea, before a second event (date to be confirmed, but it will be a weekday evening towards the end of March). At this event you’ll have the opportunity to describe your project to a panel of experts who will decide which projects can receive a £500 grant.

To win money for your idea, you or a representative from your group will need to be able to come to both of these events. Because we want to give everybody a chance to win funding, we’re unable to accept people who have taken part in previous Citizen Power funding workshops – sorry!

We have limited places, so you need to register if you’re interested. To register or just find out more, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with a little bit of information about you or your community group, or telephone 020 7451 6935. Get in touch!

The Green Backyard is on the corner of London Road and Oundle Road, opposite the Peterborough United football ground. Further directions are on their website: http://www.thegreenbackyard.com/directions
 

Tags: Green backyard | Ian Tennant | Creating the UK Environment Capital

There are just three places left on Thursday’s Winter Veg Soup class.  You can also beat the winter blues by giving old household items a bright and trendy makeover or learning fascial massage...

Winter Veg Soup! (just 3 places left)

Thursday 9th February 17:45 – 19:30 City College Peterborough FREE

This session will provide a relaxed and informal introduction to soup making - and is ideal for beginners.  We will learn to make a warmer winter vegetable soup from local, seasonal, healthy, cheap and tasty ingredients!  Bring yourself in suitable cooks clothing (stuff you don’t mind getting a bit grubby) and you’re welcome to bring any veg that you’d like to learn how to make soup out of.  To book go to - www.greeniversity.org.uk/events/list/

Decoupage & Collage

Friday 10th February 12:30 – 13.30 City Centre FREE

Taking items used, scratched, or just plain ugly, and transforming them into something beautiful and unique. Bring anything you like, an old frame or box, side table, ornament along with favourite magazine images. You’ll show you how to apply and seal these items. Loads of creative fun. To book go to - www.greeniversity.org.uk/events/list/

Facial massage

Tuesday 14th February 17:30 – 18.30 City Centre FREE

Learn how to give yourself and others a facial massage. As an important part of your skin care routine, massage can take away toxins, reduce fine lines and relieve stress. Come along and learn these useful facial massage techniques. For more information or to book go to - www.greeniversity.org.uk/events/list/

Knitting Club

Wednesday 15th February 17:30 – 19:00 City Centre FREE

Join this increasingly popular class where everyone works at their own level and speed.  This is ideal if you have never attempted knitting before and want to learn the basics. You will learn to cast on, cast off, some simple stitches and read a basic pattern. Once you've learned the basics move on to the more sophisticated patterns you've always dreamed of.  For more information or to book go to - www.greeniversity.org.uk/events/list/

Tags: Greeniversity | food | Ian Tennant

No such thing as a free meal?  I beg to differ, Sir!

We try to avoid all types of waste here at PECT – but of all the things that could end up in landfill, food is something that we have particularly strong feelings about.  In fact, if it’s fit for human consumption most staff will go to great lengths to avoid ditching it. Our CEO won’t think twice about trimming away mouldy bits from fridge leftovers, Kim adds leftover veg to her hummus and Janine has been known to rescue tasty morsels from the floor.  Some of these things make PECT staff sound rather extreme...but fear not, there are plenty more appealing ways to reduce food waste whilst saving money on your weekly shopping bill. That’s why we are all so excited about this Saturday’s ‘Feed the 1,000’ event at Ormiston Bushfield Academy which has been set up to highlight the fact that every year 1,000 meals could be made with the amount of money the average family wastes on food.  

Between 11am and 3pm at the Academy you can turn up for a free meal prepared by top chefs in Peterborough using food that has passed its sell by date but not its best before date. Experts from the Love Food Hate Waste campaign will be on hand with information on how to reduce your food waste and there will also be cooking demonstrations throughout the day.  Guaranteed to be more tasty than a hummus smoothie!  For more information follow this link

Tags: food waste love ian tennant recycle

Next Week’s FREE Greeniversity Courses and Events:

Sunday 18th December - Bus Walk - with Christmas Meal, Stamford
Join a Sunday afternoon Bus Walk and combine two ways to enjoy sustainable travel as you explore Peterborough’s attractive countryside?
Meet at 12:15 at Queensgate Bay 9 for Bus 404. Ticket to Stamford. Walk Collyweston Quarry, Easton on the Hill, Wothorpe, Burghley, or trade walking for shopping?
Back in Peterborough by 17:11
Max 8km (5 miles)
For more information call Rohan 01733 331393

Wednesday 21st December - Drum Circle (@ The Green Backyard)
Be part of an ‘in the moment’ music experience at the Green Backyard monthly drum circle where you will be guided through a series of rhythms by experienced tutor Darren. Drums for the workshop are supplied or you can bring your own. This ancient way of celebrating community often leads to dancing, singing and much mischief!
£3 Donation
www.thegreenbackyard.com
www.monkey-bongo.co.uk

Wednesday 21st December - From bottle to bird feeder
Give our feathered friends a Christmas present by turning a used bottle into a garden bird feeder.  Please bring a rinsed out plastic bottle.
10:00am-12:00noon (drop in)
Suitable for 3 Years+
Easy Access
Meeting point at Ferry Meadows Visitor Centre
No booking required

 
Greeniversity is the free and easy choice for learning green skills and making friends

Tags: Greeniversity | Ian Tennant

It’s my first week back at PECT and I’m amazed by how much things have moved on in the few years since I last lived and worked in the City.   People from all sectors and backgrounds really are walking the talk in their attempts to create the UK’s Environment Capital.
 

I’ve learnt about two new city-wide initiatives linked to the work I’ll be doing for PECT’s Communities Team.  Firstly there’s Peterborough in Transition – which, through grassroots local action, will help make the city become more resilient to environmental and economic threats such as peak oil and climate change.   Peterborough’s Green Backyard is steaming ahead with this project and has already gathered together a crowd of residents and is training them in the ‘Transition’ skills needed to face 21st Century eco challenges.
 

Secondly we have Fairtrade Peterborough – which sends out a powerful message about the how our community wants to work and trade.  What has surprised me most about this – is the huge amount of action already being taken in little pockets around the City – with schools, offices, retailers and community groups organising local Fairtrade events and selling fairly traded goods. The city-wide movement will boost this to at least 50% of schools plus nearly 30 retailers and 15 catering outlets taking part.  If you are interested in finding out more about Fairtrade Peterborough keep an eye on PECT’s newsfeed for events in 2012.  There will even be a chance to learn directly about Faritrade from a Kenyan tea producer who will be visiting Peterborough.  The first open meeting will be on 17th January. If you're interested, please contact   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tags: Fairtrade City | Ian Tennant | Transition