Well... not quite tree hugging, but hopefully tree planting! 
 
Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT) made phenomenal headway with their ambition to increase tree cover around Peterborough by planting one tree per citizen; that’s around 170,000 trees!
 

With children in the city already planting seeds and the first phase of planting about to start, Peterborough will soon be seeing new trees springing up across the city.

A Forest for Peterborough isn’t just about trees though! PECT chief executive, Hugh Cripps said: “Our vision is to create a mosaic of habitats including woodlands, hedgerows, grasslands and wetlands.”

The project aims to see tens of thousands of trees planted but not to create a single piece of woodland in one set place, but instead to plant trees on small pockets of land across the city. This idea of ‘clever planting’ should help create general growth in the form of mini woodlands and corridors of trees as opposed to one large forest.

The project was lucky enough to be launched by self-confessed “chief tree-hugger”, TV presenter and president of the Woodland Trust, Clive Anderson who spoke at the launch backing all the plans and reinforcing the message to the audience.

He said: “The UK has tree coverage of twelve per cent and one of our aims is to try and achieve double that.”

“This virtual forest is a new concept to me but it is important to try something different to bring attention to such an important area.”

While PECT are the driving force behind this new initiative, they are only part of the much larger group of local and national organisations who make up Peterborough’s Natural Networks Partnership which is backing the Forest for Peterborough. These partners bring a huge range of expertise to the project and will be helping to deliver the vision in loads of different ways. A key part of this project is very much that we are

stronger together.

The first stage of planting will be taking place at Thorpe Meadows on the 5th December from 9am onwards and PECT is appealing for anyone to come along, take part, and help get the Forest for Peterborough off to a great start.

Other ways to make a donation to the project is by texting ‘WOOD’ to 70300 which will make a £3 contribution to the trees fund.

For more information on the launch, the project or ways to get involved, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 01733 568408

Tags: Peterborough Environment City Trust | Do your bit for the environment | Caroline Sheffield | Hugh Cripps

I apologies up front for the awful pun in the title, as this Blog is about my broken toilet at home.

For the last month and a half the flush has been broken and the plumber took away the bust bit with the promise that he would order the part and fix the problem shortly.
Well to be fair he did come back after about three weeks - but the part was the wrong one. Now apparently it won't be in stock until early in the New Year.

What has this got to do with the environment? I hear you ask. Well it certainly makes you think about the water, you use when every time you want to flush the loo you have to fill  a bucket with water and cart it through to the toilet.

It certainly reinforces the old Aussie adage "If it's yellow let it mellow - if it's brown flush it down".

So this Xmas I will be giving a thought to the millions of people worldwide that have to fetch and carry their basic drinking water let alone have the luxury of an in door toilet (even one with a broken flush).

I will also be making a donation to WaterAid - www.wateraid.org/uk and would urge everyone reading this to please do the same.

Merry Christmas and a comfortable, happy New Year

Tags: Do your bit for the environment | Hugh Cripps

Good news today - Peterborough City Council have decided to reinstate the Xmas Park and Ride service.

As the UK's Environment Capital we need to be developing more sustainable travel options and encouraging both visitors to our city as well as local people to use it.

Hopefully one day we will have a P&R running 365.

Well done Peterborough City Council for making the right decision and now let's all get behind the scheme and start using it!

Tags: Hugh Cripps | Groovy and green | Creating the UK Environment Capital