September 2011

How to tackle slugs ……  Sat 10th Sep ReArt creativity for kids ……  Organic fruit & veg box pick up points near you …. Hornbeam Cafe hours

Welcome to the first edition of Climate Change Action with a roundup of news items from ourselves and partner organisations, plus a full listing of upcoming events over the next couple of months.

You are receiving this update either because you have signed up at a Waltham Forest Climate Change event, or requested news from  the Hornbeam Centre. Instructions on how to unsubscribe are at the end of this email.

EcoTeams help save the environment and save you cash

New programme starts in October

EcoTeams consist of between six and eight people, from like minded neighbours to members of clubs, societies or community groups. The teams meet monthly for 4-5 sessions to share tips and ideas on how to shop ethically, save resources and lead environmentally conscious lives, helped along the way by experts from Global Action Plan and HEET. Other teams around the country have managed to trim around £150 from their household bills and reduce carbon emissions by about 1 tonne per household each year.

Whether you are already an eco-champion, or a novice looking to lead a greener lifestyle, we would like to hear from you. To find out more contact Liz Rowlands at HEET on 020 8520 1900 liz@theheetproject.org.uk

Free home energy checks on offer to all residents in Lea Bridge ward

HEET has teamed up with London Warm Zones to offer all residents of Lea Bridge ward, in Waltham Forest, a free home energy check. A qualified Home Energy Advisor will show you where your home is losing energy and what you can do to stop it. Energy checks offer:

  • Lots of easy ways to save energy at home
  • Help with insulation, heating and solar grants
  • FREE energy and water saving devices worth up to £75

If you would like a free survey please contact HEET on 020 8520 1900 quoting reference ‘Lea Bridge Ward’.

Training opportunity:

HEET is also offering opportunities for a few people to train as energy advisors with the potential for session work afterwards. You will need good numeracy, literacy and communication skills. Contact Tom on 020 8520 1900

Its the scrumping season

Share your tree’s surplus fruit – or your fruit picking enthusiasm… it’s the season: Organiclea’s scrumping project with friends made the first apple juice of the season last week… nothing quite compares to the fresh taste of freshly pressed juice! The Walthamstow Family Bike Club went scrumping at Vestry House Museum and from the ‘Walthamstow Pink’ street trees famous for their pink flesh and resulting red tinged juice. As usual the youngest members of the picking team were the most enthusiastic pressers and very persuasive at getting passersby to try some juice.

We’ll be apple pressing again on Saturday 3rd September at the Hornbeam Centre (next to the market stall, 10am-3pm), at the autumn Open Days at the Hawkwood growing site, and at Apple Day on Saturday 8th October at Vestry House Museum.

If you have surplus fruit you’d like us to use, bring it along to the Hornbeam Cafe or call us if you are unable to pick it yourself, and we’ll try and arrange a time for our team to come and pick. If you’d like to get involved with picking, pressing or other processing (generally taking place on Wednesday afternoons and Saturdays from the Hornbeam) then get in touch with Marlene on 020 8558 6880 or email marlene@organiclea.org.uk to apply to be part of the team.

Hornbeam PEAS* : Skillshare programme

In November the Hornbeam Centre will be launching (or starting) its Skillshare programme. A series of free, volunteer run, workshops that share our praticlal skills and knowledge. We want to know if there is anything in particular you would like to learn or if you have anything you would be up for sharing.

Ideas so for include: Sewing and mending, sign language, basic carpentry and foraging. If you have any ideas or suggestions get in touch with TBA
*PEAS: Popular education and skillshare

Waltham Forest Council’s tips on what you can do to reduce Climate Change
A heads up that Energy Saving Week (coordinated by the Energy Savings Trust & the council) will be 21-27th March 2012.

Other news

  • Gardening for Wildlife Pack – download it for free Gardening for Wildlife in Waltham Forest is our latest advice pack and comes in the form of a series of leaflets covering different aspects of working with nature to get the best out of your garden. Click the links to download the leaflets in pdf version here.

  • Organiclea’s new cafe team will be bringing new energy and flavours to the Hornbeam cafe over the autumn – come along to enjoy freshly cooked food made with organic and locally grown seasonal ingredients, with as few food miles as possible! The cafe is currently open Wednesday to Saturday 10.30-5 and weclomes volunteers so email cafe@hornbeam.org.uk if you’d like to get involved.

  • Brodie’s Beers is a Micro Brewery next to King William IV pub in Leyton High Road, and are brewing a new organic beer specially for Transition Leytonstone’s 2nd birthday party on 24th September. Brodies are  having a birthday bonanza on 3rd & 4th Sep to celebrate their 3rd birthday, with 40 beers.

  • Nicole Muris starts on 1st September as Forest Recycling Project’s General Manager. As well as overseeing the day-to-day running of FRP, managing and supporting the staff and volunteers, Nicole will lead the on-going development of the organisation as a dynamic grassroots social enterprise, delivering cutting edge community resource management solutions and new and expanded services.
  • FRP held Give or Take 27th Aug at the Muslim Community Centre, Ilford. A total of ?? people attended and ?? tonnes of reusable goods were saved from going into landfill. It was a great event where we were joined by Redbridge Recycling Team, BikeWorks, Energy Saving Team amongst others. Thanks to Mr Choudry for his support, making the day possible.

  • Paul Gasson has joined Hornbeam as a Development Worker and would be delighted to hear your ideas for what we can do better, and welcomes anyone who is able to offer support as a volunteer. He has 4 core responsibilities – growing the Hornbeam as a community hub, improving promotion & marketing, bringing in new sources of income, and day to day running of the centre.

Events

All are free unless otherwise stated. Click on the »»»» link for more details.

September Diary

  • Friday 2nd – Sun 11th: E17 Art trail … Hornbeam has six artists who are exhibiting. Come along to see wooden carvings, paintings inspired by nature, hand printed wall paper, & conceptual art on the theme of ‘here, local & further afield’. Weds – Sat 10.30 – 5pm, plus during special events below.
  • Friday 2nd Dinner at the Hornbeam 7 – 11pm. If you can’t make the Art Trail in daytime then come over for dinner, or just drop by for a drink. Choose from a range of organic wines, spirits, cocktails (we’re in the process of inventing an Art trail cocktail!) and we are now stocked up with local brewer, James Brodie’s organic beers. Open from 7 till 11 pm.
  • Fri 2nd : A challenging talk on the impact on the UK of the global economic meltdown by Stoneleigh (aka Nicole Foss), the financial blogger who tells it like it is. This free talk has been arranged for the benefit of the community by Transition Leytonstone, an active local group working to build a strong and self-reliant community. 7.00 for 7.30pm. Leytonstone Social Club, 603 High Road Leytonstone, E11 4PA  »»»»
  • Fri 2nd Bat Walk at Hollow Ponds, 7.15pm: »»»»
  • Sat 3rd Apple pressing at the Hornbeam 10am – 3pm.  Come and join us in apple pressing next to the market stall; kids love helping whilst the adults can relax with a healthy glass of juice.
  • Sat 3rd History Walk  2:00 pm-3:00 pm A guided walk to discover the history of Ridgeway Park. Children accompanied by adults welcome. This event is free Organised by Waltham Forest Council Green Spaces
  • Sat 3rd Walthamstow Village seed swap. 11am – 2pm Village Square (corner of Eden Road/Orford Road). Plant, Seed and Produce Swap on the Village Square organised by Walthamstow Village Residents Association. Bring your surplus plants, seeds, terracotta pots and produce from your garden or allotment and swap them! Got a glut of runner beans? Bring them along and swap them for something else. It’s a great chance to take stock of your garden, collect and sort your seeds and plants and tidy the shed in preparation for the autumn.  Horticultural expert Graham Sherman will be on hand to answer all your questions and identify plants. Free event-long children’s workshop: help build a giant bug hotel from pallets, straw, fir cones, bamboo, tiles, bricks and slates. In the autumn will be put in the wildlife area by the side of Vestry Road playground to house over-wintering insects. »»»»
  • Sun 4th Horseshoe Thicket Pond Improvements 9:30 am-4:00 pm. Join the Lea Bridge Conservation Volunteers doing a hands-on practical conservation task. Children accompanied by adults welcome. This event is free. »»»»
  • Fri 9th Open Mic Night at the Hornbeam 7.30pm. After a holiday break we’re back with our Open Mic Night on the second Friday each month. Another opportunity to see art trail work & enjoy some entertainment with a glass of wine or two! Come along and perform your poetry, song, music or verse in a friendly atmosphere hosted by compère Andy. Free for performers, £1.50 for audience. Doors open 7.30, performance 8.15pm until 11pm.
  • Sat 10th ReArt. E17 Art Trail Family Fun Day: creative reuse workshops for adults & children, bike powered painting.  10am – 4pm Forest Recycling Project, 2c Bakers Avenue, E17 9AW. 020 8539 3856
  • Sun 11th Sunday lunch at the Hornbeam 13.00. Last chance to see the Art at Hornbeam and we will be celebrating the trail with a Sunday lunch. £8 a head, £5 for children. Two courses, with veggie main, roast potatoes, seasonal veg, followed by pudding. Booking is necessary and all payable in advance. Lunch is served at 1pm.
  • Sun 18th Car Free Day, Leytonstone 1-7pm. Enjoy Leytonstone E11 without traffic on as the streets in and around the Town Centre and Church Lane burst into colour and life for the annual Leytonstone Car Free Day. Leytonstone Town Centre will be set abuzz with live street entertainment, staged live music and bustling market stalls. As ever there will be a strong focus on cycling with a range of themed attractions and activities.
  • Sat 24th BBQ at the Hornbeam 12 – 4pm. As the summer season comes to an end we will be having a Hornbeam BBQ under the Hornbeam trees outside the cafe as the leaves turn from green to gold!
  • Sat 24th Bat Walk at Highams Park, 6.30 pm. »»»»
  • Sat 24th Transition Leytonstone 2nd Birthday party. »»»»
  • Sun 25 Sep Food swap start planning your baking,pickling, harvest gluts! Celebrate food produced across this community by joining us for a seasonal ‘Food Swap’ and celebration – bring your surplus produce and pickles and all else. Contact plants@organiclea.org.uk for more information about this celebration and the day’s activity.
  • Sun 25th Fungal Foray: 12:00 pm-2:00 pm Find out about wild edible fungi. Slideshow and guided walk. Children accompanied by adults welcome. Organised by Hornbeam & OrganicLea. Contact info@organiclea.org.uk
  • Sunday 25th September • Making a loaf at the Hornbeam: 11:00 am-2:30 pm. Basic bread baking for beginners.  Free, donations welcome. For more information contact lopezpilar@hotmail.com
  • Fri 30th Sep Live gigs in the evening at the Hornbeam, kicking off a weekend of events as one of the venues for the Walthamstow music festival ‘The Stow Festival”.  »»»» http://www.wegottickets.com/

October Diary

  • Sat 1st Oct Buskers Brunch with daytime live gigs at the Hornbeam »»»»
  • Sat 1st Oct Live Stow Festival gigs in the evening at the Hornbeam »»»»
  • Sun 2nd Oct: Sunday serenade over veggie roast lunch at the Hornbeam »»»»
  • Sat 8th October Apple Day at Vestry House Museum. »»»»
  • Fri 14th Open Mic Night at the Hornbeam 7.30pm. Enjoy some entertainment with a glass of wine or two! Come along and perform your poetry, song, music or verse in a friendly atmosphere hosted by compère Andy. Free for performers, £1.50 for audience. Doors open 7.30, performance 8.15pm until 11pm.
  • Fri 21st Oct Skillshare fundraiser. Hornbeam 7.30 – 11pm. A series of skillsharing workshops are planned for Saturday afternoons starting mid November and running to mid December.
  • Sunday 30th October Sourdough baking 11:00 am-4:00 pm. Make a sourdough loaf, learn to make sourdough starters with different flours. Cost £20 Booking essential. Contact lopezpilar@hotmail.com

Hornbeam Centre Services

The following core services operate out of the Hornbeam Centre:

  • Hornbeam cafe opening hours: Weds – Sat 10.30 am – 5pm. The menu changes weekly and can be found here
  • Organic fruit & veg market stall Saturdays 10am-3pm at Hornbeam & 11am – 3pm Leytonstone. Further information.
  • Meeting room bookings: 1st floor room can be booked 9am – 10pm Mon – Sat, ground floor café can be booked outside of normal café hours. More info here.
  • Organic Veg/fruit box scheme, with several local pickup points round Waltham Forest: lots of info here.

Forest Recycling Project Services

At FRP we run a Reuse centre selling reusable goods for a suggested donation. We are open Mon-Thurs 10-4pm. The centre is manned daily by a team of dedicated volunteers. Members of the public are welcome to come and buy books, cds, records, kitchen utensils, children’s toys, bric a brac, large and small items of furniture and tested electrical goods, all at extremely low prices.

FRP also runs Give or Take days, where free reusable goods are given away to those on low incomes, with organisations across London. We provide complete event management services and tailor the days to suit the requirements of the partner organisation and attendees. Approximately 200 people attend each event and 2 tonnes of reusable waste are saved from landfill. We are always keen to work with new partners please get in touch if you want to get involved.

Volunteers at FRP have the opportunity to try their hand at a wide variety of roles and learn new skills for the work place and about our environment. Volunteering can be a rewarding way to meet new people and we support people in finding the most suitable placement with us or other local environmental projects.

FRP run a Re-paint scheme where members can get access to a huge variety of reduced cost, or in some cases free, reusable paint that has been saved from being disposed of in landfill. We also run the Green office project which supplies green goods to businesses, schools and charities and offers paper, confidential waste and cardboard recycling services.

FRP can offer reusable or recyclable Goods pick up service, we can pick up a reusable goods, including timber, metal, paper and paint. We can provide a quotation on demand for this service.

In addition we deliver a hands-on educational program about the issues of reuse and recycling, for school and community groups.

The next Give or Take event will be on the 18th September at Barley Lane- Goodmayes, Redbridge. Please check our website for more details or give us a call if you would like to get involved in the day. 0208 539 3856.

Hornbeam ‘partner’ organisations

These organisations work especially closely with the Hornbeam Centre

To unsubscribe to this newsletter please send an email to info@hornbeam.org.uk with ‘newsletter unsubscribe’ in the subject line.

We we welcome feedback on the newsletter, especially if you have ideas for content or other improvements. Please email Paul: paul@hornbeam.org.uk