Practical things to do about the climate emergency

By Angela Terry

Here are some activity ideas for the whole family: Rewild your garden. Set up a bug hotel. Start growing vegetables. Replace some of your lawn with wildflowers. Make low-carbon meals based around local fruit and vegetables from a farmer’s market, if possible (or even produce you’ve grown yourselves!).

Take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch (www.rspb.org.uk), the Great British Spring Clean (www.keepbritaintidy.org) or Earth Day (www.earthday.org).

Craft homemade birthday and Christmas presents for loved ones.

Shut curtains and blinds from dusk until dawn to keep the heat in (and energy bills low).

Write to your MP and explain why you are concerned about climate change.

Angela Terry is an environmental scientist and mum of three. She’s the founder of One Home (www.onehome.org. uk), the UK’s first consumer climate action hub – providing independent, practical advice on the changes you can make to help fight global warming and adapt to climate change.

Mind Mappers giveaway

A unique approach to understanding the most important environmental issues for humankind is needed.

Mind Mappers books are structured using a visual thinking technique called “mind mapping”, where complex ideas are broken down into a clear flow of visual information.

“Why does plastic hurt the planet?”, “Are we running out of water?” and “How do we stop climate change?” are three of their books that make complicated topics accessible for all ages, along with practical actions that will empower young readers to play their part in protecting the planet’s vital resources. These are all presented alongside beautiful illustrations.

We are excited to be able to giveaway a bundle containing all three of these important books.

If you would like to be in with a chance of winning, please e-mail your name and address to editor@familiestvw.co.uk by 31 July.

Family Stone Sculptors’ Club

For ages 9 to 16 (and their parents/carers).

Enrolling now! Get

Families magazine’s JUST ONE Tree day

The UK date for the 5th international JUST ONE Tree Day has been confirmed for 13th October 2023. The highly popular event brings together hundreds of schools across the world and encourages children to bring in £1 to plant a tree and help reforest the planet - a tree is planted for every £1 raised.

The day highlights to children and young people how their individual actions can make a difference in the fight against climate change and the biodiversity crises. It is the flagship event of JUST ONE Tree, a British not-for-profit dedicated to removing CO2 from the atmosphere through global reforestation.

On 30 May, Families Thames Valley West’s editor, Lesley, took part in a JUST ONE Tree day, wearing green and donating to this growing charity as part of the magazine’s commitment to the environment.