Your lifestyle guide to all things eco...
June 2012
Enjoy a summer of active commuting GAINING A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE
Take Charge Bikes Providing assistance when you most need it
Up the creek with a paddle www.greenlivingmagazine.co.uk
Short breaks creating lifelong memories
Electric Bikes
Image courtesy of Kalkhoff
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take charge
bikes
E
lectric bikes are great, but sometimes it takes a bit explaining how they actually work if you’re not familiar with them. First off they are bicycles and are intended to be ridden as such. Basically they are like normal bikes and can be ridden as normal bikes but have the positive benefit of providing assistance when you need it. A bit like a gentle push in the back!
even wider selection and choice.
Modern design and technology is allowing for a fantastic range of electric bikes, and top European brands are starting to open up to the UK allowing an
Bath by Cycle offers traditional and (shortly) electric bicycles to be rented by the day, half-day or by the hour. Cycling in Bath is a rewarding, cheap
Exercise, even at moderate levels, helps to reduce stress and depression as well as improve mood and self-esteem. Whether you need a bike for commuting, leisure or for work use, electric bikes can help you keep fit without overexerting yourself and allow you freedom from traffic queues and petrol stations.
and enjoyable option for those people who wish to experience the city’s many historical sites and the surrounding area such as the canal path to Bradfordon-Avon or the cycle path between Bristol and Bath. Telephone or visit Take Charge Bikes for a chat and the experienced team will happily explain the differences in bikes and find the right type for your needs; they have plenty of bikes for you to try! They will also help with servicing and repairs to your electric or normal bike if you need a helping hand, all from their fully equipped workshop.
Take Charge Bikes 01225 789568 www.takechargebikes.co.uk Bath by Cycle 01225 807881 www.bathbycycle.com 3 George’s Place Lower Bathwick Hill Bath BA2 4EN
june 2012
greenliving
Canoe2 Operating in rural East Northamptonshire, Canoe2 is offering something different in outdoor adventures this year.
T
hey have now created the newly published Canoe2 Short Break Brochure 2012, turning single day trips into multi-day adventures, with a range of bundled packages that include accommodation options such as luxury camping in 5m bell tents or a Mongolianstyle yurt, each sleeping up to six people. Other bundles offer accommodation in wonderful B&Bs, hotels and luxury apartments along the river. Ranging from one to five days, as well as canoe hire and accommodation, these short breaks also include all necessary equipment for paddling the river, baggage transfer, excellent full English breakfasts
and road transport along the river, ensuring that the vast majority of paddling is downstream. A good read of Canoe2’s Short Break Brochure will be a discovery in itself. The adventure of paddling the River Nene will create memories to last a lifetime. Taster paddles start at £35 for a two-man canoe, while short break holidays start at just £99 per person. The PDF brochure can be downloaded from the website. 01604 832115 info@canoe2.co.uk www.canoe2.co.uk
greenliving
Enjoy a summer of active commuting N
ow the summer months are here why not take advantage of the warmer weather and long daylight hours to try making an active commute part of your daily routine? If you live near enough to work, to cycle or walk, why not leave the car at home to avoid the queues and enjoy the freedom of fresh air and some brisk exercise to start your day... You will gain a new perspective on the world by travelling at a different pace, see your local environment through fresh eyes, and arrive at work feeling less stressed and ready to face the day ahead in a positive frame of mind. Studies have shown that those people who lead a sedentary work-life and actively commute to work are both physically and mentally healthier than their car-driving counterparts. In a recent survey by the Department for Transport, 38 per cent of people stated that for journeys of under two miles in length currently made by car they could just as easily cycle if they had a bike. If you do have a bike sitting unused in the garage or shed, take the opportunity to get it out and give it a go! You’ll be amazed
at the benefits you will feel very quickly on your overall fitness level, and also the positive effects it will have on your purse. You could very quickly be burning fat, and not money. If you don’t live close enough to work to be able to actively commute for the whole length of your journey, have you considered getting off public transport a stop or two earlier and walking that last stretch? Or try parking a little further away from your workplace and cycling for part of the journey? Walking or cycling to work doesn’t necessary mean following the route you would take by car. There are many different ways you could try which may be more direct or take you along quieter roads. For more inspiration, and maps for your local area visit www.travelwest.info? This is an excellent source of local travel information around the west of England whatever form of transport you choose. You can find more detailed information on cycling at www.betterbybike.info
Give it a go… it might be life changing!
june 2012
water dilemna The warnings of severe drought that have permeated the UK’s airwaves in recent weeks have forced the reality of water’s value as a commodity into the minds of millions.
june 2012
greenliving
Alongside an emphasis on the importance of sustainable water management in meeting future demand, our behaviour towards the water that we access every day has been put under the spotlight. Following the launch of a new Eco-Schools partnership, Mark Jankovich, CEO of Delphis Eco, explains what’s at stake and why schools are the right place to start.
Teaching the value of water: From today’s schoolchildren to tomorrow’s leader Water is the lifeblood of all ecology — there’s no living without it. Global water scarcity is one of the most pressing issues facing the world and presents a serious challenge that can’t be ignored. Regardless of this, however, it continues to be one of the most under-respected commodities, particularly in the UK, and it’s vital that this changes. Environmental protection must become second nature to us and the best way to embed responsible behaviour in society is to impart its importance from a young age. Schools are an ideal forum for teaching children about the significance of ecological responsibility and the great thing is that they truly embrace it and want to make a difference. Cleaning is obviously a key activity in our society — but our preoccupation with it seems to border on obsession! We clean surfaces excessively, overdose on chemicals and often use dishwashers and washing machines when they are only half full. Although many of the nastiest substances to be deployed in the name of cleanliness are now outlawed in Europe, there’s a misconception that water recycling plants remove any and all chemicals that we throw down the drain, which promotes a sense of complacency. This is not in fact the case; many products
contain phosphates that can’t be removed and are discharged into the sea or rivers. We also tend to forget about storm drains; how many times have you seen a bucket of detergent be poured down a street drain? Many people fail to realise that it goes straight into the water course. The means of tackling this kind of behaviour are found both in education and in providing an effective, viable alternative to traditional cleaning products. This partnership is all about education and choice. We are educating children, their parents and procurement staff about what sustainability looks like and giving them a genuine accredited choice. It is also important to remember that this partnership is fun for its participants; we’re working with some major organisations that are going to help to develop educational modules, run competitions and reward inspiring behavioural change. Put simply, today’s school children are tomorrow’s leaders; they are part of a new era and will ultimately control the form it takes. Crucially, pupils are the most tenacious influencers with valuable powers of persuasion. They are in a great position to influence buying behaviour within their households and schools and effect positive changes.
www.eco-schools.org
june 2012
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A HAND UP
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