Help save the planet

Go green!

If we each make small changes to our lives we can collectively make a huge impact to protect our planet for future generations. Here are some positive ideas…

ere we are, at the dawn of a new year, a new decade. Recent news has delivered bleak news. We all know – thanks to Greta Thunberg et al – our species must take action now to mitigate the damage wreaked upon our planet. We believe positivity is the only way toward change so consider these tips inspirational rather than guiltinducing. Some might seem like common sense (especially to those who’ve always been frugal) but together we can make a huge difference. ˜ Tree’s company Scientists have found billions more trees could remove two thirds of all the carbon dioxide created by humans. The Woodland Trust is working hard to protect the 1,064 ancient woods threatened by development in the UK. Buy saplings to plant yourself or donate at www.woodlandtrust.org. uk. Also plant bee-friendly plants and wildfl owers. Aim to use only naturally derived products and fertilisers and keep lawns real rather than paving. H

˜ Your council cares! Garden compost bins will reduce your household waste. Ensure you utilise food waste, green waste and recycling schemes in your area – they vary greatly but all local authorities are under pressure to hit targets so you might be surprised. Do check online what can and can’t be recycled to reduce landfi ll, e.g. Christmas trees. Reusing, and buying

less packaging in the fi rst place is still the best way to lessen your carbon footprint. Monitor and aim to reduce your levels over time.

˜ Shower power Just 2.5% of the world’s water is freshwater (the rest being saltwater) and most of it is frozen or deep underground so we can’t afford to waste a drop. According to the Environment Agency, we could run short of water within the next 25 years. We’re not asking you to be stinky, but shortening your shower will save 10 litres per minute. Look for a water-saving shower head. An average fi veminute shower uses 40% less water than a bath.

˜ Feeling fl ush Using the small button on your loo saves half the water. Or fi t a low-cost water saver in your cistern. Perhaps surprisingly, dishwashers use far less water and energy than washing up. Run taps slowly & less frequently and get a water butt if you can.

˜ Home heating Turn radiators off or down in less-used or unused rooms. It sounds obvious but popping a jumper on or snuggling under a warmer duvet might mean you don’t need the heating on. Turning down your thermostat by just one degree can save up to £80 a year. Home boiler heating is responsible for nearly 20% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions.

˜ Bright sparks

You can save electricity – and about £30 a year off your energy bills – just by remembering not to leave your appliances on standby (and more by unplugging). Don’t leave devices charging unnecessarily. Switch to energy-effi cient LED lightbulbs and save about £40 per year.

˜ People power Switch to renewable electricity and green gas at home and reduce your carbon footprint and bills. Leading providers include Bulb, Octopus Energy and Ecotricity. The average home can stop 1.5 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. Install a Smart Meter too – get inspired at www.uswitch.com ˜ Holiday at home Consider a UK staycation for your next holiday. A longhaul return fl ight, say to New York can generate 1,000kg of CO2. A fl ight to America’s west coast would

˜ Web wise Forget the big search engines and instead switch to Ecosia which commits 80% of its profi ts to supporting reforestation projects. To date, it’s helped to plant more than 70 million trees.

˜ Shopping savvy Shop responsibly to signifi cantly reduce your output. And “punish” big supermarkets for their inaction! Look for local suppliers of milk, bread, fruit and veg, meat, dairy and more. Buy products made or grown in the UK, less wrapped, such as loose veg. Sign up to Freegle and for clothing, join the kids & buy vintage on apps such as Depop.

˜ Waste not Switch to a disposable safety razor, a bamboo toothbrush, planet-friendly deodorant, bamboo loo roll, soap bars or refi llable shampoo and shower gel. Plus Mooncup for women. More zerowaste shops and pop-ups are appearing across the UK: we will keep bringing you news of these locally.

˜ Cleaning up There are great eco dishwasher and washing machine aids, from brands such as Ecoleaf to soap nuts, household cleaner such as Koh, refi llable detergent and more (try Splosh or Smol) and plasticfree cloths and scourers (Ecococonut or Loofah).

˜ Avoid palm oil Research by Rainforest Rescue shows the equivalent of 300 football fi elds are destroyed every hour to produce palm oil, which can be found in close to 50% of the packaged products. Visit www.wwf.org.uk for a list of ingredients to avoid.

˜ Drinking problem Invest in a reusable cup (from R Cup or Stojo) or bottle (Klean Kanteen /Jedz / One Green Bottle).

˜ Food for thought Every year in the UK we throw away £13 billion worth of food (an average of £500). See our monthly Ramblings for a wealth of gardening clubs to grow your own or share the fruits of others’ labours in various swap sales in your community. Visit www.sustainweb.org, www.ilovefreegle. org and www.theplasticfreehome.com

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Heal the world

Liz Nicholls asks award-winning presenter and biologist Liz Bonnin about school, the live tour of the BBC’s Planet Earth II this spring and how we can all do our bit.

Which early experiences or teachers sparked your love of nature? “I grew up in France, in the mountains above Nice. My sister and I were always out in the wood near our house with our two dogs, having adventures with hedgehogs, snakes and spiders. Nature just works its magic if you plonk kids in the middle of it. At school, I was fascinated by little birds, how everything worked inside that perfect little body, which led me to biology. Then I wanted to understand how everything worked in every living system and I had a great chemistry teacher in Ireland who nurtured my passion. A good teacher will do that. I wasn’t very good at physics or maths but I loved school.” Q.

Q. Do series such as Planet Earth, and Sir David Attenborough’s latest Seven Worlds, One Planet have an infl uence on how we treat our planet? “We’ve reached a tipping point in terms of our impact, and one of the things I’m most astounded by is that petrochemical companies are just seemingly carrying on as if it’s ‘business as usual’. I believe we can make a difference, but need to be aware of the facts. I think series like Planet Earth can both move and inspire people.”

Q. Has fi lming Meat: A Threat To Our Planet changed your eating habits? “I already was eating less meat. The show certainly made me think again about how we treat a food that, considering its impact, should be a luxury rather than an everyday staple. I don’t eat red meat and any chicken I eat is free range, high welfare.” Q. How do you feel about Planet Earth II’s live tour? ”It hasn’t quite sunk in that I’ll be involved. So, to be stepping out as part of the tour and getting to see it all on a gigantic screen with a full orchestra as well... I think I’ll be quite emotional.” Q. What is it like working with a national treasure Sir David? “I’ve met Sir David on a few occasions now, and I’ll never forget the fi rst time I saw him about 12 years ago when he was talking at an event. I was a bit starstruck; he was my hero when I was growing up. He went from production work into inventing natural history programming with the BBC. There really is nobody else like him and I doubt there ever will be again. He’s not just a national treasure, but one for the whole world.”

˜˜˜ Join a guided tour of the Hogs Back Brewery taking place throughout January. The brewery has been brewing its award-winning ales, using locally grown hops, since 1992. An entertaining guide will lead a tour around the brewery, housed in 18th century farm buildings. You can learn all about the brewing operation, sample a generous range of beers, see the new 8 ½ acre hop garden and finish with a visit to the Brewery shop, which stocks their all their ales. Tickets are £15 each. Book your tour online at www. hogsback.co.uk.

˜˜˜ One for your diaries. Book a romantic Valentine’s evening for two, at a Gin & Jazz evening with the Ian Young Allstars at the Hardman Hoyle Memorial Hall, Hammer GU27 3QW on Saturday, 15th February. Doors open at 7pm, tickets are £25 each which includes supper by Big Pan Artisan. Raffle, licensed bar and all proceeds in aid of hall refurbishment. For tickets, call the booking office on 01428 642526 or email johncraighooker@hotmail.com

˜˜˜ Highfield and Brookham Schools invite you to join them for an Open Morning on Saturday, 11th January, 10am - noon. They offer an exceptional all-round education for girls and boys aged 3-13. Their approach gives children an astonishing diversity of opportunities. They look beyond the curriculum to skills that children can learn through sport, music, drama and art. This broadens horizons and fosters lifelong passions. With 175 acres of fields, sports pitches and woodlands to explore, it is a place where children can really be children. Book your place on the open morning at www.highfieldandbrookham. co.uk/visit Alternatively, call 01428 728000 or email headspa@highfieldschool.org.uk for more information.

˜˜˜ If you have younger children then you may be interested to know that Highfield and Brookham open their doors to the beautiful nursery every other Friday, for free taster mornings. These sessions 10am – noon, are a great way to see if their nursery is right for your child and to discover how Highfield and Brookham’s learning opportunities really do set them apart from other nurseries. Choosing their nursery is your opportunity to begin your child’s educational journey in the most magical way. To book your taster session visit www. highfieldandbrookham.co.uk/nursery-taster Alternatively, call 01428 722005

˜˜˜ Looking to get fit this January? Circle Dancing is not only great exercise but creates a wonderful sense of community and you do not need a partner. The combination of movement and ethnic music is both calming and energising and people speak of feeling better d ...Continued on page 30.

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