SuStAinable StAlbans We ek 21 - 28 Nov 2015 Programme of Events re you interested in the countryside, food, nature, clean air, community, cutting waste Aand clean energy? Do you get frustrated by seeing waste all around; unused food, rubbish on the ground, lights left on? Do you want a secure future for yourself and your children, living in this lovely district? Then you care about sustainability and you will enjoy SuStAinable StAlbans Week. There is something here for everyone; nature walks, art, music, sustainable food, talks, film showings, a green careers fair, children’s events, and practical steps to cut your carbon footprint. You can hear Natalie Bennett speak or you can help pick up litter in Verulamium Park; you can debate sustainable economies or you can plant trees at Heartwood Forest. Join in, learn something, have fun. If you can’t make it along, you can still join in by doing something sustainable at home during the week, or by writing one of our Postcards to Paris for the Global Climate Change conference #COP21. Head to our website for information, ideas, and examples: www.sustainablestalbans.org It’s our district, we love it, and we want to make it sustainable, so people can love it for generations Throughout the programme, we use the One Planet Living to come. framework developed by Bioregional to help illustrate the ten themes of environmental sustainability. Welcome to the first ever Sustainable St Albans Week!
The Sustainable St Albans Team.
Events falling under the banner of Sustainability are broad and varied. Some of them may be controversial. The views expressed at these events may not be those of the organisers of Sustainable St Albans Week. Unless otherwise stated, all events are free and do not require booking. For full details of everything going on during Sustainable St Albans Week, visit www.sustainablestalbans.org
2 SuStAinable StAlbans Week Programme All week 21st - 28th November 2015 Time and Location Organisations Details 24 – 27 Nov 9am – 5pm Oxfam Chequer Street Children’s Book Swap 11 Chequer Street, Exchange rather than buying new: donate a children’s book and St Albans AL1 3YJ take another away for free. Free
23 - 27 Nov 10am - 3pm BRE (Building Research Self-guided tour of BRE Innovation Park BRE Innovation Park, Establishment) Visit a collection of test houses which showcase sustainable Bucknalls Lane, Watford buildings, landscape designs and innovative low carbon materials WD25 9NH and technologies. To book, email [email protected] stating the date and time you wish to attend (tours approx. 1 hour). Quote ‘Sustainable St Albans’ to get free admission. Free 21 - 28 Nov Ayletts Plastic Plant Pot Amnesty During opening hours & Coffee Composting Aylett Nurseries, Bring in your plastic plant pots for recycling. You can also North Orbital Road (A414), collect coffee grounds from the Dahlia Coffee house for use St Albans AL2 1DH in your garden (See full programme on our website for further details). Free
23 - 29 Nov Global Justice Library displays Library opening hours St Albans and 9th Display about Sustainable St Albans Week by Global St Albans Central Library, St Albans Cubs Justice St Albans. Maltings Shopping Centre, Display for children on carbon footprints around the world, St Albans AL1 3HS prepared by 9th St Albans Cubs. Free
Tue - Thur 11am - 7pm The Beer Shop Reusable Bag Week Fri - Sat 11am - 8pm Customers who bring their own reusable bag, or purchase one Sun 11am - 4pm of our reusable bags, receive 10% off any bottles purchased. 71 London Road, St Albans AL1 1LN
Tues - Fri 11.30am - 4.30pm Charlie’s Coffee and Reusable Cup Week Sat 8.30am - 12.30pm Company Find out what Charlie does to keep her business as sustainable as possible. Present this programme to get 15% off her range of Events falling under the banner of Sustainability are broad and varied. Some of them may be controversial. 87 London Road, reusable coffee cups. The views expressed at these events may not be those of the organisers of Sustainable St Albans Week. St Albans AL1 1LN Unless otherwise stated, all events are free and do not require booking. For full details of everything going on during Sustainable St Albans Week, Details are correct at time of going to press, but please check for updates and to see more events on our website visit www.sustainablestalbans.org listing www.sustainablestalbans.org
SuStAinable StAlbans Week Programme 3 Time and Location Organisations Details 9am - 4pm Mon/Thur/Sat The Green Kitchen Permaculture: Working with nature 11am - 4pm Sun for a better world 419 Hatfield Road, Enjoy the food in St. Albans’ new veggie café and read the St Albans AL4 0XP display about permaculture.
Tues - Sat 8.30am - 5pm The Courtyard Café, Locally sourced food 11 Hatfield Road, Transition St Albans The menu this week will include home-grown vegetables and St Albans AL1 3RR homemade jam from Transition St Albans members. Come and find out more about growing your own!
saturday 21st November 2015 Launch of Sustainable St Albans Week 10.15am - 3.30pm Transition St Albans, Clocktower and Carbon Footprint Clock Tower, High Street, Friends of the Earth, Come along and find out about the range of activities and St Albans AL3 4EL Computer Friendly, events on offer during Sustainable St Albans Week. Climb the Civic Society, Mayor, Clocktower and let Computer Friendly help you calculate your Katie’s Jumping Fleas carbon footprint. The Mayor of St Albans City and District will open the week’s events at 10.30am, with music provided by ukulele supergroup, Katie’s Jumping Fleas. Free
10am - 3.30pm Affinity Water Water Saving Squad Clock Tower, High Street, Tips, advice and free water saving devices to help you save St Albans AL3 4EL water, energy and money. Free
10am - 4pm St Albans District Trees, Parks and Green Spaces in Clock Tower, High Street, Council: Parks & Green St Albans St Albans AL3 4EL Spaces and St Albans Learn how St Albans District Council manages its Parks and District Voluntary Green Spaces sustainably, and find out how you can help keep Tree Wardens our City beautiful by becoming a Voluntary Tree Warden. Free
10am - 4pm St Albans District Recycling in St Albans Clock Tower, High Street, Council St Albans District Council has set a target for increasing St Albans AL3 4EL recycling rates to 60%, to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill. Find out what has been done to encourage recycling across the district. Free
12.30pm - 5pm Nude Tin Can, Affinity Don’t Forget to Flush The Nude Tin Can Gallery, This art exhibition looks at how a lack of sanitation affects 125 Hatfield Road, us globally and what solutions can be implemented. At 2pm, St Albans AL1 4JS Richard Higgins talks about his waterless compostable toilets. Affinity Water will also be giving away water saving devices and giving talks at 1pm and 3pm. Free
4 SuStAinable StAlbans Week Programme saturday 21st November 2015 Other Saturday events Time and Location Organisations Details 8:30 – 4:30pm Population Matters A Sustainable St Albans needs a St Albans Market, Sustainable Population St Albans AL1 3JE Raising awareness about population and its effect on sustainability. Come to visit us and have some fun with our new population counter. See if you can keep up with the speed at which the world’s population is growing. Small prizes for anyone who can keep up! Free St Albans City Centre, Autovolt, Electric Blue Electric Car display and rides St Albans AL1 3LD Sustainable transport event - Electric Car display. To be confirmed - check website for details. Free
10.30am - 11.30am St Albans Conservative Community Litter Pick Verulamium Park Association/Cllr Chivers Get together in the fresh air and do something for the good St Albans of our community! Cllr Chivers provides the bags, gloves and (King Harry Park entrance) pickers, or bring your own. Meet at the top of the causeway (the stretch of footpath that leads from the lake to the King Harry Park entrance). Free
10.30am - 12.30pm The Baha’i community of Spiritual walk with arts and crafts Friends Meeting House, St Albans and District Taking time to quietly interact with our surroundings is a 7 Upper Lattimore Road, spiritual activity, refreshing creativity in many ways. Sharing St Albans AL1 3UD insights in a small group increases our understanding of the environment. Free
2pm - 3.30pm John O’Conner Guided walk in Verulamium Park Meet at Verulamium Grounds Maintenance Find out how the Park is managed sustainably. Museum, St Michael’s, No need to book. In case of very bad weather on the day, St Albans AL3 5SW contact 07587 632379. Free
7pm -10pm Friends of the Earth Bring and Share Vegetarian Supper St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Church All are welcome to bring a vegetarian dish to share and to try Hatfield Road, Transition Group other dishes. Families welcome. St Albans AL1 4JP To book, go to: www.stalbansfoe.org. Please pay for your pre-reserved ticket on the door, which includes a glass of local organic apple juice and dessert cooked by St.Paul’s Transition Group. £3
7:30pm - 10:30pm St Albans Sub Aqua Club ‘The End of the Line’ Film screening St Albans Sub Aqua Club, Imagine a world without fish. ‘The End of the Line’ is a wake Cottonmill Lane, up call to the world. http://endoftheline.com/ Full bar and St Albans AL1 1HJ snacks available. To book, email [email protected]. Recommended donation £5
SuStAinable StAlbans Week Programme 5 sunday 22nd November 2015 Time and Location Organisations DeTails 10am - 3pm Woodland Trust Winter Planting Day at Heartwood Forest, Heartwood Forest Sandridge AL4 9DQ Come and be a part of the creation of Heartwood Forest! (Meet at the Heartwood Please dress appropriately – it can be cold and muddy. Forest car park) Refreshments are available to buy. No need to book, just turn up on the day and please bring a spade if you have one. For more information please email [email protected]. Free 10am - 12pm Park Street Pickers Community litter pick with a Park Street Recreation recycling twist Ground AL2 2NE Litter pickers, bags and hi-viz vests will be provided. Please (Meet at the car park) bring gloves and appropriate clothing. No need to book. In case of very bad weather on the day, check with [email protected]. Free
10.30am St Luke’s Church Climate Change – a Christian response St Lukes Church, The ethical and spiritual dimension of climate change – 46 Cell Barnes Lane, and then a practical discussion of what we need to do to St Albans AL1 5QJ make a difference. Free
10.30am - 12.30pm Herts and Middlesex Guided walk at Tyttenhanger Lakes Tyttenhanger Gravel Pits, Wildlife Trust (North There will be various winter birds on the lakes so bring your Colney Heath, AL2 1QA Herts Local Group) binoculars! (Meet by the church) No need to book. In case of very bad weather on the day, contact 01462 623667. Free
10.30am - 12.30pm Sandridge Parish Sandridge Family Walk Jersey Farm Woodland Council Join us for a 5km family walk around the beautiful areas of Park, Sandridge Sandridge. (See details) No need to book. In case of very bad weather on the day, contact 07789 485052. Meet opposite Woodland House, St Helier Road, Sandridge, AL4 9LQ. Free
12pm - 6pm Harpenden Farmers Harpenden Farmers Market/ Christmas Harpenden Market. FoodSmiles Carnival Visit the FoodSmiles stall to find out about their veg box co-op. Free
2pm - 5pm Trestle Arts Base & Replay! @ The Live Music Project Trestle Arts Base, Kathryn Holt from Live acoustic music by local artists. Family friendly activities: Russet Drive, Story Tent come and turn recycled stuff into Art. Explore what you can St Albans AL4 0DU do with everyday junk: invent, create and play! Refreshments available. Free
6 SuStAinable StAlbans Week Programme Time and Location Organisations DeTails
12.30pm - 1.30pm St Albans Quakers Sale of home produced and Friends Meeting House, recycled goods 7 Upper Lattimore Road, For people living in the vicinity of the Friends Meeting House St Albans AL1 3UD and our own members. Free tea and coffee. Free
Drop-in 1pm - 4pm FoodSmiles FoodSmiles Open Day Hammonds End Farm, Come and see the FoodSmiles organic growing site, find out Redbourn Lane, about their aims and visions, and ask your own home-growing Harpenden AL5 2AY questions. FoodSmiles members work together to grow veg and share everything they produce. Refreshments available. Free
Monday 23rd November 2015 10am - 1pm Ver Valley Society River Ver conservation Verulam Golf Course Help to clear vegetation blockages and overhanging trees in the river channel. Meet at lower end of car park. To book, email [email protected] Free
6pm & 7.15pm (see details) The Yoga Hall Free Yoga Class 11 Hatfield Road, Health and happiness is one of the 10 Sustainability themes of St Albans AL1 3RR the Week. Come along to try out yoga! 6 - 7pm beginners class or 7:15pm - 8:45pm intermediate class. Free if you bring a copy of this Programme.
7pm - 9pm Look! St Albans Our Community Voice on Design The Peahen, 14 London Rd, Community Voice on in St Albans St Albans AL1 1NG Design Informal discussion on how the Look! St Albans Charrette process helps develop well-designed, beautiful buildings in StAlbans City Centre. Free
7.30pm - 9.30pm Transition St Albans Cutting your Carbon Footprint The Parish Centre Come along to find out about practical actions that individuals St Michael’s Street, and households can take to cut their carbon footprint. Talk and St Albans AL3 4SL discussion. Free
8pm - 10pm Soroptimist Speaker Meeting on Environmental Chiswell Green United International, Lush Sustainability Reform Church, Watford Rd, Talk by Lush Cosmetics, who source sustainably and help St Albans AL2 3HG women to work in a secure environment. Hand and arm massages available during the evening. All welcome. Please email [email protected] to advise you will be attending. £2
SuStAinable StAlbans Week Programme 7 tuesday 24th November 2015 Time and Location Organisations Details 8 - 10am AECOM Sustainability Breakfast Briefing AECOM House, Best practice presentations and panel Q&A by local experts, 63 - 77 Victoria Street, AECOM (Building, Environment, Transport and Water groups). St Albans AL1 3ER This event is targeted at local businesses but interested individuals are welcome to attend. To book please email [email protected]. Free
12pm Radio Verulam 92.6fm Environment Matters Environment Matters on Radio Verulam 92.6fm will be on air just after noon, as part of the Local Life Show. Free
1.30 - 2.30pm Story Tent Imagine, Play, Create... and 4 - 5pm with a sustainability theme Trestle Arts Base, Russet A fun-filled hour of professional storytelling and captivating Drive, St Albans AL4 0JQ craft. For pre-school children (ages 2 - 5 yrs) and their parents/ guardians. No need to book, but helpful if you can text your intention to come 07758 667624. £6 Doors 7.30pm Green Party Natalie Bennett: ‘How can we make Start 8pm. End 9.30pm climate change a political priority?’? Trinity United Reformed Green Party Leader Natalie Bennett talks and takes your Church, 1 Beaconsfield Rd, questions on how to get politicians to do more about climate St Albans AL1 3RD change. Refreshments. No Booking required. Free
7.30 - 9.30pm Global Justice St Albans This Changes Everything The Speckled Hen Pub, reading group Hatfield Road, Join us as we discuss ‘This Changes Everything’ by Naomi Klein. St Albans AL4 0XG Choose a chapter to concentrate on and share your thoughts with others. Please email [email protected] for details. Free WEdnesday 25th November 2015 9.30am - 12.30pm St Albans RSPB Group Birds and Wildlife of Cassiobury Park Cassiobury Park, - Walk and optional pub lunch Watford WD18 7LG Cassiobury Park is the largest public open space in Watford. (Meet in the car park at the To book please email [email protected] and say end of Gade Avenue) whether you would like to car-share to get there (preferred). £1
Details are correct at time of going to press, but please check for updates and to see more events on our website listing www.sustainablestalbans.org
8 SuStAinable StAlbans Week Programme Time and Location Organisations Details
10.30am - 12pm John O’Conner Grounds Guided walk of Bricketwood Common Bricketwood Common, Maintenance Find out how the Common is managed sustainably. Bricket Wood AL2 3XT No need to book. In case of very bad weather on the day, (School Lane entrance) contact 07587 632379. Free
10.30 - 11.30am and Story Tent Imagine, Play, Create... 1.30 - 2.30pm with a sustainability theme Trestle Arts Base, Russet A fun-filled hour of professional storytelling and captivating Drive, St Albans AL4 0JQ craft. For pre-school children (ages 2 - 5 yrs) and their parents/ guardians. No need to book, but helpful if you can text your intention to come 07758 667624. £6
1pm - 3pm Aubrey Park Hotel Exploring Redbourn’s Ancient Iron AGE Aubrey Park Hotel, & Redbourn Village Fort and Village Museum Hemel Hempstead Road, Museum A walk promoting our local sustainability by showcasing the Redbourn AL3 7AF history that lies within our local area. Free refreshments and cake on arrival. No need to book. In case of very bad weather on the day, contact Ruth to confirm07860 357355. Free
1pm to 4pm Rothamsted Research Tales of Willow Rothamsted Conference An engaging and interactive event covering the past, present Centre, and future uses of willow. The event includes a walk to the Harpenden AL5 2JQ National Willow Collection, so wrap up well. Book a Free ticket via the Eventbrite link: http://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/events/teatime-tales-willow
6pm - 8pm St Albans Youth Council, Green Careers Fair Committee Rooms supported by Youth Careers event aimed at secondary school pupils and their St Albans City and District Connexions parents. Hear from dynamic young adults making careers in Council, St Peters Street, sustainable roles, from university lecturers to house designers. St Albans AL1 3JE Hear what they do, how they reached their goals and get For Sat Nav users, please advice for following in their footsteps. Information and use AL1 3LD to locate the education stalls, including Youth Connexions, Hertfordshire Council Offices University and Oaklands College. If you have any questions please do get in touch. [email protected]. Free
6pm - 8pm St Albans and Green Fashion: Youth Showcase Committee Rooms Harpenden Youth All the entries in the Green Fashion and Accessories St Albans City and District Councils, supported competition will be on display, and the winners announced. Council, St Peters Street, by Youth Connexions This competition provides young people aged 11-25 with an St Albans AL1 3JE Hertfordshire opportunity to showcase their skills, as well as explore the (Sat Nav users as above) ethical and green issues that impact fashion. (Deadline for Free entries 19th Nov): http://www.stalbansyouthcouncil.wordpress.com
SuStAinable StAlbans Week Programme 9 Time and Location Organisations Details 7.45pm - 10pm The Baha’i community Side by side: how can faith Friends Meeting House, of St Albans and District communities contribute to a 7 Upper Lattimore Road, sustainable future? St Albans AL1 3UD A talk by Barney Leith O.B.E., Chair of the Faith Based Regeneration Network UK. Free
7.30pm - 9.30pm St Albans Sustainable How To Create A Sustainable Local Marlborough Road Economy Group Economy In St Albans District Methodist Church, How can we take an alternative approach to our local economy St Albans AL1 3XQ for the benefit of St Albans District? Talks and discussion. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/creating-a-sustainable-local- economy-in-st-albans-district-tickets-18510632801. Free thursday 26th November 2015 9.30am - 2.45pm Sir John Lawes Sustainable Schools Training Day Annabels Farmschool, Attend workshops and share ideas for sustainability work in Kinsbourne Green AL5 3PR schools. For pupils from primary and secondary schools in St Albans and District and their teachers. Open to all schools in the district. Places must be pre-booked; please contact [email protected]. Free
12pm Radio Verulam 92.6fm Environment Matters Environment Matters on Radio Verulam 92.6fm will be on air just after noon, as part of the Local Life Show. Free
7pm - 10pm The Green Kitchen Autumn-themed bistro evening 419 Hatfield Road, Delicious plant-based food, using as many organic and UK- St Albans AL4 0XP sourced ingredients as possible, at St Albans’ new veggie café. To book call 01727 753661.
7.30pm - 9.30pm Transition St Albans Cutting your Carbon Footprint Park Hall, Leyton Road, Come along to find out about practical actions that individuals Harpenden AL5 2LX and households can take to cut their carbon footprint, including training to use our Harpenden thermal imaging camera. Talk and discussion. Free
7.30pm - 9.30pm St Albans Diocese Film screening: The Octagon, St Peter’s Journey of the Universe Church, St Peter’s Street, From the Big Bang to the epic impact humans have on the St Albans AL1 3HG planet today, this film is designed to inspire a new and closer relationship with Earth in a period of growing environmental and social crisis. Free
10 SuStAinable StAlbans Week Programme FRIday 27th November 2015 Time and Location Organisations Details
7.30pm - 9.45pm Divest Herts This Changes Everything’ Maltings Art Theatre, Film and panel discussion Level 2 The Maltings, A film about climate change - provocative, compelling and St Albans AL1 3HL empowering. The film asks: is confronting the climate crisis the best chance we’ll ever get to build a better world? After-film panel and Q&A on Climate Change: How should we respond? Information about Divest Herts campaign. Book online: https://v1.bookwhen.com/this-changes-everything £6/£3 conc. saturday 28th November 2015 10am - 11am The Trading Post Trading Post @ The Foragers The Foragers Trade your homegrown/homemade produce for something @ The Verulam Arms, different at our friendly food swap. Make use of surplus, avoid 41 Lower Dagnall Street, waste, share skills, try something new! All welcome. Free St Albans AL3 4QE
10am - 12pm Transition St Albans, Sustainable St Albans Week: St.Albans Council Chamber Friends of the Earth Making Connections Civic Centre, St Peter’s St, Everyone who has organised an event for Sustainable St Albans St Albans AL1 3JE Week is invited to this celebration and networking event. Come prepared to be inspired, to share what you’ve achieved, and make connections with all sorts of useful and interesting people. Mid morning cuppa and cake included. No registration necessary but it would be helpful if you could email [email protected] to tell us you are coming. Free
10am - 12pm The Baha’i community Spiritual walk with arts and crafts Harpenden Quaker of St Albans and District Taking time to quietly interact with our surroundings is a Meeting House, spiritual activity, refreshing creativity in many ways. Sharing 12 Southdown Road, insights in a small group increases our understanding of the Harpendend AL5 1PD environment. Free
10am - 1pm St Albans District Repair Event Foyer, St Alban’s District Council Waste Team Ripped jeans? Toaster won’t pop? We will have experts in Council Officers, Civic Cycle-Tech needlework, DIY and electrical repair so if you would like to Centre, St Peter’s Street, Hertfordshire learn how to repair, come along and bring small items with you. St Albans AL1 3JE Free bike checks available from Cycle Tech Herts. Refreshments available. Free
SuStAinable StAlbans Week Programme 11 Time and Location Organisations Details
10am - 3pm British Naturalists’ Nature Walk How Wood/St Albans Association – A linear walk (approx. 5 hours): How Wood to St Albans for Ver Abbey Stations Herts branch Valley wildlife. Bring lunch and suitable outdoor clothing. Meet at 10.15 at the western end of Hyde Lane in How Wood. Return to How Wood from St Albans by train (£2 with group save). Alternatively, meet at St Albans Abbey station (parking £2.50 all day) at 10.00 to catch the 10.07 to How Wood (£2 with group save). No need to book, but call Joe on 01727 790666 (7 - 9pm) if you have questions. Free
10.45am The Odyssey, supported Film Screening: ‘Cowspiracy: The The Odyssey 166 London by Susan Leggott Sustainability Secret’ Road St Albans AL1 1PG A feature-length environmental documentary uncovering one of the most destructive industries on the planet today. To book, go to http://odysseypictures.co.uk/ £5
1pm - 4.30pm Transition St Albans, Coming together to create a more St Albans Council Chamber Friends of the Earth Sustainable St Albans Civic Centre, St Peter’s St, This will be a facilitated discussion, lead by BRE, for an invited St Albans AL1 3JE group of individuals from local voluntary, public and private sector organisations. All the groups invited already contribute towards the sustainability of our city and district, in different ways. By networking and collaborating we will find links that help us all achieve more, and move us towards a vision of a more Sustainable St Albans. By invitation only. Apply: [email protected]. Free
1.30pm - 3.00pm CDA Herts Community Fruit Tree Pruning Training Session Community Garden, Garden St Albans Community Garden St Albans will be providing a free fruit tree Hixberry Lane, pruning session. St Albans AL4 0TT To book, please email [email protected]. Free (Next field to Earthworks)
2.30pm - 5pm St Mary’s Marshalswick Save it, save us St Mary’s Church Hall, Advent Workshop, Cafe and Thanksgiving on the theme of 1 Sherwood Avenue, recycling. Come and take part in craft activities using recycled St Albans AL4 9QA materials to create long-lasting, reusable items. Free
7.30pm - 9.30pm The Baha’i community Sacred Space Friends Meeting House, of St Albans and District Reflect upon the environment with music and readings. 7 Upper Lattimore Road, Light refreshments with conversation to follow. Free St Albans AL1 3UD
12 SuStAinable StAlbans Week Programme Events in our wider community Faith Groups Sir John Lawes School: Switch off Fortnight In addition to the events listed in the public programme, St Albans Girls’ School: STAGS ECO Council many faith groups are running events for their own St Albans High School Wheathampstead House: members. Some examples are listed below; please see our An assembly about caring for our environment, followed website for a full list. with a competition to design a bug hotel St Albans Abbey: Mowing the wild flower meadow St Bernadette RC Primary School: Book Swap The Parish of St Stephen and St Julian: Constructing a St Peter’s School: Assembly about how to be green: bug hotel Children will be encouraged to wear green on the day Masorti Synagogue: Sermon on Sustainability. CD/DVD Townsend School: Swap shop: Supporting the need to swap ‘Reduce Reuse Recycle’ Sopwell Community Trust: Environment-themed talk at Friday Prayers Voluntary/Community Groups St Mark’s Colney Heath: Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Warehouse. Lots of voluntary and community groups across the http://www.stmarkscolneyheath.co.uk District are busy planning events for their members during Various times. Please refer to church website or call Sustainable St Albans Week. Some examples are listed 07890 267647 if you would like to help below. Why not plan something for your own group during the week. We’d love to hear about it if you do! St Paul’s St Albans: Walk/cycle to church week 1st St Albans Brownies: Working towards Environment Badge and World Issues Badge Schools 1st St Albans Scouts: Working towards Environment Badge The schools in the District have really embraced the idea 4th St Albans Beavers: Litter pick near the Scout hut of Sustainable St Albans Week. There is a huge variety of different activities taking place - loads of fun for the 5th/13th St Albans Beaver Colony: Recycling Creations children! Here are some examples of schools’ events; see our 9th St Albans Cubs: Scouts around the World website for a full description of what each school is up to. Earthworks St Albans: Christmas Crafts Also see the Public Programme for details of how your school can take place in the Sustainable Schools Training Woodcraft Folk: Span the World, Sustainably Day on Thursday 26th November. Abbey Primary School: Save a tree go paper free! Businesses Aboyne Lodge Primary School: Creating 7 Eco Murals Many businesses are running Public Events, as listed in the Alban City Free School: Litter picking and recycled Public Programme. Some local businesses are undertaking fashion show internal activities for their own staff. Some examples are listed below. Why not think about doing something similar? Eco-champion competition Beaumont School: There are lots of other ideas on our website. Camp Primary: Reducing Food Waste AECOM: Internal staff training on sustainability Fleetville Schools: Carbon footprint week and Atlas Translations Ltd: Week of Events in the Office: Meat- Eco-school launch Free Monday, Clothes Donation to local charities, Garden Fields: Up-cycling and re-cycling staff members chipping in to buy plants for the office Heathlands School: Saving water Green Triangle: Joint networking event with the Maple School: Giant Litter Blitz St Albans City and District Chamber of Commerce and The Hertfordshire Business Independent Mount Carmel Kindergarten: Countryside clean up and Bluebell planting JPA Furniture: 100 Chair Challenge: JPA collects surplus chairs from local businesses for redistribution to local Prae Wood Primary School: No Paper Day charities and groups Redbourn Infant and Nursery School : Water and Wildlife Kingston Smith: Week of Events in the Office: Samuel Ryder Academy : Planet Protection Programme Walk/cycle to work week, Ban the bag competition
SuStAinable StAlbans Week Programme 13 join in at home
Want to do a little more, and get involved yourself? Here are 10 ideas you can do this week to cut your carbon footprint. Pick one, do it, tell us! email us at [email protected] or tweet #SustainableStA
1. Work out what your carbon footprint is Finding out what you are using now is a great place to start. There are lots of carbon footprint calculators, but the WWF one is a good, simple place to start: www.footprint.wwf.org.uk
2. Plan your meals A simple way to save money and cut food waste is to plan ahead. This week, take a few minutes to plan your meals (including using leftovers) and shop to the plan.
3. Buy less meat and fish This week, try replacing some meat and fish either with sustainable fish and seafood or, even better, with vegetarian meals. Meat production, especially beef and pork, is one of the biggest contributors to the gases that cause climate change, and fish stocks of many fish are falling.
4. Give your house an energy check-over Give your house a once-over and write a list of jobs. Check your loft insulation; is it at least 270mm thick? Check your light-bulbs; are they all low energy? Check for a jacket on your hot water tank. Feel for draughts around windows. You could do a home energy check at http://hec.est.org.uk/
5. Turn down the themostat by a degree or two this week Each degree could save you £90 per year, so try for a week and see if you get used to it.
6. Don’t buy stuff! For a week, set yourself a challenge to only buy food and essentials. Anything else, either get second hand or go without. If you are shopping for Christmas, why not go into the Oxfam bookshop or other local charity shops to look for good quality pre-loved gifts?
7. Watch what goes in your bin For a week, keep an eye on everything that goes in your bins (all around the house). Think about what you could have avoided. See what more you could recycle or reuse.
8. Get your bike working Get your bike serviced this week. It’s the first step to using them! Have a look at the cycle map online to see all the new routes, including the Green Ring.
9. replace one car journey with walk/cycle/bus Think through your week’s journeys and identify one you can switch. Try it out and decide if you could do it regularly.
10. Agree with your family one thing you’ll each do, then do it You’ve already got ideas, haven’t you? Things you’ve been meaning to do? Well this week, get each family member to pick one, and challenge each other to do it. Who does best?
14 SuStAinable StAlbans Week Programme Postcards to Paris Postcards to Paris part of SuStAinable StAlbans Week 21-28 Nov 2015
We are taking 2000 Postcards to Paris with local Step 1: Write your message. people’s messages from St Albans to the Global Get any postcard you have around the house, or pick up Climate Change conference in Paris (#COP21). one of our special Postcards to Paris at our market stalls At the conference, leaders will try and agree on how on 7th and 15th November and events during the week. to stop dangerous global warming caused by human On one side write your message to the UK rep. You activity. They are trying to get agreement to reduce might want to start: ‘I care about the climate because…’ carbon emissions to limit the global temperature or ‘Please act NOW to stop climate change because…’ increase to 2 degrees Celsius. Step 2: Please write your name and address at the We are taking your Postcards to Paris directly to the bottom of your card. We will take all the cards to UK representative at the Paris Global Climate Change Paris, so just address it to ‘Amber Rudd MP, conference so that you can tell her what you think she Paris Climate Change Summit, Paris’. should do about climate change or why it is important Step 3: Hand it in to one of our St Albans market the agreement is reached. stalls (7/15th Nov) or to the event organiser of the event you attend. Or post it in the special Post Card to Paris postbox in the office of St Albans Tourist and Information Centre, Market Place, St Albans AL3 5DJ.
SuStAinable StAlbans Week Programme 15 We could not have done any of this without the help of our funders:
Including grants from the locality budgets of local county councillors Geoff Churchard, Teresa Heritage, Roma Mills, Rob Prowse, Sandy Walkington and Chris White. Thank you also to the following local businesses for supporting us through gifts in kind: Atlas Translations, Business Independent, Kingston Smith, PrintShop and Leaflet Delivery St Albans. And, finally, thanks to everyone who donated through CrowdFunding including: Anon StA, Keith A, Caroline Brooke, Jude Fawley, Dan Fletcher, Lesley & Jonathan Flowers, Maya Forstater, Nicolas & Helen Haran, Romayne Hutchison, Patrick Jeavons, Lowlands, St Albans District News, Susan Tansley, Melvyn Teare, Violmama, Jim & Sheila W, WDPS, Anna Watson, Michael & Caroline Wilkins, and everyone else who gave their donations anonymously.
Organised in collaboration by:
With thanks to Bioregional for the use of the One Planet Living framework to illustrate the ten themes of sustainability www.bioregional.com/oneplanetliving
Compiled and edited by: Gail Jackson, Laura Lane and Catherine Ross. Graphic Design: [email protected]. Printed on recycled paper by PrintShop St Albans. Copyright: SuStAinable StAlbans Week 2015.