Update May 2012 PRESTON ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM Plant & PEF Seed Swap Sun 20th May www.facebook.com/prestonenvironmentalforum Avenham Park Pavilion 1pm to 3pm ABUNDANCE PRESTON I know a lot of you already know what Abundance Preston is all about, however this is the first PEF update that will be sent out wider than forum members, so I am sure you will forgive me for explaining it again! Abundance is about harvesting the fruit of trees growing in urban greenspaces (parks, gardens, roadsides and allotments etc). Much of this fruit goes to waste each year as it rots into the ground where it fell. Abundance Preston intends to harvest this fruit and put it to positive uses What do you think of within the communities of Preston. the logo? Please send your Preston Environmental Forum has established an ‘Abundance’ subgroup thoughts to me on to organise activities. This year we will be starting off small but have big p.greenwood@preston. ambititions to spread the project across the whole city! gov.uk - 01772 906465 If you would like to get involved with Abundance Preston contact me on the details at the bottom of the page or come to our next meeting! NEXT MEETING BROADGATE WILDFLOWERS The next meeting of Preston A swath of wildflowers will Environmental Forum will be on the hopefully be bringing splashes 30th of May at 6pm at Intact in Ingol of colour to a linear park in (49 Whitby Ave, Ingol, PR2 3YP) Broadgate. This site which has recently seen extensive United Utilities storm drain works, has just been sown with wildflower seeds by Preston City Council. Native woodland trees and shrubs have also been replant- ed on the site. PEF will be organising some volunteer sessions over the At the meeting we will get the next few months to weed the site to stop the wildflowers chance to hear about the being crowded out. To get involved join the PEF mailing list Plastic Bottle Greenhouse that to get dates and times of sessions. Intact have build recently and an Contact details below opportunity to have a look at it! To find out more about Preston Environmental Forum or any of the articles in this update contact Paul Greenwood - [email protected], 01772 906465 FOOD GROWING WITH THE FRIENDS OF HIGHGATE WOOD LANCASHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST Free Six Week Food Growing Courses at Grange Community Gardens Every Monday from 9.30 –3.30 Starts 14th May ends 25th June* 7 weeks to account for the late may bank holiday when the site is closed. Learn about organic food growing. Sessions will include: The Friends of Highgate Wood are one of the newest Soil management, Pest and disease friends groups in Preston. But don’t let the fact they problems, Composting, Fruit, are new fool you, for they are steaming ahead in their Brasicas (cabbages cauliflowers desire to get Highgate Wood on the map! etc), Salads 52 weeks of the year, Potatoes, Seed Sowing and much On the 24th May the group will be holding a Wildlife more...BOOKING ESSENTIAL Walk led by Lancashire Wildlife Trust. The group will meet by the post box on Foregate at 7pm. Train the Trainer On the 26th May they will be conducting a Balsam A Free one day course designed Bashing session to start to control the extensive to give you the skills to deliver food Himalayn Baslam currently present in the woods. growing training in the community They will meet by the post box on Foregate at 10am. Dates: If you would like to help out remember to wear appropriate clothing and footwear. For infomation Wed 16th July 9-3 about the group contact [email protected] or Wed 20th June 9-3 (01772) 712165 Wed July 18th 9-3 For people with some basic growing knowledge. Transport and ASHTON WEED and FEED refreshments provided, lunch can provided at £5 per head. Congratulations to St Michael’s Church in Ashton. They recently gained funding for their excellent To book or for more information community garden where they grow vegetables and please contact Chris: a range of flowers. [email protected] Tel: 01772 751611 Mob: With the funding they have received they will be 07967820744 putting in some deep beds and sowing wildflowers around the grounds. The group run regular Weed and Feed sessions where once a month they will feed you if you help BRITAIN IN BLOOM 2012 them in their community garden. For the next ses- sion contact 01772 726157. Judging dates announced!! 31st of July There is also a monthly Farmers’ Market at the 1st of August church. The next being Saturday 19 May 2012 9.00am - 1.00pm 2nd of August More info soon about these dates! THE FRIENDS OF RIBBLETON LIBRARY FOOD CO-OP On Saturday 9th June Ribbleton Library will be having an Open Day, starting at 2pm. Are you looking for a cheaper way to buy your fruit and veg, well this could be just what you are looking for. Moor Nook Estate Until then they will be building their own Management Board and Community plastic bottle greenhouse, with a gratefully Gateway Housing Association have set a recieved donation from Intact! Food Co-op with fruit, veg and salad bags If you would like to know more about costing £3:50 each. The scheme is currently Ribbleton Library try visiting their new based from the Housing Office on the Moor website www.friendsofribbletonlibrary.co.uk. Nook Estate but their are plans to widen the This site was built by the volunteers at the project across the whole city. library and for many it was the first time they have attempted anything like this. Moor Mook Estate Management Board and Community Gateway are working with BEAUTIFUL PLANET Preston City Council to provide a distribution point at West View Leisure Centre off Ribbleton Lane (every Wednesday 4pm- Beautiful Planet is 6pm). If you would like join this scheme an environmental contact Moor Nook EMB on 01772 268005 Fair Trade or email EMBfoodco-op@communitygate- community cafe way.co.uk and resource centre at 69 Friargate in Preston. NORTH WEST SUSTAINABILITY FORM It is a not-for-profit workers’ co-operative and the centre is wholly volunteer lead and run. Open through the day, between 10.30 and 4.30, as an internet-cafe / whole- food shop their mission is to encourage ‘bottom-up’ networking of green folk and to display on their walls ‘top-down’ information on green subjects. This event is taking place between 10am and In the evenings the centre is available 4pm on June 14th 2012 in the meeting rooms as a very low cost/free social space for at St. Cuthbert’s Church in Fulwood, Preston. community use. Ideas and volunteers We have arranged four core speakers to help sought! frame discussions. Pop in for a chat and a Fair Trade tea These speakers have been selected for their or coffee knowledge of the complex intermeshing issues that surround sustainability questions but more [email protected] importantly to share their experiences in www.facebook.com/PrestonGreenCentre spanning different networks to promote action. FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES Below are a number of funding opportunities for environmental groups and projects Green Partnership Awards The Chestnut Fund GPA assists community groups and The start-up grants are provided by the organisations based in Lancashire to Chestnut Fund, an independent charity carry out projects to improve their local working closely with BTCV, to support environment through the provision of groups which have little money when grants and professional advice. they are first set up, whose principle Assistance is available in the region of purpose is conservation volunteering and £500. to enable them to begin practical work. Environmental and Community Projects Community Network, BTCV, Palatine Hall, Dalton Square Sedum House, Mallard Way, Lancaster Potteric Carr, Doncaster, DN4 8DB LA1 1PW Tel: (01302) 388834 (01772) 531257 www2.tcv.org.uk/chestnut_criteria.pdf [email protected] Esmee Fairbairn Foundation Co-operative Community Fund The Foundation aims to improve the Financial assistance is available to quality of life for people throughout the voluntary, self-help, co-operative and UK by supporting work that focuses on not-for-profit organisations throughout the arts, education and learning, the en- the UK for projects that fulfil a community vironment, and enabling disadvantaged need. people to participate fully in society. Grants Administrator Esmee Fairbairn Foundation The Co-operative Membership Community Kings Place, 90 York Way Fund London N1 9AG Co-operative Group , 6th Floor, New Century House, Corporation Street (020) 7812 3700 Manchester , M60 4ES 0844 262 4001 [email protected] WHAT LANCASHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST HAVE BEEN UP TO! Here are some photos of just some of the things Lancashire Wildlife Trust have been up to. Photo one is planting up most of the national damson collection at Jubilee Park in Lea. Photo two is tree planting at Brockholes Wood. Photo three is hedge planting at Goosnargh Green. To find out how you can get involved with Lancashire Wildlife Trust contact 01772 324129 JOIN THE PRESTON ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM MAILING LIST To join the PEF mailing list and get updates emailed or posted to you email Paul Greenwood on [email protected], call 01772 906465 or write to Paul Greenwood, Preston City Council, Community Engagement, Third Floor, Town Hall, Preston PR1 2RL. .