They started Family Hour, a new scheme for 2010, last Thursday, January 21^st.

The activity afternoon, which will become a regular slot every Thursday at the centre from 3.30pm, is open to families from the Northfield area with young children.

Jane Baker, Groups Development Manager at the centre said:

“Northfield Ecocentre is all about giving local people simple skills that don’t cost anything, in order to help them live a more sustainable lifestyle. We hope that by teaching kids about sustainable living from an early age, they will then take those lessons with them in later life.”

The afternoon comprised of making crafts from recycled materials for the children and a chance to get some tips on sustainable living as a family for the parents.

There was also storytelling for the under sevens, with a difference. All the children’s stories highlight environmental issues, such as recycling.

Jane said on last week’s family hour: “Everybody who came seemed to really enjoy it. I think it was a success, and we will get a return of people this week.”

Northfield Ecocentre is always encouraging people to get involved, with chances for mothers to get involved with the story reading and volunteers to help out with the craft activities.

If you would like to get involved in Northfield Eco Centre’s Family Hour, you can attend every Thursday from 3.30pm at Northfield Ecocentre.

Offering a slice of the revolution, Birmingham’s first community bakery will open this month in Cotteridge, South Birmingham.

Loaf Community Bakery offers local people the chance to purchase the freshest organic bread around, and will make Birmingham the first large city to boast it’s own community bakery.

The community bakery is the latest in a number of initiatives from LOAF Social Enterprise Limited, a local non-profit organisation aiming to promote real food and healthy living in Birmingham.

The company, run by nutritionist Tom Baker, was set up in August last year and has swiftly gained a keen following, with a local bakery and cookery school encouraging Brummie foodies to get back to basics, teaching traditional kitchen skills including bread making, dairy skills and butchery.

Leader of the Loaf initiative Tom Baker left his full time job as a nutritionist in December 2009, to run the bakery and cookery school. He said: “I’m setting out to bake a better loaf for Birmingham. The vast majority of us settle for sliced, wrapped, additive-laden loaves made in industrial factories, but I want to change that for Loaf’s subscribers, who will get a loaf of real bread, which I’m proud to say I made right here in Cotteridge.”

The new community bakery offers people a chance to cut down their ‘food miles’, Tom explained to me; “Most of the bread we buy these days is baked out of town in large automated factories and transported to cities. Buying bread from a small craft bakery, like Loaf Community Bakery, means that just the flour is transported into the city and the baker is more likely to use local growers and millers. This can potentially massively reduce the ‘food miles’ of the loaf, which in a small way contributes to people reducing their carbon footprint.”

Subscribers to Loaf’s “Bread Club” will pay £11 a month in in exchange for a loaf of freshly baked organic bread every week. They can chose from Revolution Rye or Cotteridge Sourdough bread, both baked from UK-grown organic flour.

Birmingham Recycled went along to the event, held at All Saints Church Hall in King’s Heath, to find out what it was all about.

I spoke to Kevin White, who founded the Midlands Vegans Campaigners group almost three years ago, on his beliefs and why he thought events such as Saturday’s were so important.

“I’ve always been a protester for animal welfare, so it just made sense to become veggie. Believe it or not it was actually a good year or so after becoming vegetarian that I took the next step to becoming vegan. It’s something that you have to do in your own time, we’d never pressure anyone into it, but you really will feel the benefits.”

On launching MVC, Kevin explained:

“I originally started a group in my local area, the Redditch Veggies. We held an Annual Redditch Green Fair, which became really successful. After a while I though I wanted to expand on this idea, as there are many more vegans out there than you think, and so I started the Midlands Vegan Campaigners. I think local events such as this vegan fair work as an effective way to get our message across, and have some fun at the same time.”

And it seemed the fair was certainly a success, with the stalls bustling and everybody feeling the compassionate Christmas spirit. I even got to try a vegan mince pie!

Stalls’ produce included vegan cosmetics, vegan cakes, vegan stationary, health food, recipe books and campaign merchandise.

Flicking through some of the leaflets littering the stalls it’s easy to see the reasons why people may choose to boycott meat and dairy products, but saying and doing are very different, and I wanted to get some people’s real experiences – what spurred them to make that step?

Years ago, Andy Wakeman made that change, and he explained his story to me.

“I used to be a massive meat eater – Macdonalds burgers, the lot! It actually all started when I was in Birmingham City centre one day, and there was a stall of protesters. I took some of the leaflets away with me and read them in my own time and something just resonated in me. It just seemed the right thing to do.”

Andy is now a committed vegan, and has also taken up running, having recently completed a marathon. He puts his new healthy lifestyle completely down to veganism.

“I just feel good all the time, I have a healthy diet, I exercise and have a good happy life. It’s good on every front really.”

Dedicated Vegan Harry Eyles explained:

“The main reasons people chose to become vegan fall into three categories. The first is the health benefits that come from eating the natural products. The second is because of the animal welfare; because they don’t believe the way animals are treated is right. Thirdly, is because of the benefits to the planet.”

Perhaps not a reason you would think of straight away, but going vegan really can help the planet, in reducing your greenhouse gas emissions. In current society, farmed animals now outnumber people but more than three to one, and the impact on the environment is showing. Kevin told me that:

“Research carried out by the Farming and Agricultural Department of the United Nations showed that a shocking 18% of greenhouse emissions are from the livestock industry, whereas just 13.5% of greenhouse emissions are caused from all transport. In fact they found that livestock farming is up there with the top three causes of all major problems facing the earth; disease, energy use, climate change, water – you name it!”

He concluded saying:

“As veganism is becoming more publicised, more and more people are becoming vegans for good reasons. I believe we are all on the path to a better lifestyle.”

Are you a vegan? Tell us your story in the comment box below, and be sure to check back to Birmingham Recycled early next year, when I will be attempting to “go vegan” for a week!

Part of a fortnightly scheme offering members of the public a chance to help out with Birmingham’s beautiful nature reserves, this week, lead by Wildlife Trust Community and Education officer Nikki Simpson, the group headed to the Wildlife Trust Education Centre in Small Heath, where they got down to work.

Nikki told Birmingham Recycled:

“We work on a lot of different community and education projects and so we usually focus on a different for every work day, but it’ll always be outside somewhere working on the local area.”

And this week, the eco-friendly bunch turned their attention to Little Bloxwich primary school. Nikki added:

“We often create nature areas for local schools. The one for Little Boxwich Primary School, which we worked on yesterday, involves a willowed fence and gates, so we were doing a lot of woodwork to put it all together.”

The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country offer a number of opportunities for the local public to volunteer; as well as the fortnightly practical volunteering day on Thursdays, they also have an EcoPark Volunteer Day every Monday to which people can come along to help maintain their education centres.

If you wish to get involved with the next practical projects work day, check out Wildlife Trust’s event page, offering a number of activities for members of the public to get involved in.

The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country were founded in 1980 and are one of 47 branches covering the UK.

They work with a number of communities across Birmingham, offer wildlife education to local schools as well as holding practical days, working to conserve Birmingham’s parks and create nature reserves for everyone to enjoy.

Check Back to Birmingham Recycled for more information on the Wildlife Trust’s work and upcoming events.

On Saturday, 12th December, Sutton Park will be hosting a Christmas Workshop, running from 11am to 3pm. Meet at the visitor’s centre to follow the trail to Santa’s Grotto and join the park Rangers for festive activities for all the family including the EST Donkey Sanctuary Christmas Fayre.

Why not continue getting festive on Sunday 13th? Drop into Kingfisher Country Park’s Christmas Coffee morning from 11am for a chance to meet the organisations that care for the valley throughout the year and enjoy the festive cheer.

If coffee’s not your thing, you can try your hand at making your own seasonal decorations from natural materials at The Shire Country Park. This event takes place from 11am – 1pm on Sunday 13th December and remember, booking is essential for this one.

More festive fun is taking place the following weekend. Santa is stopping off at Lickey Hills Country Park on Sunday 20th December. From 11am – 4pm come along and follow his trail through the woods to find his grotto and presents. Please bear in mind this event is very popular and places must be booked before hand.

On the same day, Edgebaston Reservoir are offering a chance for you to make natural Christmas decorations. There will be two hour-long sessions, the first from 11am – 12pm, and the second from 1pm – 2pm, which will both require booking ahead. You will be out in the woods for this – so remember to wrap up warm!

It’s not all about Christmas this month though, as help is still needed from the public to keep Birmingham’s parks maintained. You can offer a helping hand at Woodgate Valley Country Park on Thursday 10th December from 10.30am onwards at their conservation work day. Two more conservation work days are being held on Saturday 12th December. The first at Mosely Bog LNR starting at 10.30 am, or for a slightly later start, head to Manor Farm Park’s conservation day starting at 11 am and meet at the Bristol Road South entrance. Alternatively, you can attend Billesly Common’s conservation work day from 10am to 2pm on Sunday 13th December. Meet at the Hauch Lane entrance to join the local friends group and park rangers to get stuck in with some practical conservation work. Please remember for all conservation work events to dress appropriately – wellies are probably advisable!

Do you know a park event that we’ve missed out? Let us know about it in the comment box below.

View Birmingham’s Park Events December 2009 in a larger map

The many parks in Birmingham and the surrounding areas offer a host of activities for the public to go along to, from arts and crafts to conservation activities to just for fun.

Birmingham Recycled round up the best of the events from this month here for you to add to your diary!

This Friday, November 21^st, Sky at Night, a stargazing event will take place at Sutton National Nature Reserve. It will take place from 6.30 – 11pm, and is a chance to observe in one of the darkest spots in Birmingham. If you wish to join, head to the visitor’s centre and look out for the red lights. Dress appropriately – remember it’s cold out there!

Get Down on the Farm from 1-2pm this Saturday at Sheldon Country Park. Children are offered a chance to get closer to the farm animals with a park Ranger. Meet at one o’clock in the farm yard, and it would be advisable to wear some wellies!

Trees seem to be a common theme this month, with two parks offering the chance to learn more about our green friends. The first of two tree-related events takes place at Lickey Hills Country Park, also on Saturday 22^nd. The event, kicking off at 11am and lasting around two hours, comprises a classroom lesson and a chance to get out and about in the park to see the trees.

The second event is the Winter Tree Trail at Aston Park, which occurs the next Saturday, on the 28^th of November, offering you a chance to enjoy a walk around the scenic park, whilst learning more about how to identify the different types of trees. The trail starts at 1pm and lasts for an hour. After these events, you certainly should be able to see the wood for the trees!

Want to make your own Christmas decorations? At Woodgate Valley Country Park you will get the opportunity to make your own door garland and many other decorations, all from natural materials collected from the park. There are two sessions being offered for this event, both on Saturday, November 29^th; 11am – 1pm and 2 – 4pm. Please note this is the only event listed that is not free; each session costs £3 and booking is essential for this one.

And, as always, there are plenty of opportunities for member of the public to get stuck in and help conserve Birmingham’s beautiful parks, with a number of Conservation Work Days being held throughout the area. Woodgate Valley Country Park has one on November 26^th starting at 10.30am. For Mosely locals there is a chance to go along and help the rangers on November 21^st at the same time for the Moseley Bog Local Nature Reserve Conservation Workday at the Shire Country Park. If you fancy a bit more of a lie in, but still want to help out at a park, try Bedlam Wood Conservation Workday, starting at 11am on Saturday, November 28^th.

View Birmingham’s Park Events November 2009 in a larger map

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That’s just one of the prizes being offered as part of national campaign the Student Switch Off, which kicked off proceedings again last month, for its third year running and hopefully its biggest year yet.

If you don’t know what it is yet, this nationwide campaign aims to get University students living in Halls to cut down on carbon emissions, by saving electricity, water, fuel and energy.

Halls across the country are put in competition with each other, to see who can achieve the largest reduction in carbon emissions.

Last year the winning halls were close to home. The University of Birmingham’s Oakley Hall shot to the top spot with reductions of 3.26 kWh per student per day, and certainly had the edge on Bristol University runners up who saved 2.97 kWh.

However, the University of Birmingham will have to step up their game this year in order to keep on top, as the campaign has come back bigger than ever with an additional 22 Universities taking part.

Other Universities in the West Midlands taking part in the energy saving competition are Aston University, Coventry University, Warwick University and our very own BCU.

The campaign is the brainchild of Dr Neil Jennings, who came up with the idea in October 2005, while studying for his PhD at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, University of East Anglia.

He said: “I just wanted to try and encourage other students to do their bit to reduce carbon emissions and tackle climate change.

“I never thought it would grow as quickly as it has or be as well taken up by the students. I guess part of this is because of the increased coverage climate change has been getting in the media – students are generally well aware of the issue and on the whole keen to do their bit but a few ‘subtle incentives like Ben & Jerry’s never do any harm!”

Last year’s results showed an impressive total of 1,281 tonnes of CO2 saved and financial savings of £217,000 on electricity expenditure.

Can they beat it this year? Watch this space…

The prime-time television advert currently being aired nationwide provides a stark warning that climate change will have a major and devastating impact on the world, during the lifetime of today’s children.
If you haven’t seen it yet, the minute-long feature shows a father reading his young daughter a bedtime story, with a difference.
The story supposedly depicts what will happen to the world if climate change continues the way it’s going, and is complete with pictures of Co2 emissions forming a sinister looking creature made of soot, hovering above a town.
The father narrates: “It was the children of the land who would have to live with the horrible consequences. The grownups realised they would have to do something.”
Viewers are then directed to the Government’s Act on Co2 website, where they are encouraged to “find out what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint”.

I wanted to get a local view on the matter from someone who knows what they’re talking about better than myself, so I spoke to Joe Peacock, head of Birmingham’s “Friends of the Earth” campaign group. He told me he was “glad that the Government are putting something high-profile out there to try and convince people that action is needed on living a low-carbon way.”

However, not all feel the same way as Joe.
The advert has provoked controversy due to its harshly unsubtle message and eagerness to place blame on the “grown-ups” in our society.
An article in the Daily Mail on Tuesday (October 20^th) branded the “bedtime story” as “a terrifying account of drowning puppies, rabbits dying of thirst and the end of the world as we know it” and says that over 200 complaints have been lodged with the Advertising Standards Authority about the advert.
Critics of the advert believe it is presenting opinion as fact; whether climate change is man-made being the opinion in question.
Users of the Daily Mail forum as a majority dismiss the advert’s claims calling it “alarmist propaganda”. Joshua Daniels, who commented on The Times Online said:

“Truly psychotic. A huge ad campaign designed to create emotional acceptance of a deliberate lie: that paying a tax will somehow solve a climate problem.”

And he is not the only one. Many people believe that the Government are pushing the issues of climate change and global warming upon us unnecessarily in order to justify charging businesses Sustainability and Climate Change Tax.

On the counteracting argument, Environmental Campaigner Joe dismisses these views, stating that they are ignoring basic scientific facts:

“To be honest, those people just need to wake up and look at the science. It is very clear and 99% of Climate Scientists are in complete agreement that Climate Change is due to man-made greenhouse gas emissions.

“It is very sad that people are so blinkered by ideological concerns that they reject any idea of restricting actions which damage us all in favour of free markets and individual freedoms. The same kinds of people who disseminate misinformation about climate science were also employed by tobacco firms to say there was nothing wrong with smoking.”

On the Act on Co2 website we can read:
“The UK faces unprecedented challenges to our environment, our economy, and the future security of our energy supplies. The decisions we make now will affect the planet and our way of life for generations to come.”
- Department of Energy and Climate Change.

But are the Government putting their money where their mouth is?
The website describes various steps Ministers are taking to help climate change, including setting measurable targets for the reduction of greenhouse gases and introducing five-year “carbon budgets”.
Furthermore, the website offers five key initiatives regarding climate change which the Government have pledged to take action on.
Whether these initiatives will be followed through and whether the targets will be met, however, is still to be seen.
The advert certainly does pull on the heartstrings for any parent out there, but is it simply propaganda, a Government ploy?
I personally don’t think so.
It aimed to raise awareness on issues surrounding climate change, and with the controversy it has sparked it has certainly achieved this, although perhaps not in the way the Government had hoped.
But there is no doubt on one matter; getting a reaction has to be better than being ignored completely; and the advertisement has certainly done that.

What do you think?

Through the scheme, which started in 2007, the Co Operative have invested over  £1 million to date in installing solar panels in Primary schools all over the UK.

These solar panels enable schools to save the planet and their electricity bill all in one, by generating natural, renewable energy from the sun’s heat, as well as cutting carbon dioxide emissions.

The latest local school to be selected is Coventry’s Christ the King Catholic Infant School, which is due to have the new state-of-the-art solar panels, costing a whopping £20,000 installed by September this year, when the children return from the summer holidays.

As well as the solar panels, there will be a monitor inside the building, called a “Solar Totaliser”, which will keep track of how much energy the school is saving.

The Co Operative Green Energy for Schools scheme is currently the largest renewable energy education scheme in the UK, with over 100 schools benefiting from greener energy due to the solar panels so far.

Thanks to the solar panels, installed by leading solar energy company Solarcentury, children at schools throughout the country will learn the importance of saving energy and the environment.

So, what’s Birmingham Recycled’s verdict?

I think such schemes that focus on the younger generation could make a large impact on society’s long term relationship with the environment.

I know when I was in Primary School, which would only have been ten years ago, I knew nothing of solar panels or wind turbines, and it can only be a good thing that children are being educated on the importance of looking after our planet from a younger age.

More can be found out about the scheme and how to nominate your school here.