Bangers and Cash - Local Charity wants your old Banger

Colchester based Environment Charity, en-form is asking the public to donate their old unwanted cars for cash as part of a novel fund-raising scheme run by the Giveacar social enterprise.

Andrew Wilkinson of en-form said ‘This is a simple and effective way of attracting a new source of much needed donations as well as reducing the amount of unwanted or unused cars lying around. As an environment Charity we welcome any scheme disposing of old cars, particularly those that have failed their MOT in an environmentally friendly way and at the same time making it easy for owners. A win –win situation’

Regardless of their condition unwanted cars are collected free-of-charge nationwide by Giveacar and either sold through an online auction, or disposed of in an environmentally friendly way at an authorised treatment facility. Proceeds from the sale are donated to the charity, with ‘bangers’ that are scrapped still netting an average of £100 for the chosen cause.

En-form who run a range of local environment projects including Farmers Markets, a Paint reuse scheme and 2 Reuse websites, helping residents throughout Essex is the latest of hundreds of charities who have recognised the potential of the car donation service.

Many car owners want an easy and completely free way to get rid of their old car. Giveacar will help them to do this in a legal and environmentally friendly way.

The scheme is intended to discourage irresponsible owners who may consider abandoning their cars – spoiling the appearance of the local environment and costing local taxpayers’ money to remove and dispose of them.

Alex Harvey, Manager of Giveacar, welcomed the partnership. He said ‘We are pleased en-form have joined with us to help solve the problem of unwanted cars in an environmentally friendly way, particularly as they are a local environment Charity themselves.’

To find out how old, unwanted and unused cars can benefit en-form, go to www.giveacar.co.uk/charities/en-form

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COMMUNITY REPAINT COLCHESTER

 

A local scheme which collects unwanted paint and re-distributes it to help brighten the lives of others celebrated its birthday last month. Staff and volunteers from Community RePaint Colchester painted the town red in recognition of eight years of supporting paint reuse in Colchester.

And the party is set to continue, because 2013 is also the 20^th anniversary of Community Repaint, the network of 67 projects across the UK that collect unwanted, surplus paint and re-distribute it to individuals, families and communities in need, improving the wellbeing of people and the appearance of places.

“The aim of celebrating our birthday and Community RePaint’s 20th anniversary is not only to mark these important milestones, but also to raise awareness in support of our activities,” said scheme manager Andrew Wilkinson. “RePaint Colchester is a simple, local solution to the problem of waste paint. By reusing paint in our community we can bring a splash of colour to the lives of those who need it the most, and help to protect the planet by preventing perfectly good paint from ending up in landfill. We have been so successful in collecting unwanted paint at the moment that we have plenty to give away to those on low incomes, charities, community groups and schools.”

Getting colour from every drop...

“Dulux has been committed to supporting Community RePaint for the last 20 years and recognises the fantastic work each scheme has done in brightening the lives of those in need” said Paul Murgett, Environmental Projects Co-ordinator at Dulux.

“Over the years the network has grown, meaning more people and communities across the UK can benefit from re-using unwanted or surplus paint which would otherwise go to waste. Dulux is proud to continue sponsoring this fantastic network and is grateful for all the work it does.”

If you are on a low income or benefits and need paint to re-decorate your home no matter how much or how little, or if your charity or community group could use a lick of paint, call Community RePaint Colchester to find out more on 01206 798113.

In 2012 householders, traders and paint manufacturers donated 387,495 litres of paint to Community RePaint schemes, which then distributed 218,364 litres to some 2,214 community groups and  17,296 individuals, providing 190 jobs and 1,274 volunteer and training opportunities.

ENDS

For more information, please contact:

Community RePaint Network

0113 200 3959

07725 760 082

repaint@resourcefutures.co.uk

www.communityrepaint.org.uk

Notes to Editors:

1. Community RePaint Colchester is run by en-form the Colchester Environment Centre which operates the Colchester RePaint Scheme, the Colchester and Wivenhoe Farmers Markets, the Giveortake,org and Reuseessex.org.uk websites.
2. What is Community RePaint? Community RePaint schemes collect unwanted, surplus paint and re-distribute it to individuals, families and communities in need, improving the wellbeing of people and the appearance of places across the UK. In doing so Community RePaint provides social, environmental and economic benefits

3  20 years of paint re-use: Community RePaint will celebrate its 20^th anniversary in July 2013. Activities to mark this milestone are planned for throughout the year.

3.Who runs Community RePaint? The Network has been sponsored by Dulux since its inception in 1993 and forms part of Dulux’s ongoing sustainability programme. Community RePaint is managed by Resource Futures, an employee-owned, non-profit distributing environmental consultancy based in Bristol.

4. How to contact Community RePaint: www.communityrepaint.org.uk includes a postcode search, which can be used to locate the nearest point for donating paint. Alternatively, phone: 0113 200 3059 or email: repaint@resourcefutures.co.uk

Squirrel on the Menu

 

Fancy trying something a bit different this weekend then pop along to the Colchester Farmers Market this Friday for a Squirrel pie.

Jess Noy, 23 of East Bergholt started selling the unusual pasties and somosas at the Colchester Farmers market last month and they sold like hot cakes. She combines the meat with caramelised pears, apples and hazelnuts to make the snack

She has been selling a range of unusual dishes featuring pheasant, pigeon, rabbit and now squirrell under the brand name The Gamekeepers Daughter.

Miss Noy's father is a Gamekeeper and supplies the meats from the Estate where he works.

Jess said '' Squirrel is a really tasty meat and is proving very popular. It is an ethical meat to eat as it is free range and the meat is sourced locally so it is low in food miles. I can get six samosas or ten small pasties out of one squirrel. I like to produce things which are a bit different.

Rowly Castiglione of en-form who organise the Colchester Farmers' Market said '' As an Environment Centre we are very glad that Jessica has decided to make use of meats that would otherwise go to waste. Not only does it use local meat but is in a way a form of Recycling'' .

It is illegal to catch or kill wild grey squirrels without a licence and all red squirrels are protected by law.

The Colchester Farmers' Market is held at the Colchester Arts Centre on Friday, the 7th December frpom 9.30am till 1pm and will have available a whole range of Christmas Treats from local stallholders. .

9 Things To Do to Encourage Birds to your garden

 

1. Put up a Bird table (in a clear space far enough away from cover where a cat might hide) or feeders.

2. Provide a wide variety of food including seeds, nuts, fruit and suet blocks.

3. Provide water for drinking and bathing. Consider putting up a bird bath.

4. Plant trees and shrubs which bear attractive berries in the autumn, such as Elder, Rowan, Holly, Ivy, Fire Thorn, Cotoneaster, Hawthorn, Privet and Spindle which will provide food for many species of birds.

5. Plant trees and shrubs which attract insects and are good for refuge and nesting for birds.

6. Put up nesting boxes.

7. Do not use slug pellets as these are harmful to all animals including your pets.

8. Do not use pesticides as these kill the insects the birds feed on.

9. Start a compost heap which will become alive with invertebrates of many types. It will also stay frost free in winter providing a food source for birds.

Make the Most of Your Car

 

Get better mileage (& reduce pollution) by following these simple rules:

• make sure your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure (this is up to 10% more fuel efficient) & check them once a fortnight & before long journeys. For safety ensure your tyres are in good condition, not worn or damaged, that the treads & tyre walls have no flaws or sharp

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  objects in them.

• drive smoothly anticipating road conditions and avoiding fast acceleration and sharp braking.

• make your car as light as possible by emptying your boot of unnecessary items (every 45kg / 100lbs of unnecessary weight reduces fuel efficiency by 1%).

• drive at 55 mph (88 kmph) when it is safe to do so (this is the most fuel efficient speed to drive at and up to 25% more fuel efficient than at 70 mph).

• get your car tuned each year (this gives up to a 5% fuel advantage).

• use radial tyres (they are up to 4% more fuel efficient than cross-ply).

• use quality oil & change it as often as the manufacturer recommends. (The better the quality the more fuel efficient your car will be as engine friction is reduced).

Sharing your car – Car Share Registers

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One of the major environmental problems affecting Colchester and the world at large is the gridlock of our transport systems. The major problem is caused by the number of cars on the road. Many of them with only one occupant. It would be very beneficial to the environment if we could reduce the number of car journey's we make.

Car sharing would have a big impact and can be achieved with a bit of thought and here are some ideas for car sharing to get you started:

• Travel to work with your colleagues. Travelling to work is responsible for the rush hour gridlock.
• Pick up your children's friends when you drop them off at school or clubs. The school run is a major cause of congestion throughout the country. Have you noticed how quiet the roads are in the school holidays.
• Take your family friends or neighbours with you when you visit the superstore.

And if you wish to share a journey but cannot share it with your existing acquaintances why not register your needs with one of the car sharing services below. However, make sure you make suitable enquiries and satisfy yourself that you will be safe if you intend to share your journey with a stranger.

You shouldn't charge for sharing your car journey's but it is reasonable to share costs.

National Car Share Tel: 01344 861600

Liftshare Tel: 0870 0780225

My Street Car

Car Pool World

www.carclubs.org.uk
This is the website for the Community Car Share Network. it has details of its RideSmart scheme, which will allow its member organisations to use internet technology to handle bookings for their cars.

City Car Club

Shareacar

Freewheelers

Allotments

 

It might be thought that vegetables are hardly worth growing but there are many advantages. Take the question of freshness - there can be no doubt that home-grown produce, freshly picked, has a quite different flavour to shop bought produce and with a family there can be quite a saving on greengrocery bills. It can also be very enjoyable to plan for and produce a regular supply of vegetables. A well cared for vegetable plot has its own visual appeal.

The 5 Main Benefits of keeping an allotment:

1. Eat well - When you grow your own you can enjoy the taste of delicious fresh vegetables grown without the use of pesticides or addition of chemicals.
2. Save money - It will greatly reduce greengrocery bills.
3. Keep fit- The exercise involved in tending an allotment is a good way to keep fit and healthy, but don't do too much too quickly.
4. Make friends - Most allotment holders are happy to offer advice to newcomers and to share their surplus plants.
5. Relax- Many people find that an hour or two spent working on an allotment can be very therapeutic.

10 Top tips for new allotment holders.

1. If you have no tools only buy the essentials at first- spade, fork, hoe, rake and trowel.
2. If your plot is weedy or full of grass it is best to remove as much vegetation as possible before you start to dig.
3. Don't rush digging - it can be hard work on the back! It is best to start in the autumn.
4. As you dig make sure you remove the roots of plants such as docks, dandelions, thistles and couch grass.
5. Draw up a plan. consider what you want to grow and where. Make sure you don't grow the same crop in the same place in consecutive years. This is called crop rotation.
6. Don't sow seeds too early. Wait until the ground warms up in April/May.
7. When watering do it thoroughly. If done sparingly it will cause the roots to come to the surface.
8. Make sure you support the plants that need it, such as peas, tomatoes and runner beans.
9. Visit your allotment every few days to keep the weeds at bay by hoeing.
10. Start a compost heap to take all vegetable waste matter. This will produce excellent compost to be dug in next year.

You can rent an allotment through Colchester Borough Council and sites are listed below. To enquire about availability write to Leisure Services, P0 Box 331, Town HaIl, phone 01206- 282909 or call in to Angel Court. In the villages allotment sites are usually administered by the parish councils.

Colchester Borough Council Allotment Sites

1. Stanway near New Farm Road

2. Lexden near Back Lane off Lexden Road

3. Hazell Avenue near Gosbecks Road and Layer Road

4. Irvine Road near Drury Road

5. Drury Road

6. Highfield Drive off Lexden Road

7. Sheepen Road near Colchester Institute

8. Bergholt Road near North Station

9. Severalls

10. Mercers Farm near the Superbowl

11. Notleys off Harwich Road

12. New Fairfield bottom of East Street

13. East Bay bottom of East hill

14. Brook Street

15. Grants Meadow Hythe Area near Parsons Lane

16. Littlebury Gardens near Barn Hall Avenue

17. The Willows near Thomas Lord Audley School

18. Blackheath behind Finchingfield Way