Calling all Prospective Bloggers
Posted Mon, 2009-05-04 13:01
Welcome to WinACC's new blogs area!
We want WinACC members from across Winchester to join our blogging team and help inspire and enthuse people about any aspect of your path to low-carbon living. This is your chance to have your say and let others comment on your endeavours. Plus, it's easy; if you can write an email then you can certainly write a blog on this website.
If you're interested, please log in and post a comment below to find out more and start blogging!
- Jim Kirkpatrick's blog
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Comments
Wildlife matters
Hi there
From New Alresford. As part of the greening Alresford group I have taken on organising projects which relate to wildlife, biodiversity and nature conservation. As a wildlife consultant I feel that I am well placed to carry out such projects for the group.
One of these projects relates to the 'green' outside my house. I was thinking to myself one day as a contractor was driving over the green mowing down all the flowering plants....Can I encourage more plants within this small piece of grassland? There is the mowing regime which needs looking at, there is the arisings which need to be removed and of course where can we get wild plant seeds?
I have devised a project which aims to increase the biodiversity of this small patch of grass following the methods suggested in the leaflet 'Making space for wild plants' by flora locale.
I have had a meeting with the City Council - who are the managers of the green. We have discussed a way forward. Looking at the mowing regime, how we get local produced seed, and who will be raking off the arisings from the mowers?
Before this though I am planning a consultation with my immediate neighbours who border the green and are the main users. I want to let them know what I have planned for the green. I intend to invite my neighbours round to my house for an evening of drinks and some food and then a look at a display of what I would like to achieve with the project. I would be keen to know what they feel about the project and whether they have any concerns or queries which I can answer.
After the consultation the project will hopefully get off the ground.........
More to follow soon
look out for wildlife events and news in Alresford - www.alresfordwildlife.org
hope cottage blog
At hope cottage, our household of two adults, three small-to-medium size children and four chickens has been trying to practice low-carbon living for many years now. We are helped along by our semi-rural situation, love of retro-living, and general techno-phobia. A few years ago we ripped out our ancient gas boiler and replaced it with biomass heating (stove). It was a moment of bravery which led to the odd domestic dispute, but is gradually paying off with energy-saving fringe benefits. Boiling a kettle on the wood stove, for instance, and cooking sunday lunch whilst heating the house.
So many of our appliances have broken down through lack of love that we are gradually lowering our carbon footpring by default. We used to run two fridges, for instance, but since one broke we ran just one of them and gradually forgot we ever needed two. The toaster went the same way, but I am currently wondering whether its really more efficient to grill your toast, or buy an eco-toaster (one with a lid). Any answers?
Went along to the Hampshire Green fair at the Sustainability Centre, Clanfield last weekend, and would recommend it next year for anyone looking for a laid back afternoon; there was an excellent children's storyteller, some great live music, wholefood cafe, and chilled atmosphere. Bought Patrick Whitfield's 'Forest Garden' book in the bookshop, which advocates a permaculture approach to growing your own food. Watch this space!