April 2023
We can hardly believe it, but another month has flown by!
It’s no surprise really - April was jam-packed with activity. From the launch of the Knowledge Bank website to a host of new DIY Workshops, there has been something for everyone to get involved in. So, stick with us and let's dive in!
Meadows Growing Group
After a meeting in January to think up ideas for a greener Meadows residents Hannah and Rita set out to start a growing group running regular activities including:
Weekly allotment sessions in Wilford.
The group meet at the Suspension Bridge and walk 5 minutes across the river to the shared community allotment plot. Having a group makes tasks quick, easy and enjoyable - all the benefits of an allotment but with shared responsibility!
Planting sessions.
The group have been mapping out spaces across the Meadows that could do with some more colour and a wider variety of plants, for people and wildlife. They will also be working closely with local resident and butterfly enthusiast Jane, to make sure these spaces are butterfly friendly.
The Meadows Growing Group is for you if you want to learn new growing skills, improve green spaces locally or you just enjoy being outdoors!
Everyone is welcome, get in touch!
The Launch of the Green Meadows Knowledge Bank
Earth Day landed on Saturday 22nd April, with 2023’s theme ‘Invest in Our Planet.’ After months in the making, we thought it was a perfect time to finally launch our Online Knowledge Bank – a ‘one-stop-shop’ for climate-related information.
Equipped with resources to broaden your knowledge about climate change, the Knowledge Bank will be everchanging and updated over time. Learning more about our planet and climate makes us more resilient to its effects, encouraging us to invest in our future and tackle eco-anxiety together.
Spanning across the ‘bigger picture’ to the ‘smaller picture’, the Knowledge Bank has articles covering all sorts of topics, such as:
‘Effects of climate change’, ‘UK Government’s Response to Climate Change’, ‘Food on a Local Scale’, ‘The Plastic Problem’, ‘Public Transport and the Meadows’ … and many more!
DIY Workshops: Learning new skills to cut your bills
This month, we added more free DIY Workshops to the roster. Our workshops help to develop DIY handiwork skills whilst showing people how they can make their own homes more energy efficient.
April shone a spotlight on Floor and Loft Insulation, a workshop split into two sessions - the first online and the second in-person at the NEP Climate Hub. The events were completely free and showed attendees how to effectively install their own floor and loft insulation, learning about home energy efficiency and how to use power tools.
The online session prepared DIYers to step into the practical session with confidence - ready to roll their sleeves up and put their knowledge to use. Running in the evening for 1.5 hrs (typically from 7pm), these sessions are ideal for people who are busy during the working week or unable to make it to the daytime sessions - enabling you to acquire expert knowledge from the comfort of your own home and around your own schedule. Sign up here.
April’s DIY sessions didn’t stop there. Towards the end of the month, our Woodwork Workshop was booked and busy, with Meadows Residents crafting their own coat peg hooks. Everybody had a chance to practice using hand & power tools, whilst making something nifty to use in their own home. Thanks to everyone who came along!
If these events peak your interest, why not join us next time? We have plenty of exciting FREE events coming up, such as DIY ‘Build your own Birdbox’ and DIY ‘Practical Room in Roof Insulation.’ You can check them all out here.
Please note, we’re keen to make these events available for as many Meadows Residents as possible. If an event catches your interest but you’re unable to make it, drop us a line. We would love to hear the best dates and times for those in the community.
Meeting milestones: 100 Future-Fit plans delivered across the Meadows!
100 Future-Fit Home Plans in the Meadows
We are pleased to announce that 100 Future-Fit plans have now been delivered to Meadows Residents, paving the way for 100 Meadows homes to become more energy efficient.
… and there are more to come!
These free, tailored plans are the first step towards understanding your home's energy efficiency and the necessary changes to reduce your bills.
Key to understanding how to work with the build of your own home, Future-Fit plans are worth £600 and advised by expert guidance - at no cost to you.
Alongside our free DIY workshops and upcoming Toolshare, Future-Fit Homes are empowering Meadows Residents with the knowledge and resources to make their own home improvements.
To sign up, call 0115 718 2028, or complete our request form here.