Sustainable Woodstock

We aim to raise public awareness among the residents of Woodstock and beyond on the issues of climate change, energy conservation, waste reduction, recycling, bio-diversity, sustainable economics and respect for the planet. 
We are working in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council, West Oxfordshire District Council, local schools and churches, Blenheim Palace and the Farmers Market and the Woodstock trade association, Wake Up to Woodstock


 

Welcome to Sustainable Woodstock's
Home and News Page

To learn more about Sustainable Woodstock go to "About Us" page

To read Hilary's monthly news digest read on below:- 
 or  Go direct to the Sustainable Woodstock Noticeboard for more info

Schools Strike for Action on Climate Change.  Colin Carritt, SusWoo Vice-chair, on why the striking schoolkids are heros

 

Sustainable Woodstock News
 April 2019 

Hi All, 
We're celebrating the fantastic response to the Litter Pick in March. So many of you picked up around the town .....from the most junior in Woodstock Primary to the more senior folk from the town. Thanks all for making such a difference. Some photos below.

Apologies for late notification but we will be spreading wildflower seed on Sunday 31st March between 11 am and noon in the Community Woodland and a small part of the orchard. Come and join us if you have time. No spades needed and look out for the high vis vests. Children very welcome. 

Don't forget to pledge for Earth Day.....follow the links below if you're wondering what it's all about. 

Hilary Brown  Chair of Sustainable Woodstock.
Thank You for
A Load of Old Rubbish!
The Great Woodstock Spring Clean 2019
 
Thanks to the Woodstock Litter Pickers who were doing their bit throughout March and Making a Difference as part of The Great British Spring Clean. There was great support from Woodstock Primary School, Marlborough Schools, town folk, individuals, staff from Owen Mumford and Blenheim who all clearly care about our environment. Much of the waste was recyclable....the sooner they bring in refunds for cans and bottles the better......we could all retire!   We all have the potential for transforming the natural and urban environment.....join us again next year and hopefully we will be collecting less and less as the years progress. We hope you can appreciate the effort and attempt to Keep Tidy until next year. See photos below of some of the participants. 

From Eagle Lodge, Bladon to Ditchley Gate and  Shipton Road to the A4095 and bits in between we've tried to clear as much as possible.


The Sustainable Woodstock Volunteers


Woodstock Primary School Litter Pickers


Marlborough School Litter Pickers




Owen Mumford Ltd
 Green Lane Litter Pickers


Blenheim Estates Litter Pickers


Earth Day April 22nd 2019 
TAKE ACTION 
Join the World’s Largest
Environmental Movement

The biggest lesson from the first Earth Day: When we come together, the impact can be monumental. Go green by making small changes that add up to making a big difference. Commit to earth-friendly acts, make more sustainable choices, reduce your carbon footprint, conserve energy and resources, collaborate on environmental projects in your community, vote for leaders committed to protect us and the environment, and share your acts of green to help educate and inspire others to join our movement! Start protecting our environment today and help create a healthy, more sustainable future.
See link for lots of ideas. https://www.earthday.org 

HEDGEHOG STREETS
in Woodstock

Let's make sure the hedgehog, the UK's only spiny mammal, remains a common and familiar part of British life. We know hedgehogs are in trouble.....we've lost a third of all hedgehogs since the millennium. 
Hedgehogs love gardens, and fortunately there are around half a million hectares of garden in the UK. Hedgehogs need access to lots of gardens to survive, so we encourage everyone to unite by linking your garden if you can. 
Link your garden....ensuring hedgehogs pass freely through your garden is the most important thing you can do to help them. 
Become a Hedgehog Champion by registering with Hedgehog Street where you'll find loads of helpful hints

WOODSTOCK ...It's Not Just About Straws 
 
When I recently mentioned kicking the single-use plastic habit, somebody answered "oh that's the straw thing, isn't it". Last week's school strike demonstrated, this isn't just about straws ..... it’s about kicking our addiction to avoidable single-use plastic and changing the systems that produce it. The school children were striking because they felt adults like us and politicians are just not doing enough or even getting "it". It's their future we're spoiling and we all need to start doing something about it now. 
 
Let's get serious about our children's & grandchildren's future Woodstock and get busy avoiding single-use whenever and wherever we can.

Start by thinking about your own purchases, and emailing people like Mr Gove (Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), your MP, school heads, managers and CEOs of our supermarkets or whoever you think needs to be told. It doesn't need to be an essay, get to the point....do things differently ..... without single-use plastic.
   

"Buy a Long Life Fairtrade Bag"

Sustainable Woodstock bags available from Mary & Martin's newsagent, our Post Office, Hampers and mnay other outlets.
AND AT THE FAIRTRADE COFFEE MORNING!
If you'd like some for your business email us at  Sustainable Woodstock.

 

 

Thanks
Oxfordshire Museum, King's Arms & The Woodstock Bookshop
for Offering Water Refills.

Helping us kick the plastic

Join the Refill Revolution!

Refill is an award-winning campaign to prevent plastic pollution at source by making it easier to reuse and refill your bottle instead of buying a new one.

 If you are a Woodstock business and wish to offer refills go online https://refill.org.uk . If you're feeling inspired, download the Refill app and make refilling the new normal!

Producing bottled water creates 500 times more CO2 than tap water. That’s why Refill Oxford has created a network of Refill stations where you can fill up your water bottle for free to reduce plastic pollution. Look out for a business with Refill stickers. There are now over 14 thousand Refill stations all over the UK and if Woodstock restaurants, schools, cafes or pubs would like to sign up to be a Refill station and help reduce plastic pollution just email refill.oxford@gmail.com and they'll do the rest.

 Refill Oxford is part of City to Sea’s national campaign to promote the use of free tap water to reduce plastic waste. In Oxford, there is a network of nearly 150 Refill stations in places such as cafes, bars, pubs, restaurants, bus stations, hospitals, community centres and hairdressers all over the city. So now you can refill your water bottles whenever you need to, rather than buying a new plastic bottle. 

 Save money, stay hydrated and prevent plastic pollution at source by using the free Refill App on the go, OR look for the Refill droplet in shop windows. This will dramatically reduce the use of the billions of single-use plastic water bottles bought in the UK every year. 

Be Prepared & Quit Idling

This winter remember to take a coat, hat and gloves the next time you know you will be sitting in a car for a while so that you can turn off the engine. The smoke and fumes you can see are bad enough but it's the gases you can't see that are doing even more damage to you and the environment. 
Around our schools, our streets, our shops and just about everywhere..... please cut your engine. Remember.....Drivers who don't cut their engines are actually breaking the law and risk being fined.

Invest in Green Energy?

If you're looking for investments
you may be interested in the Community Energy Fund. 

 Low Carbon Hub wants to strengthen and grow community owned energy in Oxfordshire. Energy that's good for people, and good for the planet. Join almost a thousand like-minded investors and put your money to work tackling climate change.
- Earn up to 5% interest on your investment* - capped at 4% for the first four years of investment
- Help fund more solar panels on schools and organisations across                     Oxfordshire
 - Keep money in the local economy through community ownership
 - Tackle the global issue of climate change on a local level
 - 100% of our surpluses support further local action on climate change
* INVESTMENTS CAN GO UP OR DOWN - TAKE ADVISE
 
                                                 WATCH THE VIDEO 

 

Sponsor a Tree in our Community Orchard? 
Over 50% now sponsored. You can sponsor a tree as a group, with friends, colleagues. You will receive a certificate and can dedicate if you wish. 
How to Pay?
Costs £30 (single payment)
1) BACS payment.  
2) Cheque   
For details contact as below. 
Questions ? Call 01993 811975 or email  sustainablewoodstockuk@gmail.com

https://gallery.mailchimp.com/dc6e6d1c45fda196d563a1d74/images/59d8975f-106e-4f83-bea5-ebb14ae4ef08.jpgThanks for the Bluebells

 Woodstock in Bloom and Sustainable Woodstock thank all volunteers for their time....and their effort. A total of 4000 Bluebells have now been planted in the Community Woodland!



Sustainability is often defined as meeting the needs of present generations without risking the ability of futures generations to meet their own needs and should lead to a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come.   Local actions are now influencing changes nationally and internationally and by working with our community, our projects and campaigns have a greater likelihood of success. We are interested in raising awareness on issues such as climate change