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Boris backs bags for better lives

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said recently : ‘I am committed to reducing the amount of waste generated in the capital and support a ban on plastic bags. Cutting our use of plastic bags would help to reduce waste going to landfill and litter, as well as saving vast amounts of greenhouse gases. I back Sustainable Merton in its campaign and commend them for taking a lead on this issue. Londoners can take action by using fewer plastic bags, and also by contacting their local MP to drum up their support for London Councils bid to get the Government to bring about a ban on single-use, throwaway shopping bags in the capital.’
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Merton Green Drinks - Wednesday 14th May


The Sultan Pub

6.30 ’til late.

And the second Wednesday of every month.

Where is it?

In the Ted Higgins Bar (the bar on the left) as you enter THE SULTAN PUB, 78 Norman Road, South Wimbledon, SW19 1BT

How do I get there?

Walk, cycle, bus (200, 57, 493, 152), tube (South Wimbledon, Colliers Wood). Click here for a map.

Why should I go?

Merton Green Drinks is for anyone interested in environmental issues or studying them. The idea is to meet for fun, contacts, alcohol, info, gossip, inspiration, business and pleasure. If you are new, just go up to someone and you’ll be made welcome. Please forward this email to anyone you think might be interested. To get on the email circulation list for reminders, send an email to: info@sustainablemerton.org.uk We will not give your email address to anyone else.

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Food up Front in Merton - Wednesday 12th March

After a successful pilot year in 2007, Food Up Front is expanding in to the borough of Merton, hoping to encourage even more London residents to grow food in their unused outdoor space.

The team are working hard to prepare the start of the 2008 growing season and they are keen to hear from people who would like to join the scheme or become a Food Up Front representative in their street.

The team attracted an unexpected amount of interest in its pilot year, with interviews on television and radio, culminating in the Green Guardian award for Best Green Project.

The project is designed to give anyone and everyone the tools and knowledge necessary to grow something, no matter how small their space.

Seb Mayfield, co-founder of the project, said: “We want to show people that they don’t need an allotment or large garden to grow food. Any space is appropriate, including balconies and even window sills.

Once people feel that they have support, they feel more confidence to have a go at growing. It is also a great way to develop community interaction, especially when a number of people are involved in the same street.”

On registration, residents will receive a starter kit, with everything they need to get going in a matter of weeks. The kit even includes compost from London garden waste, along with green boxes, previously used as recycling containers.

The food growing has been accompanied by evening events, enabling participants to meet each other over drinks.

Zoe Lujic, Seb’s project partner, said: “By starting small, some participants have found the confidence to develop their food growing and have gone on to grow a variety of different vegetables, including beans, carrots and spinach. Others have just enjoyed the fact that they could pick salad leaves and herbs, rather than buying them in a packet.”

A registration event will be held in conjunction with the Sustainable Merton Green Drinks on March 12th.

For more information about the Food Up Front project visit www.foodupfront.org.

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Schools

To sign up for the Schools Eco Forum please contact Sustainable Merton t.020 8540 0622 or email info@sustainablemerton.org.uk

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Free Climate Change workshops

Are you looking for an interesting & lively activity for your group?

While it is easy to do nothing and feel despondent about Climate Change…

…it is just as easy to take action and feel good.

Sustainable Merton invites you to take part in a free workshop to help you and your friends tackle Climate Change.

Our workshops…

…are designed for community groups across Merton who want to find out more about Climate Change and take practical action.

…are interactive and will generate plenty of discussion and ideas!

…can take place on one of your regular meetings or at a different time suitable for you

…will be running from October 2007.

Spaces are limited! To register your group for a workshop please call Sustainable Merton on 020 8540 0622 or email info @ sustainablemerton.org.uk (remove spaces)

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Sustainable Merton wins Green Guardian Award

At an awards ceremony on Friday 12th October, Sustainable Merton was awarded the Green Project or Group award for Merton.

Winners from each borough went through to the regional final  at the Queen’s Stand, Epsom Racecourse on Friday, November 16 with the Green Goddess, Penny Poyzer, as guest speaker.

Sustainable Merton was commended in the Green Project Category

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The 1st General Meeting of Sustainable Merton - Thursday 27 September

On Thursday 27th September supporters of Sustainable Merton packed into the Guardian Centre in Colliers Wood to review the progress made over the last seven months and to make plans for the future. Sustainable Merton Co-ordinator Tom Walsh highlighted the exciting developments which have taken place this year including projects to develop a plastic bag free zone (Volunteers have been busy on the streets of Wimbledon Park talking to retailers, residents end community organisations as part of a campaign to make Wimbledonb Park London’s first plastic bag free zone, following in the footsteps of Modbury in Devon and Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire. To find out more about the campaign and how you can get involved email Mariana at kingstonmertonrnn@yahoo.co.uk) and a community-owned wind turbine. Ideas for future projects included an Eco Pals mentoring scheme, door to door education, letter writing campaigns, a Merton Food up Front project, working with faith groups, recycling at Merton events, and an anti-bottled water campaign. If you are interested in getting involved in these or any other projects you might like to see happen then please email info @ sustainablemerton.org.uk (remove spaces)

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