TEN, Issue 1

TEN, The Eco Newsletter, Issue 1, May 28th, 2024

by Fred Page (fpage245@gmail.com) Contribution by Hannah

Sarah Leigh Gallagher’s Guisborough Refill

Sarah Leigh Gallagher, has taken over What Planet’s refill toiletries. She and husband Tony opened Tony Gallagher Hairdresser salon in June 2023 and have used What Planet’s refill toiletries from the start. They use them and like them so when What Planet closed its doors for the last time on May 24th Sarah Leigh took over the toiletries part of the business. Tony commented ‘In the time we have been here we would have used hundreds of plastic bottles and using re-fills we have not’.
She advertises on her Guisborough Refill Facebook page that she will sell the cruelty free and vegan friendly products from her hair salon. She is thinking about starting a delivery round, one day a week.
Re-filling reduces single use plastic. It is better for the environment. We wish Sarah Leigh every success.

DR JOHN McCUE TALKING ABOUT

PEAT BOGS AND DARK SKIES

Peat Bogs and Dark Skies are important to biodiversity and climate change

Dr John McCue, speaker at the May 13th Eco Group meeting, talked about Peat Bogs and Dark Skies. He said that 45% of the North York Moore is peat, which is water logged organic material. It locks in CO2 but, if peat is moved the CO2 is released. Acid rain washes away the peat surface so. to prevent this, a metal mole is used to create drainage and make the land suitable for agriculture.

On the subject of Dark Skies John recalled becoming interested in the stars when his friend pointed out the constellations on the way home from school. He is now an astronomer and is aware of the detrimental effects light pollution, including street lights, is having on wildlife. He also explained that in 20 years no one in the UK will be able to see the milky way. 

APRIL 27th ECO GROUP REPAIR CAFE

Clothing repaired at the Repair Cafe

The Repair Cafe is held on the last Saturday of the month in Guisborough Methodist Church hall. For 2 hours a month the dedicated repairers save customers money. They restore clothes that have been clicked, cut or grown out of and check bikes. Smiling faces, thanks and generous donations to keep the service going make it all worthwhile.

BIKES 

   The bike donated by Inspirational Interiors

Thank you

The bike was donated to the Eco Group by Inspirational Interiors. It had been used and loved for a long time, but for the last few years it had been stuck in the garage. It wasn’t going to ridden again, but it was hard to decide what to do with it.

The Eco Group plans to help a local school to run a Bike Bus, and would like to provide bikes for parents who wish to accompany their children on the ride to school, or to help others who need but can’t afford a bike. Inspirational Interiors  donated this one to the Group.

All being well the Bike Bus will be run this year, maybe next month, and there will always be people who need them but can’t afford them. If you have a bike you don’t want, please donate it.

Simple ?

Do you have a bike you no longer want? Would you like to donate it to the Eco Group

THE CLEVELAND GREEN GATHERING includes

This is the first Green Gathering organised by Guisborough and District Eco Group and The Cut Back. It is good to work together!

We are delighted there will be so much going on. You’ll probably know several of the stalls and activities but some will be new to you. You’ll wonder what they do, so it will be interesting to find out!

As usual the Eco Group will talk about Climate Responsible Actions, and responsible disposal of your waste. Also, we will encourage everyone to check if they are eligible for FREE insulation? Insulating homes keeps them warmer and reduces carbon emissions.

Simple ?

What are Climate Responsible Actions?

Eco friendly, sustainable and NOT environmentally harmful. Often termed GREEN! Don’t be fooled by Greenwashing -Advertising things about a product that are not harmful so that we forget about the things that are.

JOIN THE ECO GROUP

Join the effort to make Guisborough and the surrounding area a more sustainable place to live, work and grow.

AIMS

Work to improve our area including protection, conservation and biodiversity 

Work to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions

Work to increase reuse and repair 

Work to treat waste responsibly and recycle smarter

eg Ways to treat waste responsibly

Check if someone you know wants it 

Can you donate it to Charity

Can you Up-cycle it 

Advertise it on PONG

Is it compostable

Give it to the Scrap man or woman 

Recycle it 

If all else fails put it in the Waste Bin to go to landfill or incineration.

Simple ?

Does incineration create CO2 and does landfill create methane?  YES!

Do you support Kids Against Weed Killer, want Free insulation, advertise on PONG and support the Repair Cafe? You might like to join the Eco Group

HOW REPAIR CAFES WORK

Repair is better than recycling. It saves you money, teaches engineering and saves the Planet. That is why the Eco Group run a Repair Cafe on the last Saturday of the month in the Methodist Church, Guisborough.

Simple ? 

Do you want to try fixing it yourself? Go to www.iFixit.com

PONG

This essay has been contributed to TEN by Hannah – thank you

Do you Pong? That’s a question that might seem rude in one way. But, what we mean in this case is, do you use the local Pong (and Ping) groups? What are Pong and Ping groups? They are groups on Facebook where people can offer – Pong – things they no longer have a use for; or ask for – Ping – things they need.

The original Pong group was set up in Saltburn, many years ago, and had members from all over Teesside. In March 2020, when shops were closed and we were asked not to travel too far, Pong and Ping groups started to be set up in various locations around the area. Guisborough Pong and Guisborough Ping were among the first and grew very quickly. Lots of people were having a clear out and Pong was a great way to pass things on to others in need.

Four years on, the Guisborough groups are busy as ever, friendships and connections have been made or strengthened, and lots and lots of things have been kept out of landfill.

What sort of things get offered? Pretty much anything you can think of, but clothes and shoes, especially children’s, are constant. What else? – kitchen ware, bubble wrap, cardboard boxes – great for people packing to move – books, cds, exercise equipment, tables and chairs, gin bottles – pretty much anything goes, although there are some restrictions which are made clear in the group rules. 

Speaking of rules, the first rule is that everything offered is free, and it is amazing to see how generous people are. Following on from that, and really importantly, nothing obtained through the group is to be sold on. There is a daily limit of up to 2 pings per day (a ping is where you ask for an item). 

If you live in Guisborough, Pinchinthorpe, Margrove Park, or Dunsdale and would like to Pong (or Ping), search Facebook for Pong Guisborough (or Ping Guisborough) and join us. You could find a new home for your unwanted items, or maybe something new to you and, importantly, keep perfectly usable items out of landfill.

If you live elsewhere you will likely have a group more local to you, and the original group, called ‘Pong’ still covers a wide area and is still going strong. 

Simple ?

Do you Pong? Your unwanted goods, advertised on PONG, could make someone’s day. It could also save something going to incineration or landfill and adding to carbon emissions.

Simple ?

Do you know that bus fares range from £2 to FREE. Over 21s pay £2, under 21s pay £1 and under 11s pay nothing.

FOOD 

Weather or Climate Change and Food Insecurity

It is going to make a difference to your life. 

At the CAS&V meeting a lady stood up, put her hand above her head and said,‘That is the level of rain we have had recently’.

A farmer told the group that he had sown seeds in a 40 acre field and a day later his next door neighbour sowed his 40 acre field. It rained heavily on both. 50% of his neighbours seeds and 10% of his were washed away. This is our food insecurity. Expect higher food prices next year. Should we ask, Who is to blame?’ Or ‘What patch of available land can we grow food on?

Food Bank 

Guisborough Bridge Association is an independent charity set up by Churches Together in Guisborough.It supports all ages and families within Guisborough. 

The website is: https://guisboroughbridge.org.uk/

One of its many projects is Food Stop, a food bank to help those with challenging financial situations.

They also run a Luncheon club and provide meals for elderly members of the community. Occasionally they don’t have the ingredients they need.

Recently they asked for carrots, sweetcorn, tomatoes and pulses. 

If you have any spare food please donate it to the Bridge.

Simple ?

Would you like to grow your own? Would you like an allotment? Members of the Allotments and Open Spaces committee of Guisborough Town Council will be available at the Green Gathering on June 8th to give advice about council allotments.

Simple ?

Do you know how to make compost? Members of the Group can borrow John Roulac’s book Backyard Composting. It makes it sound easy. There is more advice at www.recyclenow.com/compost or call 0845 600 0323 quoting reference GUIDE.

This Newsletter will be printed and distributed to selected organisations, including the Library, to give information and helpful advice.

Simple ?

Would you like to have an item published in the Newsletter and your name at the head or posted anonymously? It may help to reduce carbon emissions, save the environment and the Planet. Please call me.

Children MUST have parent’s permission to contribute to TEN

I hope you have enjoyed TEN and the simple questions. If you have any simple questions, money saving ideas, ideas that will be good for the environment we would like to know so please send them in.

PS if you like what we are doing please let your friends know – they might want to join.

Copyright © 2024 by Fred Page

On behalf of the Eco Group 

(recently renamed GUISBOROUGH and District ECO GROUP)

Best wishes from Jemma and Fred