• Cut household bills                          • Make new friends
• Environmental benefits                    • Health benefits
• Visits to eco-houses

No one can do everything – but we can all do something!

BAG is currently recruiting for 2 EcoTeams to start Mid-November. There are only 6 more spaces to fill – first come first served.

EcoTeams are free to all residents in the Blackhorse Road area.

What is an Eco Team?
An EcoTeam is a group of 6-8 local people who meet once a month for five months to learn simple yet effective ways of conserving household energy and reducing bills while helping to save the planet. Small changes can make a big difference by living more sustainably.

What is involved?
Meetings are informal, friendly and are organised to be within walking distance of your home. EcoTeam participants meet to discuss choices for shopping, energy, transport and water – and you can try the ideas that appeal to you.
You also monitor how much rubbish & recycling you generate and your domestic use of energy. You’ll receive our information folder filled with tips, facts and internet links to help you and your team members.

How much time will it take?
About 2 hours a month, including the meetings and measurements.

Does it work?
Yes! Past teams have achieved great environmental savings:
Waste – 20%, Gas/heating – 21%, Electricity – 7%, Water – 15%
Household annual average saving of £148

Joining an EcoTeam
If you want to be part of an EcoTeam, just let us know your details and you will be invited along to a short initial meeting. The local team leader will show you a DVD and explain how the EcoTeams initiative works in your area. You then decide if you want to participate. It’s as simple as that and, remember, it’s free.

To join or to find out more
Please email Irina

National website: www.globalactionplan.org.uk
Registered charity number 1026148

Historical note!

When the first reservoirs were built during the 19th century, negotiations with the East London Waterworks Company to achieve compensation for parishioners who had Lammas Grazing Rights over the land were held at the Ferry Boat Inn, in Forest Road, Walthamstow, which was also once famous for its Whitsun Ales. When houses were built in Forest Road, a stipulation in the deeds was that no funfair was to be held and alcohol was not to be sold or consumed on the premises!

Meet for lunch at the Ferry Boat Inn from midday and the walk will set off from the car-park at 2.15pm. This is essentially a gentle stroll for fun, enjoying the ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.’ See the marshes from a different perspective and also find out about the history and wildlife of the reservoirs.�
Stout footwear and appropriate clothing is necessary. It can be very cold and windy!

All are welcome for this free event, but unfortunately due to Thames Water’s safety requirements no dogs or children under 8 years of age are allowed in the reservoirs area. Also, no bicycles, wheelchairs or alcohol are permitted. The reservoirs are classified as a workplace and are therefore subject to various restrictions.

The Blackhorse Action Group Fun Day was a huge hit last Saturday (17th May).  Children of all ages enjoyed learning juggling skills, painting flowerpots, making badges and origami, having a go on the ‘energy bike’, and having their face painted by Big Brother’s Carol Vincent.

Meanwhile their parents had the chance to find out what else they could get involved with in in the local area, from community gardening and ‘time banking’ (a kind of skill swap) to saving energy at home and campaigning against unsuitable tower block proposals.  They could also watch a film about Walthamstow market, try their hand in the raffle or quiz (prizes donated by local businesses), or just sit back, relax, and chat to their neighbours over a cup of tea and a cake or some delicious home-cooked Indian food.  

Here’s a short version of the Walthamstow Market film:

Finally many went home from the event, which was held in the Douglas Eyre Sports Pavilion, proudly clutching books and toys from the ‘give and take’ and St James Library Campaign stalls, or even free paint or free kid’s bicycles, kindly supplied by the Forest Recycling Project.

Irina Hoss, of BAG’s Entertainment Working Group, said “We are delighted with how well the day went – I overheard quite a few kids saying stubbornly ‘I don’t want to go home!’.  The point of our residents association is to work together to improve the quality of life in our area, and events like this are so important – we hope to have a street party in September to build on our success, as well as a range of other events.”

There was so much going on, it was amazing. We had jugglers, a Kids’ corner knee deep in paints, paper and scissors, stalls giving away goodies -even bikes!- right left and centre, face painting (THANKS Carol!) and everyone had a really great time. We’ll post a fuller report and some of the fantastic pictures taken once we’ve finished the washing up!

But right now, a great big THANK YOU to Colin, Keeper at the Douglas Eyre Playing Fields, who made the pavilion available to us for free. We promise, Colin, that we’ll organise that quiz/karaoke/barn dance soon!

And a whopper of a THANK YOU to Irina (and Caroline, Nuria and others from BAG) for organizing it – I’ve not seen smiles that wide on so many kids’ faces in a long time! And there was so much community spirit that we had heaps of people sign up to our initiatives, such as timebanking.

(Oh, and THANKS to the Singh family who brought a vast and delicious chickpea curry with accompaniments at just the right time at the end of the evening, and then helped us carry all the day’s debris home!)

Signing off now, but we’ll get more about Super Saturday out soon!

Don’t forget that BAG is having a right old shindig on 17 May at the Douglas Eyre Playing Fields pavilion.

Doors open at 3pm, and there’s so much to do:

• Fun activities for kids
• Give and Take: bring clothes and books to swap
• Film: The Power of Community
• Discover what’s happening in your area!
• Guided BAT walk at sunset
• Bar
• Musical Entertainment
• Quiz
• Raffle

If you can, bring your favourite dish to share!

Download the flyer! Stick it on a tree near you!

If you are interested in getting involved with organising this evening then email Irina Hoss.