Greenliving July/August by Flavour Magazine

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Your lifestyle guide to all things eco...

July/August 2010

greenliving magazine

! W E N O THE ST T E TH W U O O S LOND N &

Ben Fogle We talk rubbish with the Princeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s look-a-like

Inntravel Slow travel...a better way to holiday!

The Great Outdoors Discover your own eco sanctuary

WIN! A day spa for two at The Lido in Bristol!

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FREE

vegbox* offer for greenliving readers! *Place a regular order and the third box we deliver is free. Applies to new customers placing a regular order. The free box will be the same value as the cheapest previous box. Quote GLM10 when ordering.

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Win a day spa for two at The Lido!

ucked away in the narrow streets of Clifton lies Bristol’s hidden oasis, the Lido, a Victorian open air swimming pool transformed into a modern day pool, spa, bar and restaurant. Not only has this provided a much needed leisure facility for the area but it has also been sympathetically designed with the environment in mind.

A large solar panel system is used to heat the pool, whilst rainwater is collected from the roof in a tank so that it can be treated and reused in the pool. Ventilation air from the double-glazed restaurant, heating plant and changing rooms is passed through a state-of-theart air-handling unit aimed at recovering 80 per cent of all extract heat for re-use in the pool. In the restaurant, a wood-fired oven using timber from sustainably managed forests in the UK cooks the food. Most recently the Lido collected the Green Award at the 2010 Evening Post Business of the Year Award ceremony. Prior to this the Lido also won the REGEN award for the Best Small Renewable Energy Scheme (below 100 kW).

www.lidobristol.com

Win…

The Lido is giving one lucky greenliving reader the chance to WIN a Day Spa for two. To enter, simply email info@greenlivingmag.co.uk stating your name, address, phone number and where you got your copy of the magazine – good luck! Terms and conditions apply.

July / August 2010

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greenliving Editor: Holly Aurelius-Haddock holly@greenlivingmag.co.uk

Welcome...

Assistant Editor: Faye Allen faye@greenlivingmag.co.uk

Much to the amusement of my nearest and dearest, I’ve always had an inexplicable fascination with statistics.

Art Director: Chris Jones designer@greenlivingmag.co.uk Advertising: Kate Gardner kate@greenlivingmag.co.uk Contributors: Bill Gething, Rebecca Gooch, Rebecca Sullivan, Richard Spalding, Guy Watson, Tim Young.

Whether it’s startling child obesity projections or even more startling illiteracy figures among the so-called leaders of the Western world, nothing seems to hammer a point home more than a simple percentage.

greenliving Magazine 151-153 Wick Road, Brislington, Bristol, BS4 4HH Tel: 01179 779188 | Visit: www.greenlivingmagazine.co.uk Please send any comments or suggestions to the publisher at the above address. For general enquiries: Peter Francomb Email: peter@greenlivingmag.co.uk

This phenomenon is particularly true of environmental issues, where the impact of our lifestyle choices, green or otherwise, are difficult to gauge when they represent such a tiny proportion of the problem being tackled (or perpetuated).

© Copyright 2010 greenliving. All rights reserved. Material may not be reproduced without permission of greenliving. While we take care to ensure that reports, reviews and features are accurate, greenliving accepts no liability for reader dissatisfaction arising from the content of this publication. The opinions expressed or advice given are the views of the individual authors, and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of greenliving.

greenliving provides effective communication through design. We specialise in brochures, corporate identity, advertising, direct mail, marketing and design for print. We have a reputation for clear, creative solutions to communication problems for a number of corporate, sports, financial, charity and leisure industry clients. We maintain the highest of standards, throughout each individual project and our client relationship. We pride ourselves on delivering distinctive designs and ideas that will get you noticed.

Take for instance the value of honey bees’ services as pollinators in the European Union, which has been estimated at no less than around £3 billion per year. Without our honey-making friends life would evidently be very different indeed – turn to page 28 and find out more about preserving their dwindling numbers. Die-hard carnivores might also be interested to learn that according to the UN, the combined climate change emissions of animals bred for their meat were about 18% of the global total back in 2006; that's more than cars, planes and all other forms of transport put together. For some truly inspirational meat-free ideas, try reading up on the latest from Riverford Organics on page 36. There are of course those who bring us all hope by facing these frightening statistics head on, which is precisely why we’ve been talking to the lovely Ben Fogle about his latest project on page 21. Following in the dedicated footsteps of such people needn’t necessarily lead us across the Antarctic, but it should at least offer us some reassurance that the future of our fragile planet is by no means decided. Change starts with us. Holly Aurelius-Haddock. holly@greenlivingmag.co.uk

Competition Terms & Conditions In addition to any specifically stated terms and conditions, the following applies to all competitions. All information forms part of the rules. All entrants are deemed to have accepted the rules and agree to be bound by them. The winner will be the first entry drawn at random from all the correct entries received by the closing date and will be notified by either post, email or telephone. The prizes are as stated; they are non-transferable and no cash alternative will be offered. All entrants must be at least 18 years old. Competitions are open to UK residents only. One entry per person. Proof of postage is not proof of entry. greenliving accepts no responsibility for entries lost or damaged in the post. Entrants agree to take part in any publicity material relating to the competition. The name of the winner will be published in the next edition. The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Prizes do not include unspecified extras (such as travel). All prizes are subject to availability. Please state if you do not wish to receive any further correspondence from greenliving or competition organisers. You may be required to collect your prize.

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greenliving

contents

Welcome to greenliving!

you

your home

your planet

GREAT OUTDOORS Discover your own eco sanctuary

GREEN GOODIES Planet friendly treats you shouldn’t be without

REBECCA SULLIVAN Turning food waste into want

INSPIRING STORIES How beating skin cancer led to a love of going faux

BEN FOGLE We talk rubbish with the Prince’s look-a-like

HEAD FOR THE SUN Natural sun protection to avoid the leather look

BILL GETHING Tackling climate change challenge in our homes

KING EDWARD’S SCHOOL Bath School gets full-marks for going green

PLANET WORTH SAVING Inspiring photography from around the globe

We hope you enjoy this issue of greenliving. We would love to know your thoughts so please get in touch. Email holly@greenlivingmag.co.uk or write to us at 151-153 Wick Road, Bristol BS4 4HH

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March July / August / April 2010

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July/August 2010 A GREENER TOMORROW...

Meet the team... With every issue we offer the latest eco news and advice from some of the sector’s most prominent figures:

RICHARD SPALDING Richard Spalding teaches Human Geography and Environment Studies at UWE in Bristol. Whilst sitting as the Chair of South Gloucestershire Local Food and Drinks Partnership and Winterbourne Medieval Barn Trust, he also finds time to grow a few vegetables of his own too!

BILL GETHING Architect Bill Gething was a long-standing partner of Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios before setting up an independent consultancy last year. He has contributed to the practice's international reputation for sustainable design and is currently a member of the Royal Institute of British Architect’s Climate Change Board.

GUY WATSON Having founded Riverford Organic, Guy Watson has always been fired by a passion for good food combined with traditional farming principles. Determined to loosen the supermarket’s stranglehold on quality and supply, Guy Watson deals fairly with everybody, which remains an intrinsic value to the business’ operation.

THE SOIL ASSOCIATION With their fingers firmly on the pulse, the UK’s leading organic organisation keeps us informed on the latest campaigns and community programmes promoting planet friendly food and farming methods.

The past 20 years have seen a growing realisation that the current model of development is unsustainable. In other words, we are living beyond our means. From the loss of biodiversity with the felling of rainforests or over fishing to the negative effect our consumption patterns are having on the environment and the climate. Our way of life is placing an increasing burden on the planet. The increasing stress we put on resources and environmental systems such as water, land and air cannot go on forever. Especially as the world's population continues to increase and we already see a world where over a billion people live on less than a dollar a day. The goal of sustainable development is to enable all people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life, without compromising the quality of life of future generations. Unless we start to make real progress toward reconciling these contradictions we face a future that is less certain and less secure. We need to make a decisive move toward more sustainable development. Not just because it is the right thing to do, but also because it is in our own long-term best interests. It offers the best hope for the future. Whether at school, in the home or at work, we all have a part to play. Our small everyday actions add up to make a big difference. Spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

July / August 2010

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News

If you have any news or events that you would like to share with us here at greenliving then email info@greenlivingmag.co.uk

An appetite for defence Jamie Oliver has recently come under scrutiny from Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley over the effectiveness of his campaigning television series Food Revolution. Lansley has commented that the Jamie Oliver effect has not worked because people don’t want to be lectured. Oliver, who has won acclaim for his multiple efforts in enforcing change in the school food system, has defended his work, accusing Lansley of “simplifying the school dinners situation for an easy headline.” Professor Alan Mayyon-Davis, President of the UK Faculty of Public Health said Lansley’s comments were unfair, disappointing and distressing. “I think what

Jamie Oliver did was excellent. The whole thing managed to improve school meals and pushed the government into investing money in them.” Both Oliver and the Shadow Education Secretary Ed Balls agreed that Lansley’s remarks were “a smack in the face for all those who have worked so hard in recent years to expand the right of children to enjoy free and healthy school meals.” According to The Food for Life Partnership, meal take-up amongst participating schools has risen on average by 16% in under two years with some schools reporting a 25% increase. www.foodforlife.org.uk

Rediscover your wild side…

The Open Spaces Society, Britain’s top campaign-group for common land, has published Finding Common Ground, the first-ever guide detailing how to recognise and take account of local-community interests in common land. The work was commissioned by Natural England, the government’s adviser on the natural environment. The society’s General Secretary, Kate Ashbrook says “Our guide shows how to identify the people who care about a particular common and how to involve them in the plans for its future.”

152 Wild Things To Do is packed with ideas to get families outside and closer to nature, whether at home, out and about in the countryside or in the heart of a city. It includes entries from each of the 47 Wildlife Trusts, describing what you’ll see during a visit to one of their reserves – be it a sea of bluebells, diving ospreys, or an awe-inspiring waterfall. This is the perfect guide to rediscovering the simplest pleasures in life as well as introducing children to the natural world. Ideas that are free, sustainable and good green fun.

Download the guide at www.oss.org.uk or for more information call 01491 573535

Published by Elliott and Thompson Limited, RRP £12.99

Published guide to common peace

July / August 2010

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greenliving is proud to be working with Green Tomato Cars, the private hire service who not only use the eco-friendly Toyota Prius to get you from A to B, but offset their carbon emissions too. T: 020 8568 0022 W: www.greentomatocars.com If you’re reading this as a Green Tomato passenger, then send us an email to info@greenlivingmag.co.uk for a chance to win a spa day for two! See page 4 for more information.

Tribe of Doris From Tuesday 10 – Sunday 15 August, the Tribe of Doris, a seamless fusion of summer camp and festival, returns to the beautiful Devon site of Black Down Hills.

Green Park Friday market Friday 2 July saw the successful launch of a brand new market day in Bath’s Green Park Station. ‘Green Park Friday’ was launched this month and will continue to run on the first Friday of every month in the Market Square where shoppers will have the opportunity to buy locally sourced products from some of Bath’s most celebrated traders.

In addition to the market’s diverse collection of both usual and unique stalls, visitors will have the chance to grab some real bargains each Friday from the best of Bath’s artisans, including The Cake Box, BooksBath, Jazmin and PJ’s Farm Stall, Mrs Stokes’ China and more. The next market will be held at Green Park Station Friday 6 August.

The Prince of Wales’ rural lifeline The Prince of Wales is in the midst of setting up his new charity, the Prince’s Countryside Fund, to support the small family farms which form the backbone of rural Britain. The new find is designed to act as their safety net, making money available not only when natural disasters like Foot and Mouth strike but to also offer support in difficult financial times. The Prince has recruited large food producers and retailers to help fund the charity and serve on its board of trustees, a decision that should prove beneficial for both the retailers and the farmers who supply them. His aim of nurturing sustainable agriculture is widely regarded as vital to the future of the countryside.

July / August 2010

There will be over 40 workshops a day in drumming, dance and voice, featuring inspirational teachers from Africa, South America, Asia and Europe. Doris is primarily a participatory event, where learning from these amazing artists is the core activity, interspersed with open mic performances, spontaneous jamming, elaborate ceremonies, fireside jamborees, a health and relaxation zone and a host of creative youth activities. What started out 18 years ago as an impromptu African drum convention in Bristol has become the most vibrant multicultural exchange of acoustic music, dance, song and ceremony to be staged anywhere in the world. www.tribeofdoris.co.uk

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bright stars

You don’t have to wear khaki, own expensive binoculars and be an expert on the countryside to enjoy it. Everybody should be able to go out and enjoy the countryside without feeling intimidated by not knowing the names of everything.

Encourage wildlife as much as you can. Put bird feeders up, use nest boxes and think about what you plant in the garden. If you live on the 22nd floor in the middle of a city then it doesn’t matter, you could always plant nectar rich plants in a windowsill box and encourage bees.

My grandfather once told me: “At 17 you think you’re immortal, at 21 you realise you’re not and at 30 you lose your nerves.” So, don’t mess around and get on with what you want to do before you get too old.

I’ve been with my partner since I was 20. Making sure you can still make each other laugh is vital as well as having a shared enjoyment in finding out about things together.

I came into the world of presenting by mistake. I agreed to a screen test for presenting a holiday programme, thinking I could just get it out of the way and forget all about it as quickly as possible. Two weeks later I was in Normandy talking about barge holidays.

“Put a frock on and take the cheque,” was the advice a friend gave me when I deliberated on whether to go into presenting. After deciding that I haven’t got a frock and didn’t want to do something I didn’t care about, my friend’s second piece of advice was simple; “only do the stuff that you believe in.”

David Attenborough is a hero of mine. He has been able to communicate to so many people the really important themes of our time. Not just the importance of conservation but the perils of climate change and population growth. It was fantastic to work with Ben Fogle on Animal Park. We worked together for 8 years and have become extremely good friends. Bill Oddie was a challenge on Autumnwatch, he made life very exciting and there was never a dull moment!

Kate Humble

A refreshing addition to the presenting world, Animal Park’s Kate Humble has left an impression not only on us but on the countryside too. This issue greenliving catches up with her to talk about handsome co-hosts and an exciting new website for globe trotters…

I was a complete tomboy as a child. I grew up in the countryside at a time without restrictive health and safety regulations where kids were encouraged to go out and explore, try new things, fall out of trees and crash their bikes. I founded stuffyourrucksack.com as a way to really make your holiday count. I’ve done a lot of travelling in developing countries and have come across small local projects that would only need things like maps and English books, things that I could so easily have packed before, if only I knew. The website can be used as a message board between travellers and organisations themselves.

No one is ever too important or too grand to get away with bad manners. My motto for life is that simple.

July / August 2010

Turn to page21 to find out th e latest with Kate’ Animal Par s k co-host!

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Rocket Wood Cooking Stove This super-efficient Rocket Stove uses thick ceramic insulation to cleanly combust wood or charcoal, producing plenty of controllable heat and very little smoke. Ready to cook on in a couple of minutes, it saves up to 75% of the fuel of an open fire, and the stove’s cast-iron top provides a solid support for your pot. It comes with a wind shield and is the perfect outdoor cooker for your garden, picnic or camping trip.

£54.95

£54.95 plus P&P. T: 0117 230 2346 W: www.wildstoves.co.uk

Y-Ply for Ultimate Comfort Outdoors Sit on it, lie on it, even put your feet on it! You can now enjoy real comfort outdoors. If you’ve ever been uncomfortable when trying to read or sunbathe then Y-Ply is the answer. Representing a revolution in the world of outdoor accessories, you can forget uncomfortable positions, or heavy and cumbersome chairs. The Y-Ply relaxation device is light, compact, smart and comes in a great range of colours. Y-Ply has in its own waterproof bag and will make a great summer gift. T: 0845 680 0068 W: www.smarterproducts.co.uk

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Rose & Marshmallow Beauty Akamuti's gorgeous, softening face mask is perfect for cleansing and freshening the skin. Precious rose is a well known skin elixir, promoting a healthy complexion and skin tone. Akamuti have teamed this fragrant rose powder with purifying, mineral rich rose clay & the softening qualities of marshmallow and chamomile for the ultimate skin treat. Marshmallow blends beautifully with rose and is renowned for promoting an even skin tone, regenerating the skin & encouraging repair. Used traditionally in herbal medicine, marshmallow is a fantastic anti-inflammatory skin tonic to assist upset, ageing or problem skin. All Akamuti products are 100% natural and are free from parabens, preservatives and animal testing. T: 0845 4589242 W: www.akamuti.co.uk

Green Stationery The Green Stationery Company is celebrating 20 years of supplying recycled papers and green office products. Customers have made a difference by creating a market for recycled products and closing the recycling loop. Managing Director Jay Risbridger leads by example and still gets on his bicycle to make local office deliveries. The Green Stationary Company have a fast nationwide delivery and a fully featured e.commerce web store. Whatever your needs, their unrivalled product range and excellent service guarantee your office will be as green as it can be.

£2.45

Their office favourite is the natural brown recycling ring binder £2.45 which is made from 100% recycled materials. www.greenstat.co.uk

Tree Hugging Squirrel Design is a family business specialising in creating inspirational bespoke wooden structures that encourage a greater appreciation and enjoyment of our outdoor environment. Their tree houses range from smaller, magical hideaway spaces to larger, adventurous schemes including rope walkways, trapdoors, zip wires and more. Their garden retreats on the other hand include beautifully crafted carbon friendly ecolodges, using materials such as sheep’s wool insulation and timber cut from sustainably managed forests. Each Squirrel Design project is carefully and individually designed, and skilfully built to provide customers with a wonderful space to spend time in – for play, leisure, education and living. T: 01454 238967 W: www.squirreldesign.co.uk

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Luxurious Eco Cottages A small collection of ‘Five Star Gold’ rated luxurious eco cottages at Merlin Farm in secluded countryside, a short walk from the beautiful beach of Mawgan Porth, and a few minutes away from 15 and Rick Stein’s restaurant. Three farm barns have been converted retaining charm and character, with floor to ceiling glass fronted lounge extensions providing wonderful views of the Cornish countryside. The barns are super insulated to provide cosy accommodation with ground source heat pump underfloor heating and solar powered water heating. The ultimate treat, these properties feature welcome hampers, Cornish complimentary toiletries, Egyptian cotton bed linen, waterfall taps, walk-in drench showers, woodburners, Wi-Fi and infra-red garden heaters for star gazing on clear nights. Over the summer months gas BBQs are also provided !

Merlin Farm Holiday Cottages Mawgan Porth, Cornwall TR8 4DN

01637 860236

www.merlinfarm.co.uk

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OUTDOORS July / August 2010

Whether you’re looking to create an eco sanctuary in your own back garden, or you want to escape and let someone else do all the hard work, we’ve got all bases covered. Sit back, relax and enjoy the great outdoors at its greenest… 15

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OUTDOORS Wild Stoves Wild Stoves specialise in effective and clean cooking on wood fires. They supply efficient ‘rocket stoves’ through to lightweight backpacking stoves, as well as eco-firelighters, flint strikers and hand axes. For those occasions when only an open fire will do, they also sell Dutch ovens, tripods and grills. Efficient wood stoves offer a practical and eco alternative to conventional camping stoves. They’re easy to light, ready to cook on in minutes, and leave no empty canisters or bottles. They use 75% less wood than an open fire, produce little smoke and give a stable support for your pot. This means quicker cooking, less mess, much lower carbon emissions, and less wood to collect! Wild Stoves is run by an energy specialist, so the site also includes lots of useful information and advice on harnessing heat from wood – the ultimate in abundant, free, low-impact fuel. T: 0117 230 2346 W: www.wildstoves.co.uk

Edible Landscaping “For me there is no clear distinction between growing for aesthetics and growing for food. Once you start growing vegetables you realise how divinely beautiful they are. Likewise there are so many perennial plants out there that many people grow as ornamentals but that are in fact delicious. My whole philosophy at Edible Landscaping is to show the beauty of nature, to garden in harmony with it and at the same time to create an intensely productive landscape. I am dedicated to showing others how they too can achieve this in both my designing and teaching.” Michele Fitzsimmons of Edible Landscaping. Michele would be pleased to talk with you about your garden, business landscape or community project. T: 07982095501

W: www.ediblelandscaping.co.uk

July / August 2010

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Inntravel Slow down to see the world

The best holidays combine a sense of discovery with the chance to relax in characterful hotels that capture the true essence of your destination. And that’s exactly what you can expect from a trip with independent travel specialists Inntravel. Their self-guided walking and cycling holidays will take you off the beaten track, allowing you to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of an area at your own pace. There’s no need to rush on these holidays – with no guide or group to keep up with, you can really take your time. Simply follow the detailed route notes provided, pausing to smell the flowers, admire the views, or simply to relax in the shade of a wayside tree. Your luggage is transported between locations and you stay in small, familyrun hotels, hand-picked for their comfort, character and regional cuisine.

July / August 2010

For your own copy of Inntravel’s new Walking and More brochure, containing a wide choice of tempting holiday ideas for this autumn, winter and spring, call now on 01653 617039 or to download a digital brochure, visit www.inntravel.co.uk

EXCLUSIVE GREENLIVING OFFER!

Slow travel, a little bit like Slow Food, may be at odds with the increasingly frentic buzz of modern life, but Inntravel feel it’s all the more rewarding because of this. Taking things easy really is a better way to holiday... T: 01653 617039 W: www.inntravel.co.uk

Book any Inntravel holiday before 31 October 2010 and Inntravel will send you a free copy of the fabulous Rough Guide – ‘Clean Breaks’. This 400-page book (RRP £18.99) has been compiled by green travel experts and offers 500 new ways to see the world.

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OUTDOORS The Findhorn Foundation The Findhorn Foundation community explores new ways of living that promote sustainability, peaceful relationships, cooperation with nature and a deep sense of inner wellbeing. They are currently is putting together an Experience Week, offering a wonderful opportunity to experience the community, to deepen your connection with other people as well as with nature. Activities include meditation, song and dance, nature outings and daily work in a thriving eco-village. T: 01309 690311 W: www.findhorn.org

Tree Surfers Tree Surfers is the South Westâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most exciting family day out; an adrenalin fuelled heart thumping tree top experience in some of Britainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most prized woodland. Situated in the Tamar valley on the Devon/Cornwall border, Tree Surfers has a range of woodland activities including their 3 hour adventure ecotrail of high wires, rope bridges and Tarzan swings. They also offer woodland archery, bush craft skills and 30km of woodland trails for walkers and cyclists.

T: 01822 833409 W: www.treesurfers.co.uk

July / August 2010

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Natural Retreats Three years ago Natural Retreats was born from a simple idea. An idea that luxurious accommodation in stunning surroundings with great levels of personal service could be applied to the self-catering holiday market to create something different in domestic travel. At the same time the company wanted to ensure it stuck by its guiding principles of sustainable development and management, creating locations that were environmentally friendly and would only have a positive impact on the communities they neighboured. In those three short years Natural Retreats has grown from that idea and set of ideals into one of the leading self-catering providers in the UK and Ireland with eight locations and over 150 residences.

living in a wonderful natural setting, employing some of the very latest technology in eco development and sustainable build in order to deliver exceptional experiences for guests. From the application of environmentally friendly toilets and drainage systems to the pioneering of living sedum roofs, the whole site breathes quality and environmental sensitivity to deliver a unique holiday experience that benefits from its environment, not at the expense of it. T: 0161 2422970 (UK) W: www.naturalretreats.com

The four sites in the UK are located in some of the best known and best loved destinations, the Yorkshire Dales, Cornwall and Wales. The Yorkshire Dales site in particular, where the journey began, consists of a stunning collection of 18 awardwinning eco-build residences offering chic, contemporary

Discover the luxury of nature and sustainable development...

July / August 2010

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Tordown Bed and Breakfast and Healing Centre Tordown B&B and Healing Centre is a haven of peace and tranquility nestled in the southern slopes of Glastonbury Tor. Tordown specialises in helping you feel nurtured in a sacred, safe and loving environment, where you can explore Glastonbury Abbey and surrounding area, walk the Tor, meditate in Chalice Well or just unwind watching the birds in the garden. This site of sanctuary is 4* rated by Visit Britain with a Gold Award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme. Caring for the environment in simple ways is at the heart of Tordown. T: 01458 832287 W: www.tordown.com

Monkton Wyld Court

A centre for sustainable living near Dorsetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jurassic Coast, the neo-Gothic rectory and 11 acres of grounds, gardens and meadows of Monkton Wyld Court are dedicated to the education and enrichment of guests and residents alike. The court promotes sustainability through cooperative living and learning, practical skills and personal growth.

earth-centered skills for changing modern life. Family week holidays offer activities like bushcraft, fossil hunting and theatre. Meals are lovingly prepared using fresh organic ingredients from the courtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own Victorian walled garden and other local producers.

A range of courses and events entice guests of all ages. From beekeeping to yoga, Monkton promotes low impact,

T: 01297 560342 W: www.monktonwyldcourt.co.uk

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Ben Fogle Ben Fogle has always challenged himself – first as a TV Castaway, and latterly as an adventurer; now he’s challenging us to rethink our waste. Rebecca Gooch caught up with him between travels to talk rubbish – and Royal look-alikes…

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And it’s true, there is a definite lookeylikeyness between the two, what with the public school plumminess, good manners, white teeth and familiarity with Barbour jackets and Labradors. Ben himself admits he’s similarly been mistaken for HRH. But he’d never trade places – he would rather have thrills than be Wills… “He’s a charming, grounded young man who will make a great King one day. But he has way too many responsibilities for my liking,” says the chap who’s willingly tackled a few right royal-sized missions of his own, like rowing the Atlantic, skiing to the South Pole, running the Sahara, racing on horseback across Mongolia, pulling a rickshaw from London to Edinburgh and, pencilled in for 2013, a 4000-mile trek up and down Australia. When it comes to pushing himself to the limits and risking life and limb, 36-yearold Fearless Fogle seems addicted. He’s been bitten by a rabid dog and excruciatingly painful bullet ants, capsized thousands of miles from land in the Atlantic, got frostbite and developed the flesh-eating disease Leishmaniasis which called for two bouts of chemotherapy so powerful that some patients can’t walk for two years.

And Ben’s first personal ‘shake-up’ turned out to have a seismic impact on his life. He was working on the picture desk of a glossy magazine, with a degree in Latin American studies under his belt, when in 1999 he answered an ad looking for people who wanted to create from scratch a selfsufficient community on the Hebridean island of Taransay, with no contact with the outside world for a year. The resulting TV documentary, Castaway, turned Ben, the son of a vet and an actress, into a household name. One of the few people to have forged a prolific and respected career after appearing in a reality show – although he prefers to call it actuality – Ben went on to front the kind of programmes (Animal Park, Country File, Wild in Africa, One Man and His Dog, Extreme Dreams) which now make him first choice for any TV exec looking for an affable environment, animal and adrenalin-loving James Herriot-comeRanulph Fiennes type.

But alongside his adventures and TV escapades, a green thread has endured. Passionate about the natural world and ecology from an early age, he has been involved with causes as diverse as turtle conservation on the Mosquito Coast and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, Medecins sans Frontiers and the ‘Clean up the Coastline’ campaign. “Whilst rowing across the Atlantic I remember seeing a huge amount of plastic bags and bottles floating in the sea,” he says, and while on Taransay he counted 400 flip-flops, sandals and wellies washed up on the shore. “Since having my son Ludo, it’s really made me realise how important it is to think about our future generations and try to help make a difference, encouraging people to think about the environment.” And it’s his passionate feelings about global waste – unnecessary packaging and everything we unthinkingly chuck out, that

ot long ago Prince William was spotted in a Norfolk newsagents, buying some papers. “I recognise you,” said the shopkeeper. “Yes,” chipped in the prince’s detective. “It’s Ben Fogle!”

I love a challenge. I think it’s human nature to take the easy option and become complacent with life. Challenges give you the opportunity to shake up your life every so often.

So why continually risk death? “It’s always a calculated risk, and I’ve always lived by the adage ‘add life to your days, not days to your life’,” he says, when I caught up with him as he arrived back from Ethiopia, where he’d been making a documentary on children disfigured by a flesh-eating disease similar to the one he contracted in Peru in 2008, and before he set off the next day with his expedition buddy, Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell, to cycle 3000 miles from Canada to Mexico on mountain bikes. “I love a challenge. I think it’s human nature to take the easy option and become complacent with life. Challenges give you the opportunity to shake up your life every so often.”

Setting sail for Cork in the first ever ‘Big V’ yacht race

Ben with Kenko competition winner

July / August 2010

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greenliving_ben fogle

could be re-invented and re-used – that is behind his backing of a new initiative to get us all ‘upcycling’. He’s recently been head judge for the Young Eco Designer competition run by Britain’s leading ethically sourced coffee brand, Kenco, encouraging children and their families to ‘upcycle: re-using waste in an imaginative way’. As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability the company has launched a revolutionary new Eco Refill package that weighs 95% less than traditional jars.

a daily basis “I also think we’re entering a green revolution and that we’ll look back at our lifestyle and waste culture with a degree of horror.” So remember the message from the prince of upcycling: Don’t bin it, Ben it….

Ben attributes his experiences on Taransay as his inspiration to put his weight behind the Young Eco Designer contest. On the island he re-created whatever he could find into Christmas presents for his fellow castaways. “That year, being marooned, was the catalyst for my upcycling,” he says. “I have lamp shades made from old newspapers, wash bags made from truck tarpaulin, African bowls made from old tins and a mirror from an old oil drum. The possibilities are vast when it comes to upcycling – it’s a great way of converting waste products into new materials. So you can create wallets out of car tyres or lanterns from old coffee jars… “What I enjoy about upcycling are the endless possibilities to create something new at the same time as being ecofriendly.” “I’m not particularly good at making things, but I did create a lamp stand out of last year’s Christmas tree which was great fun. People often comment on it!” And though the message is serious – “waste is a massive problem for the planet, during my travels I see first hand the terrible impact of irresponsible behaviour on the planet” – being green shouldn’t be gloomy, he insists. “People are bored with finger wagging. I believe there’s a middle ground where you can be green but also have fun. There’s many of us around – we’re passionate but we also realise you can’t change your whole lifestyle in one night or even one year. I’m a true believer that everyone can lead a relatively green life on

July / August 2010

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Climate Change poses two distinct challenges. The first is to act to limit the amount of change by reducing the emissions that are understood to be its root cause, notably from our use of fossil fuels; the second is to work out what to do in response to the change in the climate itself. According to Bill Gething the two are inextricably linked and the better we become at the former, the less we will need the latter.

Until recently, we have focussed principally on mitigation; as the plethora of government targets and changes in regulation to reduce emissions testifies. Certainly, in the building industry, whilst construction standards, particularly insulation levels, are being ramped up rapidly to reduce the energy needed to keep our buildings comfortable, there is little yet in the way of guidance and regulation to deal with anticipated changes in our climate. This is set to change as the Government starts to get to grips with the potential impacts of change, particularly in areas where a long term view is needed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and buildings last a long timeâ&#x20AC;Ś As far as our buildings, towns and cities are concerned, the impacts of the projected changes can be grouped into those that affect comfort, those that affect the way we put buildings together and how we face up to water issues â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whether too much (flooding) or too little (scarcity and drought). One of the upsides of a warming climate is that, on average, the energy needed to heat our buildings will reduce, however,

July / August 2010

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we can still expect sufficiently cold spells within the normal variability of the weather to make it still essential to insulate to a high standard. However, keeping buildings cool in summer will become a major new design challenge (and potential source of inspiration for building design). Studies have compared the likely summer time climate of London in the 2080s under the Medium emissions scenario with that of Marseilles today. Just comparing the way buildings, streets and spaces have been built to deal with the hot summers of southern France will give a good idea of how differently we need to think about the way we design and use our buildings. Indeed the whole Mediterranean lifestyle was devised to avoid the midday heat and it may be that “soft” behavioural adaptation may be the most effective way of dealing with some of the consequences of climate change – particularly for the vast numbers of our existing buildings. It would be much cheaper and probably more effective to start work early when it is cool (or perhaps have a siesta) than to fit and run universal air conditioning (and increase the consumption of yet more fossil fuelled electricity).

making sure we do not focus too much on one at the expense of the other.

Clearly, in a world where energy is likely to be more expensive (and probably scarcer) it makes sense to design our way out of the problem. We need to design buildings more intelligently; carefully shading windows facing in any direction but north; using heavyweight construction to even out temperatures between night and day; using cooler night air to get rid of heat build up in the day and pre-cool our buildings for the next day (via secure, bug free ventilation openings) and, when external temperatures are high, to close down our buildings to keep hot air out (in the same way that we keep cool air out in winter).

more regular dry periods will increase the range of properties that may be affected in future.

The way climate change impinges on the way we construct our buildings is less clear. Will patterns of rainfall and extreme weather be so great that the conditions exceed the pretty generous factors of safety that are built into current design codes? Drier summers may well have an effect on clay type soils that are prone to shrinkage with consequent problems for shallow foundation as the ground moves. Although the most vulnerable properties may have already been underpinned to deal with problems that have arisen in previous dry summers, it is unclear whether longer and

Comparing the way buildings, streets and spaces have been built to deal with the hot summers of southern France will give a good idea of how differently we need to think about the way we design and use our buildings

Unfortunately, some of our recent design and construction “habits” run counter to these strategies. There has been a trend to build lightweight, highly insulated, over glazed buildings, particularly homes, in response both to mitigation pressures to reduce heating energy use, which overheat almost as soon as the sun comes out. We have to balance our responses to both the mitigation and adaptation challenges,

July / August 2010

Materials are also likely to behave differently. Brick for example is typically regarded as “weatherproof” when in reality it is pretty porous, alternately absorbing water and then drying out in order to keep the wet out. In wetter winters, the familiar pattern may well be so disrupted that walls become saturated making built in joist ends in solid walls more vulnerable to rot. This potential problem may be exacerbated if homes are internally insulated as the walls will be colder and slower to dry out – another example of the potential conflict between our efforts to mitigate against further climate change and the impacts of a changing climate. Even in an average year, let alone recent dry summers, water is already in short supply in some parts of the country – a combination of concentrating development in water stressed areas such as the south east (which already has less

annual rainfall than many Mediterranean countries) and increasing competition from other uses like agriculture. In future what has been exceptional will increasingly become the norm and we can expect pressure to reduce water consumption to increase, either by using more efficient appliances or by storing rain or grey water for non-potable uses. Efficient appliances also require less water to be heated – a win win situation addressing both mitigation and adaptation. Recent floods, like any other individual extreme weather event, cannot be directly attributed to global warming, however, they do serve as timely illustrations of what we might increasingly expect in future – again, what has been exceptional in the past is likely to become the norm. Planning to reduce flood risk is one of the few examples where climate change adaptation work where there is coordinated, well resourced action by an overarching authority, the Environment Agency. Their advice is routinely sought as part of the planning process for new development and they are developing long term analyses of flood risk. We need the same level of coordinated effort to develop robust strategies for how to deal with other impacts of a changing climate. It is clear is that the climate is changing and that this will have a profound effect on how we live. What is also clear is that the impacts of changes projected if we do not get our emissions under control are almost too great for us to comprehend...

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Why not book an autumn break? Visit our website for special offers.

Mill Meadow

Luxury Eco Lodges 5 star self catering Kingston St Mary, Somerset W: www.millmeadow.co.uk T: +44 (0)7779 651 911

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The Bath School of Shiatsu & Yoga

One Day workshops Saturday 11th September or Sunday 26th September £35 from 10-4.30 Held at Still Point, Broad St. Place, (next to YMCA) Bath

Foundation Course Three weekends starting October 9th 10th £230 Held at Still Point, Broad St. Place, (next to YMCA) Bath

First, Second & Third year Shiatsu courses starting Autumn 2010 For those who wish to deepen their knowledge and take the Shiatsu to practitioner level. With Frank Davis MRSS (T) DS

The Contemporar y College of Homeopathy Bristol

For more information 01225 859209 www.bssy.co.uk

Human Futures New Course Programmes Sustainability is a major challenge for all of humanity. Finding pathways to a sustainable future calls for ingenuity, creativity, innovative thinking and the development of mindsets that will be sustainable in the future. To access those potentials, Human Futures is launching a series of four course programmes: What will Sustain in the Future? Saturday 4/9/2010 Finding the Future in Me Sunday 5/9/2010

What Sustains the Human Saturday 2/10/2010 Dealing with the Future Sunday 3/10/2010

More information about the courses is on our website www.humanfuturesnetwork.com. To book a place please phone Joan on 01559 395443 or book online at www.humanfuturesnetwork.com

Putting Health Back In Your Hands We offer an enviable training with internationally renowned teachers and supervision in our busy teaching clinics

• Weekend introductory courses • One year foundation course (part time) • Four year professional training for practitioner level (part time)

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FREE OPEN DAY

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greenliving_waste not want not

Having completed Environmental Leadership Studies at UC Berkeley California, a Masters in Rural Development, Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change and founding of a women’s farming co-operative, Rebecca Sullivan likes nothing more than rolling up her sleeves and getting back to basics. Whether it’s weaving a willow basket, building a stone wall or baking a loaf of organic bread, the eco-aggie shares her adventures and shoots from the hip on all things environmental and agricultural... Just imagine what you could do with an extra £15,000-£24,000 in your lifetime? What would you buy? A new car? Deposit on a house? Put that into some context. that's what the average person in the UK spends per year on wasted food; that's how much food we are literally throwing away in our lifetime. Still want to throw that last bit of toast in the bin? Of that waste, about 1.6 million bananas, 1.2 million oranges and 4.4 million apples are thrown away every day. So what a relief

it was when I bumped into some clued-up people doing some ‘cool,’ things with the fruit we simply see as rubbish! Meet Eloise Dey, Tristram Stuart and Emily Elgar, three rather funky Londoners who were downright fed up with people wasting their food. So they did what all young, entrepreneurial activists would do and put that waste to good use under their appropriately titled venture, A Taste of Freedom. "Wasted food is genuinely one of the

July / August 2010

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greenliving_waste not want not

Everyone who receives a Taste of Freedom is told about the provenance of the fruit and the aims of the project, encouraging them to engage with the solutions to the problem of food waste.

biggest issues our planet is tackling both today and in the future so for us it made perfect environmental and economical sense to turn waste into want,“ Eloise explains. They are making delicious, frothy frozen desserts from fruit that may otherwise have been binned. Though it tastes like it should be bad for you it is in fact made of 90% fruit, and is 100% sugar free. They've even invented a unique ice-cream cone made from 100% pure dried fruit so there's no packaging involved and every bit of the dessert can be eaten. By delivering this genuinely wholesome dessert to the public, and particularly children, they're raising awareness about how to avoid wasting food and the importance of eating a balanced, healthy diet containing five portions of fresh fruit and vegetables a day. Everyone who receives a Taste of Freedom is told about

July / August 2010

the provenance of the fruit and the aims of the project, encouraging to engage with the solutions to the problem of food waste. Taken it one step further, the founders also find time to manage a school outreach program, which performs food preparation classes for children, showing them how to make frozen smoothies from over-ripe fruit that may otherwise be wasted in their homes.

to build – an ice-cream van that runs on bio-methane produced from the anaerobic digestion of organic waste. This will become a unique showcase unit, demonstrating the ‘closed loop’ management system for food waste. Freedom offers farmers, producers, wholesalers and retailers a positive solution to the problem of surplus and unwanted produce, which fails to meet cosmetic standards on shape and size.

“It was brilliant and the students responded with such glee, interest, concern and enthusiasm! It was particularly poignant at the end of a project all about where our food actually comes from and the lengthy life stories of objects that we tend to take for granted,” said Naomi Glass, Community Education Coordinator at Spitalfields City Farm.

So if you have some ugly or unwanted fruit, lead by example and make it into something tasty at home. Every time you do, think of the money you'll be saving and the environmental protection you will be perpetuating. And if you can’t make it yourself, send it on to the Freedom team who will turn it into fruity goodness for one and all.

With sustainability at the core of the project, Freedom has designed – and aims

For more information, please visit http://www.atasteoffreedom.org.uk

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The bee killer in your garden It is no secret by now that bee decline is a worldwide phenomenon, and it appears that we could be heading towards a global devastation of honeybee numbers. This month, Soil Association’s Tim Young looks into the real effects this will have on all of our futures…

In the UK alone, beekeepers report a loss of one in three bee colonies. This has serious consequences for worldwide food security, because bees are our most important pollinators and play a vital role in the food chain – it is estimated that one third of human food supplies depend on bee pollination. Bees are therefore like the ‘canary in the coal mine’ – their deaths are a warning to us all that the health of the planet is under threat.

There may be no single reason why bee populations are declining so dramatically; a huge amount of research is being done worldwide into the causes of bee colony collapse. However, one of the major causes is undoubtedly the spread of industrial-scale farming. This has meant both a decrease in areas of wild flowers and other bee-friendly sites, as well as a dramatic increase in the use of insecticides. In particular there is evidence that a group of insecticides called neonicotinoids are particularly linked to colony collapse. These chemicals were

first used in agriculture in the mid-1990s – exactly the time when colony collapse seems to have started. A report from Buglife (The Invertebrate Conservation Trust) reviewed all available evidence and found independent research to suggest that neonicotinoids have an effect at a sublethal level, meaning they don’t kill the bees outright but impact upon their ability to function and their immune systems. This makes them less resilient and more susceptible to disease. However, Bayer, the company that produces most of

July / August 2010

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these chemicals, doesn’t fully test for this in its research. The report concludes that EU – and by extension, UK – safety information does not adequately take into account the impact of sublethal doses of these pesticides on bees. The evidence is strong enough that neonicotinoids have been banned or suspended in some European countries (France, Germany, Italy and Slovenia). We’ve been campaigning for the UK Government to follow suit, and last year launched an online petition, collecting over 20,000 signatures in support of our campaign to suspend neonicotinoid pesticides which Monty Don, Soil Association president, has sent to the new Government. Monty says: “Every gardener and grower can play an active part in protecting our bee population by stopping the use of noxious chemicals now, and by encouraging a wider diversity of beefriendly plants.”

The table (on our website) shows some common products found in shops like B&Q and Wilkinsons. The table is not exhaustive, but it illustrates how, easy it is for consumers to unwittingly buy and start spreading these chemicals around their gardens.

RAISE AWARENESS

As neonicotinoids are primarily used in agriculture, the most powerful action individuals can take to protect bees is to

Supporting organic farming and using organic techniques in our gardens are important actions to protect bees. We also need to raise public awareness of the dangers these domestic products pose. You can help bee populations by asking friends and family to avoid these products. On the back of our shopping trips we have written to the chief executives of B&Q, Wilkinsons and Wyevale, raising the issue of these products and asking them to withdraw any products containing neonicotinoids. Please support our efforts, either by writing to these stores directly – our letters are on our website – or by keeping an eye out for these products in your local DIY store or garden centre. If you find any neonicotinoids on sale, you could raise the issue with the manager and ask them to take the products off their shelves. Bees are valuable to us not only because they allow us to produce food, but also because they are complex, beautiful creatures, who have existed happily for more than 100 million years. We need to do all we can to help protect these wonderful creatures before it’s too late.

Here are just some of the ways that you can get involved in helping to protect honeybees:

Avoid neonicotinoid based garden products and write to your local garden centre asking them to stock bee-friendly alternatives. Buy organic food and support sustainable farming techniques. Use organic techniques in your own garden. Use a wide variety of plants and don’t be too tidy. Leave wild flowering plants in place – ivy is a particularly important source of winter food for bees.

Take up beekeeping if you’ve got the space. There are some excellent courses available as part of The Soil Association’s Organic Farm School programme, details of which are available at: www.soilassociation.org/farmschool.aspx Write to your new MP asking them to put pressure on the Secretary of State at Defra to suspend the use of neonicotinoids, as France, Germany, Italy and Slovenia have already done.

July / August 2010

However, this is not a problem confined to the farm. Neonicotinoids can be found in many domestic gardening products on sale in UK supermarkets, hardware stores and garden centres. We’ve identified some of the commonest products containing these chemicals and it goes without saying that their use should be avoided.

CLOSE TO HOME

Take action

buy sustainably produced, organic food, where these pesticides aren’t used. What’s more, the nature of organic farming leads to more complex crop rotations. This in turn provides a greater diversity of plants and habitats for bees to forage and thrive on.

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greenliving_inspiring stories

Liz’s steps to being a sunmissed golden goddess

Inspiring Stories:

Always exfoliate first Moisturise areas such as knees, feet dry and elbows – but

Go for the faux If you want a truly healthy tan, the only answer is to take fake-action. This issue, greenliving talks to the Wells based entrepeneur who’s devised an eco- friendly solution to sunless tanning…

ometimes what’s natural isn’t necessarily what’s best for us. When it comes to tanning, it’s probably the one time to embrace the word ‘fake’ and go for the artificial option – far better to be a bogus bronze than a leathery-skinned, prematurely wrinked melanoma risk. Nobody knows better than Wells entrepreneur and fake tan creator Liz Hawthorne. With a family history of skin cancer, sitting in the sun was never an option for her, but she hated being pale. So for at least a decade she tried every sunless tanning product on the market. She always ended up “an orange mess”, so when she was made redundant from her job as a Bristol sales manager in the truck industry she decided for a dramatic career change. After painstaking research, Liz has created her own ‘non-fake, fake tan’, Unreal. All artificial tan products use the active ingredient, DHA or Dihydroxyacetone. It reacts with amino acids on the outer layers of the skin to form brown pigments known as melanoidin, which resembles a suntan – but with no health risk. The good news for greenies is that DHA is usually derived from plants like sugar beet and sugar cane. “The better the quality, the less it smells,” says Liz, who chose an American firm which specialised in using natural ingredients, and formulating ayurvedic

July / August 2010

don’t use an oily moisturiser or the fake tan can’t be absorbed Apply in circular motions to avoid streaks Moisturise regularly once the tan has developed to prolong its life After bathing, pat dry with a towel – don’t rub.

Green People Organic Self Tan, £16.99 Winner of a Green Beauty Bible award, this non-greasy lotion is made with organic aloe vera, rosehip oil, geranium and sandalwood and no parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals or other toxic nasties. www.greenpeople.co.uk

Proto-col Tanning Lotion, £24.95 The instantly radiant, naturallooking golden glow comes from caramel, a natural colourant that turns skin brown, while jojoba oil and Vitamin E hydrates and smooths. No man-made chemicals, just nature’s best. www.on-group.co.uk cosmetics, to make her range, which launched last year. “In particular I wanted to avoid parabens and alcohol, and use a high quality DHA rather than a chemical form which creates a dreadful stink, and then involves using masking agents which makes the smell even worse! So we use natural-based ingredients, including red ribose leaf extract, and antiageing white and green tea extracts.” Liz’s Somerset-born spray tan is now available in 80 salons around the UK, with a range of home products including the Unreal Body Bronze Tan Extender (£10.76), which creates a really natural-looking, bespoke tan which smells scrumptiously of mango and sweet almond, with no hint of wet Alsatian….

Celebrity Secrets Tanning Mousse, from £9.40 A quick-drying whipped foam which gives instant richly convincing deep colour, made from 100% safe and natural ingredients all sourced from the UK. www.celebritysecrets.co.uk

Tan Organic, £29.99 Skin-firming and anti-ageing as well as organic, every ingredient in this liquid tanner is 100% natural. Its creator, beauty therapist Noelle O’Connor showcased it on the Dragons Den – and impressed enough to get investment. www.skinlogiconline.com

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Bamboo The eco fabric for the 21st Century

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The Government has set schools across the country a rather ambitious task, to reach sustainable school status by 2020. Eco-Schools is an international award programme run by the European Union which provides a framework to enable schools to adopt sustainable principles into the heart of everyday school life, as exemplified most recently by King Edward’s School in Bath...

Waving the Green Flag The Eco-Schools scheme takes place in 46 countries across the globe, linking together more than 40,000 schools from the UK to France, Morocco and South Africa. Joining the Eco-Schools programme is free and makes tackling sustainable issues manageable and easy whether that be for children’s centers, nurseries, primary schools, secondary schools or schools with special status. What’s more, the pupils are the driving force behind the scheme and decide which environmental themes they wish to address by joining together in a committee. A school that has flourished under the new scheme is King Edward’s in Bath. In December 2007 with thanks to the school’s Environmental Action Group made up of pupils, teachers, parents, governors and the local community, King Edward’s successfully gained the Eco-School’s highest award, the Green Flag accredited by Keep Britain Tidy. In May 2010 King Edward’s were awarded their second Green Flag for continuing to pursue high environmentally sustainable standards, with their Travel Plan developments receiving particular praise. Changes to the school include the implementation of a paper recycling system and the construction of a large compost heap, as well as various awareness campaigns such as switch off notices, a Recycled Fashion Show, and the monitoring of energy consumption. The pupils have also been set a form competition to find the best practical idea to make KES more eco- friendly, resulting in water saving devices being added to toilets.

King Edward’s Travel Plan Working Group aims to make travelling to school safer and more environmentally friendly. A week of travel incentives was planned from Monday 28 June –Thursday 1 July and such activities included a car share scheme where families teamed up with others in their area to pick up and drop off pupils on their journey to and from school. Two King Edward’s pupils, Will Neaverson and Tom Youngman have designed an ingenious map based software program to aid parents in finding likeminded families living in the same area. King Edward’s are looking to introduce a Travel Buddy Scheme where older pupils will travel with younger pupils to show them the ropes, addressing concerns over safety.

A ‘Kiss and Drop’ zone has also been added to improve safety and bike/scooter storage areas have been increased to cope with the demand of pupils and staff cycling into school. Pupils, parents and staff taking part in Alternative Travel Day on the 29 June were rewarded with a bacon sandwich and drink for their green efforts! Speaking about Travel Week, Second Master Michael Horrocks-Taylor said: “King Edward’s have been working on a strategy for integrated school travel to encourage use of more sustainable and healthy modes of travel to school. Travel Week and Green Travel Day are a great way to raise awareness across the school community. It was great to see the whole school from children aged three to 18 all taking part.” Both staff and students are committed to maintaining their prestigious award and continue to improve upon their efforts, safeguarding their status as one of only two school in Bath to be awarded two green flags. King Edward’s School North Road, Bath, BA2 6HU T: 01225 820415 W: www.kesbath.com

July / August 2010

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Down on

Riverford Farm... This issue: courgettes

ll growers love planting courgettes. They are easy to grow and produce a reliable supply all through summer. We have tried all sorts of varieties, including yellow courgettes and summer squashes in different shapes and colours, but found most to be watery and tasteless. So we stick to green courgettes in our vegboxes.

sauce from courgettes in the time it takes your pasta to cook: grate and cook in oil until soft, then season and add some chopped tarragon and capers. Toss with the pasta and grate over a little lemon zest and parmesan for a simple summery supper.

Store courgettes in the bottom of your fridge. Appearances can be deceptive: although they look perfectly fine for a week or more, they lose their flavour quickly and are best eaten within a few days. This is a good reason for avoiding courgettes out of season, as they could be at least a week old before they reach the shelves.

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for a really simple, thrifty way to use courgettes, chop them into chunks and add to curry, chilli or ratatouille to stretch it a bit further. Or make some roasted veg: combine chunks of courgette and anything else you have to hand (peppers, fennel, tomatoes, aubergine), and roast with olive oil and garlic until sweet and starting to colour. Keep any leftovers for a cold couscous salad the next day.

Courgettes are one of the most versatile vegetables around. You can knock up a quick

Guy Watson Founder of Riverford Organic

July / August 2010

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greenliving_riverford

By Jane Baxter, Riverford Field Kitchen Taken from the Riverford Farm Cook Book

Recipe Easy

Serves 4

Grilled courgette, tomato and bean salad with basil dressing Ingredients: 200g dried cannellini or haricot beans, soaked in cold water overnight and then drained 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 4 courgettes, cut into ribbons 5mm thick Small punnet of cherry tomatoes, cut in half Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper For the dressing: a bunch of basil

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Put the drained beans in a large pan, cover with fresh water and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for an hour or so, until tender. Drain, season to taste and dress with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Toss the courgettes with the remaining olive oil and grill on a ridged griddle pan (or under a hot grill) until tender and lightly charred. For the dressing, put all the ingredients in a food processor or blender and whiz until smooth. Gently mix the beans, tomatoes and courgettes together in a large bowl and add enough basil dressing to coat. Taste and adjust the seasoning.

Â˝ garlic clove, crushed 100ml olive oil a pinch of salt

Special

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July / August 2010

Riverford Organic Vegetables Limited Wash Barn Buckfastleigh Devon TQ11 0JU Local Call: 0845 600 2311

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CARIBBEAN BLUE BABY SUNSHIELD SP15, £13.95 Part of a 100% natural sunscreen range developed by naturopathic doctors in St Lucia, this cream is bursting with botanicals and uses microfine zinc oxide in a patented transparent formula – so no risk of that ‘emulsioned’ look! Zinc also has anti-inflammatory properties, so this is perfect for anyone with sensitive and acne prone skin. www.thenaturalskincarecompany.com

SPIEZIA ORGANICS AFTER SUN OIL, FROM £13.95 This Cornish company are as eco-friendly as they come – not only do they use 100% organically sourced ingredients and recycled glass for their bottles, they even employ the sun and the moon in the manufacturing process (something to do with the energy…). So this rehydrating after sun oil has an excellent green pedigree – along with St John’s Wort and chamomile oil to sooth tender skin. www.spieziaorganics.com

ECO BLOC FACE STICK SPF30, £8.50 From the makers of some lovely organic lip balms comes this nifty little go anywhere, carabiner-clipped sun block for lips, nose and face. It uses a chemical rather than mineral sunscreen, but is made with 82% organic ingredients including jojoba and coconut oils, aloe vera and Vitamin E for healing and moisturising. www.forever-natural.co.uk

Head for the Sun Everyone knows that the effect of the sun on our skin can be both damaging and deadly. But as Rebecca Gooch reveals it is possible to protect ourselves without using nasty chemicals... Only a fool or a vampire doesn’t use sun cream. Everyone knows that lovely as the warmth feels, it can be a tiny step from sun-kissed to skin cancer. So we must slip-slap-slop with nothing less than a SPF15, right?

absorbed and possibly causing DNA damage).

But the very effectiveness of traditional sun creams comes from some controversial chemicals which can potentially enter the bloodstream and, if accumulated, affect our health.

We do need a bit of sun to stay healthy, and the good news is we can have the tan without the toxic. The usual green guidance applies: check labels, and at the very least avoid anything containing parabens, which may be great for extending shelf life – but may shorten yours (they hinder enzyme activity in the skin).

Nasties to watch out for include PABA and PABA esters (can cause allergic reactions – look for the non-irritating Padimate O instead); and the chemicals used to deactivate UV rays when they reach our skin, such as benzophenone-3 (suspected of reacting adversely with sunlight when

But don’t assume that an ingredient which sounds like something from a chemistry set is necessarily bad for you. Take d-Alpha Tocopherol – sounds dodgy? It’s actually Vitamin E, one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants which slows cell damage, and protects skin from cancer-

causing free radicals. Ascorbyl Palmitate is another beneficial antioxidant which neutralises UVA/UVB-induced free radicals, and is better known as Vitamin C. Titanium Dioxide may sound scary, but is in actual fact a natural mineral which deflects the sun’s burning rays off the skin and lessens the risk of prickly heat. There’s another upside to going ‘natural’. Extracts like carrot seed or coconut oil, shea butter, green tea and aloe vera also help with cell repair and don't interfere with the body's absorption of vitamin D. So here’s our pick of some of the best skin treats for sun-bunnies who want to go for gold – and green…

July / August 2010

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ORGANIC PHARMACY TAN ACCELERATOR, £29.95 Not a sun protector, but a fabulous vanilla-scented gel made from 92% organic ingredients, including Betacarotene and Kapi Kacchu extract which stimulates melanin production to help develop a deep tan quicker, with less time in the sun, and mineral bronzers for an instant sun-kissed glow. www.theorganicpharmacy.com

PRIORI COFFEEBERRY NATURAL DAILY PROTECTION SPF25, £39.50 That iced latte is all very well, but it’s the power of the coffee berry you should seek out – it’s the most potent form of natural antioxidant of any fruit, vegetable or tea. Recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation, this lightly tinted suncream is fortified with it, along with micronized titanium oxide, to fight free radicals and the causes of skin ageing. www.cosmestore.co.uk

AUBREY ORGANICS NATURAL SUN GREEN TEA PROTECTIVE SUNSCREEN SPF25, £10.48 Ecologist Aubrey Hampton is recognised as the pioneer of organic herbal cosmetics, and like all his handmade products this sunscreen is natural and effective. Packed with antioxidant green tea, this is ideal for kids and sun sensitive skin – and loved by Sarah Jessica Parker! www.aubreyorganics.co.uk

ENERGYS RESONANCE SUN LOVE BEFORE AND AFTER SUN CREAM, £16.90 There’s no UVA or UVB protection in this product, but it’s a fabulous addition to your summer skin kit! Natural plant bio-melanin (from sunflowers) counteracts oxidative damage and helps skin develop a natural tan, along with sun protective antioxidants including green tea, rutin and aloe vera. www.highernature.co.uk

July / August 2010

ALOE PURA ORGANIC ALOE VERA SUN LOTION SPF25, £10.76 Free from parabens, sodium laurel sulphate, artificial perfumes, colours and additives, this soothing skin protector boasts 100% pure, concentrated organic aloe vera, a natural anti-inflammatory which helps prevent and relieve irritated skin. Also included is jojoba oil, vitamin rich avocado and chamomile to soften and hydrate the skin. www.aloepura.co.uk

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barn again: revitalising historic foodscapes This month, Richard Spalding reveals all about Winterbourne Medieval Barn, an historic foodscape that is being brought back from the dead to teach people the lost art of some rather essential landbased skills.

July / August 2010

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visitors can learn and re-learn the landbased skills we will need to develop really resilient places. Built in 1342, the Court Farm complex provides us with ample proof that the medieval agrarian economy fashioned itself from local soil resources and utilised local stone and timber to throw up huge storehouses for food produced locally. This barn is one such survival.

think it was Jules Pretty who coined the word foodscape. It describes the intimate link between people and the places they farmed. It develops the sense that our landscapes emerge from our collective knowledge of the resources that surround us, have fed us and might continue to do so into an uncertain future. It includes not just land and soil, but also great agri-cultural (the hyphen is deliberate) buildings that have emerged out of a deep understanding of the resources at our feet.

One such historic foodscape is centred on Winterbourne medieval barn just a few miles from the city centre of Bristol and this is where I have spent some years with the “Barnforce Collective”. We are trying to restore the great barn complex as Centre for Rural Regeneration so as to develop another, contemporary foodscape. This time as an educational resource where

July / August 2010

The restoration task began 30 years ago when the decaying barn was identified as a nationally important survival of the medieval agrarian economy which led it to be placed on the “Buildings at Risk” register of English Heritage. Now the place is coming alive again. The importance of soil and land to our spiritual wellbeing is now being recognised and we are starting to celebrate food and place once again in our communities.

We are celebrating the past, recognising that we need to reconnect with the very land upon which the barn was built. The land is of the highest quality and used to be the centre of Bristol’s market gardening and dairying sub-region before the current global food system became all powerful. Our continuing work is centred on people coming together to deliver small steps in the quest. All our efforts come from volunteers and that is where you can help. The gloves are ready and waiting and the new foodscape is shaping up. Sign up at www.winterbournebarn.co.uk

The barn is hosting two fairs as a part of its seasonal reawakening; one in the summer and one in the autumn after the first charter was granted by the King to the Lord of the Manor in 1393. Basket making and willow hurdle making are once again taking their place as land-based crafts and local food activity are placed at the heart of our endeavours. We have just repaired the threshing floor in the main barn and have plans to develop a horticultural training project and a community kitchen as well as workshop spaces. We are developing a sustainable business plan to deliver security to the project as it evolves.

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sue darlison designer –– maker of fine furniture

Timeless contemporary classics for home, work & public spaces. Made with care & creativity using local, ethically sourced materials. www.sue-darlison-furniture.co.uk sue.darlison@btinternet.com t: 01179697217 m: 07816680659

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With all that shopping, you’re sure to want refreshment – Green Park Brasserie offers quality food & drinks, using local produce where available. Or grab a takeaway Fairtrade coffee and local organic burger from Green Park Express, stopping off at The Thoughtful Bread Company, our ethical baker, as well.

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Why not come down and visit Green Park to become part of our thriving community? Where else will your butcher know your name, your florist ask how your cat is and your meal be made from produce grown by the farmers trading outside? You can also join the Green Park mailing list for regular news, competitions and offers – follow @GPS_Bath on Twitter or email gps_bath@ethicalproperty.co.uk

AGE LN PARSON

Green Park Station’s Saturday Market is renowned for its diverse array of local farmers, traders and eco-artisans. Fresh local produce can be found at the Bath Farmers’ Market (8.30am – 1pm). Trading alongside, from 9am – 5pm, are a range of independent market stalls selling products from flowers to vintage clothes, fine art to quirky second hand wares.

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The Station also plays host to a range of retail residents – Hackett’s Men’s Hairdressing, Station Antiques, Framecraft, Artist Colour and Green Park Leather & Luggage. From haircuts to handbags there’s something for everyone!

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Discover Green Park Station – the sustainable heart of Bath

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SEE The beautiful backdrop of the original Victorian station with its signature Bath stone façade, make it worthy of a visit in its own right as well as being a popular venue for local events. With regular Bath Fringe Festival performances, site-specific theatre and dance and recently host to the Bath Cooler Festival, Green Park Station really is a thriving platform for life and culture in the heart of Bath.

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Directory TRAVEL

Welcome to the greenliving directory. Updated bi-monthly, this directory is your essential guide to featured businesses, organisations and producers in Bristol, Bath and the surrounding areas.

Asheston Eco Barns

Boscrowan Farm

Camper Daze

The Linen Shed

T: 01348 831781 E: ashestonecobarns @googlemail.com

T: 01736 332396 E: elizabeth@boscrowan.co.uk

T: 07540 474987 E: info@camperdaze.co.uk

T: 01227 752271 E: bookings@thelinenshed.com

The Linen Shed

Camilla House

Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connors Campers

Rezare Farmhouse

Rosehill Lodges

T: 01736 363771

T: 01837 659599 E: pete@oconnorscampers.co.uk

T: 01579 371241 E: info@rezarefarmhouse.co.uk

T: 01209 891920 E: reception@rosehilllodges.com

Abaca Ltd

Bamboo Textiles

ECOS Organic Paints

Edward Bulmer Limited

T: 01269 598491 E: enquiry@abacaorganic.co.uk

T: 08448 26 25 25 E: info@bamboo-textiles.co.uk

T: 01524 852371 E: mail@ecospaints.com

T: 01544 388 535 E: info@edwardbulmer.co.uk

Fou Furnishings

Gecco Interiors Limited

The Greenshop

T: 0141 644 5211 E: info@foufurnishings.com

T: 01494 565459 E: help@geccointeriors.co.uk

T: 01452 770629 E: enquiries@greenshop.co.uk

Edible Landscapes T: 07982095501 W: www.ediblelandscaping.co.uk

HOME

July / August 2010

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ADVERTIS E HERE!

CALL GRE ENLIVING NOW TE L: 01179 7 79188

ENERGY Eco-Exmoor

Apollo Renewables Ltd

Capture Energy Ltd

Chris Rudge Renewable Energy

T: 01672 511211 E: info@apollorenewables.co.uk

T: 01209 716 861 E: mail@capture-energy.co.uk

T: 01297 306114 E: enquiries@chrisrudge.co.uk

Ecocetera Ltd

Fair Energy

Solarsense UK Ltd

Southern Solar

T: 01179 590580 E: enquiries@ecocetera.com

T: 0845 12 66 555 E: info@fairenergy.org.uk

T: 01275 394139 E: info@solarsense-uk.com

T: 0117 953 9090 E: bristol@southernsolar.co.uk

Ascension

Monkton Wyld Court

Beyond Skin

Eco Concierge

T: 0845 3881 381 E: help@ascensiononline.com

T: 01297 560342 E: info@monktonwyldcourt.org

T:0845 373 3648 E: info@beyondskin.co.uk.

T: 07505 480903 E: kirsten@ecoconcierge.org

Great Elm Physick Garden T:(0)1373 814607 E:info@greatelmphysickgarden.com

Liv-UK

Izzy Lane T: 07912062141 E: lorraine@izzylane.co.uk

Worn again

T: 8442 412992 E: andyb@eco-exmoor.co.uk

LIFESTYLE

July / August 2010

T: 01386 791055 E: enquiries@liv-uk.com

T: 0207 739 0189 E: info@wornagain.co.uk

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A planet worth saving...

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;While observing a passing herd of elephants one evening we were startled by these two sparring adolescent males who appeared out of the bush behind us. Although the jousting males were vying for the affection of a nearby (unimpressed) female we got a clear impression they were thoroughly enjoying themselves.â&#x20AC;?

Amakhala Game Reserve, Eastern Cape of South Africa Picture taken by Edward Short, Guildford

Have you taken a breathtaking picture you'd like to share with our readers? If so, please email holly@greenlivingmag.co.uk or write to us at 151-153 Wick Road, Bristol, BS4 4HH

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You’ve dreamt of

a better World? We have too and we actively work at a greener world here at Devon Eco Holidays following our move to Devon in November 2009. Seven months into our greener lifestyle, we’re delighted and pleased to be rewarded with the top Gold Award from Visit Britain for our 5* luxury eco holiday cottage. We embrace greener living in all of its forms, so when you stay, you are welcome to join us in working with the land or just to rest and recuperate in the magical surroundings including 15 acre of special woodland nestled in the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Feel free to see what others say on our website and blog at www.devonecoholidays.co.uk. We’re also on Facebook and Twitter. An exclusive offer for Green Living readers: Book a holiday with us, and in addition to our complementary organic welcome pack, we'll include a selection of special country wines and cider supplied by Devon’s own Lyme Bay Winery*. *Just mention Green Living Magazine when you book. Please state if you prefer an alcohol-free alternative.

Devon Eco Holidays Contact: 07596 511355 www.devonecoholidays.co.uk