Family Footprints - March 2024

FAMILY FOOTPRINTS

March 2024

CONTENTS

2 - About us

Meet the team and learn about our mission!

3-5 - Dates for your diary

Sustainable(ish!), family friendly events in Merseyside, plus a whole page of Easter events!

6-7 - An Unexpected struggle

A perspective on sustainability and disability from our co-director Gillian

Sustainable Spring

10-11 - Eco Easter

Celebrate Easter with our tried and taste-tested sustainable choc- it was a hard day at playgroup!

12 - Spring cleaning

Feeling like a good clear out and clean up is on the cards?

We've got some great tips and recommendations

15 - Q&a

We spoke to Refill Reuse Renew to find out how she got set up and her take on reusables.

13-14 - Eco Swaps

Find our fave eco swaps, where to buy them, plus make your own cleaning spray!

17 - My rubbish diary

One woman ’ s quest to tackle her family’s food waste.

exploring nature with children

20 - spring into nature

Top tips for making nature fun with kids (although we forgot to mention snacks!!).

22 - nature spotters

Seasonal finds out and about

23 - Spring day trips

Find the best places to see the signs of spring under 2 hours from Liverpool

25 - Reviews and recommendations

Our favourite content for a busy family trying to live sustainably

27 - Recipe

Enjoy a delicious pasta sauce with plenty of hidden veggies- even our fussy eaters asked for second helpings!

Editor: Kate Carrington

Sub-editor: Hannah Shanderson

Contributors: Gillian Ashcroft-Smith

ABOUT US

Established as a CIC in 2023, Sustainable Starts developed from the group of mums behind Liverpool Cloth Nappy Library. Wanting to expand the support we give families looking to reduce their carbon footprint, we set out to create something cool that would be supportive, creative and flexible.

We hope that by nurturing supportive spaces, we can embody the proverb "it takes a village to raise a child." We know that people are increasingly aware and concerned about the climate crisis and we also know that when people join together, they can go much further than when alone.

Much of our work is geared towards families with younger children; we want to inspire children to be creative and innovative in how they care for their Earth. As busy mums, we ' re well aware that the sustainable choice can often be the more costly in terms of money, effort and/or time. We want to build in flexibility to our approach to find things that work particularly well, and with minimal cost or

effort. We know that making small changes, consistently, has a snowball effect So, switching to a reusable wipe one day, will turn into bigger changes in the future.

Our current offerings include quarterly secondhand children and babies’ clothes swaps (next one on the 20th April!), a supportive playgroup, a reusable party kit and, of course, the cloth nappy library. All of our services are aimed at making sustainable living easy, inexpensive and fun. We have grand plans for the future, and hope to be able to bring some of those plans to fruition in 2024 - watch this space!

This sustainability focused magazine is aimed at families in the Merseyside area. It’s for everyone, wherever they are on their sustainability journey, and whatever age your children are: we ’ ve got local events, advice columns, recommendations and more. Click on everything for links to take you to more information! We’ve kept the magazine free so it can be shared far and wide to make this information accessible to all, so please pass it on to your friends and family.

Kate, Hannah, Gillian & Anna

If you enjoy the magazine and would like to support us, you can buy us a coffee here: Support Sustainable Starts

Email us any thoughts, feedback, corrections, ideas, submissions or pitches for the next edition (coming out in June!): sustainablestartscic@gmail.com

Find us on social media here. Visit our website here. Sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with events.

Diary Dates for your

International women's day

8th March

Mothers' day

10th March

The Big Plastic Count

11th - 17th March, UK wide

Greenpeace are asking us all to join them for the Big Plastic Count, to prove to our leaders that plastic is a huge issue that needs to be tackled. Sign up for your free pack today to take part - and get your schools and local communities involved too!

Growing Sudley Climate Cafe

17th March - Growing Sudley, Sudley House

Join the Growing Sudley team in the walled garden for a safe and welcoming space to get together with others over hot drinks and biscuits and explore how the climate crisis is affecting you This is an opportunity to share your thoughts and feelings on climate breakdown supported by facilitators from the Climate Psychology Alliance. Free entry.

Global recycling day

18th March

Spring equinox

20th March

Nct nearly new sale

23rd March - Old Christ Church, Waterloo

The NCT Nearly New Sale is a fantastic place to pick up some bargains for your childrenclothes, toys, prams, and loads more! Entry: £1, prices from 50p

Party time!

28th March - Music Room, Royal Philharmonic

Join the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Claire Henry for a party - a lovely celebration of music designed just for kids! Wear your best party clothes and get ready to boogie.

Entry: £13 63 (kids and adults); £12 50 (babies)

LOOK Climate Lab

Til 31st March - Open Eye Gallery, Mann Island

The biennial exhibition returns, looking at how photography can explore climate change, alongside activities from many other local sustainable businesses from the North West Free entry to the exhibition and all events

spring into sudley

5th April - Sudley House

Celebrate the arrival of Spring at Sudley House with crafts, story telling, games, face painting and more! No need to book, activities happening all day, just turn up.

Eid Al-Fitr

9th April

West Kirby CLimate Cafe

15th April - West Kirby Methodist Church

A chance to share your thoughts and feelings around climate change in a welcoming, safe space facilitated by the Climate Psychology Alliance. Hot drinks and cake provided. Free entry.

Babies' and Children's Clothes

Swap 20th April - All Souls Church Hall

Our quarterly clothes swap returns! Bring your kids’ old clothes and swap them for the next size up. Save the planet and some money at the same time!

Entry £5 - get 50% off (£2.50) with clothes to swap.

Reusable nappy week

22nd - 28th April, UK wide

Reusable Nappy Week is an international action packed week of awareness raising activities and advocacy for all things reusable nappies. Join in to share the love for reusables, or to get advice on how to get started!

Earth day

22nd April No mow may

1st - 31st May

Know of any good events coming up in June, July & August? Email and tell us!

Sustainablestartscic@gmail com

Bees: A story of survival

From 4th May - World Museum, Liverpool

The World Museum opens its Bees: A Story of Survival exhibition this May. “Using sculptural sound and light environments, the exhibition provides visitors with a real-time connection to bees within their natural habitat, revealing and expressing an ever changing picture of their activity.” Join them for their Bee Parade on 25th May.

Entry £12 (adult), £11 (12-17) or FREE (0-11)

tudor may day weekend at speke

4th - 6th May, Speke Hall, Speke

Enjoy a fun filled family-friendly day at Speke on the bank holiday weekend There’ll be lots of activities, including archery, dancing and loads of people in costume!

Entry: £6-£13, free for members, free for under 5's.

Garden Party @ The Mansion

5th & 19th May, The Mansion House, Calderstones

The garden at The Mansion House in Calderstones Park will open up on select Sundays in May for a garden party. Join them for live music, food and crafts. Free entry, open 11am - 5pm

annual duck race

6th May - WWT Martin Mere

The annual bank holiday duck race returns! Decorate a duck over Easter and enter into the race to see who will win! Races at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm.

National Children's gardening week

1st - 31st May

Easter events

Easter Family Activity

29th March - 14th April - RIBA, Mann Island

Enjoy free, hands-on art activities at Tate Liverpool + RIBA North this Easter. Get your whole family involved with activities designed for all ages and available every day throughout the school holidays.

Easter Fun day

31st March, 1-3pm - Lock & Quay Pub, Bootle

The annual Easter egg hunt returns, including the elusive golden egg, a very cute petting zoo courtesy of Boo's Mobile Zoo and some Easter crafts No tickets required

Easter egg hunt

23rd March - 5th April, Speke Hall and Rufford Old Hall

Make your way along the Easter trail and find 10 nature-inspired activities for the whole family amid the beauty and history of Speke Hall's gardens and estate or Rufford Old Hall’s grounds Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate egg, or a vegan 'Free-From' chocolate egg.

Shaun The Sheep - Find The Flock

29th March - 23rd June, Tatton Park

Visit Tatton Park over the Easter weekend and see if you can find all 12 models of Shaun the Sheep grazing in the gardens. There’s an Easter treat if you find them all, and Shaun the Sheep games as well! On 1st April, Shaun will be making appearances in the stableyard Entry to gardens from £6

Easter eggs, owls and crafts

17th March, Birkenhead Priory

Visit Birkenhead Priory on the 17th March for an Easter extravaganza - egg hunt, craft sessions, owls, easter bunny and refreshements. Explore the priory and its grounds and enjoy all the activities. Entry fee for Easter Egg Hunt (£1) and Crafts (£4, needs booking), everything else free.

Spots & Stripes Egg hunt

1st - 16th April, Knowsley Safari Park

Six giant eggs have popped up around the Safari Park - collect your map and stickers, free with normal admission, and see if you can find them all! Which will have spots, and which will have stripes?

Storybarn easter adventures

29th March - 14th April, Storybarn, Calderstones Park

Lots of Easter fun to be had at the Storybarn in Calderstones over the Easter holidays - games, storytelling and crafts. Tickets are £6 (child), £5 (adult) and under 1s go free.

giant duck hunt

29th March - 14th April, WWT Martin Mere

See if you can find the 20 yellow ducks hidden around Martin Mere Wetland Centre - £1 a go, and a tasty treat if you find them all! Don’t forget to buy your rubber duck to decorate for the duck race on the 6th May (see previous page!). Admission prices from £15.25, under 4's free.

DinoTown Southport

29th March - 14th April, Southport Town Centre

Lego dinosaurs are the main feature of this dinosaur themed event, located all over Southport over the Easter holidays. See the giant “brickosaurs”, as well as many other dino activities! Free entry to see the Lego dinosaurs, more info to be released nearer the time

Easter Holiday Fun

29th March - 14th April, RHS Bridgewater

RHS Bridgewater have a wide array of activities over the Easter holidays, including nature crafts, sheep theatre, Easter egg hunts and more All included in the price of your garden ticket (from £15 30) Enjoy the sights of spring while you ’ re there!

AN UNEXPECTED STRUGGLE

a perspective on sustainability & disability

Sustainable living can often be a challenge to everyone, but to those with disabilities, it can become almost impossible.

Being a disabled person in an ablefocused society can mean you face a lot of struggles; some more obvious than others and some on a daily basis. However, one of the struggles I did not expect to experience as a disabled person is how difficult it is to be sustainable.

For many of us, sustainable living is important as it allows us some level of control as an individual in a world that we know is already burning. Although the impact can be small, it helps us to contribute to stopping the climate crisis, whilst also helping our own mental health. Sustainable living can be a challenge to everyone, but to those with disabilities, it can become almost impossible.

Before I discuss the sustainability aspect; here are a few things that it is helpful to know about disability:

Disabled people make up approximately 16% of the world’s population¹ and 24% of the UK population².

Disabled people are disproportionately affected by climate change around the world; disabled people are 2 to 4 times more likely to be injured or killed in a natural disaster, than those who are not disabled³.

Disabled people are also disproportionately affected by the costof-living crisis; those with disabilities are 2 times more likely to be struggling with rising costs, and unlikely to have any disposable income⁴ .

Sustainability is something I often research and discuss with people Here are some of the difficulties that can be encountered by disabled people:

Additional Costs. Many sustainable products are more expensive and when you have very little expendable cash, it’s unlikely that you will be able to prioritise sustainability A good example here is period towels; reusable towels on average cost £6.50 each, whereas a packet of disposable towels can be as low as £1. Yes, you are likely to save money in the long term with the reusables, but the initial layout cost is likely to be more than you might spend on disposables in a year. Many disabled people just don’t have the initial layout cost for the reusables.

Physical Access. Many companies cannot choose their location which can make accessibility difficult. In my experience, shops that cater specifically to sustainable products often have no wheelchair access and have aisles that are very close together which makes navigating them difficult with any mobility aids There is often difficulty parking near independent businesses,

with few disability spaces available. The products that are stocked are less likely to have Navilens QR codes, which help visually impaired users with product information. All of these aspects and more can make a supermarket much more accessible, but at the cost of sustainability.

Delivery charges. Many sustainable companies will deliver their products, but there is often a minimum spend and/or a higher delivery charge when buying from these companies, so again, it is harder for disabled people with less expendable money

Another aspect of this is the amount of energy it takes to shop across different independent companies When you have chronic fatigue /pain or limited energy levels, shopping online with a company that can provide most things (for example, Amazon) is much easier to manage.

Transport. Public transport can be a nightmare for disabled people: not being allowed to board a bus because there is already a pram in the space; being left on a train because there was no one to provide the ramp at the station; not not knowing which bus route to use because you cannot read the information. Social media is littered with examples on a daily basis. For those of us who can drive, there are different challenges, such as electric accessible vehicles being prohibitively more expensive, plus the extra cost of fuel for transporting a wheelchair or looking for an accessible space.

More plastic. The amount of plastic encountered by disabled people is phenomenal! Medicine containers; mobility aids; feeding tubes; syringes; PPE; packaging of accessible foods - the list is endless! The banning of plastic straws seemed like a wonderful step forward in terms of sustainability, but for many disabled people, it created a huge problem. Those who use straws to help

them drink have discovered that reusable straws are not suitable for hot or thick drinks, and paper straws are not sturdy enough.

This is not a conclusive list; it isn’t even all the examples I came up with for this article. But hopefully it gives an insight into how sustainability can be more difficult if you are disabled. Given that disabled people are more likely to be affected by climate change, my feeling is that most would want to contribute to slowing it but are unable to. I personally have feelings of guilt and shame around this.

However, this is not all doom and gloom This article is the first and is to highlight why there are difficulties In the subsequent articles I write around disability and sustainability, I will focus on how we can make sustainability more accessible, how disabled people can find their own solutions, and how we can advocate and lobby for accessibility to be at the heart of sustainability in the future.

Gillian Ashcroft-Smith

@RollWithGillian

LIVERPOOL REUSABLE

PARTY KIT

Hire our reusable party kit for your next event and reduce your waste while having fun!

Our kits have everything you need for your partytableware, bunting, tablecloths, decorations and more. Visit our Instagram for more info and to book.

Liverpool Cloth

Nappy Library

INTERESTED IN TRYING CLOTH NAPPIES? DONT KNOW WHERE TO START?

Hire our kits to find out if cloth is for you!

We've got newborn kits, full time kits, starter kits and more. All affordable hire prices, with a range of styles and brands. www.LiverpoolClothNappyLibrary.com

SUSTAINABLE SPRING

Eco Easter Nurturing Traditions with Sustainable Choices

Does anyone else think they might like Easter more than Christmas? The weather is changing, days are getting brighter, there are cute animals everywhere…well, okay, maybe not in central Liverpool! However, a guaranteed long weekend and lots of chocolate; what’s not to love?

Sadly, there is not a lot to love about the chocolate industry. Cocoa farmers are overworked and criminally underpaid, while the profits go straight into the pockets of the corporate fat cats who own the huge chocolate companies¹. The countries that grow the cocoa rarely see any of the profits, and over half of the cocoa farmers on the Ivory Coast live below the poverty line. They turn to child labour and deforestation to increase the yield of their crop, just to get by.

Palm oil extraction (often found in chocolate) is destroying forests and habitats around the globe, putting whole species at risk of extinction. Plastic waste from chocolate bars has been found to be

one of the most common types of rubbish picked up on UK beaches².

Moving away from chocolate, increasingly, we are seeing more and more perfect families on social media, plus selections in every shop, pushing us to feel we need a full Easter display every year, leading to mass consumerism for yet another seasonal celebration. Don’t fall for it!

So, how can you have an Eco Easter?

Well, by examining your purchasing habits, and putting your money towards fairer, cleaner, sustainable companies, particularly those who directly support cocoa farmers Admittedly, this isn’t always realistic - often these product are much more expensivebut it’s important to be aware of the choices we make, not just following the status quo blindly and perpetuating the cycles of poverty and destruction. Your choices can make a difference.

Look out for the Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance symbol on any chocolate products you purchase - it’s not a guarantee the farmers are being paid properly but it’s definitely better than nothing. Organic products mean the ingredients in the chocolate are produced more sustainably.

Buy Vegan

Supporting African cocoa farmers directly is the most ethical practice - FairAfric are a Ghanian-German company distributed widely in Europe. A list of others can be found here. Brands like MooFree and Vego make efforts to source their cocoa ethically Supporting local chocolatiers keeps the money in local economies, rather than supporting the massive conglomorates.

ECO CHOCOLATE ECO CHOCOLATE

The dairy industry is causing huge issues for our planet’s long term future. Sustainable, it is not! Luckily, vegan chocolate has made strides in recent years and you can easily buy chocolate that doesn’t taste (or feel!) like cardboard anymore

Check out your local wholefood or vegan shop to experiment with which ones you like bestand there are more and more brands in supermarkets nowadays too!

Buy Sustainable Palm Oil

Palm oil is found in so many of our everyday products, but its production is causing huge damage to rainforests and wildlife. Chester Zoo have created an app to identify which products use sustainable palm oil, and which do not Click on the picture above to read more about it and download the app!

SPRING CLEANING: THE ECO EDITION

It’s that time of year; the sunlight is streaming in and you suddenly realise how dusty your house is and get that urge to deep clean right to the back of the cupboards! Don’t rush straight to the bleach; let us give you some planet friendly cleaning tips.

It is entirely understandable to want to make sure your house is germ free and as clean as possible, especially when your little darlings are coming home from nursery having licked every bacteria-ridden surface they can find! Why take the risk that your home will also make them sick?

Well, we ’ ve got good news - environmentally friendly cleaners are generally just as good at getting rid of bacteria as traditional cleaners. Bio-D’s products, for example, have been tested to meet standards that show they are effective against E-coli, Salmonella, MRSA and more¹.

Traditional cleaners, whilst effective at getting rid of those particular bacteria, contain a whole host of chemicals such as phthalates, benzisothiazolinone and phosphates. These have been found to be very harmful

to humans, causing conditions from dermatitis and allergies, all the way up to hormone disruption and cancer².

Not only that, but they’re also terrible for the environment Phosphates, for example, cause excessive growth of algae which can starve water of oxygen, killing fish and plants This is known as eutrophication and has happened to such an extent in Lake Erie in the USA that the lake is now almost entirely devoid of marine life³.

So it’s really worth exploring those more eco friendly options, for the planet, its wildlife and your own health. Here are our Easy Eco Cleaning Swaps. Choose one of them, or choose them all; either way you’ll be making a choice that benefits the planet and, more often than not, your budget!

EASY ECO SWAPS

Local Stockists

Refill Reuse Renew

Milkman style refill deliveries to your door!

Purple Carrot

Refills available at the back of the shop - Smithdown Rd

Refill UK

An entire shop dedicated to refillables - Toxteth.

Om Nom Zero Waste

A dedicated zero waste shop - Southport

Windmill Wholefoods

Refills available in store - Aigburth

Squash

Refills available in Squash Cafe’s shop - Toxteth

The Unwaste

Another milkman refill delivery service

Hoylake Zero Waste

Deliveries across The Wirral

Kitty’s Laundrette

Online stockists

Peace With The Wild

Superstore Babipur

Laundry refills available in this co-op laundromat - Everton

BigGreenSmile Everyday Green

The Green Turtle

Ocean Saver Refills £1 75 per sachet

LoofCo Washing-Up Brush £2.75

Minimal Spray £3.45 (refillable)

Ecoleaf Toilet Cleaner £2.65

Eco Living Compostable Sponges x2 £4.20

Ocean Saver Dishwasher Tablets x30 £8 50

Bicarbonate of Soda £5.00

Steel Scourers £2.80

Fairtrade Rubber Washing Up Gloves £2.99

Bamboo Kitchen Roll £7.99

Cleaning Companies

If you ’ ve decided to outsource cleaning your home, it’s worth considering the eco credentials of any companies you hire to come and make your house sparkle. These Merseyside based companies are dedicated to not using nasty chemicals in your house, and making sure their carbon footprint is as low as possible. Contact them directly for availability and prices.

Refill Reuse Renew is a Liverpool based refill delivery service and online shop Donna does milkman style deliveries of shampoo, washing up liquid and anything else you need - and takes the milkman life seriously, leaving your products on your doorstep well before you wake up! Her online shop is full of practical, eco friendly, vegan and plastic free products for your home and lifestyle. We’ve known Donna on and offline for a while, and this was a lovely opportunity to get to know her and Refill Reuse Renew a little better!

How did you decide to start running a sustainable business?

I started our mobile refillery service in May 2021 in response to my own frustration at greenwashing and the extortionate costs of some products out there Making sustainable choices should be available for the masses and not just the few able to afford it. I went through A LOT of products and a lot of research to find products that actually worked and weren’t just making ‘ green ’ claims This personal journey inspired the birth of Refill Reuse Renew where I could bring affordable options that work to more people. After all, I’d already done the legwork and knew how time consuming it was to get there and find these products; I basically just wanted to shout out about to them to the world.

What has been your favourite moment of running Refill Reuse Renew so far?

There have been so many favourite moments and I still can’t believe we are nearly into our third year! I adore making connections with people on various stages of their sustainability journeys.

One of my favourite things is when people come recommended as it’s so great to know that others are shouting out about us and happy with the products and service.

At markets, I love it when someone is looking at a product and then someone else comes and discusses the product recommending it I really feel like that is my job done; these products work and are really good value, and its not just me saying it.

Have you had any difficulties to overcome?

I never set out to open a business so the fact I am still here nearly 3 years in really makes the imposter syndrome kick in! It has been one huge learning curve managing the admin, legalities, website and everything else in between with very little as a starting point! There is a fantastic national zero waste community that I am so grateful for, where we all help each other with knowledge sharing and helpful tips.

Of course, the last year has been tough for all small businesses, with zero waste businesses

especially closing at a record rate I haven’t escaped this hit, and it has been tough, but we are always adapting We’re lucky enough that once people have made the switch, they can see for themselves that there is money to be saved, so people come back time and time again. The fact that “ eco ” is expensive is a huge misconception that deters people from initially making those switches. A lot of our products are reusable and last longer - much, much longerthan their counterparts, which is much more cost effective long term.

What’s your favourite product you sell?

Ooh, tough one! I’d probably say our Eco Coconut Scourers. They just last SO long! They are so great for getting all the icky bits out of those tricky corners yet still don’t scratch your pans - e i k f ! Absolutely love them.

Make Your Own Eco-Friendly Cleaner

What’s next for Refill Reuse Renew?

Who knows? I am always open to opportunities and to see where life and the business goes next. We have some workshops planned with Preloved in Newton le Willows which will be a new experience for us. There is no huge 5 year plan, we are just so lucky to be here, doing what we love and sharing that with the people we get to meet along the way. We never started this business with the intention of building a million pound empire, but rather just wanted to reach people and help them make changes along the way.

Find Refill Reuse Renew at

The Preloved Project, Newton le Willows, on these dates:

Sustainable Living: Kitchen 18th March, 6pm

Sustainable Living: Laundry 25th March, 6pm

Both workshops are free, book your place here.

•¼ cup of white vinegar

• 1 tbsp baking soda

• 1 litre of hot water

If you ' re looking for something to clean your kitchen surfaces, bedroom furniture, bathroom and general odds and ends with then look no further! This general, allpurpose household cleaner will freshen up, scrub and naturally disinfect all in one handy mixture.

Eco Coconut Scourer Pack of 2 £5.50

MY RUBBISH DIARY MY RUBBISH DIARY

Trash-talking, composting woes and what the heck is a bokashi bin?

I have a confession: I've not been composting for about a year. At some point, between fending off fruit fly infestations, caring for two small children and a long bout of poor mental health the composting fell to the wayside.

The fruit flies were probably the real kicker, every time the weather began to warm up, the kitchen would slowly hum with the drunken flight paths of a dozen fruit flies.

And then there were the kids, typically fussy; trying to stem our food waste felt like trying to tame the tide. So we got out of the habit of composting our raw veg waste. At first it irked me- stressed me out even. I knew that as soon as we could manage it again, we'd get back to it! But what if there was another way to not only make useful compost for the garden, but to even further reduce food waste? Join me as I get back into composting, try and reduce food waste and try out something new.

There's two methods of composting, cold, where you add matter and then just leave it, or hot composting, where matter is managed in a way that allows it to reach temperatures of 40-60°C by balancing the types of organic matter added and regularly turning the compost pile. Now, I'm all about low effort gardening and the idea of hot composting has, thus far, left me cold I don't have the headspace to be managing more stuff, so it'll come as no surprise that my compost piles are as cold as they come.

The drawback of cold composting though is what you can, or can't add to it. Raw fruit and veg, garden clippings, paper- all good, but that's only a small amount of our overall food waste. There's four of us in our house, two are small kids and food is probably one of our biggest sources of waste. ‘Waste Managed’ estimates that around 70kg per person per year of food is wasted. What about the rest?

So, this year it's my mission to find ways to make our food waste more productive. I'd like to try and reduce our food waste too of course- but if you ' ve ever confidently prepared a delicious meal that you ' re sure your kids will love, only for the very sight of it to induce a dramatic swoon from said offspring… well, let's just say that I'm being realistic about that! My first success has been to start adding things to our old compost- so far so good. I've been looking into wormeries, bokashi bins, composting hot beds (of the plant variety!) and instead of wasting all this new found knowledge, you, dear reader can come along for the ride. It'll be rubbish, but in a good way!

Hannah Shanderson

Sustainable

An Eco-family playgroup

Tryingtolivesustainably?Wantto meetotherfamiliesdoingthesame, andbuildcommunity?

Joinusatourecoplaygroup!Themed activitiesforkidseveryweek.

Fridays 10.30 - 11.30 @ Squash Cafe, Windsor Rd, Toxteth

Book here £3/£1 for siblings

All ages welcome

EXPLORING NATURE WITH CHILDREN

Spring Outside

Nobody panic, but the clocks change at the end of this month! Let’s gloss over the fact we lose an hour’s sleep - daylight is coming! While we ’ ve done our best to get out and about during the winter months, nothing quite beats a warm spring day for making us want to find some nature and be in it.

Raising our children to appreciate and respect nature is so important for the future of our planet. If our kids spend their childhoods outside, exploring the natural world, they are much more likely to understand the importance of protecting and fighting for our planet’s well being in the future Don’t get us wrong, we ’ re not saying you must be out in all weathers at all costs or your child will grow up to be a planet destroying monster! The TV has to go on sometimes! But if everyone grew up being aware of how essential nature is to literally every aspect of our lives, we probably wouldn’t be in this mess.

It’s likely, however, that the majority of you reading this live in the midst of the urban sprawl of Liverpool So how can we instil a love for all things natural when the nearest tree might be a whole block away, down a litter filled alleyway?

We are so lucky in Liverpool to have so many amazing parks all around, that in general are well looked after and provide some brilliant opportunities for observing and enjoying nature.

Next time you go to the park, why not try these activities to really get your kid engaging with nature...

Observe the trees, plants and wildlife around you. What can you spot that you’ve not seen before?

Talking about Spring

Askyour childwhat they know about Spring andwhat happens in this season. Findevidence ofSpring onyour walk.

Making a journey stick

Find a branch and attach - using string - a selection of things you find on your walk.. Try not to pick anything - there’s usually plenty on the ground to take.

Doing a Scavenger Hunt

Can they find something pink? Something bumpy? Something that makes them go “wow!”? Three different kinds of flowers? (remember not to pick them!)

Become a citizen scientist

Harness tech for good and use apps like 'inaturalist' and 'merlin' to identify flora and fauna you see. Become a citizen scientist and get involved in uploading observations, and take part in research. The Wildlife Trust lists their citizen science projects here

You could also try a new park, and see if you can spot anything new that doesn’t live in your local park. Sefton Park has parakeets, for example!

Greenbank Park has a resident heron. And Childwall Woods has a gorgeous wildflower meadow.

Journeying a few miles out of your local area can spark a sense of adventure in children and adults alike.

If you don’t live near the coast, a trip to the beach will provide a whole new array of natural things to observe; likewise, a forest, mountain, moor or other natural wonder.

Buff tailed Bumble bees are amongst the first bees to start foraging. Known for their fluffy white tails you'll see them alight on early spring blooms.

Non-native Magnolias and Cherry blossom are amongst the first trees to bloom in spring in the UK. Do you have any near you?

Magnoli a TREE TREE

Iris

FLOWER FLOWER

There are many early spring flowers in the UK. The bright blues and purples of the Iris are brilliant for pollinators, and easy to grow

NATURE NATURE SPOTTERS SPOTTERS

There's loads to see outside as we move into Spring. Warmer days and lighter evenings means some trees will be starting to bud or produce catkins, plants will begin to grow and bloom again and creatures will begin to emerge Here's a few of the flora and fauna you might notice in Spring in the UK - how many can you spot?

Chaffinch

BIR D BIR D

Chaffinches have beautifully patterned wings. The males have rust-red bodies with blue round their faces whilst the females are brown, but share the same distinctive striped wings.

CREATURE CREATURE

B r imstoneButterfly

The green and yellow wings of the Brimstone butterfly look a lot like leaves and provide excellent camouflage from birds

1

A National Trust property with a grand hall, lovely gardens and an interesting past.

Entry: ££; FREE for members and under 5s

L40 1SG

2

Parbold Hill & Fairy Glen

A small valley near Wigan in a beautiful woodland with waterfalls and fairy doors; ideal for a family stomp.

Entry: FREE

3

WN8 7TG

Martin Mere WWT

A valuable wetland in the Lancashire countryside. Flamingos, otters, seasonal wildlife, a cafe and a playground - its got everything you need for a fun family day out!

Entry: ££; FREE for members and under 4s

L40 0TA

4

Famous for its red squirrels, Formby woods and beach are a lovely place to go to experience the sunnier, warmer weather See if you can spot the prehistoric footprints in the sand or a rare natterjack toad.

Entry: £ (just parking); FREE for members.

L37 2EB

4

SPRING

5 6

5 6

West Kirby

Another lovely Merseyside beach with views acrossto Wales. West Kirby is easily accessible, with lots of facilities nearby If you ’ re feeling adventurous, why not cross the sands to Hilbre Island - check the tide times first!

Entry: FREE (pay for parking nearby)

CH48 0QG

Ness Botanic Gardens

These gardens have a variety of flowers and plants for every season, plus a nice little playground and lots of space to run around

They often have seasonal nature trails for the kids.

Entry: ££; FREE under 4 and UoL staff

CH64 4AY

Rufford Old Hall 1 2 3

Formby

DAY TRIPS

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12

7 8

Haigh Woodland Park

Adventure playground, gardens, woodland, multiple cafes, a chocolate shop, golf, foot golf, crazy golf...what doesn’t Haigh Park have to offer?? Located near Wigan, it’s a great place for a day out.

Entry: FREE (pay for parking)

WN2 1PE

8

RHS Bridgewater

A relatively new garden, opened in 2020, RHS Bridgewater is a great place to go to watch the seasons change With a playground, cafe, trails, a fairy glen and more, you can easily while away the hours

Entry: ££; FREE for members & under 5s. M28 2LJ

9 10

11 12

Delamere Forest

Accessible by its very own train station, you’ll find easy-going trails for all abilities, a hike to admire the view across to Liverpool’s famous skyline or a bit of peace and quiet to watch the wildlife by the lake

Entry: FREE (pay for parking)

CW8 2HZ

Walton Hall Gardens

If you ’ re looking for a free day out, you can’t go wrong with Walton Hall Gardens. There’s a free farm, lovely gardens, an enormous playground and a train! No need to book, just turn up and enjoy.

Entry: FREE (pay for parking).

WA4 6SN

10

Arley Hall

With some of the most amazing herbaceous borders out there, Arley Hall is a great day out Beautiful gardens (our cover photo was taken there!), a lovely woodland playground and a nice cafe Plus it was featured in Peaky Blinders!

Entry: £ + parking CW9 6NA

11

Tatton Park

Tatton Park is a more expensive option for a day out, but the gardens and grounds are extensive and the playground and farm will keep kids entertained for hours.

Entry: £££ - parking, gardens, farm and train all cost. RHS & NT members get free entry to the gardens WA16 6QN

REVIEWS & RECOMMENDS

Book

Atomic Habits - James Clear

So much of our lives are governed by our habits. What if lasting, positive, personal change could be achieved not by a huge overhaul, but by small decisions compounding over time towards the person you want to be? Atomic Habits digs into how habits form, and how to game the psychology to create new habits that stick It's been an eye opener for me and has helped me to become more self aware, and more hopeful that I can actually become the type of person I want to be It's a great resource to have alongside making sustainable changes that seem to require too much effort.

YouTube

Ariel aka 'That Awkward Mom' has a channel dedicated to trying out all the cleaning and decluttering fads out there! She's refreshingly honest, quirky and funny. If you ' re needing some inspiration for a spring clean or declutter- give her a watch!

Instagram

KC Davis @strugglecare is a voice of kindness and wisdom to anyone who's ever struggled with... Well, life! Whether you ' re neurodivergent, or going through poor mental health, KC has tips and guides to help you survive tough times and show yourself compassion - so important for parenting and climate action!

App Podcast

Make the most of the renewable energy in the grid by downloading WhenToPlugIn and find the ‘greenest’ time to run your big appliances.

Share the love!

We'd love to hear your recommendations and reviews for our next issue (June) send us an email: sustainablestartscic@gmail.com

Jen Gale from Sustainable(ish) has started a movement dedicated to helping people understand that they don’t need to live a perfect sustainable lifestyle to make a difference - it’s enough to be “sustainable-ish” Every week she discusses a different element of living a sustainable life, with many interesting guests! She also has a Facebook group and two books!

HIDDEN VEG SAUCE

INGREDIENTS

1 tbsp olive oil

1 large onion, diced

2 celery sticks, chopped

2 carrots, chopped

1 leek, chopped

METHOD

2 peppers, deseeded and chopped

2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes

1 tbsp caster sugar

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

Any veg you have lurking in the back of the fridge will work great in this! They'll never know!

1. Heat the oil in a large, non-stick saucepan. Gently cook the onion, celery, carrots and leeks for around 20 minutes until soft.

2. Add peppers and cook for 10 more minutes.

3. Tip in tomatoes, sugar and vinegar.

4. Simmer for at least 20 minutesthe longer the better! Cook the pasta in the meantime.

5. Blend sauce with blender (handheld is probably best, but whatever you have will work).

6. Serve with the pasta. Top with cheese or dairy free alternative. serves: 4 prep time: 15 mins cooking time: 45-50 minutes

Use fun shaped pasta to make this dish even more appealing to fussy eaters!