Welcome to Northfield Ecocentre’s November newsletter.This month we update you on our progress at the new LindseyAvenue community garden, tell you about the forthcoming GreenDeal cash back scheme, congratulate our marathon runners andprepare you for our Christmas event!

November Newsletter2012

@northfieldecoSee you soon,www.facebook.com/northfieldecocentre

Ecocentre Christmas Event!

Saturday 1 December 2012, from 3pm

HotSpicy

Apple Juicefrom local apples!

Vegetarian Christmas Food

3pm - Kids activities making winter paperlanterns & Christmas candle holders.

4.30pm - Dress the Christmas Tree andcarols in Victoria Common

GreenFather

Christmas!

A festive event to say thank youto all our supporters, friends andvolunteers for a fantastic 2012!

Call ahead to letus know you

are coming0121 448 0119

Northfield Community Garden Update

For info 0121 448 0119 www.northfieldecocentre.org/foodgrowing

www.facebook.com/groups/ediblenorthfield

Friday 2nd November, 10.30am to 12.30pm

Sunday 4th November, 10am to 2pmIncluding a Free Composting Workshop from 11am and 1pm

on how to make composting bins and the importance ofcomposting. This will involve using a hammer and

nails so is not suitable for young children.

Wednesday 7th November, 10.30am to 12.30pm

Directions Lindsey Avenue is just off Bunbury Road (Northfield, B31). Look for land behindbig metal gates. Google Maps: http://goo.gl/maps/0SZMb

Thank you

Following donations from Webbs of Wychboldmentioned in our October newsletter…

Thank you to Bournville Garden Centre for donating 20packets of seeds, huge bag of bulbs, 3 bags compost, 2bags wood chips, pallets, 3 garden forks, 2 rakes,secateurs, a shovel, wood treatment and a shed!

Volunteers

Thank you to Alison, Collin, Damien, Emma, Eileen,Georgia, Jackie, James, Janice, Jenny, Jenny, Kara,Lorraine, Lucie, Lucy, Luke, Luke, Mark , Richard, Sally,Terry and everyone else who has helped so far!

Masefield Gardens on Lindsey Avenue, Northfield. B31 (off Bunbury Road)

We are looking for local people to get involved andshare in the produce. Come with ideas, suitableclothing, shoes and a waterproof. Children are welcomebut should have parental supervision.

Work Days

(Above) Jenny dismantles reclaimed wood toconstruct vertical planters from pallets, inpreparation for daffodil planting.

Look out for us on

BBC Midlands Today,

featuring our fruit

harvesting project!

Saturday 1 December, 3pm till early evening

Our next Ecokids activities will take place at our Christmas Event.3pm - Kids activities making winter paper lanterns & Christmascandle holders.4.30pm - Dress the Christmas Tree & carols in Victoria Common

Adults to accompany.0121 448 0119

Northfield Ecocentre is working towards becoming a Green Deal Advice Service so if you wish to take part in this scheme please contact us on 0121 448 0119

From 28th January 2013, households who use the Green Deal to make improvements such as loft insulation,solid wall insulation and replacement windows will qualify. The Green Deal Cashback Scheme is a first-come,first-served offer, and the more work households have done, the more cash back they could receive.

The offer is limited to one per household, but can cover a package of improvements so long as thehouseholder is contributing to installation costs and work done is overseen by an authorised Green DealProvider. A total of £125 million is up for grabs so hundreds of thousands of people could qualify. The bestoffers are available first, so people should act fast once the scheme opens in January because cash backrates may reduce after that.Community minded households will have the option of donating some or all oftheir cash back to registered charities and Community Interest Companies who have signed up with thescheme administrator. The cash back offer also applies to private or social landlords who can benefit if theyare the property improver and are paying the costs themselves.

For more information visit our blog: http://tinyurl.com/99ayp9m

A first-come, first-served offer. Themore work you have done, themore cash back you could receive.

The Green DealCashback Scheme

The government has announced, hundreds of pounds of cash back will beavailable to householders in England and Wales who make energy saving homeimprovements under the Green Deal from January 2013. The Green Deal is theGovernment’s new initiative to transform the UK market for energy efficiency. It willlet homes and businesses pay for energy efficiency improvements, like insulation,through expected savings on their energy bills. Households quick off the mark couldget as much as £1,000 cash back.

www.northfieldecocentre.org or call Luke Olly on 0121 448 0119

Ecokids Christmas Activities

Address: 53 Church Road, Northfield, Birmingham, B31 2LB (behind Oulsnams)Phone: 0121 448 0119 Email: enquiries@northfieldecocentre.orgWebsite: www.northfieldecocentre.org Twitter: @northfieldeco

Central England Area Quaker MeetingCharities Registered Charity No. 224571

Fundraising

Date Time Event DescriptionFri 2 Nov 10.30 am

to12.30pm

Community GardenWork Day

Join us to transform our new community garden on LindseyAvenue in Northfield (Off Bunbury Rd, B31). Meet there.Adults to accompany children. Wear suitable clothing.

Sun 4 Nov 11am to1pm

CompostingWorkshop

Join us during our Community Garden Work Day for a freeworkshop on how to make composting bins and theimportance of composting.

Sun 4 Nov 10am to2pm

Community GardenWork Day

Join us to transform our new community garden on LindseyAvenue in Northfield (Off Bunbury Rd, B31). Meet there.Adults to accompany children. Wear suitable clothing.

Weds 7 Nov 10.30 amto12.30pm

Community GardenWork Day

Join us to transform our new community garden on LindseyAvenue in Northfield (Off Bunbury Rd, B31). Meet there.Adults to accompany children. Wear suitable clothing.

Weds 7 Nov 7pm Friends of VictoriaCommon Meeting

Join volunteers in our Friends of Victoria Common groupplanning for our next event. Meeting at the Ecocentre

Sat 1 December 3pm toearlyevening

EcocentreChristmas Event!

A festive event to say thank you to all our supporters!Including vegetarian Christmas food, kids activities makingwinter paper lanterns & Christmas candle holders and dressthe Christmas Tree and carols in Victoria Common.

Diary DatesWeekly groups

Gardening: Thurs 10 - 12 noonSewing & Crafts: Fri 10 - 12 noon

Public Opening10am - 5pm

Tuesday to Friday

James Pountney finished in 2hrs 01, Luke Olly finished in 1hrs 59 & KarenJeff finished in 2hrs 06. They've raised over £600 with gift aid already &the donations are still coming in! Sadly Georgia was injured & had to pullout.

Congratulations!…and thank you to our runners in the BUPA Half Marathon!

We are currently looking for outgoing, enthusiastic people with apassion for the environment to help us raise funds to support ourexpanding work programme. Full training provided.

For more information about this volunteer role visit:www.northfieldecocentre.org/contact-us/jobs

Fundraising Ambassadors