FEBRUARY MONTHLY MEETING

The speaker was Alison Williamson, member of Hadlow WI and the Federation Green Team. She described the issues and causes of climate change and explained how global warming is the long-term heating of Earth’s climate system observed since the pre-industrial period (between 1850 and 1900) due to human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in Earth’s atmosphere.

We then discussed ways we could all help to reduce the effect the world's population is having on the climate and consider what practical steps each of us can make in several areas of our lives.

Firstly energy saving around the house with more information available at https://energysavingtrust.org.uk

Similarly we looked at food; buying seasonal locally produced food and eating less meat and more plant based food. Some members advised about a new veg box scheme they were using called Odd Box.  This has been set up to save the produce that the supermarkets deem “too” big, “too” dinky, “too” many – see  https://www.oddbox.co.uk   When food goes to waste, so does all the energy, water and time that went into growing it so see https://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com for more information on how you can save wasting food and money.

Reduce, Re-use and Recycle was another topic covered and where to recycle the things that the council doesn’t take away can be found by putting in your postcode at  https://www.recyclenow.com/local-recycling  This site in particular shows what supermarkets take back plastic bags and other soft plastics.

Reduce the amount of plastic by using a refill shop.  There’s one in Tonbridge in Barden Road, Zilch Zero Waste. https://www.zilchzerowaste.com/home

Repair rather than send things to land fill.  Alison mentioned Mr Tait who lives in the village and can repair household appliances.  Another option for getting things repaired is using a Repair Café.  There is currently one in Tunbridge Wells once a month @ Trinity Theatre https://www.facebook.com/TunbridgeWellsRepairCafe and hopefully one will be coming to Tonbridge soon. https://www.facebook.com/TonbridgeRepairCafe  It’s a volunteer based event where people can bring broken items that could hopefully be repaired and those with skills and knowledge help them to repair them.  Repair Cafe Tunbridge Wells = Electrical and mechanical items, IT, jewellery, textiles, wooden furniture and other bits and bobs. 

Lastly we also talked about how to be a greener gardener by using peat free compost to avoid the further destruction of our ancient peat bogs that store carbon.  Make a compost heap for your kitchen & garden waste and cut out (or reduce) chemical fertilizers, weed killers & insecticides, not only are these not good for the environment they use fossil fuels and energy in their production and distribution. Practice sustainable planting by growing perennials instead of annual bedding – when you consider all the plastic containers, the compost and the transport of annual bedding then you can appreciate how much better for the environment perennials are.

Choose plants to encourage wildlife and help pollinators and you can get more information here https://www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk/