Richmond's Green March 2020

We have joined forces with South West London Environment Network (SWLEN) to lead the voluntary and community sector in Richmond's Green March. The recent Richmond Partnership Conference on Climate Change inspired us to focus on the message to take action now, however you can, to combat the Climate Change Emergency as declared by the Council.

We want to encourage every day engagement to combat the effects of climate change and have listed a few ideas and resources below. They offer ways you can make a difference and be part of Richmond's Green March in 2020.

Local organisations can register now for Richmond's Green March Workshop on 25 March 2020.

If you have something you'd like to share that we can help you promote, please email us with the details.

Get involved as an individual or with a group

Assess your carbon footprint

Use the Environmental Footprint Calculator from the World Wildlife Foundation to check your impact and get tips on how to reduce it.

Join a local Climate Change Conversation

Join a Climate Change Conversations with Let's Go Outside and Learn and help to keep the issue high on the local agenda.

Make a Change To Your Diet

Check the carbon footprint of your diet with this online calculator and consider any changes that you could make.

www.lovefoodhatewaste.com offers recipes and tips to minimise food waste.

The Great British Spring Clean, 20 March - 13 April 2020

Join the national campaign to galvanise communities and individuals to litter pick and make their locality beautiful.

Energy

Switch to a green energy supplier - take a look at some of the current options available.

Travel

If you drive, could you change your usual travel habits for a day, or more a week? Walk, cycle or run and get fitter and healthier too!

Planning a break? You could choose somewhere closer to home and avoid flying.

Shopping

Try shopping locally, support Farmers Markets and buy seasonal food.

www.refill-larder.co.uk - get your shopping free of plastic packaging and check for waste items that you can drop off for recycling too.

From clothes to household items, buying preloved from charity shops supports good causes as well as helping the planet.

Richmond Furniture Scheme - Richmond's local furniture recycling charity accepts donations of unwanted pieces and helps those in need.

Richmond Freegle - a community online reuse group for residents of Richmond and Twickenham to stop reuseable items going to landfill.

Freecycle - you can also join the local Freecycle group to find new homes for your unwanted items and items that you want.

www.nextdoor.co.uk could help you swap something you don't need for something you do without adding anything to landfill.

If you have to buy new, particularly for household appliances, check for the best energy efficiency rating you can get.

Recycle Responsibly

TerraCycle - search online for local recycling points Tassimo, L’OR and Kenco waste can be dropped off at Sainsbury's Local in Hampton Hill Crisp Packets can be dropped off at private addresses in Teddington and Hampton Wick (search TerraCycle for the details)

Companies or organisations can get involved and become recycling partners and it can help you raise funds.

Kew Riverside School - a major recycling collection point for a wide range of items that can't be put in household recycling. You can check with other local schools too.

Libraries- you can dispose of small electrical items at all Richmond libraries except Kew and Hampton Wick.

Batteries can usually be recycled at any shop that sells them.

Environmental Groups and Opportunities

There are groups in every corner of the borough that you can get involved with, on an ad hoc or regular basis, such as the examples below:

FORCE (Friends of the River Crane Environment)
Join the Queens Award-winning FORCE on a Volunteer Sunday session or explore the local environment on a nature walk.

Friends of Barnes Common
Another local Queens Award-winning organisation where you can enjoy conservation, educational and social opportunities.

Friends of Richmond Park
Support the Year of the Tree campaign and learn more about the rich natural ecology of Richmond Park with a self-guided walk.

Richmond and Twickenham RSPB
The local branch of the RSPB has a range of talks and walks to help you enjoy and appreciate the wildlife on your doorstep.

For a full list of groups, or to search for one near you, visit SWLEN's Local Groups page.

Other Events

Get on Board - Say No to Plastic Pollution, 26 June 2020
Sign up for Be Richmond's annual Stand Up Paddle Board and Towpath Community Litter Pick, running from Kew Bridge to Richmond.

Whether you're looking to discover somewhere new, join an educational talk, participate in an outdoor conservation day, or just fancy a social opportunity with like-minded people, there's a huge range of environmental activities available locally.

Check what's coming up on SWLEN's What's On Calendar and see what you could enjoy.