As a child, I never paid much attention to what could and could not be recycled. I never thought it was my responsibility or that it was that important to do so. Sure, you learn in school why recycling is important so that we don’t waste materials that can be reused, but what about recycling’s […]
Tag: environment
Resize, reduce, repurpose- Sustainability as a Depop business
‘I go to charity shops, buy ugly clothes, design, rework and sew them then sell them on. It’s better for the environment, I make money and someone gets a cute top.’ Proudly sitting in front of her sewing machine, Harriet lets me know that it too was thrifted, ‘For only a tenner’. She shows me […]
Is retrofitting the way to go when it comes to helping stop climate change?
With the climate crisis still ongoing, many people and businesses are thinking about ways they can help to reverse it. Global Footsteps is an ‘educational charity which links grassroots communities around the world ‘. Based in Cheltenham, the group has played its part and had retrofitting carried out. Global Footsteps trustee, Alison Crane, discussed the […]
Insulate Britain: Is it doing more harm than good?
Over the past couple of weeks Insulate Britain has caused quite the stir. At first, the activist group were blocking the M25, however in recent weeks they have taken to blocking busier areas in and around Southeast England. The group’s actions has caused controversy amongst the public, with many people branding them “selfish” and “irresponsible.” […]
How does Cheltenham recycle? Here are the hard facts.
Recycling is an everyday part of our lives that we don’t often think too much about. From putting glass in one bin and plastics in another we don’t stop to wonder what happens to it after or how much we actually recycle. While national recycling figures haven’t yet been released for 2020/21, here in Cheltenham […]
Everything you need to know about the Javelin Park incinerator in Stroud
“What’s that massive building along the M5?” Gloucestershire’s £613 million incinerator has been fully operational since January last year. It takes all of Gloucestershire’s black bag rubbish, burns it and produces electricity for the National Grid. The waste includes things like sofas, fairy lights and mattresses. Gloucestershire County Council say this is a greener way […]
Is housing the root cause of the climate crisis?
With the UK housing industry accounting for 27% of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions, attention turns to what we can do to reduce this figure, while still keeping costs low. The BedZED project has already proven that it’s achievable, albeit expensive. For those of you who aren’t aware, BedZED is the UK’s first major zero-carbon […]
“We can’t take on another disaster like 2007”: How safe is Gloucestershire from flooding?
July 20 2007 will always be an unforgettable day for many in Gloucestershire. Remembered as one of the county’s worst flooding disasters in recent history, the county watched the rain fall as it took their homes, electricity, water and three men’s lives. More than two months worth of rain fell in one day, causing the […]
Which animal species are currently ‘under threat’ in Gloucestershire?
In recent years, Britain’s wildlife has suffered from an immense loss. Conservation organisations are calling for urgent action to be made to protect the nature around us. Now, more than ever, it is critical that we work towards a green recovery. This way we can prevent further and likely irreversible damage. Rob Curtis, an environmental […]
Is housing the root cause of the climate crisis?
The environment is at the forefront of people’s minds, and with global temperature slowly rising, people are asking what can be done to sort this problem out? Later on today, Branch will be publishing an article focusing on this very problem, taking into account voices from the UK Green Building Council and BedZED (the UK’s […]