Community environmental action

Taking action on your own or with others isn’t just for the good of plants and animals – it’s also good for you and your community. 

There are many opportunities in the household. Small changes can lead to big change; whether you’re doing the weekly shop, having a spring clean or organising a big event, there are lots of ways to make a difference, including cutting carbon emissions from food transport, sending less waste to landfill and supporting small farmers at home and abroad. 

At a community level, the possibilities are even greater. A range of ideas and examples can be found in the Ideas for Community Environmental Projects document.

Do you have or know of a local group whose interests are relevant to environmental issues? There are various sources of support to help community groups embrace environmental action:

For church groups, the Eco-Congregation Scotland scheme is a valuable source of support.

School groups can receive help through Eco-Schools Scotland.

If you do not have a group, why not create one?

The following organisations provide general start-up support:

• East Dunbartonshire Voluntary Action(EDVA)
• East Dunbartonshire Council’s Community Grants Scheme can help with start-up costs; see ‘Find Funding’ below
• Seeds For Change provide training and support to grassroots campaigners, NGOs, Co-ops and other community groups and organisations in the social sector.

If you don’t yet have the critical mass for a group, or wish to expand your membership, EDVA may provide a means of recruiting people. Another option is to join up with local schools, a powerful force for environmental change; remember that secondary schools are more likely to be free outwith exam time.

Tailored support for groups interested in environmental projects is available from the following sources:

• The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) Scotland provides information, resources/equipment and other services to support community conservation. Their Community Network provides additional services, including help with insurance and grants, discounts on equipment and subsidised places on training courses.
• Friends of the Earth Scotlands Environmental Justice course (Higher Education Certificate) at Queen Margaret University College helps people to get more involved in environmental justice campaigns in their community. Fee waivers of 100% may be available.

Support for climate change groups is also available from Scottish Communities Climate Action Network (CAN).

Funding for community environmental projects is available from a number of sources, within and outwith the Council. The Council's Community Grants Scheme funds a range of projects - yours may qualify. For greenspace projects, support is available from the Greenspace Team. If your group is interested in projects relating to transport or access, the Council's Transport and Access Team may be able to help.

Your project is most likely to succeed if it combines environmental benefits with social and economic ones. For example, a recycling project is more likely to attract funding if it can provide a useful service and job opportunities for local people, especially those in need.

If your activities are innovative, you may even be eligible for an award.

Home-made presents are not only cheaper, but can also be environmentally sustainable as they use less resources and energy to produce and transport.

Here are three ideas:

Name of present: Hand-made Bath Salts
Total Cost: £2 or less
Details: Buy some coarse sea salt and some bicarbonate of soda (£3 for 3kg from Chinese supermarkets). Mix together - approximately. 2 parts salt to 1 part bicarb -and add a few drops of essential oil for fragrance. Peppermint is good for reviving; eucalyptus is good for decongesting; lavender is good for relaxing. There are many options and combinations! Pour onto a circle of material -use recycled scraps to save money - then bring the edges together and tie at the neck with a string or wool. You could attach a tag to the string with a list of ingredients and a message. A cheap, personalised gift with the extra bonus of all natural ingredients!

Name of present: Personalised Story Book
Total Cost: £2 or less
Details: Make a book for your loved ones to record their fond memories and proud moments. Do you know someone who has recently become a grandparent, for example? Give them the chance to pass on stories about their first day at school, their childhood ambitions and their achievements in life. Simply hole-punch some good quality paper and tie together with a ribbon and some decorated card at each end for a cover, then hand-write some chapter headings and leave the rest blank for your recipient to fill out!

Name of present: Voucher
Total Cost: Free!
Details: Instead of handing over yet more bulky items that may end up as junk, be different this year and give the gift of time! Do you enjoy clearouts? Or perhaps you’re good at DIY or sewing? Whatever your passion, turn it into a present by making a ‘voucher’ entitling the recipient to an hour/day/etc of your skills. Re-use card (e.g. from a cornflakes box) for the ultimate in greenness.

Many more can be found on money saving export website

Modern gardening isn’t always as green as it sounds! Find out below how you can protect the environment from your own back door.

Gardens are described as ‘our most important nature reserve’, such is their potential to house wildlife. By planting native species, you will help to preserve the delicate balance of the local ecosystem and will be rewarded with visits from attractive and colourful butterflies, birds and small animals!

Bumble bees are a particularly important species – their numbers have seriously declined in recent years. You can help bees by planting native wildflowers such as foxglove, poppy, cornflower and knapweed – these are a rich source of food for bees and other beneficial insects.

Consider adding a pond to your garden. This can be a great addition for wildlife, attracting insects, amphibians and birds to your garden. Frogs and toads will also eat slugs!

Finally, don’t over-tidy your garden – woodpiles, long grass and ‘weeds’ (another word for wild flowers!) provide food and homes for insects and small animals.

Growing your own food is healthy for you and eliminates the need for pesticides, transportation and packaging. It can save money too – seeds and bulbs will produce a harvest worth many times the initial cost. If you have no garden, use a pot in an outdoor space, or a sunny windowsill, which is especially good for growing herbs. You can even use a dark corner to sprout beans.

If you are interested in accessing growing space in East Dunbartonshire, please contact the Street Scene Project Officer at jackie.gillespie@eastdunbarton.gov.uk or on 0141 574 5778 to register your interest.

Find out more general information from the following sources:

• Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens
• Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society
• Garden Organic.

Making compost from kitchen and garden waste doesn’t just create a nutrient-rich soil improver – it also reduces the amount you send to landfill.

Alternatively, buy organic, peat-free compost from local sources – Silver Birch (Scotland) Ltd in Milton of Campsie recycles waste mushroom compost into fertiliser, soil conditioner and mulch for most indoor and outdoor uses.

Grass clippings can also act as a natural fertiliser – leave them on the lawn, where they will break down quickly. The leaves of leguminous trees and plants are also a rich source of fertiliser.

Garden sprinklers can use as much water in one hour as a family of four uses all day. Save having to use water in the garden by putting gravel, pebbles, cobbles or glass chippings around the base of established plants to reduce evaporation. Ground cover plants and mulch also keep soil moist and reduce the need to weed!

Water butts can collect rainwater from roofs, for use on plants and shrubs. This is better for the plants too as rainwater is free from added chemicals.

Plants help tackle climate change by absorbing CO2; the average broad leaf tree will absorb a tonne of CO2 over its lifetime. Ensure your good work isn’t undone with patio heaters and electric lights, which are energy-intensive.

Glasgow Wood Recycling collect surplus wood and make it into various products including garden furniture, providing training and employment for people in need.

Good luck with becoming a green gardener. Remember that every little helps. The wildlife you encourage will bring extra interest, colour and song, making your garden a great place to relax.

Tourism is often criticised for its environmental impacts, but there’s a growing number of options for 'eco-tourism' which can help the environment, create income for small businesses and also let you discover the hidden gems on your doorstep.

One of the best ways of going green on holiday is to avoid flying, so why not rediscover Scotland or the rest of the UK using sustainable modes of transport such as train and ferry? Here are a few ideas:

• The great outdoors: walking in the Highlands or the rolling hills of the Borders
• Sports: cycling, golfing, fishing, sailing or kayaking on Scotland's many trails, golf courses, rivers, lochs and coasts
• Arts: a photography holiday taking advantage of Scotland's stunning scenery
• Wildlife: take a boat trip to do some sea-life spotting, or explore wildlife gardens, woodlands and visitors centres.

If Britain just doesn't appeal, many European destinations are easily accessible by ferry or train, including:

• Cycling holidays on the almost hill-free terrain of the Netherlands
• Camping in the north of France
• Summer walking holidays in the meadows and mountain passes of the Alps.

Remember that environmental responsibility doesn't stop at the end of the journey – you can also be green when choosing accommodation and activities.

• Green Tourism lists accommodation with ‘Green Tourism Business Scheme’ accreditation.
• If staying in a hotel, save resources by choosing not to have fresh towels every day and by not using individually-packaged soaps and shampoos.
• If the places you stay and visit aren’t green, encourage them to change! Supporting small businesses is also a good way to make your holiday sustainable and will also give you a better flavour of local life.

Scotland is committed to an 80% cut in CO2 emissions by 2050, and it is estimated that most of the buildings we will have by then have already been built. Green renovations are therefore vital to the
wellbeing of our planet!

While it can be easier to achieve energy efficiency in new-builds, it uses less carbon to renovate than it does to start from scratch.

Although the start of the design process is the ideal time to start thinking about these issues, there is still a lot that can be done further down the line, whether you are at the Building Standards stage of a new build project or are renovating an existing building.

As well as protecting the environment, green renovations can create healthier homes and can save money too.

• The Scottish Ecological Design Association (SEDA) provides advice on issues such as ‘designing for deconstruction’, airtightness and reduced chemical content
• The Green Register is a not-for-profit membership organisation offering expert and unbiased training on sustainable building practices to all disciplines of the construction industry. It
  also lists local construction professionals who are committed to sustainable practices.
• GreenSpec provides a wealth of information on green building, design, products, specification and construction
• Glasgow Wood Recycling can help by taking unwanted wood and re-using it in a way that benefits the local community
• Freecycle is another useful resource – members can advertise used or surplus materials and
  can pick up many bargains!

Shopping needn’t cost the earth! You can reduce your environmental impact by buying locally where possible, refusing unnecessary packaging and avoiding goods produced using synthetic chemicals
(e.g. fertilisers and additives) or non-renewable components (e.g. plastics).

Further general information is available from various online ethical shopping guides:

• Green Consumer Guide
• Ethical Consumer
• The Green Guide

Save waste and money by exchanging goods with people instead of binning and buying new. Start the easy way by visiting charity shops and hiring or borrowing DVDs, books and tools. You could also join an online exchange such as ReadItSwapIt for books or Freecycle, where a wide variety of goods change hands free of charge.

If no scheme exists for the type of thing you want to exchange, why not set one up locally?

Unwanted tools can be sent to Africa via Tools for Self Reliance

Buying unprocessed food from small producers can improve health, save money and help to ensure that what we do spend goes to the people who need it most. If we buy locally-produced goods where possible, this will cut food miles and help stop climate change.

The monthly farmers’ market in Milngavie offer a great selection of locally-produced, environmentally-friendlier meat, fruit, vegetables and other goods direct from the producer. Organic eggs, beef and lamb are also available from West Shirva Farm, Twechar.

To find other local sources of food, visit Big Barn, which will find producers within 10 miles.

When buying foreign goods such as bananas and chocolate, look for the Fairtrade mark.

You can also grow your own food!

Avoid food waste – visit the Love Food Hate Waste website

Weddings are often an embodiment of unsustainable consumerism, but it’s possible to have a big day that’s not only green and ethical but also a good bit cheaper! Here are some ideas:

• Rings: re-use a family heirloom, buy antique/2nd hand, or look for conflict-free/Fairtrade metals. Alternatively, break with tradition and go for rings made from a renewable resource such as shell or coconut!
• Dress: buy vintage or hire. If buying new, look for a socially responsible retailer. Perhaps you even know someone who could make one!
• Food: specify local and/or organic; if using foreign products, choose Fairtrade where possible
• Gifts: if you already have enough clutter, why not ask guests to put their money towards ‘gifts’ such as goats and school equipment for communities in the developing world? Visit Oxfam
  Unwrapped and good gifts. Alternatively, ask guests to contribute to the day itself, e.g. by making the cake, organising the music or growing/paying for the bouquet, or by donating their time.
• Hen/stag weekends and honeymoon – see the Green Holidays section on this page
• Cake and flowers: why not bake/grow yourself, or ask family and guests to help? Take inspiration from the inventive couple who sent out sweet pea seeds with their wedding invitations and asked guests to grow them for table decorations. If buying, go for locally-grown/produced goods, organic where possible
• Venue – Scotland’s new laws allow more flexibility in choosing a venue. Instead of an expensive hotel with manicured lawns, why not go for somewhere more unusual?

Find out more at Ethical Weddings.

Natural caskets and woodland burial grounds are a green alternative to traditional funerals; as well as saving money, natural funerals tend to be more personal and family-centred.

The Natural Death Centre can provide further information, advice and local contact details.

Use your influence to persuade others in the community to do their bit. If your group has regular meetings, why not choose a green theme for some of these? You could distribute some leaflets, run a tasting session of local or Fairtrade food, or hold a demonstration of ecological cleaning products. You may wish to tie in to national/international celebrations such as World Environment Day (5 June), Fairtrade Fortnight (end February) and Earth Day (spring).

You could even set up a buying co-operative to give people better and cheaper access to green products. GreenCity Wholefoods in Glasgow is an ethical goods wholesaler. For more information on co-operative enterprises, visit Cooperatives UK.

Carbon footprinting is an important part of ecological footprinting. Carbon footprinting means investigating how much energy and fuel your community uses, e.g. through transport and household electricity. Having this information will help you to plan activity to reduce your community’s carbon emissions.

• The Energy Saving Trust’s Community Projects webpage offers ideas and support
• Scottish Education and Action for Development (SEAD)’s website has useful resources for community action.

Preparing for the impact of climate change is important too; communities can take action planting trees, managing water courses to reduce flood risks and creating habitats for endangered native species.

Waste prevention projects and campaigns are desperately needed at the local level, and community groups have an important role to play in educating and supporting people. Community Resources Network Scotland is Scotland’s national community re-use, repair and recycle charity.

The big supermarkets are all now publicly committed to improving their environmental performance. The East Dunbartonshire Fair Trade Setering Group have already worked with them to expand their range of ethical goods; you could build on this by helping them with other green initiatives such as plastic bag reduction and better stocking of local produce and other ‘green’ goods.

One way of rewarding businesses making ethical decisions is to ‘carrotmob’ or ‘joycot’ – the opposite of boycotting! For
more information, visit the Carrotmob website.

Skill sharing is where people put their skills (from sewing and dog-walking to gardening and DIY), to better use, allowing communities to help each other and to earn time credits. This values people and improves access to services, which can be especially beneficial for those most in need in our communities. Skill sharing is a great way of strengthening community spirit! Even if projects don’t have a green theme, they will still help the environment by supporting smallscale,
local consumerism.

• Timebanks and LETS (Local Exchange Trading Systems) are two ways of sharing skills; visit the Timebanking UK website and LetsLink UK for further information.
• Streetbank puts neighbours in touch to allow sharing.

Social enterprises are businesses which trade to achieve social aims – they are run by, and for the benefit of, the local community. The social economy sector is growing movement covering a huge variety of projects, each helping communities to put people rather than profit at the heart of their activities.

The ‘local food’ agenda presents some interesting opportunities for social enterprises. Further information is available in the Green Gardening page.

East Dunbartonshire Voluntary Action provides support for local enterprises.

UnLtd is a charity which supports social entrepreneurs.