BTCV are coming to give a hand.

Back 2 Earth will provide a lunch and hot drinks for volunteers.

It would be good to see you there. Do tell anyone else you know who would like to be involved.

The Lordship Spinney Management Group in conjunction with "Back 2 Earth", is to hold the first of a series of workshops to manage the  trees in the Spinney.

You are invited to join in this interesting, informative and enjoyable workshop.

The task of this workshop, is to create a scale map, plotting the position and name of each tree in the spinney. This workshop will be led by Steve Mason. You will not need to know in advance how to identify trees, in order to join the workshop, as this will be taught and visual aids will be provided.

Steve Mason is an experienced Environmental Consultant who has run many community environmental workshops.

Please bring your own packed lunch, sturdy footwear and warm clothes as we will be working outside. Tea will be provided.

If heavy rain is forecast for the whole day, this workshop will have to be cancelled.

Let me know if you are coming by replying to this email. We look forward to seeing you on the 29th.

On a future date 

The next phase of the work will involve either coppicing, thinning or leaving larger trees to reach their full height. This will be done to retain the largest variety of trees overall and to provide each tree with the space to develop. Coppicing is done one area at a time over a period of years so that wildlife is not deprived of habitat.

Coppicing is an ancient method of managing and preserving trees by cutting them in such a way that they re-grow more thickly and vigorously. This allows the tree to live much longer than one that has not been coppiced.

Ruth Green
rutharooot@blueyonder.co.uk

The Environment Centre:

The Environment Centre has been designed by Anne Thorne Architects to exemplary sustainable standards, with the local community involved through all stages of the design process. The building is to act as a sustainable learning tool in both its construction, its operation, and the future activities that will take place under its green roof once the building is complete.

The most exciting aspects of this project is the straw bale wall construction. Supported on low impact timber pile foundations, as well as locking CO2 emissions into the very fabric of the building.

The external straw-bale walls are non-load-bearing in this building. Douglas Fir timber columns support the green roof above, and the building design maximises natural light, and is constructed with a tactile palette of natural materials, that include clay plasters ,unfired earth blocks, FSC  timber and robust stone gabions. Raised above the green roof, a Photovoltaic roofing film will power lights and services, as well as  continuing the line of the historic hedgerow below, guiding  local bats to the lake at dusk.

The Environment Centre has also been designed to Passivhaus standards in order minimise the  energy use and  CO2 emissions the building in operation, as well as dramatically reducing the running costs of the building. Passivhaus requires very high levels of air-tightness in construction, low U-values, triple-glazed windows; in the winter, this super-insulated and air-tight  building provides a welcoming and draught-free meeting place, with minimal heating required.

Get involved!

Who?  

The straw bale build of the Environment Centre is being ran by straw bale building expert Barbara Jones,  who will provide a unique opportunity for you to be directly involved in the building’s construction, learning new skills in sustainable construction practice and materials. Everybody is welcome!

When? 

The straw bale building is due to start on the 15^th of August, and will last for 3 weeks. Work will take place Mon-Fri, from 9am-5pm. We have space for 12 volunteers who must be able to commit to 1 week, Mon-Fri, but if you would like to be involved with the whole project, just let us know.

Where?  

The Environmental Centre will be in the heart of the Lordship Recreation Grounds in Tottenham, North London.

If you would like to get involved in this project or find out more don’t hesitate to get back to us at info@back2earth.org

Look forward to hearing from you!

Becky and the Back 2 Earth Team
Rebecca Ahmed
Volunteer and Trainee Co-ordinator
Back 2 Earth
info@back2earth.org
www.back2earth.org.uk

As users of the Rec will know, the Park is an incredible green space in the heart of urban Tottenham, home to an astonishing array of wildlife. 

We have three species of bat, amazing biodiversity in the lake area and currently, visiting Canada Geese.  Even from my office at the Community Centre, I’ve spotted jays, woodpeckers and a sparrow hawk!  There is such a lot of potential for local people to get involved in the Park now and work together to make the Rec an even more welcoming spot for all types of Flora and Fauna.  Certain sections of the Rec already need work to make them more wildlife friendly.  The Lordship Wildlife Group should be an important means of ensuring that biodiversity remains central to the regeneration of this green space and that all can benefit from it – not just us humans!

Next Wednesday!  2nd February! 3.00pm at the Back 2 Earth office, Broadwater Farm Community Centre.

Teas, coffees, refreshments all provided…

Do come along if you have any ideas for promoting biodiversity, a particular area of interest or just want to find out more about wildlife in the Park.  Apologies for the early time, if there is enough demand then meetings can be moved to the evenings

from Felix Waterhouse, Volunteer Co-ordinator at the Rec

This year’s annual Haringey Sustainability Month, coordinated by the Sustainable Haringey network, promises to be the most extensive programme of local green events and widespread publicity ever held in the borough. Throughout the whole month, local residents and community groups, environmental organisations and the Council have organised dozens of events in all corners of Haringey including film shows, festivals, nature walks and talks, practical seminars and workshops, skills sharing, information stalls, social events, bike rides and Dr Bike, visits to eco-homes and plant growing sites, games, meetings, protests, foraging trips, and healthy eating! These events will promote the positive green policies and practices our society urgently needs to adopt to deal with mounting environmental concerns and climate change. Tens of thousands of leaflets are being distributed to publicise the activities.

The full programme of events is set out below, and can be accessed from the home page of www.sustainableharingey.org.uk (please publicise!). By accessing the website, people can get the full details of the events planned, and can also sign up for regular Sustainable Haringey updates.

Sustainable Haringey is a grass-roots community network of local sustainability/transition groups (in Finsbury Park, Tottenham, Crouch End, Highgate, and Muswell Hill), working groups and projects (promoting sustainable food, transport, homes, waste, workplaces/economy etc), backed by over 1,000 residents and 50 Haringey organisations. We are promoting the need for a transition to a sustainable society based on: protection of the earth’s environment; sustainable, low carbon lifestyles and economy based on renewable resources and minimum wastage; strong and stable communities; empowerment of local people; and decisions being made for the long term interests of people and the environment.

What we do today affects the future and maybe even the very survival of our society. We are calling on all residents and local organisations to join in the activities, and to help make the changes needed so that we can create a society which is sustainable for future generations.

Haringey Sustainability Month programme

Sat 29th May – 11am: Meadow Orchard Project   
- Ecological survey presentation by London Wildlife Trust of the unique habitat, trees, plants and animal life at the Meadow Orchard. Followed by continuation of our community design plus preparing their first beds and borders. Behind Hornsey Central Health Centre (through car park), 151 Park Road N8 8JD http://shepherdscothealinggarden.ning.com   Organised by the Meadow Orchard Project

Tues 1st June – 10am-3pm:   BTCV launch Carbon Army
- BTCV national launch of their Carbon Army programme for environmental volunteering throughout the UK. @ Broadwater Farm community centre, 1 Adams Road, N17
www2.btcv.org.uk/display/carbonarmy       Organised by BTCV

Wed 2nd June – 7pm: Green on the Screen
- ‘Agro Rebel’ film show about permaculture farming. + Food / discussion. @ Moors Bar, 57 Park Rd, N8 8SY Local/organic/delicious food and courageous conversations.   http://greenonthescreennorthlondon.ning.com     Organised by Positive Earth

Thurs 3rd June – 7pm-10.30pm: "Collapse"
- A film about overcoming society’s dependency on limited oil supplies @ Green Lens Studios, 4a Atterbury Road N4 1SFwww.greenlenstudios.com   Organised by Green Lens Studios

Fri 4th June – 7pm-9pm: ‘Breathing Buildings’ workshop on creating microclimates for planting.. 
- using waste heat from buildings @ Green Lens Studios, 4a Atterbury Road N4 1SF  www.greenlenstudios.com     Organised by Green Lens Studios

Sat 5th June – 11am-5pm: Springwatch Biodiversity Festival  
- Stalls, food, displays, walks, talks and much more @ Alexandra Palace Park (Western side).   Organised by LBH and BBC.

Sat 5th June - 2pm: Learn about trees and tree preservation orders  
- Starts at Chestnuts Park Community Centre.  Walk & talk – an informal social event. All welcome. www.ttfh.org.uk    Organised by Tree Trust for Haringey

Sun 6th June – 10-4pm: Meadow Orchard Project
- Interactive community design workshop using permaculture principles and tools. Behind Hornsey Central Health Centre (through car park), 151 Park Road N8 8JD  http://shepherdscothealinggarden.ning.com   Organised by the Meadow Orchard Project

Tues 8th to Thur 10th June: Green Roadshow/stall in Shopping City
- Organised by LBH Environmental Resources Team

Wed 9th June – 6.45pm: Sustainable Community Celebration!  
- Stationers Park, N8 (Lower part, entrances from Mayfield or Denton Rd). How do we sustain ourselves to build community? Bring a picnic, stories, songs, poems, instuments etc, anything that inspires and sustains you to share with others. Further Info contact Andy on 07940 291 779. Indoor venue being secured as a ‘fallback’ in case of rain…  chati2009.ning.com Organised by Transition Crouch End

Thur 10th June – 1pm-4pm: Capital Clean-up at Courtman Road allotments   Involving Community Pay-Back workers and a local school. @ 17-19 Courtman Road, N17   Organised by LBH Neighbourhood Management

Fri 11th June: Schools day at Green Fair
- @ Ducketts Common. Schools will be bringing classes for a visit.   Organised by LBH

Sat 12th June - 12noon-5pm: Haringey Green Fair
- @ Ducketts Common.  At Ducketts Common. 40 stalls (including the Sustainable Haringey network), 5 zones – transport, childrens, biodiversity, waste & recycling inc give-and-take area; and low carbon zone with carbon gym… and small stage with brief speakers and film clips. Parade from Wood Green tube 11.30am; solar stage with acts inc Aswad. Ents and refreshments will carry on 5-7pm and segue into World Cup match at 7.30pm, UK’s only biodiesel-powered outdoor world cup screening! Brochure will be carbon-offset with N10ergy. Organised by LBH and others.

Sun 13th June – 10am: Family Bike Ride around some Haringey parks  
- Children and parents especially welcome. Meet 10am in Finsbury Park (by the cafe in the park). The ride will go through Finsbury Park, Chestnuts Park, Downhills Park, Lordship Rec, Alexandra Palace, and Parkland Walk. Suitable for children on bike seats or trailers, and older ones on their own bikes, but they do need to have a little bit of road sense as there will be some road riding on quiet roads. We’ll probably be cycling around 10 miles (or you can drop out on the way) and there will be plenty of playground and café stops during the route. Info: adam@tao.org.uk Organised by Haringey Cycling Campaign + Green Lens Studios

Sun 13th June – 12noon-4pm: Markfield Park festival to celebrate recent improvements there. 
- @ Markfield Park, N15  Organised by LBH and Friends of Markfield Pk

Sat / Sun 12th-13th June: Class Wargames computer-mediated gaming 
- @ HTTP Gallery: http://www.http.uk.net from June for more details. Creating participatory spaces for collective play. The rival teams will be acting our class war strategies, playing each other using physical game sets in their home cities while connected the Net. Six teams worldwide are involved: London, England (HTTP), Nottingham, England (Nottingham Contemporary), Vienna, Austria (Erotic Union), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Descentro), Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA (Black Mirror Studio), Berlin, Germany (Bootlab).

Sat/Sun 12th/13th June – Open Weekend Showcases Eco-Renovation in North London
- As part of the Eco House Weekend, eleven Victorian and Edwardian houses and flats providing examples of good practice in eco-renovation and located in the boroughs of Camden, Haringey, Islington and Hackney will open their doors to the public. All have made substantial progress in cutting their carbon emissions through a variety of measures such as installing new heating systems, fitting double glazing or repairing existing windows, insulating lofts etc. Eco House Weekend is designed to appeal to both house-owners and interested professionals such as architects, surveyors and designers. The houses will be open for varying periods on Saturday 12th June and Sunday 13th June – for details and booking see: www.victeri.co.uk.   £10.00 for entrance to all 11 properties will be charged (£20.00 for professionals), and ticketing is on-line and in advance only. The event is organised by VICTERI, an energy efficiency consultancy specialising in the renovation of Victorian and Edwardian terrace houses.

Tues 15th June – 6.30pm: Sustainable Haringey open meeting
- For all who wish to get actively involved in the borough-wide network co-ordinating Haringey Sustainability Month! Over a thousand residents and 50 community organisations have already affiliated. @ Big Green Bookshop, Brampton Park Road, N8.  Organised by SH network

Wed 16th June – 7pm-9pm: Build Your Own Bike 
- @ Green Lens Studios, 4a Atterbury Road N4 1SF   www.greenlenstudios.com   Organised by Green Lens Studios

Sat 19th June: Tottenham Festival – visit the green and community stalls / activities
- Music, displays, dance, stalls, marquees, food etc. @ Bruce Castle Park, N17  Organised by Tottenham Festival Committee.

Sat 19th June – 11am-1pm: No to nuclear waste trains through Haringey!  
- Protest / stall by Harringay Station, Green Lanes, N4   Trains carrying highly radioactive nuclear waste pass through Haringey each week on the Barking to Gospel Oak line. The building of new nuclear power stations will greatly increase this toxic waste. The Nuclear Trains Action Group will have a stall to publicise and protest against these dangerous transports and unsustainable nuclear power. For more background information see www.nonucleartrains.org.uk. Contact: david.lrcnd@cnduk.org Organised by Nuclear Trains Action Group 

Sat 19th June – 5pm onwards: Meadow Orchard Project
- Summer solstice celebration and presentation of the new community design for the site. Behind Hornsey Central Health Centre, 151 Park Road N8 8JD http://shepherdscothealinggarden.ning.com    Organised by Meadow Orchard Project

Sun 20th June – 11am-9pm: Mid-summer Skills Share celebration. 
- Crafts, knowledge, food, games, discussions, Dr Bike, music and performance, poetry… and much more. 11-1pm: Food, kids stuff   1-2.30pm: Lunch together. 2.30-7pm: Workshops and discussions. 7-9/10pm: Perfomances.   @ Tottenham Chances, 399 Tottenham High Rd, N17 sustottenham.wikispaces.com   Organised by Sustottenham …..  
And……. at 10am: Local foraging and harvesting together! Meet in Tottenham Hale, then on to the Skill Share at Tottenham Chances to share our bounty. Meet 10am, bottom of Mill Mead Rd off Ferry Lane [on 230 & W4 bus route and near Tottenham Hale Tube]   Organised by Urban Harvest

Sun 20th June – 2pm:  Hillfield Street Party, Olympics and EcoSculpture competition. 
- @ Hillfield Park N10. Neighbouring residents welcome.  Organised by Hillfield St James Residents Association

Mon 21st – Fri 25th June – 4pm-7pm: Dr Bike in some Haringey parks   
- Free bike repairs daily, 4-7pm, in various locations during national bike week. Locations to be confirmed.  Organised by Council’s transport team.

Fri 25th and Sat 26th June – 12.30-3pm: Tottenham Food Coop and Community Cafe
- Fresh, organic and fairtrade products for sale + delicious/inexpensive meals cooked by local residents @ Broadwater Farm community centre, 1 Adams Road, N17   http://sustainable-haringey-food-group.wikispaces.com/Tottenham+Food+Coop Organised by Tottenham Food Co-op and Back 2 Earth  

Sat 26th June – 1pm: Protest against BP for their crimes against the environment (climate change, oil spills etc). 
- @ Tottenham Hale BP Garage, Hale Rd N17   Organised by Haringey Solidarity Group   www.haringey.org.uk

Sun 27th June – 12-4pm: Summer Celebration of Growing in Haringey
- visit some key food and plant growing sites    Info: www.growinginharingey.org.uk   Organised by Sustainable Haringey members

Wed 30th June – 7pm-10pm: There was a forest (photo exhibition) 
- @ Green Lens Studios, 4a Atterbury Road N4 1SF  www.greenlenstudios.com    Organised by Green Lens Studios

Woodland

There is an event in the woodland Lordship Rec on Sunday 21st  February at 2pm – 4pm where we shall be doing some clearing of plants,laying of new chippings on the path,and other maintenance.

Please come along and bring any garden tools you may have.

We normally retire to the hut for refreshments and discourse after our exertions.

Look forward to seeing you all there!

Catherine.

at the Broadwater Farm Community Centre, 1 Adams Rd, N17
Volunteers needed to help continue our efforts to thin out some of the bushes and clear the dogweed. Secateurs / shears etc welcome.

THE PROJECT

The Friends of Lordship Rec, supported by BTCV, are planning to make improvements to the park’s lake and have put in a bid to Groundwork’s Big Lottery Fund for £11,500*. [*Final figure, including development costs, subject to agreement.] There is a large build-up of silt and mud in the north-east corner of the water, the silt is smelly, unsightly and affects the quality of water in the lake and the wildlife that inhabits it.  At the same time, the island edge is damaged and the island is being eroded.  The Friends aim to remove the silt from the lake and use it  to restore the island and create a shallow water area beside the island to increase wildlife habitat.

The work will take about three weeks in the winter, a time of year which allows for the minimum disturbance to wildlife. It includes

• Undertaking an ecological survey
• Removal of silt and mud from area
• Restoration of the edges of the island using the silt and clay to stop further erosion
• Planting of aquatic vegetation along the island’s edge and on floating pontoons to help improve the water quality
• Management of the trees on the island to reduce leaf litter and increase light for smaller plants

THE SURVEY RESULTS

We wanted to know what park users and others think about these plans, so produced a 2-sided A4 Questionnaire which we took to the park, to local meetings and public events during July 2009.

115 forms were filled in (as set out below). The results were overwhelmingly in favour of the project, and are summarised below. The original filled-in forms (115) have been retained and are available for view on request.

How far do you live from Lordship Rec?
0-1 miles away 99 [86%]
2-3 miles away   7 [6%]
4-5 miles away   3 [3%]
5-10 miles away   1 [1%]
10 miles +   5 [4%]

Roughly how often do you visit the lake in Lordship Rec?
Every day             22 [19%]
Every few days 36 [31%]
Once a week       19 [17%]
Once a month       17 [15%]
Infrequently       20 [17%]
[ + one person said 'Never']  1  [1%]

Do you think the improvements to the lake would increase your enjoyment of the lake?
Yes                  110 [96%]
No
Maybe                     4 [3%]

Do you think the improvements would help enhance the wildlife of the lake?
Yes                  110 [96%]
No
Maybe                     5 [4%]

Do you think the improvements would make you visit the lake more often?
Yes                  101 [88%]
No                     2 [2%]
Maybe                   10 [9%]

Any other comments to pass to the Big Lottery Fund and/or the Friends of Lordship Rec?

*** Note:  62 COMMENTS WRITTEN – many substantial, and including thoughts about
the park in general. See samples on separate sheet (to follow).

I’d like to receive general email updates from the Friends of Lordship Rec:

*** Note:  26 people signed up to join the Friends