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Local action for a low carbon future
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Hi <<First Name>>
What's new?
What's on | This Month
Tree Planting Event (11th) | Botany Workshop (14th)
Wandle Park Litter Pick (26th) | Squirrels BIG MOVE!
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Fruit tree planted at Phipps Bridge Community Garden - Sponsored by local green business Crown Lane Studio
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News & Info
Find out what we've been up to and keep up to date with sustainability issues in Merton...
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Support Us | Sustainable Merton Membership
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Become a member for an annual fee of just £10!
There are many ways you can, and do, support our work but as we are a charity, we also need funding to continue to succeed. Membership donations are a great way to contribute to our cause and all are greatly appreciated.
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'Better Boilers' scheme has now launched
Applications are now open for Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan's new £1m scheme to help people stay warm and save on their energy bills this winter.
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The pilot scheme, launched on 11th January, will help up to 500 fuel-poor homeowners in London to keep warm this winter by replacing or repairing inefficient or broken boilers with A-rated ultra-low emission appliances and new heating controls. If successful, other such schemes may come from the Greater London Authority.
Find out more about the Better Boilers intiative and check if you are eligible to apply
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Air Quality Update | Tom Walsh, CEO, Sustainable Merton
"On 16th January, I attended a seminar in London to discuss and evaluate important new guidelines on air quality from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NIC).
Air pollution contributes to a myriad of health problems such as asthma, heart disease, dementia and lung cancer. It is these key health issues which provoked the Department of Health to request new guidelines on air quality improvement, as set out by the NIC, and I feel that it is vital that the people of Merton are informed of these health issues as clearly as possible. Sustainable Merton will therefore keep all of our supporters up to date on developments in air quality via a monthly blog, and if you have any questions or concerns about the issue of air quality and would like more information, please do contact us via sustainablemerton@gmail.com."
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Merton Green Drinks
Are you keen to get people together to discuss green issues?
Can you spare some of your time to help restart the Green Drinks group?
Contact Green Coffee Organiser, Joyce Pountain to discuss the possibility of monthly meet-ups at the friendly, community based Sultan Pub, Wimbledon
✉ joycepountain@virginmedia.com
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Snapped! 📷 Sustainable Merton's New Year get-together...
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What would a team night out be without a (slightly awkward) selfie?
L-R: Merton Green Parents organiser Abby, volunteer Hayley and Sustainable Merton's Amy at our New Year social at The Sultan pub, Wimbledon
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Colliers Wood Community Showcase Day
On 21st January, Sustainable Merton joined other local groups to inform Colliers Wood residents about opportunities and advice available to them.
 Our team, including Colliers Wood Community Champion - Justyna, spoke to residents about making simple changes to save energy, water and money on their bills. We gave away around 20 LED bulbs to those wanting to make the switch and shared information on the benefits for bill payers and the environment...
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It's time to get your garden set for spring...
With spring in sight, there's plenty to do indoors and outdoors to prepare for the growing season. Here are Ruth's top tips & jobs to keep you busy this month...
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🌱 Keep paths well maintained
🌱 Prune apple and pear trees while dormant (before early March)
🌱 Harvest sprouts and winter greens
🌱Avoid treading on waterlogged soil
🌱 Plan planting layout, bearing in mind rotation of crops
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🌱 Sow aubergine, artichoke, chilli, and pepper seeds indoors
🌱 Don't sow tomatoes too early, otherwise they will get leggy and straggly before the weather becomes warm enough to harden them off and plant them out
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Despite the cold, our regular volunteers at Phipps Bridge Community Garden kept up their great work last month to prepare and plan the garden for the coming year.
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 It's almost time to grab those litter picks and take to our local streets for Keep Britain Tidy's
GREAT BRITISH SPRING CLEAN (3 - 5 March)
The national campaign aims to bring together people from across the country to clear up the litter that blights our communities. Sustainable Merton have teamed up with Merton Council to support a number of litter picks across the borough and WE NEED YOU to JOIN IN to help give Merton its big spring clean!
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Wassail Winner for Mitcham Community Orchard & Gardens!
Congratulations to the Mitcham Orchard team for hosting a wonderful Wassail for the local community to celebrate the orchard’s crop for the new year.
Michelle and the Sustainable Merton team were among the many local volunteers and organisations to support the event and we are very pleased that the evening was such a success! 250 people came from near and far to enjoy the fantastic variety of entertainment, with some making a great effort with their dazzling traditional costumes.
Follow Mitcham Community Orchard and Gardens for a full review and photos!
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Photo: Muzaffer Tahir, Community Champion, Sustainable Merton
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Change of contact information for Parks and Open Spaces
As of Wednesday 1st February, horticultural specialist idverde are now responsible for providing ground maintenance services across all of Merton’s parks and cemeteries.
Changes have therefore been made to the staffing in Merton Council’s Parks and Greenspaces and Leisure and Culture teams within the Environment and Regeneration department. Contact details for enquiries can be found HERE.
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 Green Academies Plot-to-Plate Traineeship
Applications for this exciting opportunity are still open!
GAP traineeships help young people to develop vital skills needed for paid apprenticeships or employment in conservation or horticulture.
Learn more about planning a vegetable plot, composting, sowing seeds, integrated pest management, harvesting, selling produce and more!
Find out more about this opportunity and the many benefits of taking part
Deadline: Monday 20th February | ✉ Hattie.Clayton@nationaltrust.org.uk
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 Fundraising Volunteer
4 - 6 hrs/wk | Flexible home/office working
Take a look at the role description to find out more about this great opportunity!
Enquiries: ✉ amy.sustainablemerton@gmail.com | 📞 020 3417 0476
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Squirrels Community Scrap Scheme
The Squirrels team urgently need volunteers to help with their big move!
The treasured recycling hub is relocating and lots of help is  needed with decorating, building work, clearing weeds and more... |
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You can also support this worthy cause by making a small donation to help raise funds for essential storage containers. Find out more...
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Advertising a volunteer role, apprenticeship or job vacancy within the Green Sector? Please email amy.sustainablemerton@gmail.com to let us know and we will share these great opportunities!
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Dates For Your Diary
Get involved at local events organised by ourselves & other organisations
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 Saturday 11th February, 10am - 1pm
Tree Planting Event
Meet at the front of Haydons Road Station, SW19
Help Tree Warden Patrick Battersby gap up hedge at one one of this month's many tree planting days with the Tree Warden Group Merton.
Browse the group's February calendar of events for more opportunities to join in!
Contact: ✉ enquiries@treewardensmerton.org.uk | 📞 07773 406105
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 Tuesday 14th February, 10am - 4pm
Your 5 a day - Your Senses (4+ yrs) South London Botanical Institute
323 Norwood Road, London SE24 9AQ
A chance for children to see, touch, smell, taste and hear the botany on their plate! More.. Booking essential
Contact: ✉ info@slbi.org.uk | 📞 020 8674 5787 |
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 Wandle Park Litter Pick
Sunday 26th February | 11am - 1pm
Calling all #LitterHeroes! Merton Green Party is organising another litter pick in Wandle Park and your help is needed to collec recyclable materials. Volunteers will be meeting at Colliers Wood tube station at 11am.
Contact ✉ killicktom@hotmail.com | 📞 07821 882380
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Click HERE for events calendars & newsletters from local groups
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If you have any news or events you would like us to share with our supporters, please contact sustainablemerton@gmail.com
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Regular Events
Local events taking place each week/month...
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Green Coffee
1st Tuesday of the month (usually), 9.30 - 11am, Wibbas Down Inn,
6 Gladstone Road, Wimbledon SW19 1QT
Get together to discuss local environmental and community news. Everyone is welcome. Please check the date and venue of the next meeting and download the latest Green Coffee newsletter HERE. Enquiries: joycepountain@virginmedia.com
Phipps Bridge Community Garden
Every Wednesday morning (weather dependent), 10am - 2pm (well deserved tea & cake break at 12.30pm)
Are you keen to get involved in community food growing in Merton? Join the Dig Merton team to enjoy the benefits of working on local land. Enquiries: Gillian - 07956170141.
Nelson Gardens
Every first Saturday of the month, 10am - 12pm, High Path SW19 2JY
Join the High Path Community Association team to help maintain the garden and historic land. Enquiries: Cypren - highpath@live.co.uk / 07772 999870
Mitcham Community Orchard & Gardens
Every last Saturday of the month, Fieldgate Lane, Mitcham CR4 3AL
Help local residents and volunteers maintain and develop this beautiful and educational community resource for all to enjoy. Enquiries: mitchamorchard@gmail.com
Lavender Avenue Community Gardens
Sundays, 11am - 1pm, Lavender Avenue/Mortimer Road, Mitcham CR4 3HH
Join your local community gardening group to help grow fruit, vegetables and flowers. Enquiries: Michelle - kolattek@hotmail.com / 07733 266073
Christchurch Community Garden
Fridays, 10am - 12pm, 58 Christchurch Road, Colliers Wood SW19 2NY
Join local volunteers at the weekly workday to help with general maintenance and upkeep of the garden. Please contact Lesley via lesleygelbart@aol.com
/ 020 8544 9511 beforehand to let her know you will be coming along.
Merton Green Parents
Every Wednesday, 10.30am, Coffee in the Wood, 99 High Street, Colliers Wood SW19 2JF
Merton Green Parents is the perfect group for people who want to make their parenting journey a more sustainable one. For more information about meet up times and to join the group, follow Merton Green Parents on Facebook or Twitter (@MGreenParents).
Wimbledon Beekeepers' Association
1st Monday of the month, 7.30pm, The Snuff Mill, Morden Hall Park, Morden Hall Road, Morden SM4 5JD
Sign up for a beginners’ course and enjoy educational and social events for members. For more information about beekeeping or joining the Association please contact: The Chairman - chairman@wimbledonbeekeepers.co.uk / 020 3286 2896 or
The Secretary - secretary@wimbledonbeekeepers.co.uk / 0774 785 0940.
Website: wimbledonbeekeepers.co.uk
Wimbledon Farmers Market
Every Saturday, 9am-1pm, Wimbledon Park Primary School, Havana Road, SW19 8EJ
A chance to get your groceries direct from local farmers.
Visit the Facebook page or telephone 020 7833 0338 for more details.
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Visit sustainablemerton.org for more information about each event
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Share our newsletter with friends...
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Comments & Suggestions
We always love to know what our supporters think of the work that we are doing and we would really appreciate your feedback on our monthly newsletters... What did you like about it? What else would you have liked it to contain? Please email your thoughts/suggestions to sustainablemerton@googlemail.com. Thank you! |
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All the best from the Sustainable Merton team!
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