Welcome to Northfield Ecocentre’s December newsletter. Weend the year with a lot to celebrate - the planting of 515 newtrees, distribution of local fruit to children’s centres, featuringon BBC Midlands Today, lots of hard work on our new communitygarden, the start of theGreen Deal and lots more!

December Newsletter2012

@northfieldecoSeasons greetings,

www.facebook.com/northfieldecocentre

Ecocentre on TV!

We are planting 515 additional fruit trees andbroad leaf whips on 7 new sites in SouthBirmingham . Look out for them at Manor FarmPark, Woodgate Valley Park, Leyhill Park,Oddingley Hall, Victoria School, Rubery Nurseryand Northfield Quaker Meeting House. That’s atotal of 1072 trees so far! Our target is to plant1400 trees, so if you would like an orchard now isthe time to get in touch before it’s too late.

Over the next few years these will blossom anddevelop fruit for the local community to pick andeat.

Tree Planting Update

It's supposed to have been the worstharvest for more than twenty years, butit's not only having an impact on farmers.Hundreds of people in urban areas acrossthe Midlands benefit from free fruit andvegetables provided by charity harvestschemes each year, but the amount ofsupport they can provide has beencurtailed by the weather. Katie Rowlettreports for BBC Midlands Today.

Watch Us Here:www.facebook.com/northfieldecocentreor http://tinyurl.com/breumnu

Our Fruit Harvesting project

on BBC Midlands Today!

Seasons greetings & thank you to all our volunteers, staff & supporters

Stakes are put in the ground at Manor Farm Park

Half a tonne of locally harvested fruit was

distributed to children’s centres,

local volunteers & Stirchley Stores

Northfield Community Garden Update

For info 0121 448 0119 www.northfieldecocentre.org/foodgrowing

www.facebook.com/groups/ediblenorthfield

Tuesday 11 December, 10am - 12.30pmSunday 9 December, 2pm - 4pm

Tuesday 18 December. 10am - 12.30pmWednesday 9 January, 10am - 12.30pm

Directions Lindsey Avenue is just off the Bunbury Road (Northfield, B31).Look for land behind big metal gates. Google Maps: http://goo.gl/maps/0SZMb

Masefield Community Garden, Lindsey Avenue, Northfield, B31Local volunteers have been workinghard to develop the community gardenon Lindsey Avenue despite the winterweather. We are looking for localpeople to get involved and share in theproduce. Come with ideas, suitableclothing, shoes and a waterproof.Children are welcome but should haveparental supervision.

Work Days

Composting - Saturday 19 January, 2 - 4pmBuilding Raised Beds - Sunday 3 February, 2 - 4pmFruit Tree Pruning - Thursday 14 February, 2 - 3.30pmFruit Tree Grafting - Thursday 21 February, 2 - 3.30pm

Booking Essential. Call : 0121 448 0119

Photo: Planting dwarf broad beansin raised beds

Workshops take place at

Masefield Community Garden

Exciting FREE workshopsfor 2013

This project is funded by the Community Learning InnovationFund through Northfield Volunteer Timebank. All volunteersjoin the time bank and can access lots of benefits includingfree training, support with CVs, receive discounts to leisureservices or get involved in free hobby days, and communityevents.

Exciting NewsWe are partnering with the Green Gym projectrun by The Conservation Volunteers. Oursessions will be run as green gym sessions toimprove health and physical fitness whilegrowing food, learning new skills and having fun!

Find out more: www.tcv.org.uk

Father Christmas will becoming to MasefieldCommunity Gardens!

Saturday 15th December,

10.30am to 12.30pm

Come along for:

Hot Chocolate Natural Crafts Mince Pies

Meet F.C. You can find out how to get involvedwith the community garden too!

Ecokids activities at our Christmas event making winter paper lanterns & Christmascandle holders. Dress the Christmas Tree & carols in Victoria Common

Call 0121 448 0119 to let us know you are coming. Aged 3 - 8yrs.Adults to accompany.

Ecokids at Christmas

The prize will be judged by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham and Birmingham and Black CountryCommunity Foundation Trustee, Shameila Ahmed. We hope to expand our environmental workwith families, schools, home school groups , children’s centres, colleges and local groups byrunning practical workshops to help them make sustainable living choices. We also hope todevelop a youth programme setting challenges for secondary school students to meet throughperformance, song or presentation. School winners will come to a judged regional heat inBirmingham city centre .

Recently our Sewing & Crafts group took over the ActivityZone at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery onChamberlain Square for the second time this year,displaying the progress on the Community Quilt andinviting visitors to join in.

We had a lot of fun and many amazing squares werecreated. There is still time for yours!

Jubilee Community Quilt

We launched the Community Quilt project inJune this year to commemorate the Queen’sJubilee our own way.

LAST CALL FOR SQUARESBefore the end of 2012 and the Jubilee year!

The quilt displays 60 years of environmentalchanges, international, local, good or bad, it’sup to you. What we request is that you onlyuse recycled materials to make your squares.So bring your old shirts, fancy but brokenjewellery, colourful plastic bits...everything’s allowed as long as you’re givingan old bit a new life!

Saturday 1 December, from 3pm

The Ecocentre has been short-listed for the Love of GoodAwards, a prize of £5000 forvolunteers, community groupsand charities in the West Midlands.

Birmingham Energy Savers& the Green Deal Beginning

If you are interested in saving energy in your home then you do the following:

1. Fill out the Energy Saving Questionnaire on our web site, or contact us on 0121 448 0119.

2. We will book you a FREE Green Deal Assessment.

3. You will be given a report highlighting what can be done in your home, estimated costs and fundingavailable to you.

4. You give this report to a Green Deal Provider such as Birmingham Energy Savers or the Energy Sav-ing Co-op.

5. They then provide you with a quote telling you exact costs and funding available.

6. If you like what you see then you get them to come and do the work.

What Happens?

After all the talk, all the planning and preparation,pilot schemes and research the Green Deal is about to

arrive!

The Green Deal is a package of funding, loansystems and industry standards that thegovernment has developed, all aimed at makingenergy saving in the home easier for everyone.

What is the Green Deal?

To encourage people to take up the Green Deal thegovernment has offered a cash back scheme of upto £1,000 for Go-Early customers, and BirminghamEnergy Savers are offering up to 95% of the work forfree for their first set of customers!

For more details about all of the information above please go to our web sitewww.northfieldecocentre.org I Email: advice@northfieldecocentre.org I Call us on: 0121 448 0119

Go-Early Give away!

Address: 53 Church Road, Northfield, Birmingham, B31 2LB (behind Oulsnams)Phone: 0121 448 0119 Email: enquiries@northfieldecocentre.orgWebsite: www.northfieldecocentre.org Twitter: @northfieldeco

Central England Area Quaker MeetingCharities Registered Charity No. 224571

In the Spotlight...

Date Time Event DescriptionTues 11December

10am to12.30pm

Community GardenWork Day

Join us to transform our new community garden on LindseyAvenue in Northfield (Off Bunbury Rd, B31). Meet there.Adults to accompany children. Wear suitable clothing.

Sunday 9December

2pm to4pm

Community WorkDay

Join us to transform our new community garden on LindseyAvenue in Northfield (Off Bunbury Rd, B31). Meet there.Adults to accompany children. Wear suitable clothing.

Tues 18December

10am to12.30pm

Community GardenWork Day

Join us to transform our new community garden on LindseyAvenue in Northfield (Off Bunbury Rd, B31). Meet there.Adults to accompany children. Wear suitable clothing.

22 December 2012 - 8 January 2013No public events or group activities will take place at the Ecocentre over the Chirstmas period.

2013 Workshop DatesSat 19 January 2 - 4pm Gardening Workshop Composting Workshop at our Lindsey Ave community garden

Sun 3 February 2 - 4pm Gardening Workshop Building Raised Beds Workshop at Lindsey Avenue garden

Thurs 14February

2 - 3.30pm Gardening Workshop Fruit Tree Pruning workshop at our Lindsey Avenue garden

Thurs 21 February

2 - 3.30pm Gardening Workshop Fruit Tree Grafting workshop at our Lindsey Avenue garden

Diary Dates Weekly groupsGardening: Thurs 10 - 12 noon

Sewing & Crafts: Fri 10 - 12 noon

Public Opening10am - 5pm

Tuesday to Friday

DamienBennett!

Hello everybody my name is Damien and I am the new apprentice at Northfield Ecocentre.My primary role at the Ecocentre is working on the community food growing project,Incredible Edible Northfield. I also assist with the current day to day running by providing anyassistance that I can. I am thoroughly enjoying my time here as it is a wonderful workenvironment and the staff are always friendly and welcoming.

With the food growing project at Masefield Community Garden I help local volunteers find out how togrow their own food. I work with the gardening group that comes to the Ecocentre every Thursdaymorning. With the assistance of the Ecocentre I am hoping to further my hands on skills in gardeningand my knowledge of horticulture. Recently I have gained a First aid certificate supported by theEcocentre and am working towards a City and Guilds qualification in Energy Awareness.

Saturday market stalls still available.Call Liz Newton for details of how to

book. 0121 411 2157