Our Sustainability Festival is over - thanks to everyone involved - but we have plenty to keep you motivated on your sustainability journey! Welcome to this month’s newsletter.
Our regular programme of events can be found here.
What's Coming Up?
Get Inspired!
Get Involved!
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Welcome to new readers this month: enjoy this month’s news, and please also take a look at our website for updates and previous newsletters. If you’d like to get in touch, we always love to hear from you. And stay up-to date on our social media (links below).
Newsletter Editor: Philip Nalpanis
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#SustFest22 is over for another year, but what a great year we’ve had! The businesses and community groups of St Albans City and District have hosted over 50 different events attended by more than 500 people. It kicked off on 15 May at the Harpenden Sustainability Market, a fun-filled, family day out, opened by Harpenden's Mayor Elect Lisa Scrivens and her family, with sustainable shopping, vegetarian food and music attracting hundreds of visitors. The festival continued with great energy offering a huge variety of sustainably minded activities from walking and gardening to bread baking, knitting and painting. A huge thank-you to all our volunteers, attendees, events organisers and Project Team for making this fortnight such a fabulous success!
It was well reported in the Herts Advertiser: read about the preview here, the launch here and various events here, here and here.
Watch out for photos on our blog page. |
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Find out how to apply to close your road for play and community building up to 8 times per year in St Albans District. Come to a free information session on Wednesday 15 June, 8.00 pm or Monday 20 June, 10.30 am. Book here or find out more information about the scheme here.
We would also like to thank St Albans City and District Council and Hertfordshire County Councillors whose grants have allowed our Playing Out team to support more than 70 street parties for the Queen’s Jubilee with Road Closed signs and pavement chalk. See their blog with ideas for your street party here.
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B uilding and living in a Passive House - one Harpenden resident's real-life experience
Thursday 23 June, 8.00 - 9.00 pm
Harpenden resident Linda built an incredible new home to Passive House standards. Join her online to hear what she learned and perhaps be inspired to consider your own home improvements too. One hour including Q&A. Register in advance here.
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Creating a Community-Resilient Future Now
Saturday 25 June 12.30 - 5.00 pm at St Albans Museum
What do we need now to create a better future locally? Come and listen to an inspiring vision for how we can adapt to a changing world, then join the conversation and share your views. For individuals, business owners, and community leaders.
With guest speaker Prof Rupert Read, Author, Campaigner and Strategist, plus expert guest panellists including Sustainable St Albans trustee Catherine Ross.
This event is hosted by the HEART (Hertfordshire Enabling and Adapting for Resilience Together) Community Group. Free to attend - book here.
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Sustainable Agriculture and  Research at Rothamsted
Monday 11 July 7.30 - 9.30 pm
Rothamsted Research
Join a guided walk around this world-famous agricultural research facility, followed by a lively discussion in a local pub. Meet at the car park by the restaurant at Rothamsted Research at 7.25pm for a 7.30pm start. See website for further details.
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Harpenden Sustainability Market
Sunday 17 July 10.00 am - 3.00 pm
Harpenden Common
A range of stalls showcasing the local and sustainable. From eco essentials to gifts to food to eco care products, everyone can be inspired to live more sustainably. Future dates and details can be found on our website.
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Open Food Garden
Sunday 24 July 3.00 - 5.00 pm
23 Gresford Close, St Albans, AL4 0UB
Come visit a local garden and pick up some tips about growing your own food, or share your own ideas. New gardeners and seasoned professionals are all welcome at this free event! More details on our website.
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 Take Action with Count Us In: Fly less!
Choosing to fly less can reduce your carbon pollution by up to 50% each year. So when you’re planning your summer holiday, could you consider travelling in a different way this year?
Short-haul flights emit more carbon dioxide per mile than long-haul and there are many high-speed alternatives too: one return flight from Luton to Paris emits 200 kg CO2e compared to around 10 kg by Eurostar. A thoroughly engaging video takes it one steps further with the exploits of Jo Kibble seeing how far he could travel from St Pancras in 24 hours.
The UK is well placed to enjoy most of Europe without having to board a plane: with such a simple step, it’s easy to see why Fly Less is one of Count Us In’s 16 steps that have the most impact to reduce your carbon footprint.
Our resources to inspire you share a wealth of information about options and ideas to think differently about travel. If you are an employer, would it be possible to consider an additional day’s holiday to allow staff to travel more sustainably? Let us know how you get on!
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Featured in the national press:
Our Thermal Imaging Camera
Our highly popular thermal imaging camera made its debut in the national press last month in an article highlighting low cost ways to improve your home’s efficiency. More than 100 people borrowed one of our thermal imaging cameras last winter and we’re gearing up for another busy season when the cooler weather returns. The borrowing season may be over, but check out our resources for steps you can take now to insulate your home and make it more energy efficient. helping to keep it cooler in the summer and warmer come the winter.
If you’ve hired our camera and want to share your experience to inspire others, do get in touch.
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 Join our Community Lottery!
We now have a St Albans District Community Lottery page which allows you to support Sustainable St Albans and win prizes of up to £25,000! 50% of all tickets sold from our page go to us plus 10% goes to other local good causes. Tickets only cost £1 per week and there are often special prizes like this month’s chance to win a Forest Holiday worth £1,000 for tickets purchased before 25 June! Click here to buy your tickets and support our work all year round.
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Volunteers wanted
Did you know Sustainable St Albans is run entirely by volunteers? Our work is more important than ever, and we need your skills and time to help us continue to create real change in our community. Whether it's our award-winning SustFest, behind the scenes tech, social media sharing, marquee erecting or fundraising, we are looking for volunteers across all roles and all time commitments for all of our projects.
Spotlight on Markets
Right now, we are looking for:
- Enthusiastic individuals who can help us once a month in person on our Sustainability Markets;
- Someone who can offer a few hours in person on Sundays to assist with promoting our activity on our stall;
- Someone to marshall stallholders during setup and takedown;
- Help erecting banners, marquees and moving materials (some physical activity will be required: full training provided).
If you’d like to volunteer but are not able to manage physical contributions, just let us know.
Have a look at all our opportunities here or get in touch for a discussion on what you’d like to achieve with us!
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Calling local eco businesses!
Pitches are available at the Harpenden Sustainability Market on the 18th July. We’d particularly welcome an eco-friendly drinks stall/van. See here for stallholder booking information. The closing dates for completed applications is 26 June.
We are also looking for a volunteer to organise performers and for volunteer ‘unplugged’ performers. Offers of an eco-friendly amplification system would be great too! Contact us here.
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United Nations Association
London and South East Region Summer Council
Saturday 9 July, 10.30 am - 5.00 pm
Salvation Army Hall, Leyton Green, Harpenden AL5 2TG
This day long event sees guest speakers from academic institutions, charities and non governmental organisations presenting on the Impact, Reports and Solutions related to Climate Change. For more information and to attend, please register for your free place.
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