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It's Great Big Green Week and people across the country have been stepping up and making changes to reduce their carbon footprint and help protect the planet from climate change.
Thank you to everyone who has pledged to make a change in their daily lives that will benefit everyone - whether it be buying products with less plastic, eating less meat, recycling more or even having a go at growing their own fruit and vegetables!
Small, individual changes to our lifestyles add up and can have a profound impact in tackling climate change.
Earlier today we hosted a number of events in support of Car Free Day - guided nature walks at Fishponds Park and Elmbridge Meadows, the Beeline Way naming ceremony, guided sculpture walk, a performance by Castle Hill School, bike trials and check ups by our Dr Bike service. Thank you to everyone who attended!
I’m also really excited that we’ll soon be able to share our draft Climate Action Plan with you. In October, we’ll be asking for feedback from across the borough to help hone the actions we plan to take to reduce our carbon footprint. We’ll be sharing information about how to take part in the coming weeks.
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Councillor Stephanie Archer,
Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainable Transport
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Electric vehicle chargers
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Would you like to learn more about the traditional hay meadow management technique of scything? This is an opportunity for those with and without experience to undertake free scything training, to help celebrate our natural heritage and also improve our grassland habitats.
Register for a session and watch the video which the Local Government Association made about a session earlier in the year.
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Moo-ved by nature? Become a cow monitor!
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This year Kingston will see the introduction of conservation grazing for the first time in recent memory.
We are looking to recruit volunteers to support the daily monitoring of cows. Register your interest.
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If you and your family are keen to start cycling, take a look at the Peddle My Wheels Try Before You Bike scheme.
It's a flexible, affordable, supportive bike scheme that allows you to try out a new or nearly new bike for a small monthly fee.
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Veolia Sustainability Fund
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Calling all community groups, schools, and residents!
If you are passionate about making a more sustainable Kingston, apply for funding, resources or volunteers from Veolia's Sustainability Fund.
Applications are open until 31 October.
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There's been a lot of talk in the press about energy price rises from 1 October. So now might be a good time to take a look at the Big London Energy Switch website and see if you can secure a good price.
You can also help save the planet by switching to a green electricity tariff. It takes minutes to register your interest without any obligation.
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If you're looking for information about how to reduce your energy use, cut your carbon emissions and lower your bills, take a look at the Energy Saving Trust's website.
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Grab a jab at Market House in the Market Square this Saturday (25 September).
No need to book - just walk into the Market House, right in the heart of Kingston, before 5pm. Pfizer vaccines will be available for everybody 16+.
Visit www.kingston.gov.uk/vaccine for all the walk-ins across and close to Kingston.
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Did you know that there are outdoor table tennis tables around Kingston where you can simply bring your paddles and table tennis balls and play! They can be found at; Churchfields Recreation Ground, Elm Road Open Space and on the Cambridge Road Estate. You can also play at Chessington Sports Centre Thursday evenings between 7pm and 9pm.
If you fancy a challenge, why not try StreetTT, which is the first ever mobile and web application to connect outdoor table tennis players into an online table tennis league.
Between 1 September and 30 October, the StreetTT team will be at these sites to help get you started.
Churchfields Recreation Ground
Every Thursday 5PM – 6PM
Chessington Sports Centre
Every Thursday 7PM – 9PM
Elm Road Open Space
Every Sunday 1PM – 3PM
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Award-winning architects to deliver a leisure centre fit for the future
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The council has appointed market-leading architects FaulknerBrowns, who have a track record of delivering exceptional leisure centres, to design a leisure facility in Kingston that is accessible, provides high quality facilities, is environmentally sustainable, and celebrates the borough’s rich heritage and history. Find out more on our website.
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Borough-wide Community Grants are now open for applications!
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Grants of up to £3,000 are available to fund projects, activities and events that will benefit communities across the borough. Applications can be made until 17 October.
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Kingston Libraries Digital Day
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Would you like to explore exciting digital technologies for children and young people? Try a banana piano or have a go at making and coding a step counter, build a Lego robot or a Scratch workshop!
Join us for a fun, drop-in, family day exploring digital technologies at Kingston Library (Fairfield Road, Kingston upon Thames KT1 2PS) on 9 October 11am to 3pm.
Recommended for families with children aged 7 to 11 years old.
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Defining a vision for the future of the borough
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In June 2020, we worked with our key partners to reflect on the past year and to help us understand the impacts of the ongoing pandemic on our borough.
The project identified an appetite among the council, partners and community organisations to build on the new relationships and behaviours developed during the COVID-19 response and find ways to continue them longer-term. Our aim is now to define a vision for the future of the borough for the next 20 years to 2040.
It’s essential that this new vision is based on the needs and aspirations of our communities, and your thoughts and ideas are a crucial part of this exciting project.
Have your say online by 30 September.
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Your vote, your voice! Register to vote this week
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What takes five minutes and makes a big difference to London?
Registering to vote!
This week is London Voter Registration Week, so there’s no better time to do it.
Register online.
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Surveys closing soon - have your say on the future of Kingston
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Four surveys are closing at the end of the month, so grab a cuppa and take some time to join the conversations.
We need to hear your aspirations and ideas to inform a new Local Plan and Community Vision for the borough.
We also want to make sure the voices of carers are at the centre of a new Kingston Carers' Strategy and we want your thoughts on our plans to extend our protection of shops from being converted into housing, through a control called an Article 4 Direction.
Click on any of the links above to be taken directly to each online survey page.
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Follow Kingston Council on social media
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Follow us on social media to keep up to date with the latest information on council services, local events and borough news.
You can find us on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Nextdoor, Linkedin and Youtube.
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Where to find the latest information and guidance
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