Home and Garden

Not before time, central government at last recognises the importance of Allotments and the link with sustainable food production, community involvement, wildlife and health issues. A recently published report Growing in the Community: Good practice Guide for the Management of Allotments, DETR/LGA/Shell Better Britain Campaign is available from IdeA Publications Sales, price £20! Tel: 020 7297 6000 or Fax: 020 7296 6666

Contact your local council on the numbers below if you wish to rent an allotment.

Maidenhead 01628 798888
Windsor 01753 855173
Reading 0118 939 0900 See also www.reading-city.net/tilehurstallotments
Slough 01753 875574
Wokingham 0118 978 3185
West Berkshire 01635 42400

Global Action Plan, which originated the Action at Home programme, was established in the UK in 1993. It has helped thousands of people throughout the country to take practical environmental action at home, at work and in schools.

You receive five packs over five months - each contains a step-by-step guide with money-saving ideas and special offers, children's activities and campaign postcards. The topics are Reducing your rubbish, A new way to shop, Saving water, Keep on moving and Saving energy. To sign up contact Global Action Plan or visit the website www.globalactionplan/org/uk/

Berkshire Organic Gardeners hold regular meetings in Reading. Open to anybody interested in organic methods of horticulture. Members receive regular newsletters, advice from committee members, and the opportunity to attend talks and demonstrations. Full details of membership and activities from Dave Bell on 0118 959 6758.

If you don't have your own patch of ground but would like to get gardening then join the volunteers at the unique RISC Roof Garden in Reading on the last weekend of the month.

Don't waste all that organic matter - make a compost heap! All Berkshire Councils offer special discounts on compost bins. If you're keen to learn the art of compost making there may be a course happening near you; try the Local Wildlife Trust who may be able to help. Or contact Maidenhead Friends of the Earth on 01628 416538 to book a talk on home composting.

It's simple to cut fuel bills by not wasting energy in the home. To find out how check out the grants and assistance available for energy saving initiatives in your area now.

The new Microgeneration Certification Scheme takes over where the Clear Skies Government initiative took off.

TV Energy - a not for profit renewable energy agency dedicated to promotion, education, facilitation and development of renewable energy in the Thames Valley region. Contact: ian.bacon@tvenergy.org Phone: 01635 817420 

Thames Valley Energy Centre, part of the national network of 52 Energy Efficiency Advice Centres in the UK, is offering a free energy check to householders in Berkshire, to encourage them to conserve energy at home.

The Home Energy Check is a way of assessing the energy efficiency of your home. By completing this simple questionnaire on-line, you will receive a personalised report on energy saving in your home plus details of any local grants or schemes.

Slough based British Eco offer a range of energy-saving goods and services for use around the home and garden. E-mail georgina.holt@britisheco.com for a 5% discount.

Thinking of installing a renewable energy heating system? Then check out www.sprintbio.com based in Princes Risborough.

For environmentally friendly insulation products check out www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk

One of the easiest things to do is to switch to a Green Energy scheme which supports the generation of power from renewables and helps cut back on fossil fuel emissions. At the same time conservation and wildlife benefits directly from land purchases in the UK and other projects to offset the effects of global warming.

RSPB Energy, launched at the end of 1999, is now supplying over 10,000 households and is run with Scottish and Southern Energy. For every customer who switches over for both electricity and gas RSPB Energy contributes £20 to conservation projects. Prices remain competitive with major suppliers. For general enquiries phone the RSPB Energy welcomeline 0800 0288 free or visit: www.rspbenergy.co.uk

WWF teamed with green electricity supplier, Ecotricity, to help reduce UK's CO2 emissions. For every new customer that signs up, Ecotricity will donate £15 to WWF and plant a native tree in Gloucestershire. Please switch, it won't cost you any extra, Ecotricity will match the price of your local provider. Sign up online at www.ecotricity.co.uk or call Ecotricity free on 08000 326 100.

Energy provider unite[e], ranked No 1 in 2001 and 2002 by Friends of the Earth, sources energy from small-scale hydropower and wind farms across the UK. Find out more at www.unit-e.co.uk/

Save water, save on water bills! For a simple DIY rainwater harvesting system go to www.reducewaterbills.co.uk Contact: James Gladwyn at jamesgladwyn@btconnect.com or tel: 01628 633844 / 07980 445201 

Loddon Environmental Solutions supply and install rainwater harvesting and mini sewage treatment plants for residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural clients. Contact: greigbartram@btinternet.com, or tel: 07917 623333

British Eco also sell rainwater harvesting gadgets.

How wildlife friendly is your garden? Would you like help and advice on how to make your garden more attractive to wildlife? The Wildlife Gardeners' Challenge asks you to fill out a survey card and monitor the changes after a year to see how you've managed to encourage a greater variety of species to your garden. Contact the Berkshire Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust for your pack on how to get started.