365 Ways to Help the Planet - Part 2
As humans, we rely on the environment for everything, from the air we breathe to the food we eat. However, our actions have taken a toll on the planet, leading to environmental challenges that threaten the very foundation of our existence. The good news is that we can all play a role in protecting the environment, even with small changes in our daily routines. By making conscious decisions and taking simple actions, we can help preserve the natural world for generations to come. In this blog series, we’re sharing 365 ways to help the planet, with each post exploring different ways to make a positive impact on the environment. So, let's dive in and start making a difference today!
In Part 1 of 365 Ways to Help the Planet we shared a variety of tips, recommended suppliers of eco-friendly products and actions you can take in your community.
See the latest daily ways to help the planet on our Instagram Page.
32. Imagine a car free city.
What would that look like? This month Climate Charity Possible launched their vision for a Car Free Tooting. This was a grassroots campaign, working with local residents to understand how they see the future of Tooting Broadway. The evening offered a variety of speakers and a panel discussion. Jo Rigby - Wandsworth Council envisioning a London where children can walk to school safely on their own and play in the streets outside their houses. Shazia, one of the workshop participants who helped to inspire the visions, was drawn to the project because of its diversity and desire to make Tooting more accessible for everyone. Zenaba also participated in the workshops and imagined a world where there are green places to stop along the way with your children, to rest and enjoy the outdoors. We heard from Isabelle, Director of Wheels 4 Wellbeing who wanted to share her lived and professional experience with us. Isabelle hopes to change the narrative that 'car free' means harder for disabled people and share with people who might not otherwise have considered the difficulties disabled people face on the streets of London.
33. Use Green Poop Bags
Green Poop Bags are specially designed for dog and cat owners to make the stinky job easier and Mother Earth happier. They are 100% NATURALLY BIODEGRADABLE and HOME COMPOSTABLE making then the real eco-friendly option for responsible poop pickers.Made from corn and sugar starch blend (by-product), they have been TUV and EN 13432 tested and certified to degrade in the UK climate within 3-6 months into entirely natural elements... NO MICROPLASTICS = ZERO WASTE (Yay!)
34. Create Art
Art is a personal gift that changes the recipient. The medium doesn't matter. The intent does. Art is a personal act of courage, something one human does that creates change in another.
This month our Green Influencers have to creating a wonderful mural with the help of artist Michelle Meola.
35. Explore some Slow Ways
Take part in creating a network of walking routes that connect all of Great Britain’s towns and cities. Imagine a network of walking routes as direct and reliable as the road network, but much nicer. Volunteers all over the country have already drafted it!
Slow Ways is an innovative project that aims to establish a nationwide network of walking routes connecting all towns, cities, and thousands of villages in Great Britain. By utilising pre-existing paths, trails, and roads, Slow Ways enables people to walk or wheel between neighboring settlements and even create longer distance journeys by combining different routes. The initiative is designed to make planning and embarking on walking journeys much more accessible and convenient for everyone. Currently, the Slow Ways network boasts over 8,000 routes covering a distance of more than 120,000 kilometers.
Now these handmade, crowd-sourced routes need checking. Can you help? Just choose a route, walk it, and review it – that's all!
36. Donate your Sunday Shave
This might be more one for the chaps. We’re sure most guys will happily go a weekend without shaving. Shaving also uses a lot of water. In fact, according to the USGS Water Science School, you use an average of one full gallon of water while shaving. So let’s say the average completely shaven guy shaves Monday through Friday for work – that’s five gallons of water wasted per week, 20 per month, and 240 gallons per year. Put down the razor and you’re conserving a substantial amount of water throughout your lifetime. If you want to go full beardsman that’s a benefit twofold – the beardsman saves tons of cash over months and years, and the planet benefits from less waste from the used razors. In Great Britain alone, an estimated 5.45 million people used disposable razors, while 13.36 million used refillable razors in 2020. What’s worse is that disposable razors often end up in landfill.
37. Explore the Wildlife along the River Lea
The River Lea itself is a good place to see a variety of plants and animals that live in water. You will see many different kinds of water birds (swans, mallards, coots, moorhens, etc.) Perhaps you will also see fish in the water and notice some water plants. By looking in the ditches along the Walthamstow Marshes you will have an opportunity to study water life in more detail. There are water plants that grow entirely in the water - roots, stems and leaves. Some are attached to the bottom and some are free floating. You will also see water animals: small fish, frogs, snails and insects. Historically ditches were dug on the Walthamstow Marshes for drainage ditches - to improve the meadows.
These ditches have been provided by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority to create a home for water plants and animals.
Activity. Sit by the edge of the ditch and look for water creatures: snails, frogs, pond skaters and water boatmen. How do these different creatures move? What are they eating? You may also find dragonflies and damselflies hanging above the water.
38. Tell the government you support wind power
We need to tell the government to stop making it so difficult to get new onshore wind up and running, and to embrace the clean energy revolution we desperately need.
Climate Charity Possible have made a tool you can use to quickly and easily respond to the consultation, and tell the government that it’s time to unlock the full potential of wind power. It will only take two minutes to add your voice - and it could make all the difference for the clean, cheap energy we need.
39. Volunteer with the Tree Musketeers
There are many ways to get involved and help the Tree Musketeers. Join one of the local park teams to ensure that recently planted trees are watered in the spring and throughout the summer. Help keep a check on the health of trees and report any damage (broken branches, damage to the bark from dogs, unhealthy looking leaves, branches rubbing on the guards etc.). You can join in removing weeds from the base of trees and mulch with wood chip. In parks with orchards you can learn how to prune fruit trees.
40. Buy Reusable Produce bags like these ones from Onya
Instead of using the produce bags from the grocery store and throwing them out when your food is brought home, you can use the Onya reusable produce bags and never tear off and throw away a plastic produce bag again. They also let water and air through, so you can wash your fruits and veggies within the bags when you get home. Designed to replace single use plastic produce bags, our reusable produce bags can be used over and over again saving thousands of single use produce bags from landfill and our environment. Made from up to 10x Recycled Plastic Drink Bottles Holds up to 2kg Produce Per Bag See Through Mesh for Easy Checkout Stuffs Down Into Small Carry Pouch 100% Recyclable
41. Storytelling is a wonderful way for children to gain an appreciation for nature
This popular Forest School activity is about encouraging children to create stories based on their experiences in the forest or greenspace, and share them with each other. You might encourage them to create a poetry tree with their poem on paper leaves.
42. Explore the museums along Exhibition road with Footways and Discover South Kensington
Follow the interactive map of walking routes to the world-famous museums and destinations near Exhibition Road. The routes link key locations such as mainline stations, cultural and shopping destinations and take between 20 minutes and one hour to walk. They are also packed with points of interest, some connected to the history of Exhibition Road and its museums. We guarantee walkers will arrive feeling happier, healthier, enriched and inspired.
43. Unclog Your Drains Naturally with Baking Soda and Vinegar
Drain blockages are a common household problem that can cause a major inconvenience. Traditional drain cleaners contain harmful and toxic chemicals, such as sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, and petroleum distillates, which can not only damage your pipes but also harm aquatic life and make water treatment more expensive. Fortunately, there's a simple and cost-effective solution to this problem that you can find in your kitchen: baking soda and vinegar. To clear your drains, simply mix baking soda and vinegar in boiling water and pour it down the affected drain. The reaction between the baking soda and vinegar will help to break down any clogs and clear the drain. For extra power, use a plunger to create suction and push the clog down the drain. Not only is this solution much cheaper than commercial drain cleaners, but it's also safe for the environment and won't damage your pipes. So next time you're faced with a clogged drain, try using baking soda and vinegar to get the job done. Your wallet and the environment will thank you!
44. Become a micro gardener
Micro gardening is a type of gardening that involves growing plants in small spaces such as balconies, patios, rooftops, or even windowsills. It involves growing a variety of plants in pots, containers, raised beds, or other small growing spaces, with the aim of producing fresh herbs, vegetables, or decorative plants in a limited area. Micro gardening often involves the use of sustainable and organic methods such as composting, vermicomposting, and using natural pest control methods. The main goal of micro gardening is to maximise the yield in a small space while minimising the environmental impact. This form of gardening is becoming increasingly popular among urban dwellers who have limited space and want to grow their own food, flowers or plants.
45. Join Star Count
Each February join CPRE in counting the stars in Orion. Your results will help make a map of where star-spotters are enjoying deep, dark skies. By showing on a map where light pollution is most serious, CPRE can work with local councils and others to decide what to do about it. Every count helps! Also check out An astronomer’s guide to stargazing with the naked eye.
46. Volunteer at one of our Hackney Community Gardens
We need your help! Are you a skilled gardener looking for a new challenge? Support residents to weed, harvest, water and care for plants in the gardens. Help residents socialise, share food and recipes, and make new friends. Assist the lead volunteers with running events at the gardens for the local community. Follow updates via our Community Gardens page.
47. Fight for waste one curvy cucumber at a time with Oddbox
As much as 40% of food produced globally is wasted. And when food is wasted, all the water and energy used to grow it is at risk of being lost too. Most people don’t realise it, but food waste is a climate issue – and one of the most urgent ones at that. A lot of what Oddbox focuses on is tackling food waste on farms. Around 1.2 billion tonnes of fruit and veg are lost at this stage of the food system annually. Around 25% of food waste in the UK happens on farms – more than retail, manufacturing and hospitality put together. Every piece of fruit and veg that a Oddbox rescue from growers is at risk of going to waste. Oddbox help growers harvest and sell their fruit and veg by being a reliable secondary market. Dinky apples. Curvy courgettes. And a bunch of beautiful beetroot, stalks and all. Oddbox fruit and veg delivery boxes are packed with all kinds of delicious produce rescued fresh from the farm, including the “too odd” and “too many” at risk of going to waste. There are three sizes of fruit and veg box to pick from, and you can choose from weekly or fortnightly deliveries.
48. Fight light pollution and protect starry skies
Together we can protect starry skies. By working together as communities and turning off unnecessary outside lights, we can all do our bit to protect our starry skies and save energy. Starry skies are one of the most beautiful sights in the world and have inspired people for thousands of years. On a dark and clear night, we should be able to see thousands of stars. Sadly, light pollution from unnecessary outside lights makes it difficult for most people in England to see many stars. Light pollution is also a problem because it can disrupt people’s sleep and confuse nocturnal animals. Together we can protect starry skies. By working together as communities and turning off unnecessary outside lights, we can all do our bit to protect our starry skies and save energy.
49. Explore London’s lost rivers
Here’s three great books from Tom Bolton, Paul Talling and David Fathers to get you started.
London is a city that has been shaped by its rivers, and while many of them are still visible today, there are also several "lost" rivers that flow beneath the city's streets.
Here are some of the most notable lost rivers in London:
The River Fleet is perhaps the most famous of London's lost rivers. It flows from Hampstead Heath down to the Thames, and was once a major waterway that was used for transport and industry. However, it became heavily polluted over time, and was eventually covered over and incorporated into the city's sewer system.
The River Tyburn is another lost river in London, and was once a major tributary of the Thames. It flowed from the area around Hampstead and Regent's Park down to the river, but was also eventually covered over and incorporated into the city's sewer system.
The River Walbrook is a lost river that runs through the heart of the City of London. It was once a small but important river that was used for trade and transport, but over time it became heavily polluted and was eventually covered over.
The River Westbourne is a lost river that once flowed from Hampstead down to the Thames. It was a clean and clear stream that was used for drinking water, but as the city grew and industrialized, it became heavily polluted and was eventually covered over.
The River Neckinger is a lost river that once flowed through Southwark and into the Thames. It was a small but important waterway that was used for industry and transport, but it too became polluted and was eventually covered over.
Today, many of London's lost rivers remain hidden from view, flowing beneath the city's streets and buildings. However, efforts are underway to bring some of these rivers back to the surface and restore them as natural features in the city's landscape.
50. Feed the Ducks
There are actually a few reasons why you should avoid feeding ducks bread. For starters, bread is not very nutritional for ducks. The Canal Rivers Trust put together a list of six different foods that you can use as duck feed, instead of bread.
Sweetcorn It turns out that ducks are quite partial to sweetcorn. Tinned, frozen or fresh. Obviously, remove them from the tin first.
Lettuce As a nation we’re guilty of throwing away a vast amount of lettuce, especially the bagged variety. Instead of consigning it to the bin, rip it into pieces and treat your local ducks. Rocket, kale and iceberg are all great choices.
Frozen peas There’s no need to cook them but make sure you defrost them first.
Oats Flapjacks, rolled oats and even instant porridge oats will be a huge hit with ducks.
Seeds. Whether you buy bird seed or just seeds from the fruit and nut aisle in the supermarket, the ducks will be very grateful for these nutritious nibbles.
Rice. Ducks will appreciate a handful of leftover rice from a takeaway. Just remember to keep the crispy duck all to yourself. You can also use uncooked rice, both are fine.
51. Plant a Bee Garden
One of the largest threats to bees is a lack of safe habitat where they can build homes and find a variety of nutritious food sources. By planting a bee garden, you can create a habitat corridor with plants that are rich in pollen and nectar. You don’t need a ton of space to grow bee-friendly plants — gardens can be established across yards and in window boxes, flower pots, and planters. You can also get involved with local organisations and governments to find opportunities to enrich public and shared spaces.
52. Stop toxic air around schools
Sign the Clean Cities petition calling on Europe’s leaders to set bold, clear targets to reduce air pollution which are fully aligned with the latest science. Our children are breathing unsafe levels of pollution in our cities. These toxic emissions are especially harmful to our children’s health, causing lifelong damage to their developing lungs.
Exposure to air pollution can lead to:
Asthma
Chronic lung disease and stunting
Cancer Anxiety and depression
Poor concentration and ability to focus.
And this is just to name a few – in fact, research has found that air pollution may be harming every organ in the body.
53. Join a River Clean
While Blue Planet II shone a spotlight on the plastic in our oceans, the state of our rivers is no different.
In just under three hours, Thames21 volunteers collected 4,350 plastic bottles from a site in Rainham. And they removed more than 27,000 wet wipes in a few hours from the Thames foreshore near Hammersmith Bridge.
Enough is enough! Join a river clean with Thames21 and you’ll not only make an immediate visual improvement to the environment, but be helping wildlife while getting a burst of that feel-good factor!
Visit the ‘What’s On’ calendar to join a clean up to remove litter or invasive species from smothering the natural flora and make our rivers a space for both people and wildlife to enjoy.
54. Support your local refill stores
Hackney is blessed with many zero waste stores where you can take your own containers and fill up on cupboard staples. There's Jarr Market in Stoke Newington, RE:Store at Hackney Downs Studios, Dalston-based Fin & Earth (subscription only), and Refill Therapy in Hackney Wick.
55. Make your own cleaning prodcuts
Plastic-Free Hackney are continuing to hold their series of ever popular 'Make Your Own Workshops' with a Make Your Own Low Cost and Plastic-Free Cleaning Products Workshop. With just a few simple low cost ingredients you’ll never have to hit the cleaning product aisles again!
If you can’t make the event then here’s a quick and easy Scented All-Purpose Cleaner we found on Good Housekeeping UK
What you'll need:
One part white vinegar
One part water
Lemon rind
Rosemary sprigs
Plastic-Free Hackney actually show you how to do this even cheaper and scent-free! Rather than using vinegar, we use citric acid which has no smell, is cheaper, lighter to transport, doesn't come in glass, and most local refill shops sell it.
56. Explore Green Routes with Go Jauntly
Looking for nature-filled walking routes near you? Go Jauntly’s feature, "Green Routes," is an amazing feature available on the iOS and Android app. With this feature, you can get from A-B in the leafiest, quietest, and least-polluted way possible, or create unique 20, 45 or 60-minute nature-filled circular walks from your doorstep.
Go Jauntly uses several open-source environmental and walking data sets to create the walking routes, prioritizing "green" elements like green and blue spaces, park sizes, and street trees while avoiding negative aspects such as busy roads and high pollution levels. This balance is designed to enhance walkability and bring about physical and mental health benefits by connecting with nature.
57. Lazy laptop? Vacant vacuum? Mixed-up mixer?
You don't want to dump it without at least trying to fix it, but you need some advice.
Book a slot with the Hackney Fixers and bring your device along and our volunteers will help you pinpoint the problem, show you how to fix it, provide repair advice and give helpful tips to help you Restart your gadget. Part of Zero Waste Hubs from London Borough of Hackney.
58. Fairtrade Fortnight
Fairtrade Fortnight is about spreading a simple message: making the small switch to Fairtrade supports producers in protecting the future of some of our most-loved food and the planet.
59. Should you trust RSPO certified products?
The production of palm oil has received a lot of negative attention due to its links with deforestation and harm to local communities. The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) has been established as a global standard for the sustainable production of palm oil, and it provides a way for growers to produce palm oil in an environmentally friendly and socially responsible way.
When palm oil is produced in adherence to RSPO standards, it helps protect the environment and the local communities who rely on it for their livelihoods. Therefore, the use of RSPO certified sustainable palm oil in products is essential for food security, economic development, and food supply chains. Replacing it with non-certified palm oil would only lead to more deforestation and natural habitat conversion.
RSPO certified products that use palm oil from ‘Segregated’ or ‘Identity Preserved’ supply chains provide the highest assurance of sustainable palm oil. These supply chains guarantee that palm oil comes from a sustainable source and has been kept separate from non-sustainable palm oil throughout the production process.
WWF and other organizations actively participate in influencing and shaping the RSPO standard to ensure it includes more safeguards for people and the planet. In November 2018, the RSPO standard was strengthened to represent an essential tool for companies to achieve their commitments to palm oil that is free of deforestation, conversion of other natural habitats like peatlands, and the exploitation of people.
In conclusion, using RSPO certified products that incorporate sustainable palm oil from trusted supply chains is a responsible way to support the production of palm oil while safeguarding the environment and local communities.
