Want to know what ecological things are going on locally over the next couple of months? Well have no fear, we’ve got just the thing!:

January 2024
㉖	RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch | Friday 26th – Sun 28th Jan – Join the world’s largest garden wildlife survey this January. Every year, hundreds of thousands of nature lovers take part, helping to build a picture of how garden birds are faring. Watch the video here, or to find out more and sign up click here.
㉘	‘The Magic of the Hive’ Tea Talk | Sun 28th Jan, 3.00pm | St John’s Church (OX5 1DD) – Beekeeper Andy Pedley will be explaining why bees are magical creatures, producing honey but also vitally important for pollination on which so many of our crops depend. Tea served after the talk.
February 2024
①	KEG Meeting | Thurs 1st Feb, 1pm | Exeter Hall, small hall (OX5 1AB) – Join representatives of different local eco groups and enthusiasts to connect, communicate and collaborate.
③	St Mary’s Fields Work Party | Sat 3rd Feb, 10am-12pm | St Mary’s carpark (OX5 2AZ) – Join the team of volunteers working on some spring tasks to encourage nature and monitor river quality. Also enjoy a well-earned slice of Julia or Rosie’s homemade cake at half time!
⑦	Kidlington Gardening Society Talk | Weds 7th Feb, 7.30pm | Exeter Hall, small hall (OX5 1AB)  – Come along and hear from this month’s guest speaker Michael Brown on the topic: ‘Capability Brown: Hero or Hooligan?’. More info here!
⑩	Coronation Garden Work Party | Sat 10th Feb, 10am-12pm | Home Close (OX5 2DN) – Come along and join other volunteers as we care for and beautify this new community garden.
⑰	Park Hill Monthly Garden Work Party | Sat 17th Feb, 10am – 12pm| Park Hill Recreation Ground (OX5 2DA) – Come and muck in with other volunteers as we maintain and enrich this community green space and Harvest@Home project!

And don’t forget there’s great stuff going on every week!

When & Where?		What?
Tues – Sat, 10am-2pm 4 The Parade, Kidlington (OX5 1EE)		WISH Museum of Climate Action – Drop in to this exhibition space and shop of repurposed products run by the Waste Innovation Station (WISH). Exhibits include repurposed items, and WISH-made creations crafted from waste plastics, textiles and musical equipment.
Thursdays, 11am-2pm Exeter Hall, Oxford Rd (OX5 1AB)		Cherwell Larder Marketplace – Get some food saved from landfill, and sample tasty cooked food from the Climatarian Kitchen
Fridays, 10am-12pm Between Oxford Rd & Hazel Crescent (OX5 1ED)		Hazel Walk Community Allotments Work Party – Join the Harvest @ Home volunteers growing food for themselves and the community while caring for the nature on the plot.
Fridays, 11am-2pm Exeter Hall (OX5 1AB)		Cherwell Larder Marketplace – Get some food saved from landfill, and sample tasty cooked food from the Climatarian Kitchen
Saturdays, 11am-2pm Exeter Hall (OX5 1AB)		Cherwell Larder Marketplace – Get some food saved from landfill, and sample tasty cooked food from the Climatarian Kitchen

Local Eco News

Some headlines since the last update…

Why Buy When You Can Share?! – You might not have realised but there are some great opportunities locally to share or borrow items rather than having to buy or bury them in landfill.

SHARE Oxford – is a fantastic local resource – which has a project called ‘The Library of Things‘. With everything from hedge trimmers to candy floss makers, thermal imaging cameras to waffle makers – why not make it a first port of call before you look to buy?

KPC Book Swap – Kidlington Parish Council have set up a new book swap project at Exeter Hall. Have you learned all you can from that cookery book? Are looking for the next page-turner? Why not pop by and browse!

The Oxford Party Library is a public resource lending common party supplies to the community, drastically reducing waste and promoting access to childhood fun for all income levels. They have a wide range of party supplies, including: tents, gazebos, bunting and props for a variety of themes, reusable serving dishes, cutlery, crockery, linens, cake tins, cookie cutters, cake decorating tools, and much more. The list is too long but in all likelihood if you want it, they’ve got it.

As well as these great resources don’t forget there’s also the WISH project and exhibition space, Kidlington library, and a number of charity shops that can also help you cut down on your buying costs at the front end, and landfill contribution at the other!

If you have any local eco news or events to feed in to our next monthly digest please email: kidlingtonecogroup@gmail.com

Our next KEG meeting is on Thurs 1st Feb, from 1pm @ Exeter Hall (in the small hall). We’ll be developing a our plans for 2024. All welcome!