KEG is a network of ecologically-minded agencies, groups, and individuals working towards a greener Kidlington and world.
Our Practice
We meet regularly (normally on the first Thursday of the month at 1pm down at Exeter Hall) to:
- Connect – We catch up and share news and information for encouragement, support and assistance
- Communicate – We publicise all that is going on to the wider community, and signpost opportunities to get involved or volunteer
- Collaborate – We identify where there are gaps in our combined efforts and work on solutions together
Our Shared Values (PLACE):
We are united in our enthusiasm for:
- Protecting: our local natural environment
- Learning: to live sustainably
- Advocating: for ecological justice and best practice locally
- Collaborating: around existing and joint projects
- Enjoying: the journey in the process!
An Emerging Strategic Framework:
Over the last few months we’ve been learning from, and looking into, the work of Thame Green Living, and taken up their kind offer of letting us pinch their framework to shape our own strategic vision for our village. The framework involves 5 areas:
GREEN → Open spaces, wildlife conservation & biodiversity
BLUE → Water – our streams and rivers – and protection from flooding
GREY → Our air and atmosphere and the effect on air quality and global warming
RED → Alternative (non-fossil fuel) energy including electric vehicles
ORANGE → Waste avoidance & management, recycling & circular economy
Having mapped current activities and initiatives in Kidlington using this framework we recognise that we’re already pretty strong in green (thanks to the ‘Wild Kidlington’ partnership) and orange (thanks to the work of the Cherwell Collective). We need to build on these strengths, but also address the gaps – namely the blue, grey and red.
We’re looking for people in our community who have the time, passion and tenacity to help transform our village in the coming years. Could you potentially help us protect and enhance our nature corridors and waterways? Or craft plans to reduce traffic and air pollution? Or help develop an action plan for alternative energy in our village? We need creative leaders, organisers & team builders, careful thinkers & researchers, proactive doers & activists to help us begin to carve out a path to transformation in the coming years#. Could you be one of them? If so, please get in touch via kidlingtonecogroup@gmail.com, come along to our next KEG meeting, or ring Phil (07845283952) for an exploratory chat!
2024
The Kidlington Eco Group (that’s us!) met on Jan 11th and Feb 1st to dream and scheme a little for the year ahead. As well as our ongoing collaborations we discerned three special projects for the year corresonding to three of the areas in our Thame Green Living inspired strategy: green, red, and blue.
GREEN – Nature-Friendly Gardens. We are hoping to encourage and resource people in Kidlington to develop the wild credentials of their garden. As part of this Wild Kidlington project we hope to facilitate a gardens open day in June.
BLUE – Water Week in May. We’re looking into how we can develop our response to water quality in our river and streams, and support the Canal & Rivers Trust in the launch of their Kidlington Towpath Taskforce.
RED – Winter Project – We want to help households In Kidlington towards heating their homes in a way that doesn’t overheat the planet. We’re hoping to be out and about with a thermal camera helping Kidlingtonians to spot those pesky but pluggable heat leaks and helping people to find simple but effective ways to save both money and the environment! We’re particularly interested in getting a DraughtBusters project up and running (as per similar projects in Wantage and Reading). If you’d be interested in getting involved – please get in touch!
Watch this space as these ideas continue develop in the coming weeks. If you’d like to get involved with these or our more regular partner activities do please get in touch!
Kidlington Eco Group 