You might not have realised but there are some great opportunities locally to share, repair or borrow items rather than having to buy or bury them in landfill. In a world of quick-click purchasing, next day deliveries, and wheelie bin disposal it can be very seductive to buy everything first hand and just chuck it when done. Wouldn’t it be better to try and shift our ‘default settings’ a little and make it our first port of call to look and share locally?
Kidlington has its very own Repair Cafe! Running at the Kidlington Methodist Church (Oxford Rd, OX5 2BP) on the second Saturday of the month, from 10am-12noon (last items taken at 11.30am), you can drop in for repairs of electronics, household items, bicycles, textiles, toys etc. Also for restoring items, such as knife and tool sharpening. And a coffee while you wait!
Here’s a really helpful link to other available repair cafes in Oxfordshire.
Kidlington Library – We can often forget just how lucky we are to have a local library. In many parts of the world no such thing exists, and in many parts of our own country they are dying out or getting truncated to the point of obsolescence. Let’s keep on using and supporting ours with gusto! Jigsaws and maps are available to borrow, as well as books of course!
KPC Book Swap – On the subject of books, Kidlington Parish Council have also recently set up a new book swap project at Exeter Hall. Have you learned all you can from that cookery book? Are you looking for the next page-turner? Why not pop by and browse?!
Seed Library – Also in Exeter Hall, just next to the Book Swap, is a Seed Library for the people of Kidlington, to try to ensure that everyone has access to seeds and that surplus seeds are saved from going to waste. Info leaflets are available there explaining why we should all be saving seed from our gardens – and how! Let’s get growing!
SHARE Oxford – is a fantastic local resource – and 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 jump to buy?
As well as these great resources don’t forget the Cherwell Collective’s Waste Innovation Station Headquarters shopfront and exhibition space opposite Sainsbury’s for some inspiration in this arena. The museum uses quizzes and interactive displays to help visitors understand what easy, small steps we can all take together for big environmental wins. These exhibits also include repurposed items – WISH-made creations crafted from waste plastics, textiles, musical equipment, tutorials and more.Waste Innovation Station Headquarters
The Cherwell Collective’s 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 to list here but in all likelihood if you want it, they’ve got it.
Finally, there are no shortage of great website resources or social media pages like Freecycle, Gumtree, Next Door, and Facebook (‘For Sale Kidlington‘, or ‘Kidlington Buy Sale Everything‘) where you can find, pass on, or sell second hand items, and of course a some wonderful local charity shops passing on items with an upside for valuable charitable work (Sobell House, Sue Ryder, Helen & Douglas, Blue Cross etc). All of these can help us cut down on our buying costs at the front end, and our landfill contribution at the back! So why buy new when there are pre-loved items at hand to share and enjoy?
Kidlington Eco Group 