Green swaps, swift migration and saving water

Welcome to the June edition of Green Steps! This month we’re bringing you items on The Great Big Green Week (and the activities you can get involved in), Swift Awareness Week (at the end of the month) and saving water. 

Get involved in The Great Big Green Week

The Great Big Green Week, organised by The Climate Coalition runs from 7 to 15 June.

This year’s theme is around making swaps - whether it’s swapping skills, unwanted items or swapping habits for more environmentally friendly ones.

To mark Great Big Green Week, Petersfield Climate Action Network (PeCAN) is hosting a series of events including:

• Free home energy advice, information and networking event on Tuesday 10 June at The Folly Upstairs.
• Potluck Plant-based Picnic on Thursday 12 June at Petersfield Physic Garden. 
• Toy swap at Petersfield Library on Saturday 14 June.

If you live in the Alton area, ACAN’s Alton Community Share will also take place during The Great Big Green Week on Saturday 14 June at St Lawrence Parish Centre. 

This one’s for the Swifties

Swifts usually arrive in the UK from early May, migrating all the way from southern Africa to the UK to nest.

The RSPB’s Swift Awareness Week runs from 28 June to 6 July.

PeCAN will have a Swift Awareness Week stall at St. Peter’s Church in Petersfield on Saturday 28 June and is hosting a free talk on swifts on Monday 30 June. 

Save water this summer

The average rainfall this spring was just 80mm, compared to the usual 229mm, making it the driest spring in 100 years.

The lack of rain and hotter weather places more demand on our water supply and makes it more important for us all to save water where possible.

There are simple things you can do, like taking shorter showers (aim for four minutes or less), installing water butts to provide water for your garden, washing fruit and vegetables in a bowl and using the leftover water for your plants, watching out for leaks and reporting any you find when out and about.

You can find free water saving measures by putting in your postcode on the Save Water Save Money website.