 Welcome to a bumper edition of our climate action newsletter. We've been in the midst of a real cold snap recently, which has really brought household energy bills into focus. That's why we've just marked Energy Savings Week by highlighting the support available to every resident through our Lower Bills Warmer Homes campaign. Not only is this great for your wallet, it cuts your carbon footprint too, helping you play a positive role in tackling the climate emergency.
You could get help advice or even free energy saving materials for your home so please check out our Lower Bills Calculator for tailored support.
The 31 January deadline for our Energy Upgrade Loan is fast approaching but there's still time to get your application in! It's a really fantastic way to get support with the upfront costs of installing things like insulation, solar panels and heat pumps to boost your home's energy efficiency rating.
I'm also delighted that our annual free tree giveaway is getting underway next month. You can pick from an array of different species to plant in your garden, and with thousands up for grabs to local people, it's a great way to support nature and add to the greenery across the borough.
There's so much more going on too, we have cycling support, parklet opportunities, recycling updates as well as much, much more.
Enjoy!
Cllr Clyde Loakes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate and Air Quality.
 There's still time to apply for our 0 per cent interest Energy Upgrade Loan before the 31 January deadline. It helps with the upfront costs of a wide range of energy saving improvements around the house such as insulation, heat pumps and solar paneling, and you can borrow between £2,000 and £20,000. So if your New Year's resolution includes doing a bit of renovation work to your home, why not get some help to lower your energy bills and your carbon footprint at the same time?
 Our annual tree giveaway is taking place in February so why not show you love your garden with a Valentines Day gift of planting a tree? There are around 5,000 trees and 17 species up for grabs as part of the FREE giveaway, including beech, aspen, maple, cherry and many more. It's one tree per household and the giveaway operates on a first-come-first-served basis. So don't miss out - pop along to Ridgeway, Lloyds or Langthorne Parks between 12-17 February and give your garden the gift of a tree.
 You can now recycle blister packs at six pharmacies in Waltham Forest, including two new locations in the north of the borough. Blister packs are the packaging that paracetamols and tablets come in, and since we launched this scheme last month, we've already filled an entire box.
Now you can pop to these six pharmacies to recycle blister packs, including ones in Highams Park and Chingford:
- Borno Pharmacy - 5 Signal Walk, Highams Park, London E4 9BW
- Mount Pharmacy - 80 Chingford Mount Rd, London E4 9AA
- Woodside Pharmacy, 851 High Road Leytonstone, E11 1HH
- Leyton Pharmacy, 98 Francis Road, Leyton, E10 6PP
- Lea Bridge Pharmacy, 881 Lea Bridge Road, E17 9DS
- Well Pharmacy, 147 to 151 Wood Street, E17 3LX
 Did you know that we've lost 38 million birds from our skies in the last 60 years? This decline of biodiversity in the UK is dire but YOU can make a difference by taking part in the RSPB's annual Big Garden Birdwatch - which you can do in your garden or local green space. Every year, hundreds of thousands of nature lovers help to build a picture of how garden birds are faring and this info is vital to supporting conservation measures to address alarming declines in some of our most well- known species. It's simple, quick and FUN to take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch, so make sure you sign up today!
 It was Energy Savings Week in the borough (17-23 January) but there's still plenty of time to get support in your home with our Lower Bills Warmer Homes programme. There's advice and services available for all residents to help cut their energy bills and with our calculator, it takes just two minutes to find out what you are entitled to. You might even be able to get FREE materials to help make your home more energy efficient.
 If you’d like to start cycling, learn to service your cycle, or try out a standard or cargo cycle (like the one that’s carrying Whisky the corgi) free of charge – we’ve got you covered.
We’ll also be opening applications for our Community Walking and Cycling Fund in the coming weeks. The fund provides money for local groups who can help even more people to get active in the borough. If you or your group are interested, you can find out more via the Council's website.
Lastly, we want to hear about your favourite local walking and cycling routes, to update our Waltham Forest Wanders series and to plan new routes for Tour de Waltham Forest this summer. Let us know where you like to wander and ride by filling out this quick form:
 New year, new green space? There’s still time to express interest in creating a community parklet outside your home – check out Toby’s tour of his amazing parklet if you need inspiration for how the space can be used. For more on how to apply for a community parklet please email us.
 Our latest Action for Nature events are coming to a park near you this February. Families will be able to learn how to spot the signs of spring, keep local parks and green spaces welcoming to birds, spot snowdrops, and much much more as we move out of winter into a new season.
 Ever wondered what happens to your recycling once the collection crew pick it up? It goes to the Materials Recycling Facility in Edmonton, where our diligent and hardworking 'Sorting Squad' keep an eye on the conveyor belt to make sure there's no rubbish in there, meaning your recycling can become new items. Last year, the Sorting Squad sorted 255,178 tonnes of recycling (the same weight as 1,293 Victoria Line trains).
 Local libraries in the borough are offering residents the chance to borrow a thermal imaging camera to save on energy bills by isolating hot and cold spots on the home. The cameras attach to iPhone or Android phones to help identify areas where you can prevent heat loss through better insulation. You can borrow a thermal camera from Walthamstow, Leytonstone and Chingford Libraries - in exactly the same way as you would borrow a book - for up to three days.
 Calling all council tenants and leaseholders. Do you need help and advice on making your home more energy efficient? Join one of our FREE virtual Energy Café advice sessions, delivered online by our contractors Morgan Sindall Property Services. They take place on the first Wednesday of each month from 10am until 12noon – the next session is on 7 February. Find out more about these sessions and how to book by visiting our website today.
 Did you know that we have free cycle loans for you to try out a range of cycles, including a classic design, children's and cargo bikes. You can loan one for up to a month (two weeks for cargo bikes) in exchange for a small refundable deposit. If you think you'd like to try the Community Cycle Loan Scheme then make sure you drop us a line via email.
 January is a time where many people consider making resolutions. Whether you keep them or break them, it's always positive to have a think about what you'd like to see change or improve. If you want to do something positive for yourself, or help out in your community, there are so many ways to become a bit more engaged around climate action. Why not take a couple of minutes and find out what may be of interest to you?
 Young people in Waltham Forest have a fantastic opportunity to join a brand new, creative activism project at an award winning youth club starting on 29 January. Blackhorse Workshop is inviting 15-25 year olds who live, work or study in the borough to join up and learn creative and cognitive skills from woodcraft to metalwork. The club runs every Tuesday from 29 January, all the way until 17 June, as well as one Saturday a month.
 Local volunteers at the Gleaner Community Café are putting sustainability front and centre and welcoming local people to get involved. Operating as a a pay-what-you-feel community cafe within The Hornbeam Centre, the Gleaners transforms surplus produce into tasty, plant-based meals, fostering an ever-growing team of local volunteers. The café is running crowd-funding campaign and to help them flourish in the future and is welcoming anyone who wants to get involved.
Dr Bike
- 27 January (10am to 4pm) - Leyton Jubilee Park
- 31 January (10am to 4pm) - Fellowship Square
All Ability Cycling Clubs
- 27 January (10am to 12pm) - Leyton Jubilee Park
- 3 February (10am to 12pm) - Higham Hill Park
- 10 February (10am to 12pm) - Leyton Jubilee Park
- 17 February (10am to 12pm) - Higham Hill Park
- 24 February (10am to 12pm) - Leyton Jubilee Park
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