News
What Winchester schools are doing to make the city greener
As part of the eighth year of Winchester Green Week, a Greener Schools Forum was held to highlight what the local schools are doing to reduce their environmental impact.
The evening was open to parents, school staff and anyone who was interested in knowing what the local schools are doing to make the city greener.
The event organiser, Isabel Mack, believes that part of the reason people have not acted quickly enough with climate change is due to our disconnection with nature.
She emphasised the importance of educating children to understand their role within nature and their dependency on it.
As well as a parent volunteer, Isabel is the founder of Party Kit Network – a social enterprise based in Winchester that specialises in reusable tableware for parties.
Party Kit Network has avoided more than 1.3m single use items in waste since July 2020.
Various local schools and colleges shared what they are doing to reduce their harmful impact on the environment.
Oliver’s Battery shared their sustainable “bike bus” movement – a group of parents and children who wrap themselves in high viz and cycle to school together, reducing the number of cars on the morning school run around Winchester.
Vibeke Fennell, a parent governor from South Wonston Primary, thinks the bike bus is a “brilliant idea” and already knows which parents at the school gate she is going to approach to start one.
Other school schemes included a seasonal costume swap, that encourages children to trade in their costumes from different fancy dress events throughout the year.
From Halloween to World Book Day, students can get their hands on character costumes that caught their eye last holiday while also reducing over-consumption and financial pressure on parents.
Edd Moore, author of 100 Ideas for Primary Teachers: Greener School and Head of Education at Green Schools Project, spoke about his time working at Green School Bali where he worked on a jungle campus, educating children on the environment through hands-on projects.
Edd made the decision to leave teaching after 13 years as he felt he wanted to use his passion and knowledge of the environment to support teachers and schools on their “environmental journeys”.
When asked what the wider community can do to play their part in helping the environment, Isabel Mack encouraged people to check out what is going on in their community.
This could include energy projects, community gardens or repair cafes.
Communities are encouraged to buy a poppy as this year’s Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal is launched in the lead-up to Remembrance Day.
The annual fundraising campaign supports members of the Armed Forces community, including veterans, personnel and their families.
The Poppy Appeal remains the Legion’s biggest annual fundraiser.
Last year, more than 32 million poppies were distributed across the UK, and about £51.4 million was raised in donations.
Chris Hayward is managing the Poppy Appeal in North Hampshire & Winchester and said: “Wearing a poppy during Remembrance time shows that you care.”
“It’s a national symbol, and it shows the armed forces community that you appreciate everything that they do.”
She added: “For those who want to get involved, you can wear your poppy, donate to the Royal British Legion, Poppy Appeal, and also participate in the collections and volunteer as a collector.”
Winchester will be recognising remembrance itself, with a service at the Cathedral on Sunday, 9th November, in addition to a service at Winchester Guildhall at 11 am on Armistice Day.
The service will begin at 9:20 am and will include a procession from The Broadway to Winchester Cathedral, as well as wreath laying too.
Donations from the campaign go towards services including mental health support, housing assistance and employment advice for veterans transitioning to civilian life.
For more information on how to donate, volunteer or order poppies online, visit: britishlegion.org.uk/poppyappeal.
Until 2093, asteroid 2025 PN7 will be sharing the Earth’s orbit.
You may have seen circuiting on social media a myth that the Earth has two moons from now until 2083 – sadly, that’s science fiction.
In August of this year astronomers discovered asteroid 2025 PN7.
It is considered a quasi-moon as it orbits the sun in a similar path to Earth.
According to Mike Shanahan, planetarium director at New Jersey’s Liberty Science Centre, the asteroid has been travelling “alongside Earth for 60 years”.
Due to the size of the asteroid, it wasn’t discovered until this summer.
Astronomy fans hoping to see a second moon in the sky are out of luck.
The asteroid is too small and far away to be seen by the naked eye or regular telescopes.
The number of asteroids in Earth-like orbit has been known to exceed 100.
Some orbit alongside the Earth for merely months, whereas others years or decades.
Currently, six other quasi-moons have been recorded near Earth.
Cardiff is the first UK city to introduce a “tax” for SUVs weighing over 2.4 tonnes.
The tax is to be enforced in residential permit areas, and also includes cars that are powered by diesel.
Cardiff Council is hoping that implementing this will improve congestion, the air quality, and create space on pavements.
The exact cost has yet to be announced, but the council has announced it will be releasing the tax in phases.
Winchester is a relatively small city with many residential permit areas – the question of a similar initiative being introduced locally has arisen.
Winchester City Council and Hampshire County Council chose not to respond to Winchester News Online, with Winchester City Council stating that it is not a subject a councillor is likely to comment on, as it is an issue relevant to Cardiff and not yet an issue to Winchester.
Though the council does not yet deem this a possibility, it has gotten the public talking.
Jet Gates, a disability campaigner, said:
“It’s going to have a massive impact on disabled people across the UK
“We are a highly marginalized group in society – it’s just yet another nail in the coffin.”
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