Lorna and Michaela organised a guided walk around the birch woods where children looked for little witches and wizards (friends of the Gore Glen fairies!) that were hidden in amongst the hedgerows. The children were also tasked with choosing one particular stick that was deemed to have magical properties for a special activity at the end of the walk.

Once again we were blessed with beautiful Autumnal weather. The woods were looking beautiful. We really are very fortunate to have such lovely walking routes around Gorebridge. This particular route was new to most of the families and everyone marvelled at the scenery.

We finished up back at the Beacon and gathered in the tree circle in the community garden where Lorna made hot chocolate using the storm kettle and Michaela produced some fantastic Halloween cupcakes. The sticks that children had collected were then transformed into wonderful nature wands using wool, recycled card stars and hearts and a variety of nature treasures such as leaves, berries, pine needles and conkers.

Our guided walks are proving very popular and bringing lots of new people to the Beacon as well as Gore Glen and all it has to offer. We will definitely be doing more of these themed walks in the future.

See what we got up to on our Facebook pages ‘Gorebridge Community Gardens’, @Greening Gorebridge’ and ‘Gorebridge Beacon’

But first,

‘What on earth is a Science Ceilidh?’ Here’s a little more information to whet your appetite for purchasing those tickets for the 2nd of Feb.

“Everyone can get involved in Folk Music and Dance. As anyone who’s tried a ceilidh before knows, you don’t need to be a trained dancer to get involved and have a good time! This spirit is exactly what we are trying to bring to Science – we believe science is culture, and you don’t need to be a trained scientist to understand and get involved on some level. It just needs clear instructions and some creativity.

We’re particularly passionate about involving audiences who might not usually “do” science. By using music, dance and other arts as a vehicle for science engagement, often through community workshops or sharing our science-dances, we like to break stereotypes about science, using dance as the perfect ice-breaker to allow anyone to talk to scientists, and get people talking about the science behind everyday life!”

So, in short, a fun, friendly, informative night out for ALL the family.

Tickets are available from Eventbrite to click here to book. 

Yesterday I helped Jaimie run one of her beeswax wrap sessions at the World of Plastics event hosted by Edinburgh College.

We had a bit of a slow start but as word spread we got busier and busier throughout the day and by lunch time there was a queue of people waiting to make wraps with.

Everyone enjoyed making the wraps and it also helped raise awareness of single use plastic.

We helped about 30 people make wraps and engaged with about 45 people throughout the day.

What was really exciting was that at least 10 participants said that they would be making wraps at home to give to friends and family for Christmas!

We even had one boy so enthusiatic that he expereimented to see whether he could make an origami cup htta would hold liquid. it’s didn’t work 100%, it would be perfect if you just needed a quick drink (it was still letting water through slowly) but I think with a bit more wax it could have done the job beautifully.

Wraps are  a great way to wrap up things like sandwiches and a handful of cut veggies for lunch, or to cover leftovers in the fridge.

Here is a lovely demo of how to make a beeswax wrap sandwich pocket:

Why are we so keen to promote beeswax wraps?

Well, more than 1.2 billion meters, equating to 745,000 miles of cling film is used by households across Britain every year – that is enough to go around the circumference of the world 30 times over.

In addition to this, cling film is difficult to recycle and information about where specific types of cling film can be recycled is hard to find. This means that the majority of it still ends up in landfill where it takes hundreds of years to degrade and risks leaching chemicals into groundwater. Biodegradable cling film alternatives have been developed but many conservation organisations are campaigning against oxo-degradable plastics as they simply degrade into smaller and smaller particles and contribute to marine pollution.

Like plastic bags cling film that ends up in the sea is easily confused for jellyfish by marine animals and chokes turtles and other creatures that feed on them.

We loved being part of the Science Festival and met some wonderful people that we hope to be running events with in the future. Watch this space!

Not just your clothes, but your families clothes too?!

School uniforms, old party dresses, everyday clothing that you don’t fit into, or you just don’t feel good in anymore?

Feel like you don’t know what to do with it all and you really don’t want to put it in the bin?

We have just the solution for you, it’ll save you money and help keep it all out of landfill.

School Uniform Exchange and Family Clothes Swaps!

In fact we’ve just had our 2nd Clothes Swap of the year last weekend, accompanied by Sam’s delicious carrot and honey soup.

So sorry if you missed it. Don’t worry we’ll be hosting lots more!

It was quite a quiet night, but we were competing with the glorious summer sunshine we’ve been having! Nevertheless we rehomed 4.79kg of clothes during the course of the evening, and there is still a rail full of kids and adults clothes still up for grabs.

We also welcomed a brand new volunteer into our team, the lovely Sarah! She and we are very excited to have her enthusistic reuse and upcycling skills to share with you all in the coming months.

From August onwards we will be hosting a monthly Clothes Swap at Pop-Up Beacon or the GCDT office. Dates to be confirmed.

If you would like to volunteer with us as a maker, repairer or upcycler of things, especially but not exclusive to textiles/clothing please email Jaimie on jaimie.macdonald@gorebridge.org.uk.

Our School Uniform exchange is continuing from it’s success in 2017/18.

We have been asking for donations from families across Gorebridge and Midlothian to donate their outgrown and unwanted school items to us so that they can find a new home in the new school year. Stobhill Primary have had another wonderful collection for us at the school before the holidays.

Between Stobhill donations and people popping in to the office with bags we have collected 29.96kg of uniforms so far. 

If you have some school uniforms to pass on, you can donate to us at the Trust Office (58 Main Street) Monday-Friday 10-4pm. or you can come along to the Community Recycling Project at Gorebridge Parish Church Hall on the 1st tuesday of each month to donate or pick up school uniform items. 9:30-11am

Keep up to date with our events by following us on Facebook or Twitter @greengorebridge 

Thanks for reading

Jaimie and Sam

Sam provided a delicious lentil and cumin soup and energy balls, I made beetroot hummus (obvs) and Jaimie led a beeswax wrap workshop. All our volunteers really enjoyed making this reusable version of cling film, not only will it help prevent plastic waste but it was also a nice memento of the evening.

After we ate, everyone shared their skills, what they could offer and what they were hoping to gain. We were surrounded by some very talented people whose skill set varied from translator to knitter! Most people said they wanted to get more involved with the Gorebridge community, as well as some looking for an excuse to get out the house.

What is particularly interesting about volunteering is that even though the primary aim is to help others, it also feels great! Research backs this up, indicating that it doesn’t just provide a warm glow and a sense of connection but it can improve mental health as well as reduce the risk of dying by 22%.

However, before becoming a volunteer, it’s important to ask yourself what you’d like to learn or accomplish from the experience.  If you jump into an opportunity that doesn’t resonate with what you’re already passionate about on some level or doesn’t align with your current skills or interests, you could walk away with a negative volunteer experience, which would be a shame!

Here are some of the volunteering opportunities we have available:

• Upcycling and Repair Volunteer – this would really suit someone crafty or someone wanting to learn new crafty skills
• Community Engagement Volunteer – this would suit someone who enjoys community events
• Community Fridge Volunteer – this would suit anyone who has an interest in food, cooking, waste reduction and people
• Community Gardener – this would suit anyone who enjoys being outdoors
• Volunteer cycle ride assistant
• Health walk leader/back-marker – both these roles would suit someone keen to be a bit more active

20 Awesome Benefits of Volunteering

1. Reassess your strengths and weaknesses
2. Explore your interests
3. Strengthen past skills
4. Develop new skills
5. Learn something new
6. Become the teacher you never knew you were
7. Broaden your horizons by interacting with new people & places
8. Strengthen your compassion for others
9. Improve or develop new interpersonal skills
10. Gain a natural sense of accomplishment through helping others
11. Achieve a new or strengthened sense of purpose
12. Increase your self-esteem and self-confidence
13. Have a brighter outlook on life
14. Develop a new support system through those you meet volunteering
15. Improve your physical health through more active volunteer opportunities
16. Improve your overall mental health by helping others
17. Experience greater happiness through volunteering
18. Expect a healthier and longer life expectancy when you’re a regular volunteer
19. Advance your career through new connections, work experience and skills
20. Experience more fun and greater life fulfilment

If you are interested in volunteering with GCDT and the Greening Gorebridge Project please contact us, or email michaela.jackson@gorebridge.org.uk

This year their campaign focus was an Musical Instrument Amnesty

By the end of the week 4 instruments had been donated to the office.
There were heartfelt and fond farewells as they went off to their new but yet unknown homes.
A bright pink guitar was rehomed with Mary, who told us all about her love of music and how she is in a band with her friends,  who now all have pink guitars! We’re very excited that one day perhaps they might do a wee performance for us at a Greening Gorebridge event!

We had another guitar, guitar stand and music stand donated which was a beloved possession of the daughter of one of our own Trust staff, Jane Burridge. 

And 2 fabulous wind instruments were donated by a local lady.

An oboe and a flute!

We are currently looking for home for these instruments and we pla t get in touch with one of the local schools to see if they could make use of them.

Thanks to everyone who donated these lovely instruments,  we will post an update when we have one about where they have found a loving new home.

Tuesday 13th March – Uniform Exchange

We took our second-hand uniforms along to the re-cycle sale at Gorebridge Parish church on Tuesday. It was wonderful to find homes for two boxes worth of uniforms and it was also a great opportunity to engage with members of the community and promote our project and upcoming events. We also collected a box of uniforms that had been donated over the last few months. We have now agreed to attend the re-cycle sale on the first Tuesday of every month!

Wednesday 14th March – Biodiversity Day

Biodiversity Day was a very successful collaboration between Gorebridge Wildlife Watch, The Scottish Wildlife Trust, RSPB and Greening Gorebridge. Lots of fun was had by the children (and adults) making seed bombs, bat boxes, bird nesting boxes, orange bird feeders, bird of prey gliders, interactive activities with the RSPB and a fantastic puppet show, which Dr Bunhead and his team created especially for Biodiversity Day. Not only did the story illustrate the importance of recycling but all the puppets were made from recycled materials. The little sponge people were particularly effective. It was a very busy day with 70 children from local schools and nurseries attending as well as 40 community and volunteer participants. After the success of Biodiversity Day, we are very much looking forward to being involved in many more similar collaborative community events in the future.

Thursday 15th March – Veg/ Produce bag making workshop

On the evening of Thursday 15th March we had the pleasure of the expertise of Kiki from Newtongrange who delivered a fab workshop on how to make a reusable drawstring vegetable/produce bags.

She cleverly and creatively used upcycled fabric from old shirts and duvet covers to make them.

5 folk came along on the night and had a great time making these stunning and very useful bags ready to go shopping with.

Folk who had been sewers in the past were suitably impressed with our lovely new sewing machines and sewing equipment!

Saturday 17th March

Afternoon tea
In preparation for our eagerly awaited afternoon tea we went shopping to Penicuik Storehouse, keen to source locally made and Scottish food and drinks. 
A lovely spread was laid out on the table, so much so we knew the afternoon tea would last all evening as various members of the community storlled along to see what we were up to.

Beeswax food wrap making workshop
Between 4-6pm on the same afternoon we had 15 folks along to make the beeswax food wraps throughout the evening, we had some children joining in too, making them as gifts for their mums.
Suzie from Healthy hampers came along too with some friends, and everyone was really excited about the postive impact of these reusable wraps instead of using wasteful cling film or aluminium foil.

Here’s a quick recap on the advantages and disadvantages of using Beeswax wraps

3 Advantages of Beeswax Wrap

1. It’s made from ingredients you can feel good about- simply beeswax and 100% cotton
2. It’s reusable- you can use them over and over again. They are simple to maintain- wash with cool water and a little mild dish soap. (don’t you hot water or the wax will melt) If the wax starts to wear out then they can be re-waxed.
3. It’s compostable- because the wraps are 100% natural once they truly have come to the end of their lives then they can be composted. How fab is that!

3 Disadvantages of Bee’s Wrap

• It’s not as pliable as plastic wrap- it doesn’t give a fully tight seal as cling film might.
• Not ideal for some food items- you shouldn’t use it to wrap meat or very wet substances for example
• It requires maintenance- you do have to put in a little more effort, but not really any more effort than washing a  tupperware lid.

I know I love my beeswax wraps, and we’ve already heard from a couple of the folk that made some on the night telling us how much they LOVE them!

Watch this space, we’ll have more creative upcycling and practical workshops coming up in the next few months and years!

How does cling film use impact on the environment?

Like other non-recyclables, plastic food wrap ends up on landfill at best, and as litter on land and in the sea at worst. On landfill it will sit and possibly leach its chemicals for years, not degrading, and elsewhere it will do the same, whilst also being a risk to wildlife or fish who may get caught up in it or eat it.

Clothes swap

After everyone was all beeswax wrapped out we welcomed a few extra folk in for our second Clothes Swap.

There were many bags of clothes donated by 8 people who attended, and lots of fun was had in searching for lovely items that were to make a perfect outfit with other items that people already owned. We swapped 15 lbs of clothes during the evening and many more faces were smiling as they went off with their new finds, eager for the next swap.

We will be going through out remaining clothes on the rails, keeping some of it that can potentially reused and upcycled in our 2018-20 Greening Gorebridge project and the rest will be donated to a local charity shop.

Want to know more about the Greening Gorebridge Project and be kept up to date with our events and workshops?

The new team will take the lead in the projects, work with volunteers and provide learning, training and personal development opportunities to all members of our community.

As such, we are seeking two individuals to come and join us at GCDT, one for the role of Food Sharing Coordinator and the second as Circular Economy Coordinator.

If you are interested in applying please click the links below. Formal inquiries about both roles can be made during office hours by calling 01875 823202, or by emailing dawn@gorebridge.org.uk

For more information about each role:

Circular Economy Coordinator
Food Sharing Coordinator

Post subject to funding from:

A Community Clothes Swap!!! and it was made even better by the warming soup and salsa cooked by Michaela.

We welcomed 8 folk from Gorebridge with bags full of clothes of all kind of styles, colours and sizes and quickly set to work displaying everything nicely. note to self…time bring more hangers next time!

Our first guest of the evening was Keiron Munro- Councillor for Midlothian South, we set him to work hanging up clothes and the supremely important task of cutting our delicious chocolate cake.

After we turned up some cheesy tunes and everyone had had a bite to eat, a really good rummage and a try on of some things they liked the look of, we had everyone stand to one side of the room… to make it fair you understand!

Then Ready, Steady, Go…off they went to grab their favourite clothes! 

Everyone went away with a good carrier bag full of clothes and by the end of the evening we had rehomed just over 10kg of clothes.

Over the course of the next week we invited anyone using the building to take some items that they loved and asked them to add it to our total.

By the end of the week we had rehomed  15.3kg of clothes! Hooray!

We also had a good few really lovely conversations with folk about sharing, reuse, upcycling and the negative impacts of the fast fashion industry on the environment, as well as the the impact on the people who work in it.

Plus we had lots of requests about when we could have another clothes swap! Watch this space we’ll probably have one in March as part of Pass It On week activities between 12-18th March! 

Thank you all for a really fun evening and we hope you can come along to our Pass It on week celebrations

Sign up to our Greening Gorebridge mailing list by emailing jaimie.macdonald@gorebridge.org.uk and we will send you 1-2 emails monthly to keep you up to date with the events and workshops we have planned.

Would you be interested in getting involved with the project as a volunteer? email michaela.jackson@gorebridge.org.uk

Happy swapping!