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