Welcome to Northfield Ecocentre’s August newsletter.We report back after our busiest and most successful July everand look forward to new projects such as Urban Harvest, CycleSouth Brum and Britain in Bloom.Read on to find out more.

August Newsletter

All the best,

2013

www.facebook.com/northfieldecocentre Twitter @northfieldeco

For more information visit:www.northfieldecocentre.org/activities/families

Booking Essential: 0121 448 0119

Summer Family Fun!

Family Forest SchoolFamily Wildlife Adventuresat Masefield Garden. £3 per childWeds 21st, 2pm - 4pmThurs 22nd, 10am - 12pmThurs 29th, 10am - 12pmSat 31st, 2 - 4pm

Ecokids Holiday FunEco craft activities at NorthfieldEcocentre, 2-4pm. £1 per childWed 28 & Fri 30th -"Eco-pirates, ahoy!"

Anne Dasgupta,writes:

Our July Nappuccino was well visited on a busy Ecocentre Friday. New andexpectant parents were keen to listen to Dan, our enthusiastic volunteer,praise the benefits of using cloth nappies. Dan was accompanied by baby

Arthur who proudly displayed his colourful G-nappies with a 100% bio-degradable insert. For more information about all types of different re-

usable nappies as well as practical tips, join us on our forthcomingNappuccino event in September, date to be confirmed.

Please note that therewill be no August Nappuccino.

Our busiest July ever is near its end and what a successit was! During our four Forest School sessions atMasefield Community Garden, we learnt about plants,observed insects in their habitats and created mini-dens for imaginary or real bugs. We also listened tosounds like an owl would, created our own musicinstruments and finally learnt to build shelters usingsolid knots. Taking a snack in our own shelter wasvoted the best WOW moment of our last session!

Children, come and join us inAugust for more unforgettable,outdoor experienceswith your parents.

Real Nappy Mornings

FamilyForest School Coming up in

August

pearapple

cherry

plumalder

maple

beech

www.northfieldecocentre.org I Email: admin@northfieldecocentre.org I Call us on: 0121 448 0119

<<< Pledge from £5 to £1500, suitable forindividuals and businesses, including some exciting rewards.

Urban Harvest is managed by Northfield Ecocentre working with:

BusinessesRewards:

Pledge £1000Receive a free team

building dayPledge £1500

Receive a fruit orchardat your work

£10,000 Fundraising TargetHow you can helpDonate to the project and benefit from workshops onpruning and juicing, fruit trees for your own gardens andinvitations to special events and more.

We need 2000 people willing to invest £5 (or more!)

Volunteers willing to help pick fruit

People to share our crowd funding website, whereyou can donate online:www.crowdfunder.co.uk/urban-harvest

Or bring your donation to Northfield Ecocentre ascash or cheque payable to ‘Northfield Ecocentre’.

Urban Harvest was created in 2011 by two committedindividuals in Birmingham determined to reduce the amountof fruit that is wasted each year in back gardens and publicspaces where people are unable to pick them. In the first yearthey picked 5 tonnes of fruit juiced at Pershore College andsold in bottles to local people. In 2012 Northfield Ecocentrehelped to continue the project giving fruit to local children'scentres and local residents to promote healthy eating.

locally produced products available. For the project to be asuccess we need a Paid Coordinator. In future years this person

will be paid through the income from the previous year.

Urban Harvest 2013 and beyond!We are now working to develop

this project to become financiallyself-sustaininable, extend our

reach and increase the number of

Featured on- BBC Midlands Today

- Birmingham Mail

- BBC WM

This project will only be funded if atleast £10,000 is pledged by

Wednesday 18 September 2013.So your support is vital!

IN OUR BACK GARDEN

Two judges from RHS Britain In Bloom came to visit boththe Ecocentre Garden and Masefield Community Gardenon Friday 26th July to judge the gardens for ‘It's YourNeighbourhood’. The judges, Robin and Ken, were veryimpressed with both gardens but we will not know howwell we have done until 19th September at thepresentation ceremony. For more information visit:www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/News/RHS-Britain-in-Bloom-

Britain in Bloom

To find out more about ourgardening activities and events visit:

www.northfieldecocentre.org/foodgrowing

for food growing in our gardens, and an increase in the numberof bees, butterflies and wildlife, including a resident hedgehog!

Garden Wednesdays11am - 2pm

At Masefield Community Garden

Garden Thursdays10am - 12pm

At the Northfield Ecocentre

Masefield Garden

Northfield Ecocentre Garden

We have two gardens inNorthfield, where we grow

vegetables and run gardeningactivities and events.

Regular Activities

visits Northfield Ecocentre Gardens

The sun and rain in 2013 has given us a bumper year

Free:

Register Here:

GET ON YOUR BIKENorthfield Ecocentre

0121 448 0119 l www.northfieldecocentre.org

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1

Launch SuccessOn Thursday 25 July we had

a successful launch ofCycle South Brum. The day

included the opportunity forvisitors to have their bicycles

fixed for free by Bike Right WM.

Next Ride: Sunday 11 August.

Meet at multi-use games area in

Victoria Common, Northfield.

This was followed by a relaxing 45minute cycle ride from Northfieldto Bournville ending at MasefieldCommunity Garden with a BBQ,

home grown salad & bread bakedin our new wood-fired oven.

Thanks everyone for coming!

FUNDRAISING For NorthfieldEcocentre

HELP US DEVELOP OURWORK IN THE COMMUNITY

www.northfieldecocentre.org/support-usEmail: info@northfieldecocentre.org I Call: 0121 448 0119

Kara Moses, Fundraising Co-ordinator, writes;

The Gruffalo came to town!

Our Gruffalo fundraiser was a huge success! Everyone’s favouritemonster made a visit to the Ecocentre on a gorgeous sunny day, withover 120 children and parents lucky enough to meet the Gruffalo in‘person.’ We made masks of the characters from the story, heard thestory read aloud and had a meet and greet (and hug!) session with theGruffalo, who was extremely friendly. We raised a fantastic total of £580for the Ecocentre and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Thanksto everyone who came and made it such a fantastic day!

Can you hold afundraising event for us?

Could you: ask your children’s school to hold a dress down day? Hold acake sale for friends? Ask your employer if you can hold a fundraisingquiz/cake sale/dress down day? Organise a fun event like bingo, car washor garden party? We can support you in organising your event and provideyou with helpful resources and advice. Download a Supporter’s Pack:www.northfieldecocentre.org/support-us/resources

Vote for Us!To win funding from

Bournville Village Trust tocreate 7 community

orchards in Bournville!www.openview.bvt.org.uk

/vision/VOTE:

Bournville Orchard