The start of August saw Kempston Climate Change Group (KCCG) participating at the town’s Family Fun Day, manning a stall to raise awareness of environmental issues in the area and teaching children and adults how to recycle according to council criteria.

A recycling ‘game’ consisting of three boxes representing general waste, garden waste and home recycling bins proved a big hit: participants were asked to sort a variety of items into the correct boxes for disposal. Most items (a cardboard tube, wooden lolly stick, coffee cup and balled-up cling film) were sorted correctly by the majority of those who played, though others found certain items tricky.

On this note, recycling guidelines in Kempston have recently changed as Bedford Borough announces that kerbside glass collections will roll out in Autumn across all residential and commercial properties. This follows a successful trial in several areas including Kempston, and will make responsible glass disposal easier as residents will no longer have to travel to bottle banks.

Following last month’s successful bid for tulip bulbs, KCCG has now set its sights on a couple of empty planters in the town, with plans to brighten up the area. Flower displays are a great way to invite a pop of colour into urban settings and can lift the mood of those walking past.

While bulbs are not always readily available (or viable, depending on the time of year), members of the group have discussed another way of planting, sustainably and for free! Seed swaps are a great idea for expanding the variety of flowers in your garden, allotment, or patches of scrub, and enable successful flowers to reproduce, contributing to the local ecosystem. They are also fun social events, with neighbors and friends coming together to compare specimens and share gardening wisdom.

When not enthusing over sunflowers, calendula, clary sage and honeyweed, KCCG members are contributing to the community in other ways. Our litter picks continue, and diversify – volunteers at Kempston Family Fun Day conducted several litter picks around Addison Howard Park during the festivities, proudly representing the group and encouraging the public to dispose of their rubbish responsibly.

With new litter pickers and hoops to make waste collection easier, KCCG are all set to continue the good work across the borough. As ever, we welcome new volunteers and would love to see you at our next meeting: to become a member, fill out the form here – KCCG Membership Form

Fun activity – how to make your own seed balls!

You’ll need:

  • Air-dry clay
  • A handful of mixed wildflower seeds (eg. poppy, daisy, clover)

This is a fun activity to do with friends or family, and is suitable for children! To make seedballs which can be scattered at home or on public verges / scrubland, take a pinch of air-dry clay and flatten it into a coin shape. Press a small pinch of mixed wildflower seeds into the clay (you may prefer to scatter the seeds on a flat surface and press the clay on top to embed the seeds), then roll the clay into a ball. Leave on a sunny windowsill or airing cupboard for several days to dry out fully. Voila! Your seed bombs are ready to be pocketed, for dispersing on your next walk into town.