Week 52 - Cuerden Valley Park Trust

I'm finishing my £5 for 52 we is challenge with a charity that is very close to home.  Indeed, it's about 5 minutes walk away and it's a place me and husband Darren enjoy a lot.  Cuerden Valley Park is a beautiful bit of green space that runs between the M6 and M61 here in Lancashire.  The park is maintained by Cuerden Valley Park Trust almost entirely aided by volunteers and funded through donations, car parking and the cafe and by various fundraising events through the year (our particular favourite is the Beer and Cider Festival!)

The trust are currently constructing a new visitor centre and cafe.  The centre is being built to very highly ecological specifications, using recycled tyres, straw bales and sheep's wool.  Much of the wood used in construction has come from fallen trees in the park itself.  Once built, they are expecting to become the first building in the UK to obtain certification from the Living Building Challenge, and internationally recognised environmental programme.

Darren and I are hoping to donate some of our time to the park as well over the next few months (and maybe even years!)

Link
Cuerden Valley Park.

Week 51 - Greenpeace

It's been a busy few weeks and I'm a bit behind.  I should have finished this by now so but there's only two left to do!

Glastonbury Festival is approaching so I've chosen the third charity that are heavily involved (Oxfam and WaterAid being the other two).  Greenpeace were formed in 1971 and has grown to be one of the biggest environmental organisations in the world with offices in over 40 countries.  They use direct action and campaigns for many environmental issues including:

• Stopping climate change.
• Protecting forests.
• Defending the oceans.
• Saving the Arctic.

In the UK they also support campaigns to halt fracking, reduce air pollution and work towards nuclear disarmament.

Link

Greenpeace