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Sam Leech
05:01PM, Monday 18 March 2024
Residents in Windsor and Maidenhead are being encouraged to get green through a new website aiming to improve environmental sustainability.
Green Skills Library offers hands on courses from creating sustainable gifts such as a ‘foxy pin cushion’, to larger projects like building a pallet planter for garden plants.
It was launched on Friday (March 15) by Building Bridges Hub, based in Maidenhead, at an event attended by Theresa May, Royal Borough councillors and hub-supporters.
Building Bridges founder, Donna Stimson said: “I am so grateful to all our supporters for making this space, and the new website possible.
“Using our hands to create something out of nothing is so important, from a mental health perspective and for our environment.
“We want people to treasure materials for longer and feel a connection to their community, all whilst tackling the issues that face our environment.”
Building Bridges operates from a space inside The Nicholsons Centre, opened in March 2023.
Hub visitors are invited to learn practical skills which can increase biodiversity, improve health and wellbeing and reduce carbon emissions.
Its new Green Skills Library website offers further tips and tricks to help the environment.
There are DIY hacks including how to reupholster a chair and how to restore a garden bench, as well as projects for children such as building a ‘bug hotel’.
Building Bridges has partnered with sustainable businesses including Graphenstone, which produces carbon-capturing paint, and Waltham Place – a biodynamic farm.
The later partnership helped it develop Gather & Grow, a collaboration between the farm, hub and council to encourage vegetable growing in urban areas in Maidenhead.
It is also working with Oneplanet and Rewired Earth, two groups aiming to improve connectivity between stakeholder groups.
Donna said she was inspired to start Building Bridges and the Green Skills Library, by 19th century naturalist John Muir’s comment: "When we try to pick up anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything in the universe.”
She added: “In future we hope to expand, turning some of our volunteers into paid staff reaching repair, sewing, woodworking and the like.
“I am excited that we have started to work more closely with OnePlanet and Rewired Earth, both of whom believe emphatically in collaboration.
“I think this is what sums up the Green Skills Library best – we are not consumers – we are citizens set on collaborating.”
Building Bridges is supported by The National Lottery, Leo Lion Foundation and Berkshire Community Foundation.
To find out more visit the Green Skills Library website.
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