Category Archives: External events

SMART ENERGY SHOW Saturday 23rd November

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Cookham Footprint is hosting a SMART ENERGY SHOW on Saturday 23rd November from 13:00 – 16:30 at Chartered Institute of Marketing’s Moor Hall Cookham SL6 9HQ!!

  • I want to find out more about Air Source Heat Pumps and are there alternatives?
  • Is my roof suitable for solar panels and are they worthwhile?
  • What is the Great British Insulation Scheme?
  • Is my house suitable for cavity wall insulation?
  • What is a Hybrid system?
  • I’m interested in an electric car and need a charger.
  • What about battery storage?
  • Can I get FREE draughtproofing?
  • What grants are available?

Peter Gibbs, meteorologist and broadcaster, will start the talks at 1.30pm explaining his enthusiasm for these technologies, and what his motivation was for installing them.

There will be short talks covering topics such as Solar Panels (pvs) and batteries, Air Source Heat pumps, Zero Emission Boilers as well as talks by WildCookham on how we can encourage wildlife into our gardens.

Need more convincing? Become inspired and informed on the exciting technologies available for home energy. Have an opportunity to speak to genuine accredited installers of Solar Panels, Batteries, Air Source Heat Pumps and Zero Emission Boilers. There will also be a national insulation company, who can advise on government grants. All companies come with recommendations from villagers, and most are themselves local.

Cookhams Footprint (part of the Climate Community in Windsor & Maidenhead) is a community energy group encouraging villagers to insulate and ultimately move away from gas. Volunteers visit Cookham homes offering free thermal imaging, explaining EPCs and how to improve their insulation.

The team includes a professional retrofit Surveyor advising on all aspects of energy & homes. He’s given many well-attended talks on Air Source Heat Pumps and how to go carbon neutral. People really appreciated an informal chat from someone with his enthusiasm and expertise.

Also there, Draughtbusters, whom many of you know is a volunteer group who will fix the draughts in your home for FREE, so you should feel warmer and reduce carbon emissions. A trained local resident will come and survey your property and undertake basic draughtproofing.

More information please visit: cookhamsfootprint.co.uk and smartenergyshow.co.uk

Biodiversity Collage Workshop Sunday 27th October 11am to 2pm

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Join us for a fun and interactive science-based workshop to better understand biodiversity, the causes and consequences of its decline and meaningful actions for its regeneration.

Who is it for? Anyone: citizens, communities, students, teachers… anyone who would like to do more in support of robust, thriving ecosystems and abundant biodiversity!

How to book: Anyone 16 or over welcome. If you are interested in attending please email ecoactionrbwm@gmail.com (or confirm on Facebook Event) so we have an idea of attendance numbers.

Picture of collage artwork

Come and join us at ECO Action Hub – The Nicholson Shopping Centre for a workshop filled with laughter, learning, and connections. Let’s imagine a brighter future together!

HOLD THE DATE: “Climate Trauma: Finding Our Power” Workshop

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“I believe that the threat even greater than climate change is how powerless we feel in the face of it.” Clover Hogan, TED talk, What to do when climate change feels unstoppable.

  • Struggling with anxiety about climate change?
  • Keen to take positive action but uncertain where to start?

Join this workshop “Facing Climate Trauma: Finding our Power”. Connect with others in the local community, get new perspectives on our personal and collective challenges, and clarity on next steps we can take.

  • When: Monday 16th September 6:30 – 9:30 pm
  • Where: Maidenhead Community Centre, 4 Marlow Road SL6 7HY
  • How much: As a ‘pilot’ event tickets are discounted at £15. (*usually £35)
  • What next: Book your tickets here on Humanitix: Finding our power workshop

Maidenhead Candidates’ Climate Statements – Election 2024

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This is a very important 2024 General Election at a critical time for our country, our climate, and the planet. Not sure who to choose to vote for in Maidenhead?

We asked all Maidenhead candidates earlier last week for ‘climate statements’ on their ‘green credentials’ and how the intend to help Maidenhead at this critical time.

Four candidates replied. Their responses are posted below: please do read – we hope this, together with this ranking from Greenpeace here helps inform your Climate Vote choice!

Climate Statement: Andrew Cooney – Green Party …

Climate Statement – Green Party.docxDownload

Climate Statement: Josh Reynolds – Liberal Democrat …

Climate Statement – Liberal DemocratsDownload

Climate Statement: Jo Smith – Labour …

Climate Statement – LabourDownload

Climate Statement: Yasir Qazi – Independent …

Climate Statement – Independent Yasir Qazi.docxDownload

We also reached out to and as of today have yet to hear back from:

  • Timothy Birt – Social Democratic Party
  • Tania Mapthis – Conservative and Unionist Party
  • George Wright – Independent

Voting for the Climate in 2024!

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So many conversations from so many parties & politicians wanting your vote:

  • What’s the stance of each party on the key climate issues?
  • What’s their actual track record on delivery on the climate?
  • What are they promising if you vote for them on July 4th?
  • What influence will they really have locally and globally?!

So many questions – do you need some help? This episode of Rare Earth (a great series we really recommend) can help you think through all these issues and help you decide where you may place your vote for the Planet!

Rare Earth – Environment and the General Election – BBC Sounds

A letter from Chris Packham

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Restore Nature Now

[London 22nd June]

Dear friends, I’m writing to your group as one of the UK’s many smaller, grassroots organisations. It’s a beautiful day in Arne, Dorset where I’m currently filming Springwatch- the field of grass shoots and seedlings seems appropriate.

I applaud you- grassroots are the beating hearts of campaigning and activism. We may be small but we are mighty!

We are the mycelium under the floor of campaigning; tirelessly working away, growing, networking and barely seen- but without us the whole ecosystem of activism would simply not flourish. I thank you for the vital role that you play. A selfless, passionate and inspiring role.

We are light and agile, without the heavy governance and processes of boards and multiple layers of management. We can be responsive, reactive and blaze trails where other bulkier organisations can only slowly follow. What we lack in membership and funds we make up for in energy and effectiveness.

So here’s to the grassroots; the volunteers, the local activists, the common people, the ordinary folk MAKING CHANGE HAPPEN.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I hope to see as many of you as possible on Sat 22 June in London to demand our government Restore Nature Now. You can sign-up as a supporting organisation here and as individuals pledge to march here.

We know that amazing things can happen when we come together- when we unite en-masse to joyously, fervently, demand the changes we need to see from our elected leaders when it comes to biodiversity loss and climate breakdown.

See you on the streets! Chris

Earth Day: today and every day!

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A globe on a desk

What we do today and everyday helps form the kind of world we want to live in. Reducing our carbon emissions is ever more important: Working together we can achieve more – and we’re here today and every day to help you!

Here are some really great ideas – chose one (or two) for Earth Day and every day!

  1. Eat less meat and dairy – saving money and carbon!
  2. Leave the car at home – walk or cycle or bus and feel good!
  3. Draughtproof the house – you’ve always wanted to and we can help!
  4. Turn the thermostat down 1% – saving money, fuel and money too!
  5. Shun single-use plastic – stop buying bottled water of coffee in a cup?
  6. Join a local ‘Wild’ group and make your space more green & friendly?
  7. Buy less, spend less … consume less: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse Recycle!

🌎🌱 Make every day earth Day! Help create a greener, healthier future! 🌎🌱

Earth Day 2024
Earth as a lightbulb moment

Question Time: Heat Pumps.

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Shared Event with WILD ABOUT DATCHET

23rd March 11am Datchet WI Hall

We’re running this really popular event again, this time in Datchet with Wild About Datchet.

Thinking about getting a heat pump? Got lots of questions? Need to talk to an expert?

  • Do they make economic & environmental sense?
  • How can you get the best deal and outcome?
  • What’s best and are they the right thing for you?

Hear from our experts who have the answers, practical experiences, and have ‘lived’ with them? Put your questions to our specialist panel chaired by Peter Gibbs (From BBC R4 Gardeners’ Question Time and our local ‘Weather Man’). Find out if heat-pumps will work for you.

From 11:00 too 12:30 Saturday 23rd March at Datchet WI Hall. To ask a question, book here on Eventbrite. Tickets will also be available on the door.

The Big Garden Birdwatch

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Photo of several birds at Waltham Place Farm

The Big Garden Birdwatch is taking place from Friday 26th – Sunday 28th January. It’s a great opportunity for everyone to get involved in monitoring the health of the nation’s birds, simply by counting the birds that land in their garden or the patch outside their window. No knowledge is required as the RSPB provide a digital guide to identify the species you are likely to see. To sign up visit: https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/big-garden-birdwatch

Data from previous surveys shows that we have lost 38 million birds from UK skies in the last 60 years! And, whilst house sparrow numbers are currently going up the overall counts of house sparrows are still down by 57% compared to the first Birdwatch in 1979. Our birds provide huge ecosystem services to us, not least as pest controllers, seed-sowers, and as part of nature’s clean-up crew. Lend an hour of your time in thanks for their efforts and help the RSPB to monitor what’s going on with our garden birds and give them a voice.

With thanks to Niki McCann from Waltham Place for this excellent article, extracted from her monthly newsletter. For more information on Waltham Place and their program of events, visit What’s on (walthamplace.com)