MAKE YOUR JOURNEY PART OF THE HOLIDAY!

One of our ECO Action Team has recently returned from a trip from the UK to Denmark by train! An experienced rail traveller, they prefer trains to planes because they are committed to reducing their carbon footprint. and they enjoy the journey as part of the holiday!

Have a read of their experiences in the document below. It might give you idea and motivation to change the way you travel – and replace the plane with the train!


Our Journey

For our 2024 holiday we wanted to visit family in Denmark. The first thing we did was consult the excellent ‘man at seat 61’ (www.seat61.com) for various sustainable options on how to get to Denmark. Rather than an early start for the Eurostar we decided to try the overnight Stena ferry from Harwich. We understand that Stena is pretty good on the sustainable front.

 

Most of our Danish family live in Aarhus, so that was our first destination. They wanted to take us to their summer house on the tiny island of Stryno. After that we would want a train to Copenhagen to see more relations and have two days exploring that city. Then returning via Hamburg and the Eurostar from Brussels.

Next we chose somewhere to stop enroute to explore a new place. Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Hanover or  Hamburg? And on the way back? Hamburg looked to be so interesting we decided to stop there on both journeys including a day excursion to Stade, about 1 hour from Hamburg, as it looked stunning with 17th century houses built during the prosperous Hanseatic period.

So, how did we do and what was it like?

The Ferry: It was a comfortable crossing with helpful staff and we had a nice cabin with a free mini-bar! I was able to watch the Wimbledon Ladies Doubles on the TV which pleased me greatly. We had a good breakfast and arrived in the Netherlands on time at 8am. Changing trains in Amsterdam we had time for a coffee overlooking the canal and cyclists (own cycle lane!).

Hamburg: an impressive train station with a welcoming committee sitting on the 1st floor balcony! Our family had come to meet us!

A large city but very attractive, built on the river Elbe with a buzzing port area (great to walk along and have a cruise around it which included the old renovated warehouse area). 

They have a newish, spectacular Elbphilharmonie building dominating the port area.

Our relations had enthused about Hamburg’s Miniature Wonderland so on our return trip we visited and discovered that it is similar to our local Bekonscot but indoors and enormous! It was stunning and we spent several hours looking at places we have visited and the miniature interpretation of them. 

There was also a Greenpeace boat approaching a Russian ship near the Antarctic – which ticked the box for us! Also in Hamburg I was very pleased to find an exhibition of the famous photographer Henri Cartier–Bresson whom I admire.

Stade: even better than expected!

Trains: all worked as expected. The station platform displays were helpful to inform where to board when you have seat reservations.

The scenery isn’t as spectacular as other train journeys we’ve done such as through the Alps, but our return train from Copenhagen to Hamburg goes over a very long bridge between Jutland and Funen.

Next year we are thinking about travelling to Croatia for two weeks, by train of course!


INTERESTED IN MARKETING? HELP US BE EVEN MORE SUCCESSFUL!

We’ve been pushing marketing outreach on social-media, email-newsletter and our website for months. Our marketing team work well – but now we need someone to help us grow more: social / digital marketing, newsletters and all other communications!.

We’re looking for someone with ‘any’ level of marketing skills to join our volunteer team. Could that be you?

If you’ve an interest in climate & the environment, want to ‘do something that makes a difference’ and have even some marketing skills & capability we’d love to talk to you. Come into the Hub, reach out to us here, or come to one of our events and see us!

HELP US BE EVEN MORE SUCCESSFUL WITH EVENTS!

We’ve been busy building & running events for months. Our teams work well – but now we need someone to be our event ‘focal point’ to ‘co-ordinate’ our events, our teams, our partner-events and just ‘pull it all together’.

We’re NOT looking for someone to run events (unless you’d like to do that too): We’re definitely looking for a (volunteer) coordinator. Could that be you?

If you’ve an interest in climate & the environment, want to ‘do something that makes a difference’ and have even some organisational capability we’d love to talk to you. Come into the Hub, reach out to us here, or come to one of our events and see us!

WE NEED YOUR IDEAS!

ECO Survey graphic

We’re planning a series of events for this autumn/winter on saving energy, saving you money and reducing your carbon footprint. We would love to know what you’re interested in.

We’ve built a short survey which you can take here: ECO Action Carbon Events Survey

Thank you for taking time to complete the survey: We’ll use the feedback you give us to shape our events programme, and to better inform any other ECO Action projects or initiatives we may run.

WHY BUY WHEN YOU CAN BORROW?

Need to fix something but don’t have the tools you need? Don’t want to invest in something you only need to use once? Come to the Library in the Hub and borrow our useful Things for your home, projects and adventures.

Simply create and confirm your membership via this link (Share a LoT Maidenhead: Inventory), then start browsing our catalogue for anything you would like to reserve!

ECO Action’s Share a LoT operates at the ECO Action Hub in the Nicolson Centre, where items are collected from and returned. If you would like to learn more about the LoT, you can find out more on the ECO Action website, or you can come and chat to one of the volunteers at the Hub.

* If you’d like to help with the Library – please come and talk to us!!

Young Eco Warriors: “Friday Club”

Calling all young Eco Warriors in Maidenhead – Drop in to play in our child-friendly Eco Action Hub! Bring your friends and your parents or guardians to play too!

What’s happening: We’ve got singing, story-telling, drawing and a space to play!

Bring your Parents or Guardians too!

Who’s it for?

  • Up to age 4 1/2 during school term dates
  • Parents must stay & accompany children
  • Please leave a donation if possible at the Hub

What Next:

  • Drop In: Come to the Hub no booking required!
  • Dates: Fridays from September 6th to December
  • Timing: From 10:00 to 12:00 – no booking required
  • Where: Eco Action Hub, Nicholson Centre SL6 1LB

* We hope to have tea, coffee and snacks available by this date – to be confirmed!

Calling all young Eco Warriors: Eco Action “Holiday Club”

Drop in to play in our child-friendly Eco Action Hub!

What’s happening: We’ve got singing, story-telling, drawing and a space to play!

Bring your Parents or Guardians too!

Who’s it for?

  • Up to age 11 during holiday dates
  • Parents must stay & accompany children
  • Please leave a donation if possible at the Hub

What Next:

  • Drop In: Come to the Hub no booking required!
  • Dates: Each Friday 2nd August, 9th 23rd & 30th
  • Timing: From 10:00 to 12:00 – no booking required
  • Where: Eco Action Hub, Nicholson Centre SL6 1LB

* We hope to have tea, coffee and snacks available by this date – to be confirmed!

🌿🎉 THIS SATURDAY: ECO Action Hub’s 1st Anniversary Party! 🎉🌿

What’s Happening? We’re celebrating our first year – AND we’re celebrating YOU, our incredible community of eco-warriors. Here’s why you won’t want to miss this:

When: Saturday May 11th from 10:00 with the ‘grand opening’ at 11:00, cake and bubbles at 12:00 and events through the day in ECO Action Hub.

Inspiring Conversations: Connect with people on the same journey or just starting out: climate advocates, curious minds. Share stories, swap tips, learn how small actions can make a big difference for you & for the planet!

Meet Our Team and our Partners:  Our passionate team members will be there to chat with you about sustainable living, climate action, and biodiversity. Our partners (from the local “Wilds”, from the “Wildlife Garden Awards” and others will all be there too!

Meet Special Guests: We’re thrilled to welcome RBWM’s Karen Davies, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity, along with her colleagues. They’ll be signing up for the 10% Challenge right alongside you!

Engaging Eco-Activities:

  • Seedling Swap: Bring your extra seedlings and exchange them with fellow gardeners.
  • Repair Cafe: Got a broken item? Our skilled repair volunteers will help fix it!
  • Library of Things: open for you to be able to pick items to take out ‘on loan’!
  • Banana Climate Game: A fun way to learn about carbon footprints and climate impact.
  • Jenga Challenge: Challenge yourself to answer eco-questions playing a giant Jenga game.
  • Personal Action Plan Sign-Up: Get personalised tips to reduce your environmental impact.
  • 10% Challenge: Commit to reducing your carbon emissions by 10%—we’ll guide you!
  • Young ECO-Warriors Story-Telling: for children from MDG at 11:15 / 13:15
  • Live Music: Relax and listen to gently soothing eco-friendly live music too!

Cake and Bubbles: And if that’s not enough there will be cake and champagne to go with the games and the swaps and the conversation … it’s a reward for your commitment to a greener planet!

🌎🌱 Together we can create a greener, healthier future. See you there! 🌎🌱

🌿🎉Join Us at the ECO Action Hub’s 1st Anniversary Party!🎉🌿

What’s Happening? We’re celebrating our first year – AND we’re celebrating YOU, our incredible community of eco-warriors. Here’s why you won’t want to miss this:

When: Saturday May 11th from 10:00 with the ‘grand opening’ at 11:00, cake and bubbles at 12:00 and events through the day in ECO Action Hub.

Inspiring Conversations: Connect with people on the same journey or just starting out: climate advocates, curious minds. Share stories, swap tips, learn how small actions can make a big difference for you & for the planet!

Meet Our Team and our Partners:  Our passionate team members will be there to chat with you about sustainable living, climate action, and biodiversity. Our partners (from the local “Wilds”, from the “Wildlife Garden Awards” and others will all be there too!

Meet Special Guests: We’re thrilled to welcome RBWM’s Karen Davies, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity, along with her colleagues. They’ll be signing up for the 10% Challenge right alongside you!

Engaging Eco-Activities:

  • Seedling Swap: Bring your extra seedlings and exchange them with fellow gardeners.
  • Repair Cafe: Got a broken item? Our skilled repair volunteers will help fix it!
  • Library of Things: open for you to be able to pick items to take out ‘on loan’!
  • Banana Climate Game: A fun way to learn about carbon footprints and climate impact.
  • Jenga Challenge: Challenge yourself to answer eco-questions playing a giant Jenga game.
  • Personal Action Plan Sign-Up: Get personalised tips to reduce your environmental impact.
  • 10% Challenge: Commit to reducing your carbon emissions by 10%—we’ll guide you!
  • Young ECO-Warriors Story-Telling: for children from MDG at 11:15 / 13:15
  • Live Music: Relax and listen to gently soothing eco-friendly live music too!

Cake and Bubbles: And if that’s not enough there will be cake and champagne to go with the games and the swaps and the conversation … it’s a reward for your commitment to a greener planet!

🌎🌱 Together we can create a greener, healthier future. See you there! 🌎🌱