Go Greener is moving on!

Go Greener has been going now for FIVE years (believe it or not) and it has enjoyed great support from the council, local companies and organisations and above all you, the people of East Renfrewshire.

However, it is now time for us to move on and we are changing direction to focus on two main areas. Firstly, the Orchard which is going to be taken over by a new group called 'Green Shoots' run by Savio D'Souza and secondly, a new online community magazine is being set up called 'Let's Go East Ren', which will be run by myself, Keith Stoddart and my wife.

The Orchard is a great project and Savio, together with his new dedicated group, Green Shoots will be able to spend much more time on developing this, from it's present state into an orchard that will be a fitting legacy to leave our kids and their kids too. Plans are in place to make it a focal point and to encourage healthy eating of all kinds of fruit. There will be training sessions held there on how to maintain the trees so everyone can grow their own. Information will be available soon.

The new magazine is a FREE digital greener living, community publication, produced totally online. More and more publications are being read online now especially with the advent of tablets and smart phones. The aim of the magazine is to encourage, help and inspire people to live a more sustainable lifestyle (without preaching!). It will contain regular news, articles from local people, schools, societies and groups as well as hints, tips and some recipes too. The first issue will also have a recipe from our guest chef John Quigley. The new mag should be launched this week and if you want to find out more then go to our new website: www.letsgoeastren.co.uk.

Go Greener has accomplished a great deal over the years and below is a list of just some of the successes we are proud of.

2007

Working group set up by Cllr Phillips (then Convenor of the Environment Committee, East Renfrewshire Council), Savio D'Souza and Andy Cahill
Also included Lorna Wallace on secondment from ERC and Keith Stoddart (current Treasurer)

2008

Official launch (March 2008) with 50 attendees; Eddie Phillips first Chairperson
Go Greener Day 1 (Sept 2008), 800 attendees, guest speaker Chris Hines MBE

2009

Family Festival (August 2009), guests Dougie Henshall, John Smeaton
Apple Day 1 (Sept 2009), 800 attendees
Finalist, Best Green campaigner award
School seminar at St Ninian's HS, 30 attendees - ECO teachers with guest speaker Paul Cortopassi of Keep Scotland Beautiful

2010

Schools conference at Woodfarm HS - attended by 45 Eco teachers, pupil ECO Committees and distinguished guests
Weather & climate - past, present and future, talk by TV weatherman Alex Hill (2010)
Student from Aberdeen University funded by ERC provided support for Apple Day 2
Apple Day 2 (Sept 2010), 2000 attendees
Participation in Climate Change debate, Scottish Parliament
Best Green campaigner award from SEPA

2011

Three students from Caledonian University funded by ERC provided support for Go Greener Day 2
Go Greener Day 2 (March 2011), 800 attendees
Apple Day 3 (Aug 2011), 800 Attendees
Glyn Jones becomes new Chairperson
Constitution simplified, and Management Committee of 8 members established

2012

Orchard Launch (Feb 2012), representatives from 30 organisations, speaker Chris Hines MBE
High School Conference (Mar 2012) all East Renfrewshire High schools, represented, speaker Heather Reid OBE
Apple Day 4 (Sept 2012)

Both the Orchard and the magazine will be of great benefit to the local community of East Renfrewshire and with your help and support we will continue Go Greener's great work. We would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to you all and we look forward to your continuing support in the future.