Garden Tea Party

Thank you to everyone who supported our Garden Tea Party last Sunday. A lovely time was had by all and £550 was raised for our parther church in Richie,

South Africa.

RECYCLING PLASTIC FILM & CARRIER BAGS AT SUPERMARKETS

Continuing with ‘Plastic Free July’ did you know that some larger supermarkets will accept plastic for recycling that your local authority won’t?

See https://www.recyclenow.com/cy/node/3062 for more information.

For those who can't recycle plastic film at home, some types of plastic films can be recycled at carrier bag collection points at the larger stores of most major supermarkets including locally, Sainsbury’s at Lake End, Tesco at Bishop Centre and Waitrose Maidenhead to name a few. See below for a list of recyclable plastic packaging.

WHICH TYPES OF PLASTIC FILM CAN BE RECYCLED?

The following different types of plastic films are accepted at carrier bag collection points:

Yes please

All plastic bags, except biodegradable or compostable bags

Bread bags

Breakfast cereal liners

Shrink wrap & ring joiners from multipacks of water, cans etc

Frozen food bags, e.g. bags for frozen vegetables, chips, etc

Dry cleaning bags/bags covering new clothing

Magazine and newspaper wrappers

Bags for loose fruit and vegetables

Bubble wrap

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) - resin ID code 4

No thanks

Any non-Polyethylene film (e.g. PP, PVC, others)

Cling film

Food and drink pouches

Wrappers from bakeries, e.g. bags with lots of small holes in them

Film lids from trays and pots, e.g. yoghurt pots

Any dirty bags or film, for example containing food

Crisp packets

Compostable bags

How to Use Kitchen Scraps on Your Plants Without Having to Learn Composting

One of our Eco Church initiatives is to have compost bins placed in the churchyard so that we can encourage those tending graves to put their used flowers and greenery into the compost. We have already had one compost bin donated – does anyone else have one they no longer use that they would like to donate to St Mary’s.

Recycling waste is not just something to do at church though. Even if you don’t have a compost bin or a large garden, you can recycle some of your waste to gain lovely healthy plants that love the attention that you give to them – all for free!

Here are some top tips courtesy of Michelle Ulman from an article for BobVila.com.

Banana peels can help plants form healthy roots

The potassium found in banana peels helps plants transfer water between cells, set down healthy roots, assist in fruit and blossom growth, and fend off disease. All you need to do is bury the banana peel next to some outdoor flowering plants.

“Take care to cover it with several inches of soil to prevent insect infestations or odour,” Ullman writes. “As the peel decomposes, it will release its potassium and other nutrients into the soil, to the benefit of the nearby plants.”

Eggshells provide calcium for plants

Eggshells are chock full o’ calcium, which helps strengthen plants’ cell walls. Here’s what to do with them, per Ullman:

Rinse the eggshells thoroughly, let them dry, and then crush with a pestle or a similar grinder. Then work a handful of the ground shells into the soil around your plants, whether in the flower bed or a container.

The nitrogen in coffee helps with foliage growth

Using coffee grounds as plant food requires a delicate balance. On the one hand, they contain plenty of nitrogen, which helps foliage development. On the other hand, too many coffee grounds can stunt plant growth because of the caffeine content and acidity. Here’s Ullman’s advice:

To be safe, never add more than a half-inch layer of coffee grounds around your plants and cover the grounds with an inch or two of soil to avoid compaction that could prevent water from penetrating the soil.