College Eco News
During recent times the College has improved its environmental and sustainable position with a variety of tasks and initiatives and with a further range of ongoing projects continues to improve on its success.
The College has appointed a Sustainability Cooridinator who works alongside students and members of staff to ensure the College maintains its beacon as an environmentally concious leader in its field.
Autumn 2009
Eco-Schools Summit 2009
Over the course of the year Keith Ellis, Sustainability Co-ordinator for the Sixth Form College worked alongside Colchester Borough Council to organise the Eco-Schools Summit. The event was held at the Western Homes Community Stadium. Visiting schools shared green ideas and took part in a variety of fun filled activities, presentations and workshops. The Environment Committee and teacher Sha Smith provided invaluable support.
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College Bio-Diversity
Latest news on the north site wildlife area.
With the help of the Environment Committee the first log pile is now in place, more piles will be added in the future. Alan Swainston has kindly agreed to make us some bird/bat boxes from waste timber and some insect habitat frames that the Environment Committee will complete as a practical task, these will be put in place later this year or early next year.
A family of Long Tailed Tits nesting in the ceanothus produced 5 Chicks and the bird box on the holly tree had a family of Great Tits with 4/5 young.
Other birds seen in the area: Blue Tits, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Jay, Magpie, Collared Dove, Wood Pigeon, Goldfinch, Crow, Robin and
Chaffinch.
Over the next six months we hope to have a comprehensive list of flora and fauna in this area.
The Bio-Diversity group will be meeting again soon. If you have an in-terest in this area look out for notices or contact Keith on the number/email address below.
Keen Cyclist?
Then why not join the College B.U.G. (Bike User Group)
For less than 25p a week you get £10,000,000 personal third party insurance plus many other benefits.
For further information contact Keith Ellis at the number/address opposite.
College signs up for 10:10
10:10 is an ambitious project to unite every sec-tor of British society behind one simple idea: that by working together we can achieve a 10% cut in the UK’s carbon emissions in 2010.
Joining 10:10 makes our college part of the solution to climate change. The aim is to reduce emissions by 10% in one year – or as close as we can get. By reducing emissions we will be cutting costs and at the same time leading the way on a defining issue of our age.
10:10 website
Colchester Eco-Schools Summit
Once again The Environment Committee and Keith Ellis are involved with this prestigious event which this year will be held at The Weston Homes Community Stadium. This year’s event will be bigger and better than ever with exhibitors, workshops, presentations and ask the expert. Keith and the students will be helping to ensure the event runs smoothly.
Bumper crop for college allotment
In its first year the college allotment has provided a bumper harvest. In total 3 kilos of onions have been produced, these will be used for cell microscopy, 10 kilos of potatoes for osmosis and catalase enzyme experiments, 30 beetroot plants for permeability and membrane tests, a large amount of rhubarb for structure of xylem vessels and transport through plant and spinach which will be used for isolated chloroplasts. The spinach and beetroot will be harvested as required. Once the plot is clear broad beans for sick plant experiments and winter onions will be planted.
The financial benefit to the college will only be small, however the real value is in the food miles. In the past we have had to buy all of these vegetables with no guarantee that they have been produced locally or even in the United Kingdom. The allotment shows that with just a little effort we can greatly reduce our carbon
footprint.
Next year we are hoping for an even bigger and more varied crop.
If you have any comments, opinions, ideas or any other thoughts on environmental/sustainable issues within the College please send them to Keith Ellis, Sustainability Coordinator:
E-mail:
ellisk@colchsfc.ac.uk Tel: 01296 505650
Something to think about!
"There is very little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. That little difference is attitude."
- W. Clement Stone