Green Living Centre

The council’s new Green Living Centre at 222 Upper Street is now open. By visiting, you can find out how a greener lifestyle could benefit you – both financially and environmentally.

Tackling climate change will be one of the most important things this generation does, and everyone needs to get involved. Every day, more and more people are taking actions to help reduce carbon emissions and tackle other environmental problems.

Staff at the Green Living Centre will be on hand to provide tips and advice on ways you can help, whether it is by saving energy, recycling more, or using greener building material. There are various interactive displays at the centre and ideas to help you live a greener lifestyle.

When you visit the centre why not provide the staff with feedback and sign up to the mailing list to receive future information on the centre.

The centre is based at the 222 Upper Street, and is open from 9am until 5pm.

For directions on how to get there, click on the link for Visiting Our Offices on the right under Related Information.

Green Living Centre
222 Upper Street
London
N1 1XR
Email: greenliving@islington.gov.uk

Green Events at the Green Living Centre and the Islington Ecology Centre

Some of the events below are held at the Islington Ecology Centre at Gillespie Park. For directions on how to get there, click on the link for Visiting Our Offices on the right under Related Information. For all of the events, booking is essential unless otherwise stated. To book and for more information call 020 7527 4462. Events are free unless otherwise stated.

Organic Vegetarian Cafe
Ecology Centre, Sunday 5 July, 12 noon-- 4pm
Ecology Centre, Sunday 30 August, 12 noon-4pm

The Organic Cafe is run by students with learning disabilities from City and Islington College as part of a three year course. The practical focus is on creating healthy, organic, vegetarian food in a cafe setting.

As well as enjoying delicious food, you can take a walk around the beautiful Gillespie Park and explore the centre's many sustainability features including wind turbine, solar panels and water recycling and get inspired to green your own home.

Beginners' Organic Gardening Workshop
Ecology Centre
Sunday 5 July ,1-3pm
Monday 10 August 2009, 11.30-1.30pm

Get started growing your own salads and herbs in containers and find out how you can receive support with growing your own food at home. No experience required, all materials provided. Only 15 places available so booking essential.

Summer Solstice Event
Ecology Centre
Friday 19 June, 7-10pm

A celebration of summer with all proceeds going to the Friends of Gillespie Park. Bring family and friends and a picnic and enjoy an evening of music outdoors in the nature reserve. £5 entry (children £2, under 5s free)

The Parkland Walk Tree Trail
Meet at the corner of Ella Road on Crouch Hill.
Sunday 21 June, 2-4pm

From haws to hazelnuts; take a stroll around this lovely tree trail with our Nature Conservation ranger and learn some fascinating facts about our local trees. Booking essential.

Energy Doctor Surgery - Late Service
Green Living Centre.
Thursday 25 June, 5-7pm

Visit the doctor for personalised information on how you can save energy to save money at home.

Wildlife Explorers Event
Children's event
Barnsbury Wood
Sunday 5 July 2009, 2-4pm

Discover this delightful hidden woodland with wildlife games and activities for children six years old and upwards. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Small Change Big Difference Week
For this campaign the council is holding various events which show you how small changes to your lifestyle can make a big difference to the environment. Events are as follows:

• Plant Sale
  Ecology Centre
  Monday 5 July to Sunday 19 July, 12 noon-4 pm
  Come and buy nectar rich plants for your garden or window box, try and buy local honey, and ask our biodiversity experts for advice on making small changes that will make a big difference to wildlife.
• Free water saving devices and re-useable water bottles
  Green Living Centre
  Monday 5 July to Friday 17 July, 9am-5pm
  Come and pick up a save-a-flush for your loo that will save 1 litres of water every time you flush. We are also giving away re-useable water bottles to help you save money and waste from bottled water – in London we get through 3,200 litres of bottles water a minute!
• What's in a water bottle?
  Green Living Centre
  Tuesday 14 July, 5-8pm
  Find out about the hidden impacts of water use, and pick up a free re-usable water bottle and water saving device for the loo – small changes that will make a big difference. 
• Planting for butterflies and bees
  Ecology Centre
  Wednesday 15 July, 4-6pm
  The mosaic of gardens across London acts as a massive ‘urban nature reserve’, but these areas are disappearing fast. Join us to plant a container with nectar rich plants that you can take home and make a big difference to bees and butterflies.
  
• Energy Doctor
  Green Living Centre
  Thursday 16 July, 5-8pm
  Visit the doctor for personalised information on how you can save energy to save money at home.
  

Launch of Sustainable DIY course
Green Living Centre
13 July (then the 2nd Monday of each month until Monday 14 June 2010), 7-9pm

This 12-part course will cover a different aspect of sustainable DIY each week, through practical and theoretical sessions. The launch will explain the course content as well as giving an overview of the subject and will feature inspirational case studies of sustainable renovation. Only 25 places available, booking essential.

The Three Musketeers
Barnsbury Wood
Sunday 19 July, gates open 2.30 pm, performance 3-5.30 pm

Enjoy an outdoor performance by The Wadham Players in the delightful setting of Barnsbury Wood. Bring a rug and a picnic.
Tickets can be bought on the door or call Michael 020 8527 4690
www.wadhamplayers.co.uk

Fabulous Fliers
Children's event
Ecology Centre
Tuesday 21 July, 2-4pm

Come on our nature trail and discover the amazing dragonflies and butterflies of Gillespie Park, then get creative and make your own fabulous fliers to take home.

Recycling Carnival
Children's event
i-recycle Centre
Thursday 23 July, 2-4pm

Celebrate the summer holidays! Come and make carnival masks, head-dresses and carnival spinners out of plastic bags and impress your friends. Booking essential

Watery Wonderland
Children's event
Ecology Centre
Tuesday 28 July, 2-4pm

Take a look at the watery wonders of ponds as we go pond dipping. Have a look for pond skaters or even newts and get a frogs eye view of this hidden world.

Messy Masterpieces
Children's event
i-recycle Centre
Thursday 30 July, 2-4pm

Get creative at our reclaimed art workshop. Decorate your own designer bag, take part in glass painting, make a great eco fridge magnet and more. Booking essential

Marvellous Moths
Ecology Centre
Friday 31 July, 9-10.30pm

Moths come in an astonishing range of shapes, sizes and colours. Join us after dark to find out which moths are attracted to our light trap and learn your Garden Carpet from your Silver Y!

Animal Scrap
Children's event
i-recycle Centre
Tuesday 4 August, 2-4pm

No room for a pet? Want to make a new friend? Come to our animal scrap workshop; make puppets and toy animals out of old materials.

Water load of fun
Children's event
Ecology Centre
Wednesday 5 August, 2-4pm

Get involved in running rivers this summer! Join in and learn how water is polluted, where it comes from and how you can save it! Don’t be afraid to get a little splashed as you begin the water saving challenge.

The Great Gillespie Pond Challenge
Children's event
Ecology Centre
Wednesday 19 August, 2-4pm

Come and see how many different creatures you can find in our pond, then try out making your own pond-skater. 

If you go down to the woods today…
Children's event
Barnsbury Wood
Wednesday 26 August, 11am-1pm

Come and explore our secret woodland and join in our stories and games. Bring a picnic and your favourite animal toy.