All this week I have been surrounded by a virtuous and, I must confess, rather smug glow thanks to a new discovery: Brighton & Hove Council’s journey planner website, Journey On.

Following on neatly from Arcadia’s post below, this excellent innovative website allows you to count the carbon, the calories and the cost of your daily journeys to and from work, to the shops, down to the beach, wherever you want within Brighton & Hove.

I have touched before on my walk to work – in the context of the deodorant debates (I walk a fairly long way very quickly with the inevitable issues on arrival!) – so was delighted to discover thanks to the council’s calculator that each day I walk:

over 4 miles

burning nearly 400 calories (or more as it says the journey takes 40mins and I do it in 30!)

saving 1.4kg in carbon emissions and £1.56 in petrol if I were to drive

or 0.5kg in carbon emissions and £1.70 if I were taking the bus

I think this website is a brilliant idea - not least because it lets me boast to all my friends how fit I am and how I’m saving the planet every day!

Gill Mitchell, the city council’s environment spokeswoman, said:

“Every day in Brighton & Hove 27,000 car journeys of less than three miles are made. We want to get people out of their cars and walking, cycling or taking public transport instead.

“Everyone wants to save money and everyone would like to be healthier. Our transport campaign, plus this new website, will help make people aware of how walking, cycling or taking the bus can help achieve this.”

So if you’re not in Brighton & Hove and you want to know how many calories and how much carbon you’re burning on your way to work, get on to your local council and tell them to build you a Journey On website now!

Happy Easter!

Katie

Update: Since I wrote this post, I’ve discovered London is doing something similar with their website ‘Walk It’ – check it out Londoners!

I don’t think I’ve mentioned it before but we’re in the middle of buying our first house!

It’s in Worthing, about 15 minutes on the train from where we live now.  We’re very excited but cautious – we’ve heard too many tales of woe about all the things that can go wrong before exchange of contract!

However, this weekend we’re going to let ourselves get a little more excited as Green Architecture Day comes to Hove. 

The 1930s mid-terrace we’re hoping to make our home could definitely do with a little eco-renovation so we’re going to take a wander amongst the stalls and exhibitions in search of inspiration!

Check out the stalls and exhibitions for free this Saturday 17 March between 10.30 and 12.00 or 2.00 and 4.00, or for a fee attend one of the talks on everything from Microgeneration, Harvesting and recycling rainwater, to Building with rammed earth – and enjoy a vegetarian lunch to boot! See the Green Architecture Day website for more details.

And if anyone has any tips for rennovating a 1930s terrace in an eco-friendly way (knocking down walls, painting them, doing something with a small courtyard garden…), let us know!

Earthship Brighton 
Continuing in the same vein, I also thought it was about time we headed over to Brighton’s very own earthship for one of the fortnightly tours.  According to Mike Reynolds, Earthship Creator, Earthships are: “independent vessels – to sail on the seas of tomorrow” Find out more…

The tours of Earthship Brighton are held on the 1st and the 3rd Sunday of every month. If you fancy a nosy around, just turn up at Stanmer Church on the lawns in front of Stanmer House at 10:30 am. Buses 25 and 78 leave regularly from Brighton city centre to Stanmer Park.

The tour is £5 per person and involves a walk of around 1 mile round trip, although people with mobility issues can take cars closer to the building. 

It also includes an overview of the Stanmer Organic consortium of 16 member groups – all with exciting sustainable land use and artistic projects.

The parents are coming down for the weekend so this will be a nice Mother’s Day treat for Mum!

Katie

Just a quick update on my last post about the fair trade fashion sale, I’m pleased to report that I made 2 purchases, a Howies jumper and a People Tree top – I’ll try to get pics for you soon!

I thought it was about time I gave my very local Farmers Market a mention. About a 5 minute walk from our flat (and therefore a 2 minute walk from Hove station so no excuses not to get here by public transport!) is Ralli Hall which hosts a wonderful Farmers Market on the first Sunday of each month from 10am-3pm.

And if you’re wondering why little piggie would choose to do his shopping at a Farmers Market, it’s because this one is the UK’s first and only vegetarian Farmers Market!

The market has a great range of supplies to stock up on or eat there and then (the yummy organic curries and fab fair trade hot chocolate spring to mind!). Last month we were overwhelmed by the choice of English apples (we had to have some of each and the last few turned into a spectacular apple and almond tart courtesy of my kitchen-friendly husband!). This month I’m suspecting the swift approach of the Christmas season may lead to tables groaning with organic Christmas puds and copious amounts of mulled wine and English mead being glugged.

You also get the chance to support the market by buying a raffle ticket…to win a huge hamper made up of the offerings of most of the market’s suppliers. Now that would be a welcome treat for Christmas!

The market is in particular need of support as it is quite hidden away and Brighton & Hove Council does not currently allow them to put up any signs to promote it except for very expensive landpost banner and seafront poster hoardings. The cost of these would have to be passed onto the farmer which they naturally don’t want to do.

If you are in the Brighton & Hove area and want to help out they are asking whether once a month they could place a small signpost by your garden wall / shop window / railing etc outside your office. You don’t have to do anything – they will put it up and take it away again immediately after the market finishes. And not only will you get the warm feeling that comes from supporting 40 local farmers and producers who rely on the market as a source of income but when possible, they will also show their appreciation with treats from the market!

For more information just email your name, address and contact number to frank@neweraassociates.co.uk or call 01273 323200

See you there on Sunday? I’ll be the one scoffing veggie mince pies!

Katie

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