Ecotopia Life

Shower With Bob!

2010-03-31T03:50:00.000-07:00

We have a great new product here at Ecotopia.co.uk that we think you will love. It’s a simple idea – the best ones always are – that will save you water and money!
I give you.... The ShowerBob.
The ShowerBob is a shower timer that does not use batteries. Using an ‘egg timer’ sealed in a waterproof unit that just sticks onto the side of the shower, the ShowerBob will make sure you don’t spend too long in the shower. Simply turn the unit to start the timer sand moving and it will run for four minutes. When the sand has run out, it’s time to get out!
Save water and money – shower with Bob!

Clean Air Tree Kit - You plant one, we plant one!

2010-03-25T06:47:00.000-07:00

Clean Air Tree Kit - You plant one, we plant one!

Ecotopia have teamed up with the World Clean Air Forest Initiative to supply this great Clean Air Tree Kit. This kit contains one potent object for producing one tonne of clean air with no adverse impact on the environment - A Tree!
The Clean Air Tree Kit is designed to get you involved in environmentally focused activities that will have a direct effect on local and global communities and hopefully bring us all closer together
Inside the Clean Air Tree Kit is everything you need to grow and plant your own tree. This will help to produce a whopping one tonne of Clean Air across the course of the tree’s life!
You can plant your tree in your own garden, or in a locally designated planting area (Local Forest), then use the special PIN code inside your tree kit to register on our website and map.
For every Clean Air Tree Kit you buy WCAFI will plant another tree with our tree-planting partners around the World. Current planting locations include: Haiti, Malawi, India, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, Uganda, Kenya. Essentially, you buy one tree kit, you plant two trees.
The Clean Air Tree Kit's white globe is made from potato waste and is 100% biodegradable. In fact every element is either biodegradable or compostable, from the PLA used in the shrink-wrap to the vegetable and water based inks used in the instruction booklet.
The Kit contains: 1 x growing pellet, which allows the roots to breathe, 1 x growing pot which will drain any excess water, 6 – 10 tree seeds and instructions for growing. We already have reports of 4 plus trees grown from the one kit! We find the best local seeds for your area, so you can be assured that when you plant your tree; it’s got the best chance of growing!
We’re very excited to be part of this at Ecotopia and think it’s probably one of the best products we have ever offered. At £4.99 there’s no excuse not to get growing! Go To Clean Air Tree Kit

Help the Humble Bumble

2009-03-04T06:59:00.001-08:00

Ecotopia is on a quest to help the humble bumble bee!

Products available to assist the bumblebee.

Bumblebee Nester
Ceramic Bee Nester
Pollinating Bee Log

Bumblebees are among the most endearing and familiar of our insects. The sight and sound of bees droning methodically from flower to flower is a quintessential part of a summer’s day. Sadly, changes to the farmed countryside have not been kind to our bumblebees. The number of species found in most of lowland Britain has halved since 1950. Three species have gone nationally extinct and several more may follow in the near future unless we act quickly. The reason that bumblebees have declined in the countryside is simple. Bees feed exclusively on pollen and nectar, and there are far fewer flowers in the countryside than there once were. Hedges have been grubbed up and marshes drained. In particular, unimproved grasslands which are rich in wildflowers (haymeadows and chalk downland) have been almost entirely swept away, replaced by silage and cereal fields.
Bees in deline:
• Britain & Ireland have 25 native species of bumblebee
• 3 species have already become nationally extinct
• 5 are now designated UK Biodiversity Action Plan species, in recognition of their precarious situation with 2 more scheduled for inclusion.
• In total 15 have undergone major range contractions
• Several species face extinction unless action is taken.
Bumblebees are fascinating and beautiful creatures that deserve conserving in their own right. However, there are also pressing ecological and economic reasons to halt their declines.
Bumblebees are major pollinators of a majority of our flora. If bumblebees continue to disappear these plants will set less seed, potentially resulting in gradual but sweeping changes to the countryside. It may ultimately become dominated by an entirely different suite of plants that do not require bumblebee pollination. Clovers, vetches, and many rare plants may disappear. Indeed, there is evidence that this process is already underway. These changes will have catastrophic knock-on effects for other wildlife dependent on these plants. As such, it is often argued that bumblebees are keystone species, and that they are a conservation priority.
Bumblebees are also of commercial importance, being vital to the agricultural industry. Many arable and horticultural crops depend on bumblebees for pollination to varying degrees. Some, like oilseed rape, can set adequate seed without bumblebees provided there are sufficient honeybees, but others, such as broad, field and runner beans and raspberries are heavily dependent on bumblebees. Without them there would be little or no crop to harvest. There is already evidence that in some regions where fields are large and there are few hedgerows (in which bumblebee queens forage in spring and build their nests) crop yields are depressed due to a shortage of bumblebees.

NEW PRODUCT: Recycled cardboard paint tray

2009-02-04T04:54:00.000-08:00

Eco Recycled Cardboard Paint Tray
Here at Ecotopia we are committed to providing practical and ingenious solutions to everyday ‘eco’ dilemmas! We realise that DIY is not necessarily the funkiest or most interesting topic but when a UK based company approached us with a brand new product that solved one of the DIY dilemmas and they had spent 2 years in the shed developing it we couldn’t say no.

This great new product is simply a paint tray that is made from waste cardboard and paper. Is it reusable, biodegradable, compostable and compliments Ecotopia.co.uk’s large range of eco friendly paints and DIY materials.

Here are the facts:
· Environmentally friendly.
· Is made from recycled material, thus not using natural resources.
· No need to waste water with washing out, simply wipe out any left over/excess paint and leave to dry for reuse.
· Saves time as no need to wash out, particularly useful if in location with limited or no access to water.
· Fewer rolls are required to pick up an equivalent amount of paint, thus saving time.
· Gap in end leg for unwanted contaminants or for other tools to rest.
· Due to a rougher base, does not slide around the floor as much as a plastic tray.
· No waste in the manufacturing process.
· Sustainable production process
· Sold unpackaged
Other Eco DIY Products
http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/product/146/eco-paint.htm

For print images and further information contact steve@ecotopia.co.uk

Show your love with ecotopia

2009-01-27T06:02:00.000-08:00

Choose a valentines gift that will pamper your sweetheart without spoiling the planet with a whole range of ideas from www.ecotopia.co.uk. Choose one of these gifts and support an overseas project that helps disadvantaged people live and work sustainably in Asia and Africa.

Soapstone incense pebbles with inscribed words of love, hope and faith - 97p

These beautiful incense holders are hand carved from soapstone in Agra. This project supports 104 workers in 25 groups local to Agra, the traditional centre for soapstone and marble carving. In the shadow of the Taj Mahal each item is hand carved with incredible skill and patience. The project offers all artisans fair wages, a dust free environment in which to work, health insurance and life insurance. If the groups struggle with the cost of the raw materials, the project will give a helping hand, as well as offering design advice to sustain the work of each group. The project is actively involved in addressing the problem of child labour in the region and is a member of IFAT.

Red Apron with Hearts - £12.67

Made by a women's group in Mumbai, training and employing women with little education.100% organic cotton hand screen printed using vegetable inks.

Leather Heart Keyrings - £2.45

These are made from leather in a unit in the countryside near Kolkata. Their artisans are from nearby villages and are able to live at the centre during the week. The group provides them with meals made from organic food. All employees receive a provident fund, pension, medical insurance and a yearly bonus. This allows them to support their families and send their children to school. The group has established a charity, which provides; scholarships for widows and unemployed people living in Kamarhati, donates textbooks to students and has set up a centre for single mothers, widows and troubled wives.

Cotton Leather Notebooks – £4.88

These are made from handmade paper using recycled cotton rags. These are made in a rural place on the outskirts of Delhi. The company is a family firm and for many years was involved in the process of agricultural grain. When there was economic troubles for farming in India and the market for grain fell away, the boss of the unit decided to go to Jaipur and learn the craft of making paper from recycled cotton rags. He then returned to teach each and every one of his workers the new skills. This ensured their continued employment

Heart card holder - £7.78

These are made from iron and powder coated. The product is hand made at every stage. This group is a member of World Fair Trade Organisation; their staff receive health coverage, PPF and insurance. The group has built two schools and is working towards providing a water filter for all of its work units

- Ends –
For more information please contact Sara Hobbin on 07885975671

Green New Year?

2009-01-14T07:26:00.001-08:00

Wipe your bottom on newspaper and nine other great New Year resolutions

Ok, we are only joking about that one but here at http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/ we want to help you become greener in 2009! Check out our top ten New Year resolutions to help you conserve the planet and the cash in your wallet this New Year.
1. Cleaning without toxic chemicals is a wonderful way to turn your home into a healthy and healing place to be in the New Year. Unfortunately, over past decades the ever-expanding store of home cleaning products has included a number of dangerous weapons, loaded with strong, artificial colours and fragrances and harsh cleansing agents like bleach, ammonia, alcohol and more.. There are a great range of green cleaning product ranges such as Ecover, Clearspring and Bio D available from http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/ that are as effective as the traditional chemical laden products you find on supermarket shelves. And don’t forget multi buy and bulk options to save you even more money.
2. Try eco appliances around the home –as well as doing a great clean they can cut your energy bills. For instance, check out the new Ecolectric PerformAir 1000w Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner from http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/ for a spotless and healthy carpet. This bagless upright is light, easy to carry, gets into places you wouldn’t imagine and has a huge 4.2 litre capacity for less frequent emptying. As well as being packaged in recycled and 100% recyclable materials, it has an economical 1000w low energy motor leading to a 50% energy saving, helping to reduce your energy bills but without compromising on performance. It is a great vacuum cleaner!
3. Every household in Britain produces more than a ton of waste annually, almost 80 per cent of which is buried in landfill sites, polluting ground water and producing gases that contribute to climate change and global warming. You may already recycle the waste you produce, but what about not producing it in the first place? Try and buy in bulk! http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/ sells many products in bulk quantities to save you money and reduce packaging by refilling old containers.
4. Shun at least one non-green product all year. Make it something that you really like, but can live without it but would purchase if it were more eco-friendly. You can always write to the company that manufactures this product and tell them why you now choose not to buy it
5. Not so fantastic plastic! Stop drinking bottled water. Drinking tap water reduces your carbon footprint, landfill rubbish and saves you money. Need water for the gym – buy a reusable bottle!
6. The best resolution to make for the earth is to use the car less or get rid of it altogether. Walk, bike, use public transit or car share. The emissions and money saved will be immense!
7. Make one day a week a meat free day! Meat farming produces enormous amounts of greenhouse gases. Sticking to vegetables once a week would have more beneficial effects than reducing car journeys.
8. Grow your own to beat the credit crunch. Make sure the only crunch you feel is the bite of your home-grown vegetables next year with Ecotopia.co.uk’s range of grow your own seeds, tools and accompaniments . As well as tasting great, you could save money, get fit, do your bit for the environment and be super-trendy all at once.
9. To make it easy to switch off chargers and electronic equipment when you’re not using them, get a standby buster to switch off all your machines and equipment. It will help you save electricity and money! Check out ecotopia’s range of energy savers here.
10. Use energy saving lightbulbs

House & Home -Bulk Buying -Eco Cleaning --Laundry --General cleaning --Toilet & Bathroom cleaning --Dishwashing --Floors & Carpets --Cloths & Brushes --Professional Cleaning -Household Wares --Bags, Sacks & Bins --Accessories --Tissues & Towels --Kitchenware --Furniture --Recycled Glass --Air Freshners, Incense & Candles --Eco Tableware --Water Saving, Jugs & Filters -Books & Entertainment -Eco Gadgets --Torches --Chargers & Batteries --Toys & Gadgets --Clocks --Appliances --Radios & Media Players --Energy Saving -Clothing & Accessories --Bags & Accessories --Jewellery --Sports Equipment --Musical Instruments -Eco Office --Rulers, Pens & Pencils --Notepads, Paper & Organisers --Eco Computing --Eco Stationery --Envelopes & Packaging -Lighting --Decorative Lighting --Low Energy Bulbs -Eco Paint --Gloss Paint --Primer and Undercoat --Interior Wood Finish - Water --Woodstain & Exterior --Interior Wood Finish - Oil --Cleaning and Wax Care --Interior Wall Paint --Preparation and Tools Gardens & Wildlife -Wildlife Camera Systems -Composting -Outdoor Accessories & Kits -Trees, Plants & Seeds -Houses Nests & Habitats -Feeders & Tables -Tools -Outdoor Lighting -Rainwater Harvesting --Water Butt Kits --Water Butt Accessories --Water Butts Parent & Child -Nappies & Accessories -Eco Toys & Games --Other Toys --Eco Wooden Toys --Creative Toys -Child & Baby Clothes -Wipes, Creams & Soaps -Maternity Bodycare -Cloths & Brushes -Soaps & Shower Gel -Skin Care --Sun Care & Tanning --Moisturisers --Lip Care --Wipes, Scrubs & Lotions --Eye Care --Foot Care --Hand Care -Cotton Wool & Tissues -Hair Care -Dental Care -Feminine Care -Wellbeing -Fragrances & Deodorants -Cosmetics -Shaving Natural Food & Drink -Snacks & Confectionery --Chocolate --Biscuits --Crackers & Crispbread --Crisps --Snack Bars --Sweets -Groceries --Baby & Infant Foods --Beans & Pulses (Cans) --Beans & Pulses (Dry) --Breads --Vegetarian Roasts & Mixes --Vegetables (Cans, Jars, Dried) --Breakfast Cereals --Desserts --Flours & Bread Mixes --Fruit (Cans, Jars, Dried) --Fruit Spreads & Jams --Grains --Sauces, Pestos & Stock --Herbs & Spices --Honey --Condiments --Nuts & Seeds --Oils & Vinegars --Olives --Pasta --Ready Meals --Savoury Spreads --Soups --Sugars & Syrups -World Foods --Chinese Food --Indian Food --Japanese Food --Mexican Food --Thai Food -Non-alcoholic Drinks --Coffee --Coffee Substitutes --Fruit & Vegetable Juices --Fruit Juice Concs & Cordials --Herb & Fruit Teas --Fizzy Soft Drinks --Non Dairy Milk --Teas --Cocoa Eco Gift Guide -For Him -For Her -For Kids -For Little People -For Gardeners

All we are saying is give Bees a chance!

2008-12-05T02:24:00.000-08:00

Help fight the decline in the bee population with a range of habitats and homes from ecotopia.co.uk

While Albert Einstein did not say "if the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would have only four years of life left” there is a lot of truth in this comment. Here are Ecotopia we are seriously worried are the decline in the bee population and encouraging people this Christmas to consider that a bee is not just for summer, they are needed for life - Life of the ecosystem.

We are in serious trouble without our friends. Not only are they the only insects that produce food for humans in the form of honey, they pollinate more than 100 crops as well as 90 percent of all flowering plants. We couldn’t begin to duplicate the work accomplished by bees - every bee makes 10 or more flights per day and each flight lasts more than one hour, visiting between 50 to 100 flowers.

So what can we do to help the bee population survive the current climate? It isn't difficult to make your yard, garden or even patio space a haven for beneficial bees. You'll be helping these important insects, as well as bringing more nature to your backdoor.

We are now doing some great deals on bee habitats to encourage customers to support these beautiful creatures. Try our wooden Bumblebee Nester at £19.99 or the ceramic nester at £16.59. These nesters are ideal to attract bees to your garden. Check out our other bee homes like the solitary beehive at £19.53, the insect theatre at £29.31 or pollinating bee log at £14.67.

And don’t forget we have a whole host of Burt’s Bees’ Product for Bee lovers!

great offer on camera system kit

2008-12-05T02:22:00.000-08:00

Save £115 on Ecotopia.co.uk's Wildlife and Underwater Camera system kit now just £164.95

Limited stock

http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/product/4/bb0538/wildlife-and-underwater-camera-system---was-27995.html

This is the latest and most comprehensive underwater wildlife watch kit. Being entirely self contained it is excellent for the travelling enthusiast whether on land or underwater in a lake, canal or river.

This amazing product can be taken anywhere, is battery powered and self contained.

Features: Aluminium case with rechargeable screen case for mobile viewing
Waterproof construction colour and black and white infrared wide angle camera unit
Adjustable weight for different camera angle
Can be used above ground for wildlife surveillance
Ideal for frogs, toads, newts, koi, fish and general pond life, also river or lakes and even the sea Aluminium carry case with rechargeable battery unit and integral rechargeable 7inch screen ideal educational use, wildlife, rivers, ponds, sea or lakes
The ultimate underwater investigation tool
Also great for boat owners wanting to check under their boats

Be safe this winter

2008-10-27T09:08:00.001-07:00

Our adult and kids jackets are available in five fluorescent colours -pink, yellow, green, red and orange. These jackets are fluorescent for day and near dusk, and reflective for night. They come with the stencil design with just "1 less car".They have an internal pocket. They are machine washable. They are 100% polyester. They have Velcro front fastening and a hanging hook on the collar.They come with a wide EN1150 quality encapsulated colour, microprismatic reflective tape strip. We’ve chosen a size which seems to fit most people.£14.95 - £19.95

And for every jacket sold we give 50p to the Waltham Forest Bike Recycle Centre. They rescue and repair old bikes, so they go back into the community.

Green Xmas Guide

2008-10-27T07:42:00.001-07:00

Yes it is nearly November and our thoughts turn our favourite time of the year - Christmas! Organise the perfect green Christmas this year and save money with our green guide, reduce your carbon footprint and have a more eco friendly and sustainable holiday season.

1. Serve local, healthy and seasonal December foods at your events and xmas parties. Choose vegetables that are in season and do not have to be flown in from abroad. Broccoli, cabbage and onions can all be grown without the aid of harsh chemicals so you can spend your organic pounds elsewhere. Buy loose vegetables rather than packaged from a farmers market. Click here for all foods that are in season.*** Ecotopia.co.uk have a great selection of Xmas fayre , food staples and world foods .

2. Decorating your house can be one of the most enjoyable parts of Xmas. Go for ethically made and traded decorations . Kids really enjoy making their own green decorations out of old scraps of material and leftovers. Try popcorn garlands – which are really fun and cheap to make and scour a woodland floor for fallen pinecones and twigs that are great for decorations!

3. E-mail party invites and Christmas cards rather than post them. There are loads of free Xmas themed party invite e-cards around or alternatively make your own out of scrap and recycled products. If you really want to send cards, choose charity ones or check out these really funky recycled ones . After the big day, make sure your Christmas cards don't go to waste – take them to a Woodland Trust recycling point.

4. Christmas heating and lighting bills can be huge! Save cash and protect the environment by using energy saving devices such as standby busters and radiator boosters . Don’t forget to turn off the tree lights or better still try these solar powered ones.

5. Use recycled paper, gift bags or even colorful cloth to wrap the Christmas presents and instead of tape, use colorful ribbon to tie up the gifts.

6. Make a green statement this Xmas! Send a message to the manufacturers of consumer goods by shopping for & buying only natural, non toxic, eco friendly, organic presents this year.7. Which makes a better tree? Artificial or a real tree? Simply real ones are as they are great for the environment and can be replanted after use. If replanting isn’t an option, most local councils run Christmas tree recycling schemes. Contact yours or go to http://www.letsrecycle.com. If you need to use an artificial one avoid those made in China or Tawian which have transport costs associated with them. They also can be made with nasty chemicals, metals and plastics which can emit into our homes. Adorn with fair trade and ethical traded decorations or again make your own. Ecotopia.co.uk has a selection of seasonal trees in stock which make great gifts.

8. How do we give children what they desire but without poisoning our planet? Take electronic toys for instance. There are 900 million batteries used each year in the UK alone and many are in toys. But only 2% of batteries are currently recycled - the rest end up in landfill sites and are poisoning our planet! So what do you do? Choose an eco toy . Green and eco-friendly toys shouldn’t cost the earth so choose from a great selection here that don’t require batteries. Alternatively go for rechargeable batteries which will save you pounds throughout the year.

9. Recycle your unwanted presents. Unfortunately everyone receives at least one unwanted gift at Christmas. Many recycle their unwanted presents to charities. Local hospitals and hospices are often very pleased to receive unwanted smellies to give to patients. Or you could try www.freecycle.org and swap them for other people's unwanted gifts.

10. Don’t go overboard - reduce, reuse and recycle!

*** December Food In SeasonVEGETABLES: Artichoke (Jerusalem) Brussels sprouts Broccoli (purple sprouting) Beetroot Cabbage (red) Celeriac Celery Carrots Cauliflower Chicory Chard Celeriac Cardoons Cabbages Endive Garlic Kale Kohlrabi Lamb’s Lettuce Leeks Onions Parsnips Potatoes Pumpkin Rocket Shallots Spinach Swede Turnips WatercressFRUIT & NUTS: Apples Chestnuts Pears Pomegranate Quince RhubarbMEAT, POULTRY & GAME: Goose Grouse Hare Mallard Partridge Pheasant Rabbit Turkey Venison Woodcock FISH: Bream (black) Herring Mussels Oysters (native) Scallops TurbotCHEESE: Stilton Wensleydale, blue List courtesy of http://www.naturalmatters.net/

gorgeous ethical goodies for xmas

2008-10-24T04:24:00.000-07:00

"Believe You Can" designs fun, colourful and exclusive Fair Trade fashion and home accessories. Founder and designer Louise Birchmore feels "passionatley about Fair Trade and believes in creating modern and innovative products" "Believe You Can" products are all handmade, and wooden items are FSC certified. This wonderful ethical and Fair Trade range benefits the Fair Trade producers business and community through "trade not aid", but also offers products perfect for the design conscious and ethically aware.

Have a green Halloween

2008-10-15T04:37:00.001-07:00

Wednesday, 15 October 2008

Have a green Halloween

Putting together a green Halloween is as easy as a traditional orange and black one – especially for children. Here are Ecotopia’s top 5 tips to get you started:
1. E-mail party invites rather than post them. There are loads of free Halloween themed party invite e-cards around or alternatively make your own out of scrap and recycled products.

2. Serve local, healthy and seasonal October foods at your events. The options are endless. Remember pumpkins are not just decorative items. Make use of all pumpkin parts. After carving a pumpkin, make sure to save the seeds. Bake them and serve them to party guests or feed them to the birds. Pumpkin flesh is great or making pies, soups and even lasagna! Check out www. freerangereview .com to find local food to you! Apples also are at their best this time of year. So make use of the nation’s favourite crunchy fruit. Fill party bowls with several varieties of fresh apples, from granny smiths to pink lady’s. Bake a few apples for healthy, tasty dessert.

3. Use re-usable plates, cups, utensils, napkins and tablecloths. Paper party goods can be expensive and just add more clutter to our nation's landfills. Check out ecotopia.co.uk’s extensive range of eco tableware !

4. Make your own costume or buy one at a second-hand shop. An old favourite a charity shop cotton sheet still makes a great ghost. Can't find anything suitable in the house? Try freecycle.org for a great selection of second hand clothes, costumes and materials.

5. Autumn is great so experience nature. Visit a local farm. Pick fresh apples. Talk a long walk outside. Look up at the sky. Notice the moon. Remember, it's Halloween and take this great Bat Torch with you.

New Product Launch - Pedal Your Way to Green Power

2008-09-26T07:36:00.000-07:00

Pedal your way to green power with the Gazelle Power Generator!
Charge your car battery and other gadgets

The POWERplus® Gazelle is a pedal powered power generator with an AC/DC Powerbank and is now available for just £79.99. You can have power wherever, anywhere and at anytime. Generate your power simply by cycling. It is great exercise (!) and can charge everything from TV's and Laptop computers to mains lighting and refrigerators.
The multifunctional powerbank includes a 12V internal battery and through the integrated inverter you can also select an output of 3V, 4.5V, 6V, 9V and 12V so it can almost always match your mobile devices for charging them. Even an AC inverter is integrated in the powerbank so you can enjoy 220V power at max.100W. The powerbank is equipped with an integrated flashlight, storage space for adapters etc and an integrated handle for easy carrying and transportation

Indication of using time fully charged:5 pcs. LED 85 hours9 pcs. LED 40 hours7W Saving Bulb 10 hours15W CD player 4 hours40W 14" TV 1.5 hours70W Notebook 1 hour

As seen in the Daily Mail and the Metro

2008-09-25T07:38:00.001-07:00

Bottled water has received a great deal of attention recently for its environmental, social and financial cost.

Our Tap bottles give people a fun and convenient way to turn on to tap! Stylish, sustainable and funky re-usable bottles that can be used over and over again simply add tap water. On-the-go sized 400ml bottle for your handbag or gymbag. Larger 1 litre sized bottle, to be stored in the fridge or kept on your desk, giving you cold refreshing tap water whenever you need it. 70% of the profits from each and every Tap bottle sold go to water and sanitation projects in the developing world.

400ml - £6

1L - £8

Get points on everything you buy from www.ecotopia.co.uk

2008-09-24T06:30:00.000-07:00

Check out this fab green rewards site at www.moreeco.com/ where you get loyalty points on everything you buy from www.ecotopia.co.uk/

What is moreeco?

MoreEco is a shopping reward site that searches the internet for the best organic, green, environmental, and natural online retailers and negotiate with them a reward level which can be passed on to the moreeco registered users.Once you have chosen your shop click through and then you are then on the retailer’s own site and will be dealing directly with them from that point.

Why use it?You get loads of green stuff for free and unlike the green rewards site, http://www.moreeco.com/ only uses green retailers and checks out their ethical credentials too. Everyone's a winner!

Great Gifts for Gardeners

2008-09-24T06:23:00.000-07:00

Our Top Ten Great Green Gifts for Gardeners this Xmas

Xmas is just around the corner and here are our top ten suggestions for the perfect prezzie for greener fingered

Gardeners are generous by nature and our Seed Bank Collection will inspire you to collect seeds from your favourite plants and pass them on to others. This really is a great gardening gift that gives back! http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/product/67/bb0430/seed-bank-collection.html

Composting is addictive – once you start, you cannot stop! If new to Composting try Can-O-Worms with Extra Value Pack at £101.00. This is our recommended start-up system and best seller. It includes the Can-O-Worms housing and a generous supply of composting worms plus a selection of extras to help make your composting go smoothly. It's all you need to start successful composting. Our worms are despatched in special packaging to ensure they reach you in top condition but they will need to be transferred into bedding in the kit within 2 to 3 days. So, if the kit is being sent as a gift or will not be set-up on arrival please order it with a voucher, this can then be redeemed when the kit is ready for its worms. http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/Product/-1/BC0046/eco/can-o-worms-wormery.html

Introducing the little ones to gardening? Try the fun Grow Your Own Xmas Tree kit at £2.50. Inside the ingenious box are plant seeds, a compost pellet and a terracotta pot - everything required to get growing. http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/product/37/bb0278/grow-your-own-christmas-tree.html

The potting shed collection [FSC] at £19.99 contains a Paper Potter for making pots, a Dibblet for pricking out seedlings, an Oak Pot Tamper for firming the soil, a Dibber for creating the perfect space for your seedlings and Garden Lines to get the professional row! http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/product/67/bb0386/potting-shed-collection.html

Not only seen as a cute addition to the wildlife that frequents your garden, small mammals such as hedgehogs provide a much more important service. Providing an inviting, warming habitat for small animals, the small animal habitat at £37.99 makes the perfect home in your garden. http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/product/41/bb0290/hedgehogsmall-mammal-habitat-with-inspection-lid.html

Still pottering in your shed as dusk arrives, try our fab new solar power light at £79.99. This solar light is quick and easy to install - simple plug and play! The solar shed light is an ideal lighting solution for not only sheds but green houses, garages, playhouses, tents, outhouses, boats etc. Its small and compact design makes it perfect for travel. http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/Product/-1/BB0451/eco/solar-mate.html

Got a friend who loves all things natural but with no garden? Then the Pocket Garden at £4.99 allows you to give a loved one or friend a gift that will become a permanent reminder. Supplied in a sealed leak-proof bag the Pocket Garden contains specially formulated compost and seeds that once cut open, just require water to germinate allowing them to grow a beautiful houseplant. Try the Hot Stuff Chilli, Poppy, Snapdragon, Geranium and Lavender Pocket Gardens . They all produce beautiful batches of flowers that will please any recipient http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/product/productlist.aspx?red=1

This cleverly designed garden organic planner at £2.99 is an ideal stocking filler.. Simply align the arrow to the desired vegetable and the dial will tell you all the information you need to know to grow them, such as the most suitable soil, how to plant or sow the seeds, and the best times to sow and harvest. Over 30 varieties of vegetable are detailed on each dial.

http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/product/33/bb0509/the-organic-vegetable-planner.html

The multispecies Camera Nest Box is the ultimate Xmas present and is adaptable to allow sharp, clear images of wild birds nesting at just £139.99. The heavy duty hole protector prevents predator damage by Squirrels and Woodpeckers. The box is made from durable FSC timber and has a hinged easy access to the camera unit, without disturbing the birds and is convertible to different species:- With copper hole protector on:Bluetit, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit or Wren With copper hole protector off:Great Tit, Sparrow etc With panel removed:Robin, Wagtail or Spotted Flycatcher
http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/product/4/bc0045/camera-nesting-box.html

The Paper Potter (£7.99) makes biodegradable seedling pots from old newspapers. Its kind to your plants - allowing minimal disturbance to their little roots - and kind to your purse as it saves buying expensive sowing and seedling pots. http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/Product/-1/BB0510/eco/the-paper-potter.html

UK's Most Wanted

2008-09-17T07:39:00.000-07:00

FAB AND COOL ECO CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR MEN

Christmas really is just around the corner and here at www.ecotopia.co.uk we have been busy choosing lovely gifts for you to give at Christmas time to the man in your life. If you are buying for a devoted adventurer, a couch potato, a professional or good old dad we have the Christmas gift to suit everyone.

The Voltaic Backpack at £195.00 is built tough for use as a weekend hike bag or as a large daypack. There are pockets and wire channels for multiple electronic devices and 1,850 cubic inches of storage space. The Voltaic Messenger at £175 is reinforced and padded to carry and protect a laptop. It has large zipped pockets for documents, and multiple small pockets for electronic devices. Ideal for use in town or as a travel bag.

The H-racer at £75 is a futuristic toy car that contains one of the most exciting and advanced technologies of the 21st century. This car operates on 100% clean fuel produced by a miniature solar-powered hydrogen refueling station that converts water to hydrogen using energy captured from the sun

The Battech Solar Charger at £39.99 is the pinnacle of portable charging devices. Charging via the sun and USB, allows the on the go user, total freedom from mains electricity. High quality lithium technology combined with an efficient poly-crystalline solar cell, can charge and power directly, a wide array of portable electronic devices including iPod and iPhone, Blackberrys., Nokia (mini tip),Sony Ericson, Samsung, Motorola (K1, L7, V3, U6), Mini USB (TomTom etc) and Sony PSP

This flying solar helicopter at just £9.99 will teach you how solar energy can provide power. This model works without using batteries or burning fuel and are so much fun at home or in the office (when the boss is out!)

Resurrect those classic LPs from the turntable and transform them into groovy tableware accessories. Each Vinyl Coaster is a unique one-off, cut from an old vinyl record and carefully sealed to protect it from spillages. Priced at just £12.50 for 6

The Grow Your Own Xmas Tree makes a great Secret Santa gift at 4.99. Just add water!
Check out the global warming mug at £6.49. This topical mug really stirs up the debate on global warming. As you add a hot drink to the mug, the sea level gradually begins to rise, illustrating the effects that global warming will have on our planet's coastlines.

The ecobutton at £14.99 is an illuminating USB device that acts as a reminder for the user to press everytime the computer is going to be left idle. When pressed the computer goes into ecomode and operates more efficiently whilst not in use.

The Weza Portable Energy Source at £209.99 is the ultimate in independent portable power supplies. Powered by human energy through step action, it is able to jump-start a boat or automobile battery, and power a wide array of instruments and accessories. It is the definitive backup power device for any emergency situation.

Get one of these!

2008-09-05T03:02:00.000-07:00

Bags that don’t cost the earth
Funky bag now free with every order (while stocks last)

With greater and greater pressure against using plastic bags, Ecotopia.co.uk have designed and created their own Eco Bags. A cool design means that these bags can be used for more than just shopping and at 24litres (34cm x 22.2cm x 32cm) they are large enough for a wide variety of uses. Larger than an ordinary carrier - fitting about 2.5 times more than a LDPE plastic bag
Designed - Better reinforced base makes it more stable + better for heavy items
Super strapped - comfortable wide straps don’t dig into your hands
Durable - they are long lasting and even washable
Groovy - they look modern and cool
Inexpensive - at £1.49 our bags don’t cost the earth.

Get a free ecotopia.co.uk re-useable bag while stocks last with any purchase!

http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/product/16/bb0190/ecotopia-shopping-bags.html

We are loving our new customer service manager!

2008-09-04T06:33:00.000-07:00

Nick (I mean Brucie) with Tess!

Ecotopia.co.uk has a new customer services manager and his name is Nick. Nick joins us from Lloyds Pharmacy Head Office and shall be ensuring Ecotopia offers an unparralled high level of customer service to all our customers.

Nick loves a bit of strictly ballroom - he is a great dancer, spending time with his family & friends and is bringing some order to the chaos of ecotopia towers!

Welcome Nick!

Go free range ...

2008-09-01T05:21:00.000-07:00

.... and save a hen!

Why not adopt some hens, save on the food miles and do something good for sustainability - and give a second chance to some of the 20 million battery hens currently living in dire conditions, with no possibility of exhibiting natural behaviours.
The Battery Hen Welfare Trust website has loads of useful information on the adoption or sponsorship process and the rewards of keeping chickens. A great organisation that works with battery farmers to make positive changes within the industry, they've rehomed over 97,000 hens to date and can count Jamie Oliver and poet Pam Ayres amongst their patrons.

The tipping point of climate change!

2008-08-27T08:42:00.000-07:00

We’ve just signed up to the website One Hundred Months which provides a monthly action on helping tackle climate change. Backed by organisations including Greenpeace, and the good old WI!, it’s based on the conclusion that even using cautious calculations, we have only one hundred months before we pass the climate’s ‘tipping point’ - the point of no return - where the chance to tackle global warming could be far beyond our reach.The site gives you month by month guidance on doing your bit. The first action is to invite others to join so click here http://onehundredmonths.org/For more info... read the guardian article http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/aug/01/climatechange.carbonemissions

tea and coffee - great for composting!

2008-08-27T08:26:00.000-07:00

We love filtered coffee and drink copious amounts of the stuff in the office along with several cups of tea a day - fairtrade of course. I have been digging around the internet to see what i can do with leftover coffee grains and tea bags.

First, if you're a tea lover it's better to buy loose-leaf tea or tea bags without strings. Used tea bags can be recycled as compost as can coffee grains. We use a kitchen crock to collect ours !

(Place this decorative ceramic composting crock by the kitchen sink, after it's full, dump the contents in your garden or compost pile to feed nutrients to hungry plants. Keeps kitchen scraps where they won't leak or create a mess. Its activated carbon filter allows air to circulate to prevent rotting. Easy to clean, dishwasher safe. Holds 1 gallon and measures 17.7cms wide x 26.6cms high (7" x 10 1/2"). )

These can be put straight on to the garden or into plant potsTea is also good for the skin. Before you recycle it, you can put a tea bag on your face. It can make your skin fresh and even smooth.

Ecotopia.co.uk celebrates the launch of its new ethical food and drink range with over 1000 lines

2008-08-27T05:27:00.000-07:00

Ecotopia.co.uk is delighted to announce the launch of its new organic and ethical food and drink department. Now in its 6th year of operation from its Eco offices and warehouse in Gloucestershire, Ecotopia.co.uk will now supply organic, natural, ethical and fairly traded food and drink to household consumers.

The new range includes a wide selection of products from snacks & confectionery, groceries, world foods and non alcoholic drinks. Brands include Suma who specialise in vegetarian, fairly traded, organic, ethical and natural products alongside Divine, Bottlegreen, Seeds of Change, Geo Organics and The Real Organic Food Company

Miles Owen, Director of Ecotopia.co.uk, says: “I am very proud to be able to offer our extensive range of ethical groceries to the market. Ecotopia.co.uk has been at the forefront of ethical living for over 6 years and this move underlines the commitment from the business to produce products for our customer’s specific requirements and needs”

Why buy fairly traded coffee?

2008-08-22T01:42:00.000-07:00

Miles Owen, Director of Ecotopia explains the importance of buying fairly traded coffee...

Many people start the day with a few cups of coffee, or if you’re like our very energetic team at Ecotopia - a few pots of coffee. But have you ever thought where it comes from? If you haven’t checked out “Black Gold,” the acclaimed documentary that takes a look at the multi-billion dollar coffee industry and the poor farmers who cultivate the beans, then you should! You probably will never set foot in a large supermarket to buy your coffee again.

The film follows Tadesse Meskela, the General Manager of the Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union, as he visits coffee-growing regions in Sidamo and Oromia, as well as a coffee processing center, a coffee auction house, and his union’s headquarters in Addis Ababa. He also travels to England and the US in an effort to promote Ethiopian coffee by eliminating the numerous middlemen.

With great frankness, Meskela uses “Black Gold” as a stage to describe the chronic situation Ethiopian coffee farmers face. When the price of coffee hit a 30-year low at the start of the Millenium, farmers struggled to feed their children and send them to school. Some quit farming. Others began growing a more profitable line - a local narcotic banned in the US and Europe. With their families malnourished and being forced to travel long distances to accept foreign aid, some farmers saw no alternative but to bring their families to government feeding centres.

So why do they call it black gold?

Coffee is traded as a commodity—just like oil or gold—and is second only to oil in commodity value. Because of the production surplus brought about by sun-grown coffee, the price of coffee has been chronically depressed on the world market, making it difficult for farmers to make a good living from year to year.

The price of coffee is rising, but little has changed in these communities. In Ethiopia, country that depends on coffee for about 40 percent of its export revenue, farmers make as little as 2.5p for every cup of coffee sold in Europe. Meanwhile, multinational coffee corporations collectively rake in as much as £160 billion each year, according to the film.

So why buy Fairtrade?

Fair trade organisations work directly with cooperatives of small farmers to eliminate much of the middleman costs and provide the growers with a stable price that ensures a reasonable standard of living. For instance, in 2004 the UK Fairtrade market guaranteed participating coffee growers a minimum of 126 cents per pound for arabica coffee beans, compared to a world market price of 52 cents per pound. Many fair trade organisations also encourage their growers to employ sustainable farming practices (such as organic and shade-grown).

Photo credit: jsbarrie

New range of lightbulbs now available at ecotopia.co.uk

2008-08-22T01:31:00.002-07:00

Ecotopia.co.uk Launches New Range of Energy Saving Eco Light bulbs

Energy saving light bulbs have always been a bright idea - for your pocket and the environment. They use up to 80 per cent less electricity than a standard bulb, but produce the same amount of light. They can help you to save money and energy, all in one wise purchase. Check out Ecotopia.co.uk’s new range of Energy Saving Light bulbs which includes:

Full Spectrum (S.A.D) BioBulb - from £14.95

This brand new 'BioBulb' out performs our old model as the full spectrum has increased to 380-780nm and the light output in lumens has increased to 1750 in the 100w and 1250 in the 60w. The BioBulb is claimed to be the closest replication of sunlight that may improve mood, night time sleep, and day time energy. Daylight helps restore the body's natural rhythms and brings nourishment to body, mind and soul. The BioBulb radiates less heat and can last for an amazing 10,000 hours. They are flicker-free and with a colour rendering index of 85 are ideal for sufferers of S.A.D.

Low Energy GU10 Lamps - from £6.95

This comprehensive range of 50mm diameter lamps are designed to be retrofit to existing halogen lamps. The range consists of 7W, 9W and 11W lamps, giving an 80% saving in energy consumption with an average life of 8000hrs

Luxina Compact Low Energy Helix Lamps - £4.45

Helix energy saving compact fluorescent 11 watt BC warm white 2700k. Offers 8000 hours of life!

Luxina Micro Low Energy Candles - from £4.45

These ultra compact fluorescent candle bulbs are designed to replace your standard incandescent bulb, saving you money on your electricity and still giving an alternative design

Sylvania Mini Lynx Fast Start Bulb - from £3.47

The Mini-Lynx is a new range of Ultra Small, energy saving compact fluorescent that switches on instantly. Ideal anywhere where light is required, this bulb is a direct equivalent to an incandescent. Offers an amazing 6000 hours life.

Check out the full range on ecotopia.co.uk

Find food local to you

2008-08-22T01:31:00.001-07:00

Find the very best local produce with River Cottage & Free Range Review. Join THE local food community to discover, review, add and discuss your fave foodie places. Remember to vote for your favourite Glos outlets

Check out our new arrivals

2008-08-14T01:13:00.000-07:00

New recycled range of stylish slate -like accessories are great for the home!
New arrivals from ecotopia.co.uk
Ecotopia.co.uk are committed to sourcing unique, clean, beautiful products that seek to improve both our home and global environment. We are delighted to announce the arrival of a recycled range of sundials, clocks, tide machines, coaster and placemats from ashortwalk . All are hand crafted in the and made from vending machine coffee cups direct from the national Save-A-Cup scheme.
This innovative new material has a lovely solid, heavy, earthy feel, very much like slate. At work buy one vended cup of coffee today, drink the coffee, place the plastic cup in the recycling bin, and see if it's home time on your wall clock made from plastic cups next week. The recycling loop has been closed!
Check out the recycled indoor/outdoor clock and thermometer at £26.95 .The clock and thermometer combination range are designed to be weather proof, so be can be used inside or out. The clean, contrasting design can be easily read from the far end of the garden! 160x260mm in dimension. It is wall mounted and comes with full instructions and guarantee.
For the ethical gardener try the recycled sundial at £26.95.Easy to read and set to latitude it comes with full instructions.
For impressive table settings check out the recycled placemats at £18.95 for four and recycled coasters at £5.95. With an easy wipe clean surface and felt pads to protect table these look great and will impress your friends.
For a fab kitchen clock we have a classic design for indoor use at £24.95

Cleaner, Greener Home

2008-08-13T04:03:00.000-07:00

Cleaner Home, Cleaner Planet With Ecotopia.co.uk and Ecover
With increasing emphasis in the media on climate change and the way in which we pollute our planet, environmentally friendly consumers will welcome Ecotopia’s move to increase accessibility to quality, natural household cleaning products.
The online ethical shop is a specialist supplier of Ecover products and is now the cheapest internet source of all Ecover branded items.
Many householders are unaware that the chemicals they use for washing their dishes, clothes and home can leave harmful residues, or contain petrochemicals which do not biodegrade once they have been thrown away,” says Ecotopia director, Steve Jones. “The government estimates that in, around 100 million tonnes of household waste is produced annually. Most of this waste is not recycled, ending up instead in landfill sites. This generates methane as it biodegrades which then adds to harmful greenhouse gases polluting the atmosphere.”
Ecotopia supplies a huge range of innovative, ethical products which can be easily incorporated into everyday life. Actively promoting a lifestyle which produces less impact on the environment, the emphasis is on hip not hippy. “Along with products such as the recycled car tyre mouse mats and bamboo screen computer monitors, the Ecover range is a fresh and fun way to do your bit for the environment,” adds Jones. “ Ecover shower gels and Ecover hand soaps are kind to the planet and to skin, making use of natural ingredients like lemon and Aloe Vera. Not only do Ecover products not cost the earth, they actually smell nice too!”
All Ecotopia Ecover products contain plant extracts instead of chemicals and are sold in 100% recyclable containers. To encourage consumers to make a commitment to creating healthier homes, all ordesr over £100 are delivered free of charge.
Find out more and order online at http://www.ecotopia.co.uk

Credit Crunching Ideas to help you save money around the home

2008-08-13T03:57:00.000-07:00

It's a rough and uncertain time to be a homeowner. Plunging value, tightening credit and a slowing economy mean fewer people have the cash to invest in major home-renovation or cash saving projects. But there is some green light at the end of this dark tunnel thanks to some great energy saving ideas from http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/which will enable you to save your cash and reduce your carbon footprint.

Perhaps you have received a higher than expected energy bill and want to reduce your future energy costs? Try a smart meter at £44.99 to see how much energy you are using and where you can save. The efergy smart meter will positively encourage a reduction in energy usage, because it gives retime, instant and accurate reading of how much energy the use is consuming. Every time an electrical device is turned on and off the direct results can be seen. Comparing day to day usage gives the use direct feedback of daily changes of habit towards energy use can have an effect on costs, CO2 emissions and power use.

Check out the Radiator Booster at £14.99. Radiator Booster is an innovative and brand new eco-friendly product that can heat your room faster, save energy at the same time and reduce your heating bills. Simply place a Radiator Booster on the top/rear of a standard domestic water filled radiator, plug it in, and away it goes. This ingenious and unique UK Registered design uses miniature 12-volt electric fans to suck the heated air from behind the radiator, firing it into your room far quicker than any natural convection in addition to reducing the heat losses through the wall behind your radiator. Heating rooms quicker allows your heating system to shut down far sooner, saving you huge amounts of energy. Help save the planet and cut your energy bills, all for a running cost of about 30p a year!

On a water meter; want to save cash and preserve the most precious resource in the world – then get yourself a hippo at just £1.20 each. Did you know that 30% of your precious water supply is flushed down the toilet? Most toilets don't need a full cistern to flush effectively. With this Hippo in your cistern you will help conserve your water supply. Each Hippo will save between 2.5 - 3.5 litres of water each flush when fitted in an average cistern of 9 litres capacity.
Look out for the fab new Eco Shower Drop at £9.99. The Eco Showerdrop is the world’s first low-cost, universal shower meter. A simple digital display lets you know exactly how much water your shower dispenses through user-friendly graphics and tells you when the recommended amount of water has been dispensed. The savings can be substantial in both water and energy. For a family of four that could be over £180 a year saved on water and energy bills, as well as over 40,000 litres of water and two thirds of a tonne of carbon! There’s no installation, just a very simple set-up, and no tools are required. We love it!

One third of our waste from our homes is kitchen or garden waste that can be composted and used for our gardens. It also reduces energy and pollution from artificial fertilizers. Try our kitchen composting croc at £12.95. Place this decorative ceramic composting crock by the kitchen sink, after it's full, dump the contents in your garden or compost pile to feed nutrients to hungry plants. Keeps kitchen scraps where they won't leak or create a mess. Its activated carbon filter allows air to circulate to prevent rotting. Easy to clean, dishwasher safe. Holds 1 gallon and measures 17.7cms wide x 26.6cms high (7" x 10 1/2").

Save gas and cook faster. Most gas hobs burn gas inefficiently resulting in wasted energy, un-burnt bi-products and lost heating costing you money! The Gas Energy Saver at £5.99 solves this problem; its special catalytic alloy disc fits neatly over your hob heating to over 1000°C instantly, converting all the un-burnt gas to heat and energy. This saves heating time cooking your food faster with less gas. The special stainless alloy is dish washer proof.
These are just a few of a large selection of energy and money saving products we stock.

Ends
For more information, please contact Sara Hobbin on 07885975671/ Sarahobbin@btinternet.com

Ecotopia.co.uk is your ethical online supermarket for everyday products, ethical gifts, eco-friendly gadgets, fair trade and natural groceries. Established in 2002 with assistance from the Prince's Trust, Ecotopia assists people in leading a more natural and lower impact lifestyle. Forthe largest choice of eco friendly products, ecotopia.co.uk has to be the one stop website for all your eco friendly products. With so many different ecologically sound products to complete your every need around the home, garden or even self-pampering, we can help you decide on how well you want to conserve your planet and lower your level of pollution. For those of you, who have an interest in gadgetry; why not browse the lists of eco gadgets, from our solar powered Glow Bricks and shavers to our hydrogen fuel cell racing cars and education sets. We include a wide variety of water powered andwind up gadgets to compliment our exciting range of eco gadgets.
Our images are stored on http://www.imageloft.co.uk/ - please feel free to download from this site or contact Sara with any other requests!

Saving the Bumblebees!

2008-05-06T03:01:00.000-07:00

Bumblebees are beautiful little creatures !They are also important pollinators of wildflowers and crops. 3 species are now extinct and 9 more are threatened - they need our help...

It isn't difficult to make your yard, garden or even patio space a haven for beneficial bees. You'll be helping these important insects, as well as bringing more nature to your backdoor. We sell the Bumblebee Nester at £15.99 This nester is ideal to attract bees to your garden.

Bumblebees also love plants of course!The greater the plant diversity, the more bees you will attract and support. Always try to choose as many native plants as possible, and consult with nursery staff or other experts to find vegetation that will thrive in your specific conditions.Here is a partial list of bee attractors:

Annuals

Asters

Calliopsis

Clover

Marigolds

Poppies

Sunflowers

Zinnias

Perennials

Buttercups

Clematis

Cosmos

Crocuses

Dahlias

Echinacea

English

Ivy

Foxglove

Geraniums

Germander Globe

Thistle

Hollyhocks

Hyacinth

Roses

Sedum

Tansy

Yellow Hyssop

Garden Garlic

The Bumblebee Conservation Trust need your help! In order to conserve our bumblebees, it's crucial that we understand them. Here's where you can help.....

Beewatch 2008
They urgently need your help to map the distributions of our bumblebees (even the common species). Please record what species you see in your garden, or when out for a walk. Try to identify them yourself, but if you're uncertain then take a digital photograph and email it to the trust - they will identify it and let you know what species you have. Please include a post-code (or grid-ref) and date in your email to beewatch@bumblebeeconservationtrust.co.uk

Nest Box Trial
These days most good wildlife gardens contain several bird nesting boxes. The birds use them, and we love watching them building their nests and raising chicks. Not surprisingly, bumblebees need homes too! They probably struggle to find natural nesting sites, so the trust are keen to encourage people to start providing artificial sites in their gardens.....

Hypnorum Survey
The Trust are keen to record the spread of our new arrival, the Tree Bumblebee (B. hypnorum). This species arrived about 6 years ago from France, and is gradually spreading north. It's a very distinctive looking bee - take a photo if you can and let them know where you see it!

Can trees help cure Asthma?

2008-05-02T02:17:00.000-07:00

A new study has found that trees really can have an impact on children's health!

Children who live on tree-lined streets have lower rates of asthma, suggesting that those leafy green areas may be as important to public health as they are to quality of life. The study focused on rates of asthma among four- and five-year-olds in New York City. Researchers with the British Medical Journal published their findings in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

With asthma rates climbing – up 50% nationwide between 1980 and 2000, with the greatest increase in urban communities – a solution as simple as tree planting would be a welcome. The benefit of trees was felt regardless of proximity to pollution sources, family income or population density.

Unfortunately, the study found no benefit to older children.

Trees shade buildings and sidewalks, helping to lower temperatures and keep energy costs down, and they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to limit the growth of greenhouse gases that fuel to global warming.

Freeconomy

2008-04-24T04:24:00.000-07:00

Here at Ecotopia, we love the Freeconomy community!

All over the world, people are registering at the freeconomy community. They’re all tired of the lack of community in their areas and the focus on money, and have decided to do something about it. By signing up to freeconomy, you are able to contact, and be contacted by, others in your area with the aim of sharing your skills and to help one other for free. It’s a fantastic way to get to know people in your local community, and to make a real contribution to your area. The online freeconomy community is only just a year old, but is growing rapidly and already represents 90 countries. The idea is to share skills, tools and room/land with people who live near you.

The UK has several thousand members with more skills than you can imagine and there is something for everyone!

Registration is free and easy so join now.

Why buy fairly traded coffee?

2008-04-21T07:43:00.000-07:00

Many people start the day with a few cups of coffee, or if you’re like our very energetic team at Ecotopia - a few pots of coffee. But have you ever thought where it comes from? If you haven’t checked out “Black Gold,” the acclaimed documentary that takes a look at the multi-billion dollar coffee industry and the poor farmers who cultivate the beans, then you should! You probably will never set foot in a large supermarket to buy your coffee again.The film follows Tadesse Meskela, the General Manager of the Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union, as he visits coffee-growing regions in Sidamo and Oromia, as well as a coffee processing center, a coffee auction house, and his union’s headquarters in Addis Ababa. He also travels to England and the US in an effort to promote Ethiopian coffee by eliminating the numerous middlemen.With great frankness, Meskela uses “Black Gold” as a stage to describe the chronic situation Ethiopian coffee farmers face. When the price of coffee hit a 30-year low at the start of the Millenium, farmers struggled to feed their children and send them to school. Some quit farming. Others began growing a more profitable line - a local narcotic banned in the US and Europe. With their families malnourished and being forced to travel long distances to accept foreign aid, some farmers saw no alternative but to bring their families to government feeding centres.So why do they call it black gold?Coffee is traded as a commodity—just like oil or gold—and is second only to oil in commodity value. Because of the production surplus brought about by sun-grown coffee, the price of coffee has been chronically depressed on the world market, making it difficult for farmers to make a good living from year to year.The price of coffee is rising, but little has changed in these communities. In Ethiopia, country that depends on coffee for about 40 percent of its export revenue, farmers make as little as 2.5p for every cup of coffee sold in Europe. Meanwhile, multinational coffee corporations collectively rake in as much as £160 billion each year, according to the film.

So why buy Fairtrade?

Fair trade organisations work directly with cooperatives of small farmers to eliminate much of the middleman costs and provide the growers with a stable price that ensures a reasonable standard of living. For instance, in 2004 the UK Fairtrade market guaranteed participating coffee growers a minimum of 126 cents per pound for arabica coffee beans, compared to a world market price of 52 cents per pound. Many fair trade organisations also encourage their growers to employ sustainable farming practices (such as organic and shade-grown).

Do you know a community initiative that needs trees?

2008-04-21T07:26:00.001-07:00

I am delighted to announce that we have now achieved 75,000 members of our facebook forest group. For those who don't know about it, this is a group designed to create eco awareness and for every 50 members, Ecotopia.co.uk are donating a tree to community projects.

75,000 members mean 1500 trees. We have donated trees to many projects:

The first Facebook Forest is being planted on a small plot of land just outside Minchinhampton on the Edge of what is to be the first carbon neutral market garden. Lucy Offord who is creating the market garden welcomes the Facebook Forest saying how this exciting project compliments the development she is carrying out with the market garden. The first site will have room for hundreds of trees. These will vary from year old to more mature saplings to help establish these new woodlands/ forests.Ecotopia will be looking to establish further Forests alongside other such environmental projects.

We shall be supporting the Honeycombe Project by a donation of trees.The Honeycomb Project is a community interest company that creates eco awareness within communities in the UK and provides sustainable human habitats by following nature's patterns . For those that don't know this is a not for profit company somewhere between a charity and company. Assets of land, buildings,tools etc can never be sold for the profits of the directors, ever! They are protected by an "asset lock" which means any land they purchase will always belong to the community we serve! So all land bought for community farms will be held in "perpetuity" which means it will always be a community farm/orchard/allotment.See http://www.be-the-solution.co.uk/ for more information

We are also helping supporting anti social behaviour projects throughout Gloucestershire -watch this space! We are looking for more community projects to support so contact me on 07885975671 or on sarahobbin@btinternet.com for more info
Check out http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=12906572587