Join one of Love your Bike's morning cycle rides this month. Part of Manchester Friends of the Earth's cycling campaign, the rides are lead by experienced cyclists to support those who would love to use their bike to get about the city but are not keen on tackling the traffic single-handed. It's a great opportunity for the cycling community to show other road users that safe, sensible commuter cycling is possible. Rides start at various places around Manchester with most rides leaving at 8am, (but please check the website as they vary depending on the distance from Manchester) and meet up near Shudehill with coffee and a natter for those who have the time!
FRIDAY 25TH NOVEMBER
Manchester Friends of the Earth - Bike Friday
Free event, all welcome
Various start times, please see website for more details: www.bikefriday.org (Most rides depart around 8am)
Various locations
Resourced, an exhibition from the Justseeds Artists' Cooperative
Resourced is a portfolio of hand-produced prints organized and created by by the Justseeds Artists' Cooperative that focuses on resource extraction and climate issues through a series of beautiful posters demanding change: www.justseeds.org
For centuries now, industries have been mining the globe in search of raw materials that can be converted into profitable commodities, displacing innumerable communities and leaving in their wake toxic, hazardous, and ecologically devastated environments. While consumers experiment with greener lifestyles, the majority of the globe’s population is left to deal with the ecological fallout of industrial and technological “progress.”
Free event, all welcome
Open daily on weekdays only, 25th November - 2nd December, 10am – 5pm
Bridge 5 Mill, 22a Beswick Street, Manchester, M4 7HR
Schumacher North Lecture 2011 Ed Mayo, Cooperatives UK, 'The Wind is Behind Us – New Opportunities for a Cooperative and Sustainable Economy.'
"Perhaps we cannot raise the winds. But each of us can put up the sail, so that when the wind comes we can catch it."
- E. F. Schumacher, Small Is Beautiful
Join us in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of E.F. Schumacher, the economist who wrote Small is Beautiful and championed 'economics as if people mattered'. Ed Mayo will deliver the 2011 Schumacher North Lecture which will examine the opportunities available to us in the current economic climate for realising the sustainable and cooperative economy that Schumacher championed.
Ed Mayo is Secretary General of Co-operatives UK, the national trade body that campaigns for co-operation and works to promote, develop and unite co-operative enterprises. He is a long-term co-operator and has a track record of innovation and impact in his work to bring together economic life and social justice.
From 2003 – 2009, he was Chief Executive of the National Consumer Council, merging this with two other bodies to found a new statutory consumer champion, Consumer Focus, in 2008. He was described by the Independent as "the most authoritative voice in the country speaking up for consumers", while the Guardian has nominated him as one of the top 100 most influential figures in British social policy.
MERCi is particularly proud to be hosting this Schumacher North lecture in the year that we are also celebrating the 10th anniversary of the establishment of Bridge 5 Mill, our Centre for Sustainable Living. We hope you will join us in celebrating these two exciting birthdays!
Booking essential. To book please contact Katie on katieb@merci.org.uk or 0161 273 1736 or book online here.
Free event, all welcome
12.30pm lunch, 1.30-3pm lecture and Q&A
Bridge 5 Mill, 22a Beswick Street, Manchester, M4 7HR
Critical Mass Bike Ride
Join in the Critical Mass bike ride, designed to celebrate the bike and any other pedal powered forms of transport and to promote safer cycling in the city. Held every last Friday of the month. See www.ibikemcr.org.uk for the month's theme and any post ride social.
Free event, all welcome
6pm
meet outside Central Library, Manchester City Centre
Re-reading Schumacher in 2011 – What relevance does Small is Beautiful have for our testing economic times?
It is 100 years since the birth of the radical economist E.F. Schumacher, and 38 years since he published his seminal text Small Is Beautiful: Economics As If People Mattered. A recent article in The Guardian claimed that Schumacher's ideas were having a revival, and the centenary of his birth provides us with a timely occasion to discuss what his ideas can offer for contemporary society. Whether you're reading this book for the first time or re-reading it, join our lively discussion group where we will debate Small Is Beautiful over tea and cakes. (Please read the book beforehand!)
Booking is essential. To book contact Katie on katieb@merci.org.uk or 0161 273 1736 or book online here
Free event, all welcome
4 – 6pm
Bridge 5 Mill, 22a Beswick Street, Manchester, M4 7HR
Eco-refurbishment Across the Ages
Some recent TV programmes on ‘green make-overs' might lead you to think that eco-refurbishments are all about adding solar panels and recycling bins. In this training course you’ll learn from The Green Register that it is a more complex process which looks at the entire house and how it can be holistically improved. Topics covered include an overview of The Green Deal, a financial incentive for eco-retrofits to be introduced next year and case studies of eco-retrofit of houses across the ages from the Georgian period to the 20th century.
This workshop is run by The Green Register for MERCi's Eco Hub project. For more info on the Green Register see: www.greenregister.org.uk
To book contact Katie on 0161 273 1736 or katieb@merci.org.uk or book online here
£10
1-3.30pm
Bridge 5 Mill, 22a Beswick Street, Manchester, M4 7HR
SATURDAY 26TH NOVEMBER
Manchester Eco House Tours
The Manchester eco house in Miles Platting is kitted out with simple, everyday examples of how to reduce the energy you use. From low-energy light bulbs to solar-powered hot water; from garden composting to recycling and water-saving devices, the Eco House will give you plenty of inspiration. Book yourself a free 90 minute tour of the Eco House as part of the futureMANCHESTER Festival to get some expert money saving tips.
Booking essential. To book contact Diana on d.clayton@manchester.gov.uk or 0161 234 5499.
Free event, all welcome
10am – 2.30pm
Manchester Eco House, Penzance Street, Miles Platting, Manchester, M40 7BD
Pedal MCR – Roadside Rescue Course
This is our introduction to using tools and maintaining your bike. You don't need to have any previous knowledge of bicycle mechanics or even handling tools, because this course is designed to be a very friendly introduction to taking care of your bike. The course will cover safety checking your bike, becoming comfortable using tools, diagnosing problems, making adjustments to brakes and gears. You'll also get a master class in puncture repair. Almost everything you'd need to know for problems that might go wrong on your commute or bike ride.
To book visit the Pedal MCR website: www.pedalmcr.org.uk
£23 waged / £18 unwaged
11am – 4pm
The Boathouse, Platt Fields Park, M14 6LA
Food&i – Local and Social
Outdoor/indoor workshop talk and walk geared to engage and build-on people’s love of local, ethical and original cafes (food & drink), shops (cycling & accessories etc) and stalls (quality goods) - while socialising, sharing experiences and exploring sustainable living, working and EATING.
Booking is essential. To book please contact Safia on safiagriffin@yahoo.co.uk or 0161 338 7524.
Free event, all welcome
11am
meet at Titchy Coffee Co, 9 Basil Chambers, Nicholas Croft, Manchester, M4 1EY
Greater Manchester & District CND - Christmas Peace and Craft Fair
Stalls where you can buy those lovely, quirky gifts you are always looking for. Father Christmas and his elves and fairies. Café with mulled wine and other goodies. Free entry and fully accessible.
Free event, all welcome
11.30am – 3.30pm
Cross Street Chapel, Cross Street, Manchester, M2 1NL
Cracking Good Food - Late Season Foraging with Jesper Launder
Fletcher Moss Park is a great place to forage for wild foods all year round, and whilst November isn’t usually thought of as a time for rich pickings, we can expect to find a variety of decent late season mushrooms, sloes (great for sloe gin!) and a mixture of other goodies too. We will spend a good couple of hours foraging before wrapping up with some wild food cooking and sampling.
To book visit the Cracking Good Food website: www.crackinggoodfood.org
£20 / £15 concessions
11.30am – 2.30pm
Fletcher Moss Park, Didsbury. Meet at the main park entrance on Wilmslow Road next to The Didsbury Pub 15 mins before the start of the session.
SUNDAY 27TH NOVEMBER
Friends of Chorlton Meadows – Winter Bird Walk
Join Richard Gardner and Julian Robinson for a fascinating winter bird-spotting walk. Please wear suitable footwear (boots or stout shoes) and dress for the weather. And bring a packed lunch if you'd like.
Free event, all welcome
10.30am
meet at Sale Water Park Visitors' Centre
Pedal MCR – Monthly Bike Ride
A monthly road ride to the countryside at a reasonable pace. Suitable for road bikes and hybrids. We usually do between 20 and 60 miles, see website for specific route info. Due to the length of the ride and the terrain it is more suited to Road/touring bikes or a skinny/slick wheeled hybrid. We only go as fast as our slowest rider- no one is left behind!
Please bring puncture repair kit, packed lunch/snacks and water + money for ice lollies and if you want anything at a cafe stop.
Booking is essential. To book text 07866734351. If the numbers are very low the ride may not go ahead.
Free event, all welcome
Every Last Sunday of the month at 11.30am
Meet at Pedal MCR, The Boathouse, Platt Fields Park Fallowfield M14 6LA
MONDAY 28TH NOVEMBER
Sustaining Change – How to write a sustainability policy
Requests by funders and commissioners to see an organisations’ sustainability policy are becoming more frequent. Organisations are required to submit their policy along with evidence of how they are achieving targets. Points are awarded if you can demonstrate you are operating sustainably, which could make the difference between winning the bid and being rejected.
This workshop will help you to think about how to write a sustainability policy that will satisfy the requirements of funders and commissioners. You will go away with a better understanding of the sustainability agenda and the confidence to create your own policy.
Booking is essential. To book contact Finn on finnj@merci.org.uk or 0161 273 1736
Free event, all welcome
1pm
Bridge 5 Mill, 22a Beswick Street, Manchester, M4 7HR
Researching the Transition
As the Transition Movement grows and matures, there is widening interest in researching its innovations, impacts and potential limitations. With published work covering topics from urban regeneration, green citizenship, spirituality and sustainability, to low carbon economies, social movements and sustainable education.
Join activists and academics for this 1 day workshop which provides an opportunity to come together, network, share work and explore future directions.
Visit and help develop the online Transition research facility: http://www.citeulike.org/group/15407 which lists current academic research into the Transition movement.
See the Research Forum on the Transition Network web site for ongoing discussions and developments.
Registration: http://researchingtransition.eventbrite.co.uk/
free event, travel bursaries available
10 - 4pm; Presentations, lunch and open space
Friends Meeting House, 6 Mount Street, Manchester M2 5NS
TUESDAY 29TH NOVEMBER
Biodiversity and Planning Workshop
Are you worried about the loss of green space in the city and dwindling urban wildlife populations? Then come along to this free event to find out all the information you need to know about the planning system, how biodiversity is considered within it and how you can participate effectively in the decision-making processes involved.
This workshop is being run by The Environmental Law Foundation for MERCi's Eco Hub project. For more info on ELF see: www.elflaw.org
Booking is essential. To book contact Katie on katieb@merci.org.uk or 0161 273 1736 or book online here
Free event, all welcome
2 – 5pm
Bridge 5 Mill, 22a Beswick Street, Manchester, M4 7HR
Pedal MCR – Wimmin's Tool Club
Do It Together Bike Workshop. Wimmin's Tool Club is a monthly workshop session where tools are available for people to use in addition to experienced bike mechanics/ volunteers who can give hands-off help and advice in bike maintenance or point you to a book in our library to help. Drop in to fix up your bike using our tools.
For more info visit the Pedal MCR website: www.pedalmcr.org.uk
Free event, women only
5 – 6.30pm
Pedal MCR, The Boathouse, Platt Fields Park Fallowfield M14 6LA
THURSDAY 1ST DECEMBER
Big Tree Planting at Boggart Hole Clough Local Nature Reserve
Join Manchester City Council, Red Rose Forest and volunteers from Manchester University and the local community at Boggart Hole Clough and help them plant 1000 new trees. We will be helping the wardens to manage and improve habitats for the park’s wildlife by planting willow whips along the lakeside and in areas in need of new woodland. This project is sponsored by Pickfords, has received funding from The Big Tree Plant and is supported by The Woodland Trust.
Free event, all welcome
10 am onwards
Boggart Hole Clough Visitors Centre, Charlestown Road, Blackley, Manchester, M9 7DF
Greater Manchester Education for Sustainable Development Forum
Guest speaker Bryan Davies, Head of Sustainability at OFSTED will talk about incentives for schools to educate sustainably and the changing face of the sector.
Booking essential. To book please contact Raichael Lock on coordinator@meen.org uk or 07505172335 / 0161 273 8881
Free event, for educators for sustainability from across Greater Manchester
1.30-4pm
Bridge 5 Mill, 22a Beswick Street, Manchester, M4 7HR
Sharing Sustainability Success & MERCi AGM
Come and join us in listening to real life case studies and experiences of voluntary and community sector organisations who have successfully implemented sustainability and overcome barriers to change. They will explain how they are now more resource efficient, saving money, winning more contracts and creating a positive 'green' environment for staff and service users. You will come away with free tool kits and the opportunity to engage in a Q&A panel discussion where you can have your burning questions on sustainability answered.
Booking essential. To book contact Claire on clairem@merci.org.uk or 0161 273 1736.
This event will be immediately followed by hot food and then the MERCi AGM:
Join MERCi in celebrating Bridge 5 Mill's 10th Birthday and our AGM. A chance to network, eat cake and hear inspiring stories from activists past and present on the trials, tribulations and triumphs of creating Manchester's first (and only) Centre for Sustainable Living. We will also be launching our new website, including a treasure hunt for secret prizes hidden deep inside its pages!
Free event, all welcome.
Booking essential. To book please contact Katie on katieb@merci.org.uk or 0161 273 1736 or book online here.
Free event, all welcome
Sharing Sustainability Success: 4.30 – 5.30pm, 5.30 – 6pm food, 6 – 8pm AGM
Bridge 5 Mill, 22a Beswick Street, Manchester, M4 7HR
South Manchester Environmental Forum
South Manchester Environmental Forum (SMEF for short) is an exciting space for you to meet like minded people from around South Manchester and be inspired to improve sustainability in your community. Guest speakers have so far included members of Faith in the Community Allotment, Didsbury Dinners, Bikeright, Friends of Birchfields and Dave Barlow, Biodiversity Expert.
SMEF is a 'roaming forum' for the people of South Manchester to come together and promote sustainable living. Come along to explore ideas about green issues in your area and beyond, find out about local activities, skill-share and make sure that local priorities are reflected.
To book a place call 0161 237 3357
Free event, all welcome
6.15 – 8pm
Crowbar, 325 Oxford Road, M13 9PG
Women Love Manchester: thinkingwomen reclaim the city!
Building on the success of the last thinkingwomen event, which looked at the impact and involvement of women in the summer riots (which turned many areas of the city into women-free or “no go areas”), we now look at our relationship to our city more broadly…
How do women use the city? How do we feel on our streets? Where do we feel happy, unhappy, confident, less comfortable? How do we feel on the same streets after dark?
thinkingwomen will explore these questions with the help of local legend Morag Rose. We have chosen to do this after dark, to explore together the places we wouldn’t normally go alone, and to enjoy the city from an after dark perspective!
For more info contact jessica@krata.co.uk
Cost: £3, no need to book
6.30 – 8pm
meet outside the Friends Meeting House, Mount Street, Manchester, M2 5NS
FRIDAY 2ND DECEMBER
Debdale Eco Centre – An Introduction to organic food growing
This introduction course is for anyone who is interested in organic gardening. Participants will learn the basics of organic growing and will be shown how to grow your own fruit and vegetables in the organic way. The course will briefly cover: how to get started, understanding your soil, planning your patch to encourage biodiversity and sustainability, organic vegetable growing, organic fruit growing, and maintaining and developing your produce.
To book contact Marva on 0161 220 9199 or email marva@debdale-ecocentre.org.uk or visit www.debdale-ecocentre.org.uk/training
£10 per person (some limited free places available for over-60s or those on low incomes)
10am – 4pm
Debdale Eco Centre, Debdale Park, 1075 Hyde Rd, Gorton, Manchester, M18 7LJ
Big Tree Planting at Queens Park Harpurhey
Join Manchester City Council and volunteers from the local community at Queens Park, Harpurhey and help them to plant 100 new trees.
This project has received funding from the Big Tree Plant and is supported by The Woodland Trust.
Free event, all welcome
10.30am onwards
Queens Park Visitor Centre, Queens Park, 12 Park View, Harpurhey, Manchester, M9 5EJ
Veg Bag Feast!
Join Herbie for a fun afternoon of cooking and eating. We'll be showing you how to make the most of this season's vegetables, using locally sourced produce to create some delicious veggie delights. This session is open to all - we will be using simple recipes, with affordable ingredients, so don't be put off if you haven't tried vegetarian cooking before! All the vegetables we will be using are available in this season's Herbie veg bags, so come along to find out what tasty treats YOU could be receiving if you become a veg bag customer.
To book please contact Corrina on herbie@merci.org.uk or 0161 273 1736
£5
11am – 2pm
Trinity Church, Butler Street, Miles Platting, Manchester, M4 7JE
Food&i – Local and Social
Outdoor/indoor workshop talk and walk geared to engage and build-on people’s love of local, ethical and original cafes (food & drink), shops (cycling & accessories etc) and stalls (quality goods) - while socialising, sharing experiences and exploring sustainable living, working and EATING.
Booking is essential. To book please contact Safia on safiagriffin@yahoo.co.uk or 0161 338 7524.
Free event, all welcome
2pm
meet at Titchy Coffee Co, 9 Basil Chambers, Nicholas Croft, Manchester, M4 1EY
Urban Edible Gardening Workshop
This workshop will give you an introduction to permaculture principles and ‘urban edible’ gardening. Come along and make a design for your edible space—whether window box, back yard, garden or guerrilla garden plot.
This workshop is being run by Jennifer Lauruol of Carpe Diem Garden Design for MERCi's Eco Hub project. For more info on Jennifer's work see: www.carpe-diem-gardens.co.uk
Booking essential. To book please contact Katie on katieb@merci.org.uk or 0161 273 1736 or book online here.
Free event, all welcome
1 – 4pm
Bridge 5 Mill, 22a Beswick Street, Manchester, M4 7HR
WEDNESDAY 30TH NOVEMBER
Manchester Mind - Bite Veg Bags, Veg Bagging Morning
Come and experience what it’s like to work on an organic vegetable bag scheme run by a leading mental health charity in partnership with Manchester’s statutory provider of mental health services. You’ll be working closely with people experiencing mental health needs while helping to bag up vegetables to be distributed across the city. We are being supported to run our bag scheme by Growing Communities in Hackney, so it will also be a chance to learn about reducing food miles and the importance of sustainable food.
Booking is essential. To book please contact Rowena on rowena@harp-project.org
Free event, all welcome
10.30am – 12noon
Horticulture Project – Park House, North Manchester General Hospital, Delaunays Road, Crumpsall, Manchester, M8 5RB
The Kindling Trust – Feeding Manchester #8
FeedingManchester #8 will be taking inspiration from the spectrum of regional sustainable food pioneers from local guerilla gardeners to Incredible Edible Todmordon to high-tec vertical farmers. Along with the usual mix of socialising and networking the event offer something for everyone involved in Greater Manchester's sustainable food movement.
Booking is essential. To book please visit: www.feedingmanchester.org.uk
Free event, all welcome
4 – 7pm
Bridge 5 Mill, 22a Beswick Street, Manchester, M4 7HR
Pedal MCR – Tool Club
Do It Together Bike Workshop. Tool Club is a weekly open workshop session where tools are available for people to use in addition to experienced bike mechanics/ volunteers who can give hands-off help and advice in bike maintenance or point you to a book in our library to help. Drop in to fix up your bike using our tools.
For more info visit the Pedal MCR website: www.pedalmcr.org.uk
Free event, all welcome
5 – 6.30pm
Pedal MCR, The Boathouse, Platt Fields Park Fallowfield M14 6LA
Make Your Own Winter Remedies Workshop
Traditionally this would have been the time of year to make up winter remedies. However over time we have lost this ancient art and have become reliant on over-the-counter products to treat common illnesses such as colds and flu.
In this workshop Tim Moorhouse, Medical Herbalist will be re-introducing some simple herbal home remedies. He will be demonstrating how to make and use them to help with winter’s ills. Participants will be able to take home some of these remedies to use for themselves and their families.
This workshop is being run by Tim Moorhouse, Medical Herbalist for MERCi's Eco Hub project. For more info on Tim's work see: www.greenmanherbalist.co.uk
To book please contact Katie on katieb@merci.org.uk or 0161 273 1736 or book online here
£5
6-8pm
Bridge 5 Mill, 22a Beswick Street, Manchester, M4 7HR
