Community is at the heart of our shop. Projects are run by volunteers who give freely of their time and energy.
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This video was filmed by the Plunkett Foundation after we won their national competition for community shops, in the category Diversifying to Make a Difference, in December 2018. It shows some of our community activities, especially eco-bricking (scroll down for more information on eco-bricking and other activities and events). Thank you Plunkett! |
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HAMPSTEAD NORREYS COMMUNITY SHOP IS PLANTING AN ORCHARD!
By the end of the year, our lovely shop will have its very own traditional orchard located on a private, environmentally-sound development to the rear of its premises. Taking advice from Oxford-based orchard expert Andrew Howard, owner of the Heritage Fruit Tree Company, the shop will plant 65 mixed, heritage fruit trees with a view to stocking Hampstead Norreys Community Shop and Café with an abundance of produce that is fresh, organic, seasonal and as local as local can be!
Keep your eyes peeled for our events over the coming year that will see the Hampstead Norreys Community Shop Orchard open its doors to visitors. The very first of these exciting events will be the tree plant itself, which will take place towards the end of November. Meanwhile, enjoy this video about the orchard, created as part of GreenFest 2020 (with thanks to film makers Jess and Alex of Hampstead Norreys).
By the end of the year, our lovely shop will have its very own traditional orchard located on a private, environmentally-sound development to the rear of its premises. Taking advice from Oxford-based orchard expert Andrew Howard, owner of the Heritage Fruit Tree Company, the shop will plant 65 mixed, heritage fruit trees with a view to stocking Hampstead Norreys Community Shop and Café with an abundance of produce that is fresh, organic, seasonal and as local as local can be!
Keep your eyes peeled for our events over the coming year that will see the Hampstead Norreys Community Shop Orchard open its doors to visitors. The very first of these exciting events will be the tree plant itself, which will take place towards the end of November. Meanwhile, enjoy this video about the orchard, created as part of GreenFest 2020 (with thanks to film makers Jess and Alex of Hampstead Norreys).
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APPLES AND PEARS FOR JUICING
On 1st September, some of our lovely volunteers filled their cars with apples and pears from the community in readiness for them to be turned into our very own Hampstead Norreys Community Shop juice.
On 1st September, some of our lovely volunteers filled their cars with apples and pears from the community in readiness for them to be turned into our very own Hampstead Norreys Community Shop juice.
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The juicing unit below is the only such mobile unit in the UK and once the shop orchard is established we hope it will come to Hampstead Norreys for a community juicing day. The waste product (centre, below) is given to local cows who love it! Nothing is wasted.
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LOCKDOWN WOOD
Would you and your family like to help increase the number of trees in West Berkshire whilst creating a lasting and environmentally friendly memorial? The aim is to dedicate an entire wood to the memory of this difficult and painful period of the coronavirus pandemic, as its name indicates. People will be invited to dedicate their own tree or ones that are purchased to loved ones who have been affected or sadly died as a result of covid19. This is a project being run by a group in Newbury. The district and town councils are being very helpful and encouraging of this community project, and conversations are taking place to find suitable parcels of land - the sustainability group of the shop are contributing plants and are also currently seeking the possibility of creating our very own Hampstead Norreys Lockdown Wood. So, while you’re weeding, how about potting up any tree seedlings you come across rather than composting them. Just pop any tree seedlings you find into a pot with garden soil, and keep them watered. Put the pots in a partially shaded part of your garden if possible and enjoy watching them grow. |
A seedling growing from a nut
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LOOFA GROWING COMPETITION
Will your loofa be bigger than my loofa? We are pleased to announce our very own 'grow your own loofa' competition. Take your free loofa plant home and nurture it - then bring your fruit to the shop in the autumn (date to be confirmed) to be judged. Spare loofa fruit will be used in workshops later in the year. 
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SORRY, NOW CANCELLED BECAUSE OF COVID-19 BUT WE WILL RUN IT AGAIN AT A LATER DATE
AN ORIGINAL PRESENT FOR MOTHERS' DAY - MAKE HER SOME SOAP
We are running a soap-making workshop on Saturday 21st March. Fun for all ages, it's a great opportunity to create a unique, homemade, gift for mum this Mother's Day. And with sustainability being high on our agenda, we've sourced a range of natural ingredients to colour, scent and add exfoliating properties to your soap creations.
There will be 4 sessions running throughout the afternoon at half-hourly intervals. There's no need to book. Sessions begin at 3pm, 3.30pm, 4pm and 4.30pm.
Hoping to see plenty of dads bringing the kids along to this one.
AN ORIGINAL PRESENT FOR MOTHERS' DAY - MAKE HER SOME SOAP
We are running a soap-making workshop on Saturday 21st March. Fun for all ages, it's a great opportunity to create a unique, homemade, gift for mum this Mother's Day. And with sustainability being high on our agenda, we've sourced a range of natural ingredients to colour, scent and add exfoliating properties to your soap creations.
There will be 4 sessions running throughout the afternoon at half-hourly intervals. There's no need to book. Sessions begin at 3pm, 3.30pm, 4pm and 4.30pm.
Hoping to see plenty of dads bringing the kids along to this one.
'MAKE YOUR OWN WOODEN CHRISTMAS TREE' WORKSHOPS
On the afternoon of Saturday 7 December we ran two consecutive workshops, each an hour and a half, for people to build their own reusable wooden Christmas tree.
We couldn't have done this without the hard work and expertise of Andrew from NAD HackSpace who cut and prepared all the components from discarded scaffolding planks, purchased from Oxford Wood Recycling. It was a great day, enjoyed by adults and children alike. The creativity was amazing, helped of course by a little mulled wine!
We couldn't have done this without the hard work and expertise of Andrew from NAD HackSpace who cut and prepared all the components from discarded scaffolding planks, purchased from Oxford Wood Recycling. It was a great day, enjoyed by adults and children alike. The creativity was amazing, helped of course by a little mulled wine!
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TOY SWAP SHOP - part of our drive to live more sustainably
On Saturday 23rd November, the shop hosted our very own 'toy swap shop'. From 9am to 11am we accepted high-quality but unwanted toys which were exchanged for tokens, or donated. From 11.30am to 2pm the toys were available to take away - 'paying' with tokens or cash.
Despite the rain we had a great time and were amazed at the generosity of people donating unwanted goods. Many children (and adults) left clutching new toys, and Helen and Douglas House charity shop at Didcot was thrilled to receive the toys left over at the end of the event. We didn't set out to make any money (the aim was to re-home toys) but we are pleased to have raised £170 to be shared between Helen and Douglas House (a hospice for children) and the children's ward at West Berks Hospital.
Despite the rain we had a great time and were amazed at the generosity of people donating unwanted goods. Many children (and adults) left clutching new toys, and Helen and Douglas House charity shop at Didcot was thrilled to receive the toys left over at the end of the event. We didn't set out to make any money (the aim was to re-home toys) but we are pleased to have raised £170 to be shared between Helen and Douglas House (a hospice for children) and the children's ward at West Berks Hospital.
CHRISTMAS MARKET
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Each year we host two markets with a wide range of stalls from a variety of local businesses - if you are looking for original and engaging presents this is the place to be. This year, for the first time, we were unlucky with the weather. There was torrential rain and the wind was so fierce the shop marquees blew away. We squeezed some stallholders into the shop and a few stalwarts stayed outside - thank you to everyone (including customers) who braved the elements! |
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HALLOWEEN
On October 31st, we were bewitched, bothered and bewildered . . . There's a goblin at the window A monster by the door The pumpkins on the table Keep on smiling more and more There's ghosts who haunt the courtyard Witches with faces green They used to be nice at HN Shop Until it was Halloween! |
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At 6pm, dressed in their best Halloween outfits, were all types of ghouls. Judging the best pumpkin was difficult - so many creative entries. We hope you enjoyed the free 'blood' drinks and scary cakes.
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BRING-ME-BACK BAGS
We wanted a way to help reduce single-use plastic and support customers who had forgotten their bags, so our sustainability sewing group was born.
All material is recycled, e.g. from unwanted duvet covers, and the scheme has been so successful that we have even made bring-me-back bags, free of charge, for other businesses in the area. And we also have bring-me-back bags for children!
Claire, on the left, has written a short and witty blog on bring-me-back bags.
See www.ourgreenfest.co.uk/blog
We wanted a way to help reduce single-use plastic and support customers who had forgotten their bags, so our sustainability sewing group was born.
All material is recycled, e.g. from unwanted duvet covers, and the scheme has been so successful that we have even made bring-me-back bags, free of charge, for other businesses in the area. And we also have bring-me-back bags for children!
Claire, on the left, has written a short and witty blog on bring-me-back bags.
See www.ourgreenfest.co.uk/blog
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RECYCLING ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY
UPDATE MARCH 21 2019. SORRY, BUT BECAUSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS WE HAVE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED COLLECTION OF CRISP PACKETS, BISCUIT AND CAKE WRAPPERS, AND SWEET WRAPPERS. YOU CAN STILL LEAVE BOTTLE TOPS, PENS/PENCILS AND SMALL BATTERIES, EGG BOXES FROM BEECHWOOD FARM AND USED ASTHMA INHALERS. NO ECOBRICKS FOR THE TIME BEING PLEASE.
We are based in West Berkshire where the only plastic collected by local government for recycling is plastic bottles, nothing else. We have introduced a scheme whereby local people can bring some of their waste plastic to the shop - this is collected by the lovely Jana (see below, being filmed by ITV News outside the shop). Jana bags the plastic and sends it to Terracycle for processing. In return she receives a small amount of cash which is donated to charity. The cumulative effect of her work is amazing - over 1400kg of waste has been saved from landfill and nearly £1800 has been raised for the charity Canine Partners who provide dogs to support those who need physical help.
Space is limited at the shop but we collect crisp packets, biscuit and cake wrappers, and sweet wrappers (we have changed from pet food because of hygiene). Many people from neighbouring villages, as well as from Hampstead Norreys, bring their plastic to be recycled - the large bins below (beautifully made by volunteer Frank) are full each week.
We also collect milk bottle tops, used pens and felt tip pens, egg cartons and used asthma inhalers, all for recycling. And now, our latest addition, we accept used (small) batteries.
UPDATE MARCH 21 2019. SORRY, BUT BECAUSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS WE HAVE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED COLLECTION OF CRISP PACKETS, BISCUIT AND CAKE WRAPPERS, AND SWEET WRAPPERS. YOU CAN STILL LEAVE BOTTLE TOPS, PENS/PENCILS AND SMALL BATTERIES, EGG BOXES FROM BEECHWOOD FARM AND USED ASTHMA INHALERS. NO ECOBRICKS FOR THE TIME BEING PLEASE.
We are based in West Berkshire where the only plastic collected by local government for recycling is plastic bottles, nothing else. We have introduced a scheme whereby local people can bring some of their waste plastic to the shop - this is collected by the lovely Jana (see below, being filmed by ITV News outside the shop). Jana bags the plastic and sends it to Terracycle for processing. In return she receives a small amount of cash which is donated to charity. The cumulative effect of her work is amazing - over 1400kg of waste has been saved from landfill and nearly £1800 has been raised for the charity Canine Partners who provide dogs to support those who need physical help.
Space is limited at the shop but we collect crisp packets, biscuit and cake wrappers, and sweet wrappers (we have changed from pet food because of hygiene). Many people from neighbouring villages, as well as from Hampstead Norreys, bring their plastic to be recycled - the large bins below (beautifully made by volunteer Frank) are full each week.
We also collect milk bottle tops, used pens and felt tip pens, egg cartons and used asthma inhalers, all for recycling. And now, our latest addition, we accept used (small) batteries.
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To find out more about GreenFest, just click on the image above . . .
GREENFEST
In late Spring 2019 the shop was approached by a person from a neighbouring village to see if we would consider hosting a sustainable living event, helping people to think about how we can all tread more lightly on our planet. From those humble beginnings GREENFEST was born.
In just four months, the organising committee (Vanessa, Vicky and Lesley from the shop's sustainability group and Alisdair from Compton) created an event that attracted nearly 3000 people. With educational talks and workshops, stalls, major solutions providers and a range of children's and adult's activities and music, the event was a fun and educational day out with plenty to keep everyone busy, whatever their age.
Although we had no immediate plans to repeat, there were so many requests to run the event again, we have set aside the date of Saturday 5 September 2020. If you would like to be involved, in any capacity, please email ourgreenfest@gmail.com or hncshop@yahoo.co.uk We would love to hear from you!
In late Spring 2019 the shop was approached by a person from a neighbouring village to see if we would consider hosting a sustainable living event, helping people to think about how we can all tread more lightly on our planet. From those humble beginnings GREENFEST was born.
In just four months, the organising committee (Vanessa, Vicky and Lesley from the shop's sustainability group and Alisdair from Compton) created an event that attracted nearly 3000 people. With educational talks and workshops, stalls, major solutions providers and a range of children's and adult's activities and music, the event was a fun and educational day out with plenty to keep everyone busy, whatever their age.
Although we had no immediate plans to repeat, there were so many requests to run the event again, we have set aside the date of Saturday 5 September 2020. If you would like to be involved, in any capacity, please email ourgreenfest@gmail.com or hncshop@yahoo.co.uk We would love to hear from you!