I have had some chats and info from some fantastic people recently.
Rent out those items in your garage – I would love to bring a Library of Things to the region but I recently spoke to Sean Gilchrist who developed another angle. Sean launched RentU app in May 2024, inspired by moving house and realizing how much unused items they owned and temporarily needed items they didn’t want to purchase. The platform allows users to list household items for rent to nearby neighbours for specified periods (day, week, etc.) It has 700 users currently across Northwest England and Cheshire, with activity in Northwich, Warrington, Macclesfield, and Wrexham North Wales areas. Users renting diverse items including rotovators, gazebos, and garden equipment. Read his story and then download the app Read here
“Peace with the Wild” – sustainable virtually plastic free. Simon Brown provided some feedback from my last newsletter about this business he says ‘ We have used them for a number of years and always been pleased by their service and the range of items they stock plastic free. For example they stock double sided razor blades (made in Egypt) but wrapped in paper and cardboard at a very competitive price and they stock a metal container designed to safely keep used blades until they can be safely recycled in a metal recovery stream. They are based in the UK and utilise the Royal Mail for most of their deliveries (postal)….You might like to check out their range…..click here
Transition Chester Suma Wholefoods – Simon also reminded me of the bulk delivery they do with Suma wholefoods each month, they have capacity to include a few more households but I would get in quick. With 5% of the order value helping to financially support Transition Chester for website costs, leaflet printing, room hire fees etc… I don’t think Suma offer this scheme anymore so get in touch with Transition Chester.. Read More
Microplastics – The New Sugar
Microplastics are now found in our food, our water, and even our bodies, a hidden pollution problem that grows with every piece of plastic we use once and throw away. Tackling it means rethinking our everyday habits and the products we choose. That’s where Ocean Bottle, a certified B Corp, comes in. For every reusable bottle they sell, they fund the collection of ocean-bound plastic while helping reduce single-use plastic in daily life. Refill has partnered with them, providing reps (me included!) with Ocean Bottles as a practical tool and a symbol of the bigger mission to cut microplastics at the source. They have written a great article on Microplastics which you can read here – 👉 Read more about the microplastic problem in Ocean Bottle’s article.
♻️ Blister Pack Recycling Update
The Eco Communities scheme is set to expand later this month with a visit from Rob Aitken of My Group (ReFactory) Rob is expected to collect the five or six bags of blister packs we’ve gathered from Swettenham’s Pharmacies, and he’ll also be delivering a fresh batch of collection boxes. Rob will be giving a talk in Tattenhall on Wednesday at 1pm at the Barbour Institute, an event organised by Tattenhall & District Parish Council.
Meanwhile, Cllr Chris Copeman has been diligently emptying the collection box in Helsby and has successfully arranged for the blister packs to be accepted at Superdrug in Northwich—we suspect Chris’s charm played a role in persuading them to take such a large bag!
Although the Superdrug–Terracycle scheme appears to still be active according to press reports, it’s not currently listed on Terracycle’s website. You can find information on Superdrug’s site, but note: the scheme is only available at stores with a pharmacy. Chester does have a qualifying store, though they’ve reportedly declined to accept blister packs for some time. Boots of course is also an option but with certain restrictions on the amount depending on the store.
More Plastic Free Updates
- Next Chester Litter Pick – 28th September see What’s On
- We have joined the Party Kit Network – reusables for kids parties to save single use – read more
- Litter Pick Hubs – New Hubs – Hoole Community Centre and soon to be installed Sandy Lane Park via Friends of Sandy Lane. Sykes Holiday cottage were out using its hub and a few extra they collected from us recently, on a joint litter pick and fundraising walk. Well done Sykes… Check our Hub Locations via the Map on our home page – See here
- Plastic Free Gathering – 20th September Helen is speaking – Read More
Climate Outreach Report
If you are on LinkedIn my attention was peaked by a post from James Green from Business Green – he reported the press headlines on falling belief in climate science change and why these headlines aren’t helpful. He provided a 10 point plan on how to fight back which you can read if you are a linked in user- here.. The latest Britain Talks Climate & Nature report paints a more complex picture tan the headlines. It shows that most people across the UK still care deeply about climate and nature, but their engagement is shaped by personal values, lived experiences, and how climate issues are communicated. The report warns that failing to connect with these realities risks alienating key audiences and weakening support for climate action. Instead, it calls for tailored, values-based communication that resonates across society—because belief isn’t vanishing, it’s shifting. Read the report
Six Environment Secretaries in Four Years
It’s hard to feel optimistic about environmental progress when the people at the top keep changing. In just four and a half years, we’ve seen six different environment secretaries – each arriving with their own priorities and each leaving before they could make a lasting impact. That revolving door creates uncertainty for civil servants, charities, and businesses who need stability to plan and deliver real change. The latest is Emma Reynolds, Wycombe MP and former Treasury minister, who replaces Steve Reed after just 14 months in the role. But the climate crisis doesn’t pause while ministers reshuffle. Every short-term appointment delays long-term strategies on farming, nature recovery, and tackling pollution. Those who care about the environment are left asking: if policies keep being rewritten before they’re implemented, how can we ever achieve the consistency needed to protect nature and meet our climate goals?
Drill Baby Drill
We first heard this rallying cry from President Trump, and now UK MPs are echoing it again. Twenty years ago, speaking at Chester Cathedral, I argued that we need to keep all the oil not yet counted in the ground. The question now is whether oil in the North Sea really is the “black gold” some politicians promise will solve the UK’s financial problems — or whether it’s all smoke and mirrors. The truth is, while the North Sea still holds resources, it’s unlikely to be the golden ticket that some claim. Revenues are already in decline, the cost of extraction is high, and global energy markets are shifting fast. Politicians may like to sell the idea of easy money, but the reality is far more complicated. (see appendix below)
- People Planet Pint Chester – Thursday 18th September – See What’s On
- Emergency on Planet Earth – November 25 – Eco Communities are supporting Culture Warrington with information for its exhibition. Fri 07 Nov 2025 – Sun 01 Feb 2026. The exhibition will challenge your perspectives and encourage collective action. Featuring global insights and local stories, Emergency on Planet Earth asks vital questions about our relationship with the natural world and how we can adapt for a sustainable future.
Appendix: Drill Baby Drill – The Detail Behind the Headlines
1. Revenues today and tomorrow
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In 2025–26, the Office for Budget Responsibility expects the North Sea to bring in around £5.2 billion in taxes.
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This is not nothing, but it’s tiny compared to the UK’s overall budget, and forecasts beyond this point fall sharply. The OBR has even cut its long-term projections for North Sea receipts by more than 90% due to falling output and price assumptions.
2. How much oil and gas is left?
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Industry group Offshore Energies UK estimates up to 7.5 billion barrels could still be extracted — more than official government figures suggest.
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If realised, this could be worth £165 billion to the UK economy. But “could” is the key word: much depends on prices, technology, tax regimes and public acceptance.
3. The costs of getting it out
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Most of the “easy oil” has already been tapped. Remaining fields are technically complex and expensive.
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The UK imposes a mix of corporation tax, supplementary charges, and the Energy Profits Levy. While these raise revenue, they can also discourage new investment in marginal fields.
4. Climate and credibility
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The UK is legally committed to reaching net zero by 2050. Approving new oil projects risks undermining that pledge and facing legal challenges.
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Any new field takes years to develop — so it won’t solve short-term financial woes.
5. The bigger picture
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Oil and gas will continue to play a role in the UK’s energy mix in the 2030s, but as a declining one.
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Banking on North Sea oil to “balance the books” is at best wishful thinking, at worst a distraction from investing in the genuine growth industries of the future: renewables, storage, and energy efficiency.
