Greener Me in ’23

Make a green change for good this year. Being ‘green’ is not just about making choices that are healthier for the planet, but also healthier for yourself. It comes with lots of health benefits, like the air that fill our lungs, the water we drink being clean and safe, nutritious food that fuel our body, and safe shelter.

Whether you’re using your car less to get around, cutting back on food waste, buying less and getting creative how to reuse stuff, we’re here to help turn your green resolutions into long-term revolutions. We’ll be sharing stories from communities, simple tips that anyone can follow, and opportunities to get involved – in your homes, communities, and events – throughout the year.

Real life stories wanted

Passionate about climate action, making Portsmouth greener or sharing more tips? We are looking for stories from residents who have recently recycled, ditched their car for a bike, or made a pledge to be more green, and more. These stories will used on our website and potentially other channels (with permission). Get in touch at climateaction@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Help turn Portsmouth into a green city by volunteering your time to community groups this spring. There are lots of opportunities to get involved – from planting trees to beach cleans, designing websites to research for community groups and projects.

• Find a group where you can volunteer your time at hiveportsmouth.com and filtering by ‘environment’ under ‘interests’.
• Get planting
  You can get involved in planting and looking after trees by joining the Portsmouth and Southsea Tree Wardens. Or help a local community orchard such as Cornwallis Crescent community orchard or the Stacey Centre community garden

Portsmouth libraries have put on a roving display of books related to nature, sustainability and climate. You can find the display at Beddow library in March, and at Paulsgrove library in April. A selection of the titles on display are listed below, and an online catalogue with more titles will available soon.

Non-fiction

• How to save the world for free by Natalie Fee
• The switch: how solar, storage and new tech means cheap power for all by Chris Goodall
• Sucking eggs: what your wartime granny could teach you about diet, thrift and going green by Patricia Nicol
• The new complete book of self-sufficiency by John Seymour
• Is it really green: everyday eco-dilemmas answered by Georgina Wilson-Powell

Children’s non-fiction

• An earth-bot’s solution to plastic pollution by Russell Ayto
• How you can save the planet by Hendrikus Hensbergen
• Eco stories for those who dare to care by Ben Hubbard
• Eyewitness: climate change by John Woodward
• You can save the planet: 101 ways you can make a difference

Children’s picture books and fiction

• Change starts with us by Sophie Beer
• A climate in chaos by Neal Layton
• A planet full of plastic by Neal Layton
• Bloom by Nicola Skinner
• Summer we turned green by William Sutton

Residents

The Portsmouth and Southsea Tree Wardens have regular tree planting days and a list of upcoming ones can be found on their website.

For Southsea beach cleans Southsea Beachwatch meet 10am-12pm on the first Saturday of the month. See their Twitter page for location details.

Businesses, schools, charities and community groups

The inaugural Greenprint Conference will focus on the topic of green skills in the region, with senior, key speakers and a wide range of panellists available for a Q&A session. This morning part of the event will be livestreamed so stakeholders unable to attend in-person will still be able to listen and to ask questions online. The conference will be held on Friday 30 June at University of Southampton’s Highfield campus.

Climate action groups wanted for community party in July. Local businesses, community groups, and charities are invited to showcase their products and services to hundreds of people for free at the upcoming ‘Party for The Warren’. The event will be on Saturday 8 July, 12-2pm at the Giant Steps green area in Havant. It’s a chance for people to see and have their say on new proposed housing plans for the area. Free ice-cream, face-painting and glorious sunshine (hopefully) will also be available for everyone to enjoy. Email the team to register your interest: katherine.bement@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Plastic Free Business Toolkit is available for free to help local, independently owned businesses achieve their Plastic Free Champion Award.

Final Straw Foundation – Local plastic pollution work, business advice, schools engagement and beach cleans

Surfers Against Sewage runs national campaigns to eliminate plastic, as well as offer business advice & Plastic Free Schools

For the University’s work on global plastic research and policy change Revolution Plastics

To help collect data on plastic litter Jetsam Tech & MAPP

Portsmouth Green Drinks – organised by our local green hero Clare Seek.